Crosspool Festival 2025 Programme
Scarecrows have taken over the neighbourhood!
As part of this year’s Crosspool Festival, households & schools are decking out their front gardens & playgrounds with fabulous, funny, and farmyard-themed scarecrows for our much-loved competition.
Wander the streets, follow the trail, and see how many you can spot—there’s a straw-stuffed surprise around every corner!
Check out the list below to see where the fun begins.
Happy scarecrow spotting!
Charity Yard Sale & Community Picnic!
Den Bank Charity Yard Sale & Carver Fields Picnic & Games
This Saturday 28th June, 10am–4pm
Follow the Map to discover bargains and treasure filled Yard Sales, then bring a blanket and settle in for a relaxing picnic with lawn games at Carver Fields. All in support of a cause that touches many, raising funds for Motor Neuron Disease research and care!
Come browse, bring friends, and be part of something meaningful. Every item sold and every laugh shared helps make a difference. A fantastic community day, heartfelt and full of purpose.
Petal by Petal: A Tribute in Bloom
A dedicated Petalling Team of local residents, with a passion for tradition and creativity, are hard at work crafting a breathtaking mosaic for this year’s Crosspool Festival. Their design celebrates the bond between people and their beloved pets, capturing the tender moment of animals patiently awaiting their owners’ return.
Using a time-honoured technique, clay is pressed into wooden boards and a design is traced before being brought to life with carefully placed flower petals and natural materials, each one chosen and laid to brave the British weather. It’s a labour of love and a testament to the power of community spirit.
The Crosspool Well Dressing is more than just a beautiful display; it’s a celebration of heritage and a fundraiser for local causes. This year’s event supports Fir Vale Food Bank and The Family Work with every donation, no matter how small it will make a difference.
You’ll find the main display on Sandygate Road at the junction with Watt Lane from the evening of June 27th to July 6th. The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Come for the flowers, stay for the spirit and be part of something blooming wonderful.
Folk Chorale
Summer Treats
Scarecrow Competition – “On the Farm”!
Crosspool Festival invites you to create your own farmyard friend!
Open to all ages.
Residents, shops, and local groups are invited to design a scarecrow and display it proudly from Friday 27th June to Sunday 6th July.
Entry is just £4 (cash) via the Crosspool Pet Supplies (proceeds go to Crosspool Festival charities). Forms can be collected in-store or print one off via Crosspool News Website (crosspool.info). Entry closes Thursday 26th June!
Scarecrows should be visible from the road, be it your front garden, driveway, or pavement.
All entries will be judged up to Friday 4th July.
Winners will be announced at the Crosspool Summer Fayre on Saturday 5th July.
With fabulous prizes up for grabs and community creativity at its best, it’s an opportunity to show your inventiveness. Join in the fun and let your imagination run wild!
A reminder to make your Scarecrow sturdy and wildlife-friendly!
Share your Scarecrow photos online: – Email crosspoolforum@gmail.com
Crosspool 2025 Festival Exhibition
Get ready to share your creativity at this year’s Crosspool Festival Art, Craft & Photography Exhibition!
Tuesday 1st & Wednesday 2nd July, St. Columba’s Church.
It’s time to enter!
The ever-popular two-day exhibition invites the community to showcase their talents in Art, Craft, and Photography.
If you live, work, worship, volunteer, visit, shop, or study in the Crosspool area, you’re eligible to participate and have your submission aptly displayed!
This exhibition is all about your creativity. There is no theme to follow, just show us what you can create!
Enter as many categories as you like, but no more than two entries per category.
And there’s more, thanks to sponsorship from Cocker & Carr Estate Agents, you could win some exciting prizes.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this inspiring event!
Join the celebration—showcase your talent and be part of Crosspool’s creative spirit!
Creative Demonstrations & Public Voting
Over two days, enjoy live craft demonstrations by talented local residents on a wide range of crafts, including glass art, knitting, weaving, spinning, origami, and more!
All visitors will have the chance to vote for their favourite entries across two age groups:
- under 16s
- over 16s.
After the exhibition, Cocker & Carr Estate Agents will proudly feature some of the entries in a special window display.
How to Enter–
Art and Craft Creation
Entries are open for two age categories:
- Under 16s
- over 16 years
You may submit up to two original creations, crafted by yourself.
Each entry must be accompanied by a card containing: - Your name
- Your age category
- Your contact email and phone number
Starting Monday, 9th June, you can drop off your creations at Cocker & Carr Estate Agents.
The deadline for submissions is midday on Friday, 27th June. Don’t miss out!
Photography
Entries are open for two age groups:
- Under 16
- over 16 years.
You can submit a maximum of two images and the prints can be any size from A5 up to A3. They can be print only or be mounted or framed.
On the back you must state:
- Your name
- Your age category
- Your contact email and phone number
- A title for your photo.
Starting Monday, 9th June, you can drop off your entries at Cocker & Carr, Estate Agents.
The deadline for submissions is midday on Friday, 27th June. Don’t miss out!
Collection of your exhibits.
You can take home your work on Wednesday 2nd July from 5 to 6 pm or by special arrangements made via emailing the contact details below.
For further information on all the categories, contact: crosspoolfestivalphotos@gmail.com
Crosspool Festival Scarecrow Competition
The scarecrow competition is one of the most anticipated and beloved events of the Crosspool Festival, bringing creativity, community spirit, and a touch of fun to the celebrations.
Whether you’re a seasoned scarecrow maker or trying it for the first time, we can’t wait to see your imaginative creation!
Before you get started, please take a moment to review the important information below. Once you’ve read everything, kindly complete your details on an entry form—either download one or collect one from the “Crosspool Pet Supplies”.
This will enable us to register your entry and ensure you have everything you need to take part. The competition is open to anyone in the Crosspool area.
Display dates: Scarecrows need to be in place for the duration of the festival Friday the 27th of June to Sunday the 6th of July and clearly visible from the Driveway or Pavement outside your home. The scarecrows will be judged during this time.
Thanks to local businesses there are worthwhile prizes up for grabs.
The winner and two runners-up will be announced at the Crosspool Summer Fayre, “SDYST” Coldwell Lane on Saturday 5th July.
Theme: The theme for this year’s competition is ‘On the farm’. You are welcome to create anything you like based upon this theme.
Payment: Please pay £4 (cash) to the Crosspool Pet Supplies on Sandygate Road.
All proceeds will go to the Crosspool Festival Charities.
When making your scarecrow please be sure not to put anything in or on it that could fall off and become harmful to animals and wildlife habitats.
Thank you for joining us—we’re excited to see your masterpiece come to life!
Books wanted for Crosspool Summer Fayre
Book donations wanted for Crosspool Summer Fayre on Saturday 5th July.
Do you have any unwanted books that could find a new home at the Crosspool Summer Fayre book stall?
If you’re able to donate, your contribution would be greatly appreciated!
Kindly drop off your books at 17 Den Bank Drive by 21st June. This will allow the volunteers ample time to sort and organize the books, making it easier for visitors to find the titles they’re looking for at the stall
If you’re having difficulty transporting your books, call 0114 230 9469 or email: crosspoolforum@gmail.com
Crosspool News - crosspool.info 