A HERITAGE festival is set to debut in Rossendale this summer, it has been announced.

Ten days of activities have been lined up by organisers CAST (Community Assets Standing Tall), with the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant ­— from June 28 to July 7.

An event at the Boo Theatre in Waterfoot will kick off proceedings, with Haslingden-based arts group Apna Rossendale hosting a South Asian cultural fiesta the following day.

Alastair Price, artist-in-the-residence, is co-ordinating the two-day Waterfoot Wakes festival, on July 6 and 7.

He said: “When we held the first Waterfoot Wakes last year we realised that there seemed to be a lot of events happening in Rossendale over a short period of time in the early summer.

“We thought a heritage festival would be a great way of bringing all kinds of different events together under one umbrella.

“It will mean all of the activities will be better promoted and we will make sure people get to know more about what is going on.”

The organisers have formed a small group, including representatives from the different events, so a programme can be compiled.

Bacup and Stacksteads Carnival is set to be another festival highlight.

Promoters will this year celebrate the centenary of the Peace Procession, held there in 1919, after Bacup Natural History Society secured another lottery grant.

Rawtenstall Annual Fair is also taking place while the festival is ongoing.

Fair organiser Sid Calderbank is also chairman of The Lancashire Society and is co-ordinating a large group of performers, who will be taking to the stage to keep traditional Lancashire dialect songs and poetry alive for present generations.

Alastair is also a member of Cacophony Arkestra ­— a musical carnival procession entry that will be appearing in both parades.

He added: “The festival will be a cultural celebration and will be an opportunity to bring together people of all ages and communities.

“We have a living heritage and it is about making that accessible to a modern day audience.”

The festival is set to conclude with a service at the historic Goodshaw Chapel.

Organisers are keen to hear of heritage-related events and meetings taking place while the festival is happening. For more details contact Esther Ferry-Kennington at The Boo on 01706 220241 or e-mail esther@horseandbamboo.org