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50 Years of Stalybridge Carnival

50 Years of Stalybridge Carnival: Volunteer With Global Grooves

In 2026, Stalybridge Carnival celebrates its 50th anniversary! To mark this milestone, Global Grooves, Tameside’s internationally touring Carnival arts organisation, is creating a brand new processional piece for the anniversary parade on Sunday 28 June, and you can be a part of it!

Step in to the heart of the celebrations with your local community.

We are inviting local people to take part as volunteer drummers, dancers, puppeteers and carnival crew. Whether you want to perform in the parade or help make it happen behind the scenes, every volunteer role matters and every contribution counts.

No experience is necessary. You do not need to be a trained musician, dancer or performer. You simply need energy, curiosity and a willingness to commit to rehearsals and be part of something special for Stalybridge.

There are four different ways to get involved. Choose the path that suits you and help us make the 50th anniversary the biggest and best Stalybridge Carnival yet.

Be a part of Stalybridge Carnival 50!

Puppeteer Training – Bring the Giants to Life

Dates: Sun 22nd March, 10am – 4pm
Location: Stalybridge Civic Hall
Final rehearsal: Saturday 27 June
Parade: Sunday 28 June
Cost: Free
Age: 16+

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to animate a giant carnival puppet?

This March, we are offering a hands-on training day where local people can learn the skills needed to volunteer as puppeteers for the 50th anniversary parade.

Working alongside expert puppeteers from Global Grooves, you will:

Learn how the puppets were designed and built

Discover what each character represents

Understand the mechanics and teamwork behind large-scale puppetry

Try out the puppets in a supported practical session

Those who take to it will be invited to perform in the anniversary parade, either as part of the Global Grooves processional piece or supporting another community group within the parade.

Volunteer puppeteers may also have opportunities to animate the puppets at other events around the town later in the year.

No experience required. Just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

Carnival Band and Dance – Drums, Horns and Movement

Monthly sessions: Last Tuesday of the month, March to May plus Tues 23rd June, 7pm to 9pm
Location: Stalybridge Civic Hall
Final rehearsal: Saturday 27 June
Parade: Sunday 28 June
Cost: Free

Join Tameside’s own volunteer carnival band and dance group and help create a brand new piece for the 50th anniversary parade.

You can take part as:

A drummer

A brass or reed player

A dancer

No experience is necessary. You will be guided by carnival music and dance specialists as you build skills and work together towards the big day.

For those who want to go further, there will also be opportunities to join weekly sessions at The Vale in Mossley and become part of a wider carnival volunteer community.

Sessions run through to a full rehearsal on Saturday 27 June, ready for the anniversary parade on Sunday 28 June.

This is your chance to be part of a joyful, powerful and highly visible celebration in the heart of the town.

Carnival Crew Volunteers – Behind the Scenes Heroes

Date: Sun 22nd March, 10am – 4pm
Final rehearsal: Saturday 27 June
Parade: Sunday 28 June

Carnival magic does not happen by accident. It takes planning, teamwork and care.

Our Carnival Crew programme invites local people to learn about the history of Stalybridge Carnival and discover what it takes to deliver a large-scale parade.

During this introductory session, you will:

Learn about the heritage and evolution of the carnival

Understand how a parade is structured and managed

Explore the backstage and logistical elements of production

Prepare to support the 50th anniversary parade as volunteer crew

On the day itself, crew volunteers will help to:

Set up and prepare puppets

Distribute costumes

Marshal parade sections

Support performers

Keep the procession flowing safely and smoothly

If you enjoy being organised, working with people and being part of something bigger than yourself, this is a vital and rewarding volunteer role.

Voluntary Groups and Community Organisations – Join or Elevate Your Parade Entry

Are you already taking part in Stalybridge Carnival? Or are you a group that would love to join the parade but are not quite sure where to start?

We would love to hear from you.

Whether you are an established parade group looking to elevate your section, or a school, youth group, dance group or community organisation that wants to take part for the first time, Global Grooves can help you create something bold, colourful and carnival-ready for this special 50th anniversary year.

If you are already involved, we can work with you to:

Match your group with one of our newly trained volunteer puppeteers

Integrate one of our large-scale puppets into your section

Support with costumes to enhance your visual impact

Offer creative guidance to strengthen your processional idea

If you are not yet involved and would like to participate, we can support you to develop a simple but striking parade piece, for example using giant flags, coordinated costume elements or a visually strong group design that makes an impact on the streets.

Tell us about your group and your ideas, or simply your interest in taking part. We will explore how our creative team, puppets, costumes and volunteers can help bring your section to life.

The 50th anniversary is a moment for the whole town to step forward. By working together and sharing skills and resources, we can make this year’s parade bigger, bolder and more visually spectacular than ever.

Get in touch and let us build something special together.

Be Part of 50 Years of Carnival

The 50th anniversary of Stalybridge Carnival is more than a parade. It is a celebration of community, heritage and collective creativity.

For fifty years, the parade has brought the town together in a joyful and colourful display of community spirit. Since its beginnings in 1976, it has transformed familiar streets into a stage for music, dance, costumes and shared pride. Generations of families have watched from the pavements, volunteered behind the scenes or stepped into the procession themselves. What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a cherished civic tradition, sustained by volunteers and embraced by the whole community.

Now it is your turn.

Whether you want to animate a giant puppet, play in the band, dance through the streets or help make it all happen behind the scenes, there is a place for you.

Join us. Be part of the story. Help make this 50th celebration unforgettable.

SIGN UP NOW!

Meet the team!

This project is funded by Historic England, through the UK Government’s Know Your Neighbourhood Fund. 

 

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Questions? Give us a shout!

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Pop your email address in the box here and we’ll send you updates about our work, including how to get involved. We promise we won’t inundate your inbox, but you will be able to unsubscribe at any time.

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