FROM making natural perfume and pressing apples to learning traditional dances, joining a drumming workshop or unwinding in a sound bath, Mossley’s The Vale is marking its fifth birthday with a packed day of free activities.
The arts centre on Micklehurst Road will open its doors to the community on Saturday, September 12, with a programme of events for all ages taking place both inside and outside the former mill.
Visitors will be able to try their hand at arts and crafts, enjoy storytelling and take part in a garden session where fragrant plants can be picked and blended into a natural perfume to take home.
There will also be a Carnival ceilidh led by Born and Bred dance theatre, introducing participants to traditional English dances including the Caerphilly March and the Witches Reel before giving them the chance to join in.
Those looking to make some noise can take part in a beginners’ drumming workshop, while Carnival puppet-builder Mel Roberts will bring along one of her large-scale creations for a meet-the-maker session featuring stories from behind the scenes of her workshop.
Visitors can also bring along their own apples and put some muscle into a traditional apple-pressing session, taking home freshly made juice.
The programme includes several sessions aimed at older visitors too.
A mindful breathwork session with Padma will use the Buddhist grounding technique of Anapanasati, while a morning sound bath featuring gongs, Himalayan bowls, frame drum, hand pan, koshi and other percussion instruments promises a deeply relaxing start to the day.
There will also be drop-in taster sessions with Mossley Writers and tabletop gaming and model-making group Knights of The Vale.
A pop-up café serving locally baked goods, drinks and snacks will run throughout the day.
The birthday celebrations will continue into the evening, when Bologna Bridge Band takes to the stage. The brass-heavy Italian party band draws inspiration from the musical traditions of New Orleans and street parades, with DJ Matt Catt keeping the party going until midnight. Tickets are required for the evening event.
‘Birthday to reflect everything that makes The Vale what it is’
The Vale was relaunched following a £1 million upgrade in 2021, when the Northern Carnival Centre of Excellence opened within the building.
Holly Prest, artistic director of The Vale, said: “It’s hard to believe that The Vale is already five! What started as a labour of love has grown into a really special place where people can come together, try something new and experience all kinds of creativity right on their doorstep.
“We wanted our fifth birthday to reflect everything that makes The Vale what it is, so there’s a real mix of music, dance, making, wellbeing and Carnival culture, with something for all ages and absolutely no pressure to know what you’re doing before you arrive!
“All of the programme is free, apart from the evening gig, so we hope people will come along, have a go at something they’ve never tried before and celebrate with us.
“And, of course, we couldn’t have a birthday without a party. We’re really looking forward to rounding off the day with the brilliant Bologna Bridge Band and keeping things going late into the night. Five years feels like a real milestone, but we’re even more excited about what comes next.”
The free fifth birthday programme takes place at The Vale, Unit 2 Vale Mill, Micklehurst Road, Mossley, on Saturday, September 12. The evening concert is ticketed.