By KLTV Newsdesk –

The much-anticipated Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival will return on Saturday, 22nd February 2025, marking its 40th anniversary.

The news comes after a successful bid to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a project commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Carr Lane parade of shops in the village centre.

Festival Launches “Shop” Project

In collaboration with Watershed Workshops, the festival organisers have announced that the 2025 Lantern Festival will kick off an 18-month project named “Shop.”

This project celebrates the centenary of the Carr Lane parade of eight shops, bringing the community together to create illuminated lanterns inspired by the shops’ historical and current uses.

Families will participate in lantern-making sessions during the February 2025 half-term week, crafting lanterns that depict shop buildings, old shop signs, and items sold in the shops.

Archiving Moonraking Memories

The project will also revive 40 years of Moonraking history, collecting and sharing an archive of photographs, videos, memorabilia, and stories.

These memories will inspire various celebration events, and the archive will become publicly accessible later in the year through a partnership with West Yorkshire Archives.

Exploring Carr Lane’s History

Over the next year, Watershed Workshops and the Moonraking Festival will explore the history of the eight shops built on Carr Lane in 1925.

Local groups will research and creatively present stories, leading to a series of exhibitions, performances, podcasts, and an audio trail around the village shops.

The project will culminate in an exhibition at Colne Valley Museum and a community celebration event.

The Carr Lane Parade, built in an art deco style by entrepreneur John Jagger in 1925, stands in the village centre opposite the canal. It replaced buildings demolished by the council to widen the road.

The Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival itself commemorates an 18th-century legend where smugglers, caught with bootleg barrels, claimed they were “raking the moon” from the canal to evade capture.

The festival embodies the area’s rebellious spirit, famous for its Luddites and strong community identity.

Community Participation

Susanna Meese, Chair of the Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival, expressed her excitement about the successful funding bid and called for community involvement.

“We’re thrilled that our joint bid with Watershed Workshops to The National Lottery Heritage Fund has been successful.

“We invite anyone who can help us celebrate our 40th anniversary in style to join us at The Watershed on Bridge Street on Saturday, 16th November, from 2 to 4 pm.”

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: “Slaithwaite has a fascinating history of folk traditions and a strong community identity.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, we are celebrating the anniversaries of the Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival and Carr Lane shops with a programme of activities, workshops, and events.”

For more information and to donate to the festival, visit the Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival’s website at https://www.slaithwaitemoonraking.org.uk/ and follow them on social media for the latest news on Moonraking 2025 plans!