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THE BIG GAMES - FAMILY FUN EVENTS The BIG Games is a series of events boroughwide to mark this special year. Taking place over four weekends in June and July, it is a collaboration with around fifty different clubs and groups who are taking part to provide a showcase of sports, arts and heritage with FREE taster sessions for all ages. See next page for details of dates and venues and go online to www.link4life.org/bigyear for the complete programme or call into your nearest centre. Activities include everything from Archery to Zumba. Each centre has its own special activities with free swimming as well as indoor and outdoor sports including climbing, mountain biking, boxing, karate, tennis, basketball and a range of dance and aerobics sessions. There will be free goody bags for the first 500 to register on each day and spot prizes as well as the chance to win tickets for the London 2012 Football at Old Trafford in July. It’s a fantastic series of events and all free – come prepared to join in the fun.
THE BIG WATER FESTIVAL SUNDAY 3 JUNE 10AM-4PM HOLLINGWORTH LAKE The BIG Water Festival signals the start of the Rochdale Borough Big Games festival that runs in the borough from June to August. With the event centre based around Lakebank on Hollingworth Lake it takes place over the Diamond Jubilee weekend and if you can’t get to the Thames then celebrate it on one of the North West of England’s finest stretches of water instead. Organised by Link4Life the day offers free and low cost taster sessions at Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre, Lakebank. A family day out for all ages – from age 4 upwards - you can fly across the lake on a windsurfer, paddle around the lake in a kayak, glide over the lake in a sailing boat and power through the lake in a rafted canoe. All water sports sessions cost £2 and run every hour on the hour. No equipment is needed (except for a towel and shoes to get wet) and are booked on the day. Free taster sessions on dry land include the Mountain Bike Shore Trax and Climbing Tower with additional face painting and balloon art. Two of Great Britain’s historically strongest sports will also be showcased during the day with Open Days at neighbouring Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club and Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club. The training ground of current World Silver medal yachtsman and London 2012 Olympic hopeful Stuart Bithell, the Sailing Club will give an insight into what it takes to be an Olympic yachtsman with the chance to watch special races from the water as well as take a Clubhouse tour and enjoy panoramic views across the Lake. A low cost taster session on a Racing Dinghy is also available (bring waterproofs, shoes and towel and be prepared to get wet!). Providing 140 years of top class rowing, Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club will also be showing people around their boathouse and club and be running indoor rowing competitions all afternoon with refreshments available.
BIG DANCE WEEK 7-15 JULY 2012 - HEYWOOD CIVIC CENTRE BIG Dance Week is Rochdale borough’s celebration of this national dance festival with a week of free taster sessions and the chance to try a wide range of dance forms. This London 2012 Inspire Project is based around Heywood Civic Centre and is a celebration that involves local groups and dance schools with something for all ages. The festival opens at Touchstones Rochdale Arts & Heritage Centre on Saturday 7 July at the launch event for ‘A Century Later’ an Inspire marked exhibition of contemporary art from the Rochdale borough collections. It then moves to Heywood Civic Centre from Sunday 8th starting with an afternoon of ballroom and sequence dancing plus the launch of the new Sunday Night Dance Club with a lively night of dancing including Latin, Latin Line, French Jive, Rock n Roll, Argentine Tango and Disco. The final weekend has a day of dance for all ages from 2 years upwards with free tasters running all day Saturday 14th from 11am-3.30pm and in the evening a ‘Glad Rags Ball’ with a sophisticated evening of ballroom and sequence with special guests. The festival ends with a ‘Strictly Over 35s Dance Night’ on Sunday 15th July with live music on stage from Johnny Sax and a special Kylie Minogue tribute. Full details of the full week’s programme can be seen on the website or ring Heywood Civic Centre on 01706 368130. Dance experience not needed!
LIGHT A LANTERN PARALYMPIC TORCH CELEBRATION FRIDAY 24 AUGUST 5.30PM-9.30PM - QUEEN’S PARK, HEYWOOD The BIG Games Paralympic Torch Event ‘Light a Lantern’ is Rochdale Borough’s local celebration event as part of the National Flame Celebrations to launch the Paralympic Games. It takes place in Queen’s Park, Heywood starting at 5.30pm with sports taster sessions including cycling, angling, tennis, climbing, seated volleyball, rugby, football, bowling, orienteering and cricket. Live music will also feature as part of the event at the park’s bandstand culminating in the Light a Lantern parade at 8pm led by the Mayor of Rochdale and featuring groups who have participated in lantern making workshops at earlier Big Games events. Admission to the festival and its activities are free and open to all.
www.link4life.org/whatson