To celebrate Bolton Food and Drink Festivals 18th year, we asked children to let their imaginations run wild and design party hats which will be the crowning glory on the town hall lions.
We’re excited to announce the two winners have been chosen and Eva Wilkinson, age 7, who attends Turton and Edgworth CE Methodist Primary School and Lucy Shaw, age 9, who attends St Thomas of Canterbury RC School will now see their designs brought to life.
Both designs were full of colour and celebrated our town whilst capturing the spirit the festival and our 18th birthday celebration.
Competition entries were shortlisted by a panel of judges and Eva was selected as panel’s choice winner.
The remaining entries were put to public vote via Facebook and Lucy was crowned people’s choice winner.
The winning designs will be created from recyclable materials and be the crowning glory of the town hall lions throughout the festival weekend.
The winners will each receive a £100 high street shopping voucher and their schools will each receive a £100 book voucher.
Prizes have been kindly provided by our partner Recycle for Greater Manchester.
All entries will be displayed in the town centre over the festival weekend (25th-28th August 2023).
Bolton Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Akhtar Zaman, said:
“It’s been wonderful to see so many fantastic entries and the creative talents of our young people.
“I’m sure the winners and their families will be very proud to have their designs brought to life and we all look forward to seeing them at the festival.”
GMCA Chief Executive Lead for Environment, Waste and Recycling Harry Catherall said:
“At Recycle for Greater Manchester we’re always working to help residents see the value of their waste and the real benefits that can be achieved by wasting less and recycling more.
“With the increased cost of food, we’re proud to support Bolton Food and Drink Festival once again, helping residents reduce their food waste, save money, and help the environment.
“This year, as well as reminding residents about reducing their food waste, we were delighted to be part of the judging panel of the design competition.
“It’s been great opportunity to rethink our relationship with ‘stuff’. We need to throw less away and start to reuse and repair as well as recycle.
“We can’t wait to see the lions wearing exciting and innovative designs using stuff that would have been thrown away!
“We’d like to invite Eva, Lucy and their classmates to our Education Centre at the Longley Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre to visit our Materials Recovery Facility and see what happens to waste in Greater Manchester.”
Executive Director for Strategic Investment & Growth at Peel L&P, Bolton Food and Drink Festival’s headline sponsor, Stephen Wild said:
“Bolton is home to some of the best artists and creative thinkers in the country and that talent shines through in Lucy’s, Eva’s, and all entrant’s designs.
“I can’t wait to see these entries brought to life in the town centre and be worn proudly by our town hall lions.”
The UK’s largest and award-winning food and drink festival is back in Bolton town centre this August Bank Holiday weekend bringing a spectacle of fun and entertainment for everyone.
2023 promises to be a special affair, as the festival will celebrate its 18th birthday in style with a brand-new menu of celebrity chefs and special events!
The festival will feature live music, a bar and food stalls, and activities for children and young people of all ages.
Organised by Bolton Council in partnership with headline sponsor Peel L&P, you can find out more at www.boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com.