The sun shines on Altrincham Festival (From Messenger Newspapers)

Organisers celebrate 'best-ever' Altrincham Festival

9:00am Tuesday 10th July 2012 in Altrincham

ORGANISERS are celebrating an outstanding Altrincham Festival - but it came close to being called off.

The sun came out for the annual community party as thousands of people enjoyed a feast of entertainment.

But just 24 hours earlier torrential rain had put the 35-year-old event in jeopardy.

The decision was made, though, that the show should go on - and that paid off as and estimated 20,000 people enjoyed the festival parade and showground entertainment at Beechfields Recreation Ground, Grange Avenue, Timperley,.

Festival chairman tony Fishwick said: “On the Friday I thought we might have to call off the festival.

“There had been heavy rain all day and the showground was waterlogged.

“But I decided to go ahead, while keeping the parade vehicles and big wagons off the showground.

“And thankfully the weather was perfect.

“It was a superb day. When you consider all the problems I think it was the best-ever Altrincham Festival. The day before you would not have believed we would have had a festival.”

There were 50 entries in a colourful parade. One of the stand-out floats was provided by Willows Primary School - and it gained five awards, including the ‘supreme entry’ prize.

Festival queen, Jodie Hill, and rosebud, Grace Reynolds, led the parade in a Rolls Royce convertible provided by festival patron Carole Nash.

Packed crowds on the showground were entertained by acts including an illusion and variety show, a Viking village display, brass bands, and dance and gymnastic displays. There were 120 stalls on the showground.

Tony added: “I would like to thank all the festival committee for their help with the parade and the show.”