1261 Festival Event Listings

Saturday 20th June 2026

Macclesfield’s biggest community celebration returns on Saturday 20th June as the 1261 Festival transforms the town centre into a giant showcase of music, art, history, creativity and family fun.

Organised by Macclesfield Town Council, the festival commemorates the year the town received its charter and features dozens of free activities spread across the town centre. From circus workshops and live music to history tours and hands-on crafts, there is something happening from early morning through until the evening.

The offical festival prgramme is available to read or download via this link – click here

We’ve listed a quick guide for the events happening over the day.

Whilst all the activities are free, some events are subject to pre-ooking due to limited availability – you can book for those events at the MTC Eventbrite page – Click Here . Hurry – as many event slots are booking fast!

Early Bird Activities (From 9am )

Crafts at the Library

9am – 11am
📍 Macclesfield Library, Jordangate

Young visitors can make festival rosettes and enjoy temporary tattoos before the main festival gets underway. A perfect starting point for families.

Sensory Museum Tots

9.15am – 10am
📍 Silk Museum, Park Green

A specially designed multi-sensory experience for preschool children featuring immersive lighting and sound effects. Advance booking required.

From 10am: Festival Activities Begin

Market Place

Sylk Dance Academy Street Dance Performance

10am – 10.30am
📍 Market Place

A high-energy performance featuring dancers trained by Britain’s Got Talent choreographer Lewis Tigran and former Breakdance World Champion Rikki Prince.

Live Window Art at Pizza Express

From 10am
📍 Pizza Express, Market Place

Watch artists create live artwork throughout the day, enjoy free dough ball samples and even try your hand at dough-flaring.

Children’s Clay Workshop – Who Let The Dogs Out?

10am – 4pm
📍 01625 Gallery, Market Place

Local ceramic artist Helen Wright will help children create their own clay animals to take home.

Old Town Hall

Buttonhole Making with HOMEstead GROWN

10am – 2pm
📍 Capesthorne Room

Create a seasonal flower buttonhole to take home. Perfect for anyone wanting to get creative with flowers.

WonderDome Mobile Planetarium

10am – 4pm
📍 Assembly Room

Step inside a giant inflatable planetarium and journey through space with presenter-led shows exploring planets, stars and the universe. Booking required.

Macc Links Community Project

10am – 4pm
📍 Capesthorne Room

Add your family’s connections to a giant world map and contribute to a community film project.

Silk Museum & Park Green

The Silk Museum becomes one of the festival’s busiest venues with:

• Yoga Zoo (10am and 11.30am sessions)
• S4A Sensory Space (10am – 3.30pm)
• DIY Fidget Toy Workshop (10am – 12.30pm)
• Community FC Photography Exhibition (10am – 4pm)
• Time & Place Textile Exhibition (10am – 4pm)
• James Kochalka’s Gentle Observations Exhibition (10am – 4pm)
• Writing for Wellbeing Workshop (10.30am – 12pm)

Around Town

Other activities beginning at 10am include:

• Rolph & Co Photography Trail (10am – 4pm)
• Print Your Own Town Crest Hankies (Market Hall, 10am – 2pm)
• Lights, Camera…Disguise! at Z in the Attic (10am – 3pm)
• Bushcraft Adventure Day at The One Project Urban Garden (10am – 2.30pm)

The 1261 Parade

11am Start

The festival’s centrepiece is the annual 1261 Parade, coordinated by Macclesfield Community ArtSpace.

This year’s theme is Films, with local groups creating costumes, props and performances inspired by cinema.

The route travels through:

• Mill Street
• Chestergate
• Churchill Way
• Bridge Street
• Roe Street

Visitors are encouraged to line the streets and cheer on participants as they make their way through the town centre.

Midday Entertainment (12pm – 2pm)

Market Place

Sylk Dance Academy Parade Performance

12pm – 12.30pm

A second dance showcase immediately following the parade.

The Poetry Machine

11am – 3pm

Poet Beth Calverley creates personalised poems inspired by conversations with festival visitors.

Town Centre

The Great Comics Tour

11am – 2pm

Cartoonist Marc Jackson roams the town creating free sketches and cartoons.

Close-Up Magic

10.30am – 1.30pm

Christopher Hickey returns with his popular walkabout magic performances.

Walking Tours

Ian, Macc and Me – A Joy Division Tour

10.30am – 12.30pm
📍 Starts at Sparrow Park

A unique guided walk exploring Ian Curtis, Joy Division and Macclesfield’s musical heritage.

Murder, Mayhem & Mavericks

12pm – 1pm
📍 Starts at Macclesfield Town Hall

Explore the darker side of local history with tales of crime, scandal and eccentric characters.

Medieval Drawing Tour

12.30pm – 1.20pm
📍 St Michael’s Churchyard

A family-friendly artistic journey through Macclesfield’s medieval history.

Afternoon Highlights (1pm – 4pm)

Market Hall

The indoor market becomes a creative hub featuring:

• BrickLab Academy LEGO Building Workshop (1pm – 4pm)
• InkMark Caricatures (1pm – 3pm)
• Spoon Characters with ArtSpace (1pm – 3pm)

All activities are free and suitable for families.

The Depot, Chestergate

Wild Hearts Art Club

12pm – 2pm

Children can help create a giant community mural inspired by Macclesfield’s silk heritage.

A Slice of Summer Days

12pm – 6pm

A mini version of the popular street party featuring:

• Live DJs
• Street food
• Craft drinks
• Independent traders
• Arts activities

A relaxed festival atmosphere perfect for spending the afternoon.

Live Music Throughout the Afternoon

Castle Street

The Voice Box Music Collective

Set times:

• 11.30am
• 1.30pm
• 2.45pm
• 4pm

Expect vintage-inspired versions of popular classics performed by West End vocalist Gemma and local saxophonist Ben.

Chestergate LIVE

12.30pm – 7pm

One of the biggest music areas of the festival.

Line-up includes:

• 12.30pm – Sax on the Street
• DJ Osci throughout the afternoon
• 3pm – Smugglin’ Budgies
• 6pm – The Dopes

Food, drinks and outdoor seating will create a street-party atmosphere along Chestergate.

Choir Performances

• Macclesfield Male Voice Choir (10.40am & 11.20am)
• Magic Voices Choir (12.30pm – 1pm)

Both performances take place at the Silk Museum and Castle Street areas.

Family Attractions Running Throughout The Day

• Aerial Circus Workshops with Let’s Circus (11am – 5pm)
• Christ Church Family Fun Day (11am – 4pm)
• Macclesfield History Tapestry Exhibition (10am – 4pm)
• 01625 Gallery Dog Sculpture Exhibition (all day)
• Lady of the Loom walkabout performances (12.15pm – 4.30pm)
• Sunflower planting workshops
• Interactive arts projects
• Museum exhibitions and installations

Top Picks

⭐ The 1261 Parade – 11am
⭐ WonderDome Planetarium
⭐ Chestergate LIVE Street Party
⭐ Murder, Mayhem & Mavericks Tour
⭐ A Slice of Summer Days at The Depot
⭐ Let’s Circus Aerial Workshops
⭐ Joy Division Walking Tour
⭐ Wild Hearts Community Mural

With over 40 free activities taking place across the town centre, the 2026 1261 Festival promises to be one of Macclesfield’s biggest and most vibrant community celebrations of the year.

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