Bolton celebrates town of culture reign with a family-friendly gala finale

Bolton is set to celebrate its reign as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture with a community-led finale this spring.

Taking place on Sat 15 Mar, the event will mark the culmination of the town’s status as the region’s Town of Culture, an initiative set up in 2019 by Mayor Andy Burnham.

The gala event promises a ‘vibrant finale to a year filled with cultural richness, amazing events, and community spirit.’

Since being awarded Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture, Bolton has hosted a packed calendar that has included everything from creative workshops, performances and music sessions to film tours and special events, including the Put Big Light On festival.

With family-friendly, diverse, and artistic activities, the Bolton Gala promises to be a day of celebration, reflection, and community pride. The programme so far includes several artistic highlights like Documenting Your Community, a collaborative exhibition with the British Culture Archive, featuring works by local photographer Don Tonge and contributions from the public.

The Falcon Mill Open exhibition will showcase local talents in various mediums, Beacons of Bolton at P5 Gallery which will act as a tribute to the landmarks and people that light up Bolton, and Social Fabric at Creatives Now Gallery, exploring the tapestry of Bolton’s cultural history.

Elsewhere, there will be an array of entertainment at Victoria Hall with performances from local singers, musicians, dancers and comedians throughout the day, Be Wild Creative will be offering family art sessions while Bolton Central Library will host Storytelling Magic sessions. 

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub said: “We’re looking forward to rounding off an incredible year as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture 2024, with more welcoming, family-friendly activities around the town that celebrates our artistic talents and collaborative, community spirit.

“We’ve seen Bolton shine like never before, and we’re excited to celebrate every artist, participant, and visitor who made this year unforgettable.

“Winning this award has been a bonus for our town events team who work hard every year to make Bolton a fantastic, welcoming place that attracts so many visitors, and we can’t wait to continue making Bolton a place representing creative culture and talent.”

For more details on the event, keep an eye on Bolton Town of Culture’s social media.