A FESTIVAL to celebrate the coming days of spring dazzled a East Lancashire town despite the wet weather.

More than 1,000 people from across East Lancashire and from Manchester descended to Clitheroe to marvel at the first-ever Snow Moon festival, which celebrated the coming of warmer days in Spring.

This was the first winter festival to ever be staged and comes to the Ribble Valley.

The event began at 11am with storytelling for children at Clitheroe Library, and other highlights included arts, music, crafts and drumming workshops, costume-making, storytellers and a poetry brew with local poet Michael Neary.

The Snow Moon parade party included a display of more than 150 lanterns and was led by a giant hen harrier with a three-metre wing span.

The parade started from Clitheroe Castle at 4.45pm with the route to The Grand Venue snaking through Castle Fields and the Market Bull Ring to arrive at the auditorium approximately an hour later.

Lancashire folksters Drop The Floor, who were performing a free concert at The Grand, wowed a sold-out crowd of 400 to cap off a ‘special event’.

Ribble Valley-based Matthew Evans and Helen Ficorilli, together with sponsor Johnson Matthey, the driving force behind the award winning Cloudspotting Music and Arts Festival, teamed up again to stage the first winter festival.

Matthew said: “The idea is we have got the over the worst of winter and coming up to spring where there is more optimism“It also gives the community of the Ribble Valley a chance to get together in this special event.”

Helen said: “It has been amazing.

“I’m overwhelmed by the level of public interest.

“Many people have said to me they would not be here in Clitheroe today if it wasn’t for this event.”

Danielle Collins, 37, who lives in Scott Park, Burnley, said:

“It has been an exciting day and think the organisers have done a great job.”

Joe Petrie, 46, who lives in Chatburn, visited the festival with his seven-year-old son William.

Joe said: “We saw the flyer and was intrigued.

“When I told my son about the musical instruments workshop he was definitely up for that.

“He could not wait to get out of the house.”

Tony Cousins, 42, who lives in Great Harwood, made the trip to Clitheroe with his two sons, Harry, aged six, and Joshua, aged four.

Tony said: “I think it’s a great idea and really good for the children.”“I gave my two sons a choice of computer games or this event and they chose this.”

“They’ve enjoyed making instruments and crowns, so I think they made the right choice.”