A vibrant parade celebrating ‘The Four Elements’ gave Waterfoot Wakes a colourful start to the Rossendale festival.

Cacophony Arkestra donned brilliant fire-coloured outfits as they loudly led the parade from Edgeside Park to Waterfoot centre on Saturday (July 8).

They were joined by different schools, community groups and families who had made outfits to represent earth, fire, air and water at a series of free workshops held at the Horse and Bamboo Theatre.

Julie Lee, who was watching with her five-year-old daughter Georgia, said: “We came last year for the first time and this year is even better and there are more in the parade.”

Crowds gathered as the parade arrived in Waterfoot centre, but as they got to the performance arena at Mytholme Play Area, the rain came down so everyone hastily relocated to the Horse and Bamboo Theatre before the forecast thunderstorm arrived.

Despite the weather, the entertainment continued all afternoon as AZ Kabile belly dancers performed in the café bar as well as dancer Aimee Lily with her movement piece, Seikle Solo.

On Friday night (July 7), there was a full house for rock, pop and reggae band Jeramiah Ferrari supported by Good Habits.

Sarah Goodchild, from Bacup, said: “I had never seen the group before, but they were brilliant.

"They came out into the audience and the room was bursting.

"The support act was an accordion player and cello and the music was something else.”

Lancashire Telegraph: Betty Brown BagsBetty Brown Bags (Image: Catherine Smyth Media)

Sarah, and daughter Rosie, 11, also went along to watch Betty Brown Bags on Sunday (July 9) and they said it was very funny and they enjoyed the folk singing, clog dancing and puppetry.

They joined a tour of the theatre to the upstairs workshops people normally never see and said they would be back for the film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, being screened on Saturday, July 15, and to see the Henna artists and take part in a Bollywood workshop on Sunday, July 16.

A popular circus workshop in the garden at the rear of the theatre saw children and adults learning new skills.

Lancashire Telegraph: Frankie and Aidan KershawFrankie and Aidan Kershaw (Image: Catherine Smyth Media)

Abbie Kershaw, from Whitworth, brought along her daughter Frankie, 9, and her 6-year-old son Aidan and Sarah Kershaw, who runs Circus Sazzle, taught them how to perform with flower sticks.

Frankie said: “It was quite easy because the sticks are rubberised so the flower sticks stuck to them. It has been good fun.”

Executive producer of Waterfoot Wakes, Jenn Camilleri said: “We had a great turnout for the parade and when we relocated into the theatre it was great to see the seats full.

“Every day this week at 12 noon and 2.30pm, people have the chance to go on a tour of the Horse and Bamboo, everyone is always amazed at just how big the building is and this is their chance to look beyond the door.”

For more information on events visit www.horseandbamboo.org.