Westhoughton Carnival to return after 20 years away

If you’re of a certain age, you likely remember when it was at its height – parades, music, floats, celebrities.

And sadly, you also probably remember its gradual fading in the early noughties, where expanding costs and shrinking crowds brought the former summer mainstay to its knees, culminating in its eventual cancellation.

The Bethel Crowd Amateur Dramatics Society at the Westhoughton Carnival procession August 2005 (Image: Karen Hope)

But now, Westhoughton community group Howfen Wakes is set to bring back the Carnival after an absence of around 20 years.

That’s 20 summers without the sight of costumes and parades, without the smell of hotdogs and popcorn, without the sounds of the brass band or the rollercoaster.

The carnival will start small and hopefully expand, depending on popularity, as the team try to turn their much-loved childhood memories into a reality once again.

Westhoughton carnival float (Image: Kerry Dunk Leigh)

Hazel Bumby from Howfen Wakes said: “I remember it from when I was a teenager, so it was last on probably about 20 years ago.

“We’d have celebrities, floats, open top cars, people throwing sweets into the crowd – although you probably couldn’t get away with that now.”

‘Howfen’ is a slang term for a Westhoughtoner, so ‘Howfen Wakes’ refers to the reawakening of the Howfens as they revive their carnival.

The Bourbon Street Roof Raisers provide the music at the Westhoughton Carnival procession. August 14, 2005.. (Image: Karen Hope)

According to Westhoughton councillor David Wilkinson, the carnival began as an agricultural show, where locals could display their wares.

The show expanded, however, eventually blooming into a full carnival with all the usual trappings – stalls, food, floats, a ‘carnival queen’.

“We’d go down Bolton Road across Market Street and into central drive over to then park then we’d have a celebrity open the carnival.”

Members of Bolton Spartans Scooter Club got into the carnival spirit back in 1962 when they prepared to take part in the procession for Westhoughton Carnival dressed in home-made costumes (Image: Archive)

The new edition of the carnival is starting small with a party in the park – stalls, amusements, food, face painting and hair braiding for the kids.

This nullifies one of the largest carnival expenses – paying for road closures.

According to Cllr Wilkinson, it was this this and other expenses that lead to the dissolution of the carnival the first time around.

Sarah Hall, the Westhoughton Carnival Queen Elect at the Westhoughton Carnival procession August 2005.. (Image: Karen Hope)

“Road closures are expensive, traffic management is expensive.

“But after such a long period of time you have to start somewhere.

“It was well attended in its heyday – everyone looked forward to it but there was a lot of cost.”

The Westhoughton Carnival procession. Photo by Karen Hope, Bolton Evening News, Sunday August 14, 2005. (Image: Karen Hope)

Cllr Wilkinson himself related a story of how he used to enter the carnival show with homegrown goods of his.

If this first carnival is a success, however, the team are planning to expand until it begins to approach its former pomp, with street parades, floats, and live entertainment.