Barnaby – what’s on this weekend?

There’s still plenty to enjoy at Barnaby Festival this weekend, with lots to see and do in Macclesfield town centre (and most of it free!).

On Saturday June 25 the first ever Macc-POW! comic convention opens with a ‘BANG!’ at the Old Sunday School (Heritage Centre): local cartoonist, Marc Jackson, joins a line-up of big names from the world of indie comics to celebrate comics and comic art from around the world.

Follow the clues on social media from midday to find out where free show ‘Jigs In Space’ is! MaccAstro present two free space talks at St Michael’s Church, with solar gazing from the cobbles of Market Place in the afternoon. From one o’clock Spacepod Challenge invites budding engineers to drop their constructed ‘pods’ (uncooked eggs) from a height of 6 meters, overseen by Robot Wars judge Dr Lucy Rogers.  Visual Arts continue around the town, with a discussion at the Gateway Gallery at 1pm about its fascinating exhibition, ‘No Space Like Home’, a festival commission which explores the complexities of hoarding disorder.

Saturday evening sees the spellbinding finale of the festival’s specially commissioned family spectacle, La Lune: ‘The Moon Rising’ takes place on Christ Church Lawns at 8.45pm and promises to be a magical and memorable occasion for everyone in Macclesfield.  Stay up after bedtime and magical things may happen…

Sunday June 26 is Treacle Market day and town will be filled with people enjoying double the fun. Big Brass Bonanza play show tunes and film music in St Michael’s Churchyard, followed by Contact Light! a new composition from Macclesfield Youth Brass Band and British Composer Award winner Lucy Pankhurst, narrated by Brian Blessed. Throughout the day, Barnaby’s green space known as Maccles-field becomes ‘Makers-field’, with artists and craftspeople demonstrating their skills.  Hondartza Fraga talks about her work with Jodrell Bank at 3.30pm at St Micheal’s.

Barnaby Festival Director, Karl Wallace, says: “Our first weekend was a sensation and the second will be too. Some events are a little more hidden and will have to be searched out.. but that’s all part of the fun, discovering Macc’s creative corners and hidden talents! We’re sure the La Lune finale, the Moon Rising will be talked about in the town for years to come – so come out and enjoy this star-spangled Barnaby.”