Marsden Cuckoo Festival basks in glorious sunshine

Apr 26 2010 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HOARDS of visitors basked in glorious sunshine as Marsden Cuckoo Festival lived up to the legend.

The annual event is inspired by the tale that village folk – convinced the cuckoo’s arrival brought out the sun – tried to trap the bird to prolong the good weather.

As the myth goes, the wall they built was slightly too low.

But festival-goers on Saturday might have been forgiven for searching for a captive cuckoo or two.

Hundreds turned out as the village enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far.

Organiser Marie Kerr said: “It was incredibly busy. The numbers were greater than I have ever seen.”

The event, formerly called Cuckoo Day, started on Friday with a guided walk telling the story of the cuckoo legend.

Saturday’s programme included a craft fair, stalls, fairground rides, a duck race organised by the National Trust and a display of vintage engines and classic motorcycles.

Various dance groups, theatre groups and bands performed throughout the day.

Among the highlights was the traditional procession led by Marsden Silver Prize Band from Peel Street to Manchester Road, ending up at Wessen Court.

In a tradition revived from festivals past, children from Marsden Junior School and Marsden Infant and Nursery School designed wheelbarrow floats.