The hills of Horwich will be alive with the sound of music at the end of this month as a jam-packed family festival is set to take place.

The Festival of Horwich, a free event, will be taking place on Saturday, September 23 between noon-10pm at Horwich RMI.

The event will be a family day of live entertainment for the 'young and the young at heart' with inflatables, exhibitions, a bake-off, dog show competitions, magicians, giant bubbles, entertainers and food stalls from around the world.

At the festival there will be a tots and children's session with soft play, magicians and activities including arts and crafts from 10am to 4pm.

Inflatables will be free  between noon and 4.30pm, there will be an array of entertainment on the main stage and inside stage.

A bake-off will be open to bakers of all abilities and ages to create something ‘Fit for a Mayor’.

There will be a Tea Dance, a perfect afternoon for seniors to enjoy a slice of cake and a cup of tea with live entertainment from 12pm to 4pm.

And finally, there will be a dog show which starts at 1pm.

There will also be a Find the Mayor competition for all to enjoy.

Rachel Hughes, Events Coordinator for the Festival of Horwich, said: "The hills of Horwich are going to be well and truly filled with the sound of music, showcasing all the amazing talent of our Horwich residents.

“Two stages will showcase the creative and accomplished performers from our local dance schools, three Horwich based choirs, the Drum Room, and a host of fantastic musicians: all resident in our town.

“Our inside stage will host an extremely special Tea Dance for our senior community, hosted by Linda Hughes and supported by dancers from the newly acquired, Empowered Studios.

“There will be something for everyone – a crooner to sing along too, a party band to dance the night away with and talented youngsters from our local primary and secondary schools.

The Bolton News: Brochures will be posted through doors soonBrochures will be posted through doors soon (Image: Horwich Council)

“Please come and share your support – I am sure there will be plenty of familiar faces."

Kathryn Grant, co-ordinator of the event programme and part of the event committee, said: “I am so excited to see the event coming together and it will undoubtedly be a fantastic day for all the community to come and get involved, and is aimed at encompassing all ages and interests.

“The aim of the event is to bring about cohesion and togetherness in the community, and we are doing just that.

“The people of Horwich are proud of who and what we have in our local community and this day will be a day to celebrate just that.

“None of the events we have planned, the events programme or the prizes could have happened without the people that live and work in Horwich supporting us.

“It is amazing to see people come together like they have done!

“Please come and join us on the day, we have some fantastic entertainment to see, amazing local talent to showcase, and lots of family fun for the young, as well as for those that have maybe been young at heart for a little longer!”

Cllr Ryan Bamforth said: “I am feeling really excited, the town council before I was elected did something very similar to this with the Jubilee events over three separate locations however what they have done now is bring together all of their resources and all their funding into one large event in the centre of Horwich.

“I am really excited to see what Horwich brings forward from this event and I can’t thank the driving force behind this enough who have worked tirelessly.

“I am just excited to see the crowds of people coming in enjoying the day and the people celebrating what is an amazing town within the borough of Bolton.”

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.