| Where: | Littleborough, Greater Manchester at Hare Hill Park and The Square with Parade from the King Bill |
| When: | Weekend in late July |
| Time: | 10.30am-4pm |
The origins of the Rushcart are similar to the traditions of rushbearing which survives in Cumbia, but which have evolved in a different way. Rushes were gathered for strewing on the church floor and a boundary-walking processional element was common. The Rusbearing at Littleborough was revived in the early 1990s and is now a well established part of the local calendar. The Rushcart is paraded through town over the weekend by morris men accompanied by local dignitaries with a brass band accompaniment, stopping at hostelries for refreshment and dancing en route. There’s a family friendly fair in the park, and a ceilidh on Saturday night, with further parading and dancing on the Sunday.
Helpful Hints
Check the schedule on the LittleboroughLocal website or Facebook page (below) for full details of route and timings.
In 2024 it was on Saturday 20th July- 2025 date ie yet to be confirmed.
Click here for the local Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/leaf4you/posts/pfbid048ndmPDt5N6BGDGNkBPUnLSPVUdco7VYBNVWHGABqUwr4bLw6bA2dmxoBULreMQxl?locale=en_GB
Click here for the event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Oakenhoof
and website : http://cloggin.co.uk
For more info click here : http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/sites/littleborough-events-and-associations-forum/rushbearing-festival
For LittleboroughLocal click here: http://www.littleboroughlocal.co.uk
For Rochdale Morris contacts click here: http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/sites/rochdale-morris
Hi am Andreapalmer would you like some help at the littleborough rush bearing I can help,out at the sunday one like take some photos and videos.i was at the littleborough food and drink festival last week when took out som good videos and photos and one of the videos went viral
Hi Andrea,
Your message has come to calendarcustoms rather than the organisers of the rush bearing – I’m sure they’ll be really glad to have your help but you’ll need to contact them direct at http://cloggin.co.uk/content/say-hello
Best wishes,
Averil
My dad John Smith restarted this tradition in the 90s with Rochdale Morris, I spent many summers helping to cut the reeds. My dad died last year. Please say some words at the festival for him.
Thanks for the message Lisa- I’ve passed it on to the organisers of the Festival (here at Calendar Customs we don’t have anything to do with the running of the event), so hopefully they’ll be able to do that.Sorry to hear of your loss- you must be proud that his legacy is still going today,
Best wishes,
Averil
I’ve just heard back from Oakenhoof who now organise the event and this is what they said: “Thanks so much for getting in touch. Please let Lisa know that we will raise a toast to John Smith at our cart dressing next Friday at Warland.” You can find their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Oakenhoof – thought you might like to follow them,
Best wishes,
Averil