LIGHTER nights, warmer days, blossom and bulbs can only mean one thing – spring is on the way!
Spring Up, an annual celebration of the new season, returns at The Vale in Mossley this month, with free entertainment and activities for all ages.
From a totally chilled-out gong bath to seasonal arts and crafts and green-fingered garden fun to model-making, the arts centre is throwing open its doors on Saturday, March 28, from 9am to 5pm and everyone’s welcome.
Throughout the day, puppets from carnival organisation Global Grooves will roam free, bringing magic and mayhem in equal measures. Meet Terry and Donna, the cheeky prehistoric pteranodons, and Nandi, the Brahman bull, who is lovingly made from repurposed saris and decorated with Indian bells.
Sofiya, a striking giant walkabout puppet of a Ukrainian girl, was made at The Vale alongside Ukrainian artists and can be recognised by her flower crown.
Early risers can start the day with a sound healing journey that invites you to leave behind the stresses of modern life.
Gongs will be played along with Himalayan singing bowls, therapeutic frame drums, hand pans, Koshi wind chimes and other soothing percussive instruments. The free 50 minute session, which aims to lull you into an altered state of consciousness, similar to deep meditation, is for ages 14 and over.
The gong bath will be followed by an hour’s gentle yoga session with Flow & Glow Yoga, who run weekly classes at The Vale. Starting with a simple meditation and breathwork, a beginner friendly flow will follow, moving through a sequence of postures before slowing down for a relaxing stretch and resting pose – for ages 14 and over.
From 10am to 12.30pm, The Vale will be a hive of activity, both inside and out. Family arts and crafts, with a colourful carnival theme, will inspire everyone to get hands on with creativity.
You can join volunteers from the Dipak Dristi Gujarati women’s group to try on beautiful traditional clothing, or head to the Our Space garden to get stuck into family friendly community gardening activities.
In the afternoon, free activities include a bike generator workshop and an introduction to fantasy boardgaming and model building/painting with the Knights of the Vale (ages 12+).
Malawian-born, Manchester-based musician and storyteller Marco Woolf will round off the day at around 3.30pm.
Light refreshments will be served all day. For something more substantial, pop over to The Vale’s neighbours at Pizza Love for burgers, salads and fries as well as pizzas.
The free Spring Up celebration of spring is at The Vale, Unit 2 Vale Mill, Micklehurst Road, (postcode OL5 9JL).