A TOWN is gearing up for its biggest party of the year.

Sale Festival plans to offer a week long feast of fun for the people of the area, as well as raising vital cash for a number of charities.

The festival week begins next Saturday, June 19 and continues until the following Sunday.

Events include the grand parade on Sunday June 20, which will assemble on Grosvenor Road, near Ashton Park, before setting off at 1pm.

It will travel down Glebelands Road and Green Lane, through Ashton on Mersey village, up Ashton Lane, left onto Park Road, right onto Atkinson Road, across the main A56 Cross Street and up Ashfieold road, right onto Tatton Road, left onto School Road and past the town hall and down Northenden Road before turning down Irlam Road and Charlton Drive to the fete at Worthington Park.

A wide variety of musical, sporting, boating and other events are there to entertain local people during the week.

Michael Riley, secretary of the festival organising committee, told SAM this week: "We are hoping that the festival will be a great success and the ultimate objective is to raise a lot of money for charity."

Highlights

Saturday, June 19

12 noon, Festival regatta, Bridgewater Canal, Dane Road Bridge.

2pm, Crowning of festival princess and rosebud, Town Square.

7.30pm Music for a great occasion, Owen Wynne Chorale and Festival orchestra, Civic Theatre. Proceeds to Trafford Mayoral Millennium Appeal.

Sunday, June 20

Festival parade (see details above and map below left)

Tuesday, June 22

7.30pm, There's a club near you...a chance to find out more about clubs, voluntary groups and societies in the town, Civic Theatre.

Wednesday, June 23

7.30pm, local historian Alan Morrison discusses Old Sale and its people, Civic Theatre.

Thursday, June 24

7.30pm, Sale Flower Club and Ashton and Sale Floral Art Group presentation, Civic Theatre.

Friday June 25

10am-4pm, Festival antiques roadshow, Eaton Court, 114, Washway Road, Sale.

7.45pm, Last Night of the Proms, with Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force County Concert Band, Civic Theatre.

Saturday, June 26

7.45pm, Midsummer Music, with the Trafford Youth Concert Band and Sylvan Singers, Sale Civic Theatre.

9pm, grand festival draw, first prize a colour television, Civic Theatre

Sunday, June 27

3pm, Songs of Praise, service for all religions, Salvation Army Hall, Ashton Lane.

Festival programmes are on sale in Trafford Direct 2000, Tatton Road, Sale.

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