Here's our guide to what you can do in and around Bolton this Bank Holiday.
1. This weekend sees the return of Bolton's biggest rock festival will welcome 10,000 people into Queens Park. Boltfest features a host of tribute acts, up and coming local bands and musicians who will be entertaining the crowds across two stages — the Main Stage and the Blind Tiger Stage — on Saturday and Sunday from noon until late.
The event proves to be one of the town’s biggest hits with all 10,000 free tickets already snapped up.
2. Meanwhile over at Smithills Estate, off Barrow Bridge Road, the animal kingdom will be taking the spotlight. Starting on Friday the Wildlife Trust will be hosting the Big Bolton Bioblitz. Visitors can discover the natural treasures of Bolton over the course of the two day event which will survey the nocturnal and early morning wildlife at the estate and take part in pond dipping and bug hunting.
3. If you prefer cakes baking to bugs head to Bolton Market on Saturday where a day of activities are being hosted to celebrate Love Your Local Market fortnight.
Activities include a free children’s cupcake workshop from 10.30am to 12.30pm, cookery demos in the Lifestyle Hall from 1pm, floral masterclass from 12.30pm and a chance to win a tropical flower arrangement and a wedding bouquet.
4. Fancy yourself as a bit of a Dame or sympathise with the back end of the donkey, well your calling awaits at the Macron Stadium. From 1pm to 2pm Big Bolton Panto will be holding open auditions for a starring role in this year’s production of Dick Whittington.
TV favourites Keith Chegwin and Roxanne Pallett will be on the judging panel. They are appearing in the Panto which is searching for local, Bolton talent to take on the role of King or Queen Rat.
5. This Bank Holiday weekend Bolton’s Wyevale Garden Centre, in Wigan Road, is starting its celebration of summer. The centre is hosting a series of events looking at the importance of the humble honey bee. From Friday to Monday there will be a free Busy Bee Hunt with children are invited to find six busy bees hidden all around the garden centre.
6. Little ones can head to Bolton’s Central Library and Museum on Saturday for its Free Super Saturday event. The family friendly day of activities will be celebrating Elmer Day.
Join us for our FREE Super Saturday, a day of themed family friendly activities. This month we are celebrating the vibrant colours in our Museum collections and it's Elmer Day!
Elmer the patchwork elephant has been a nursery favourite since the first book was published in 1989 and a number of activities are taking place across the UK to celebrate the stories.
The Museum begins its Super Saturday at 11am with a fish feed, with many activities across the day including Elmer Day crafts from 1pm to 3pm.
Other museums around Bolton will also be taking part.
7. The Central Library and Museum continue activities on Bank Holiday Monday with free drop-in craft sessions for children aged four to 11, from 1.30 to 3pm.
8. For the adults out there who remember the dizzying heights of Manchester’s Hacienda days there’s a chance to relive the music madness in Bolton on Saturday evening. The Corner Club in Bradshawgate will be welcoming Tom Wainwright for its Era night.
Now a full-time lawyer, Tom was at one point a staple of the Hacienda nightclub, DJ-ing in its early slot as a warm-up act to some of the biggest bands in the world. He later went on to headline at institutions like Shindig and Bed. He is DJ-ing again in Bolton alongside Danny Whitehead, Lance Superfly Cunningham and Dave Redmond from 9pm to 3am. Earlybird tickets cost £8.
9. On Sunday to Monday there will be a Big Bolton family fun day at the Macron Stadium. Organised in aid of charity by the Muslim Community Events Bolton team there will be a mini theme park, F1 simulator, live performances, BBQ, freshly cooked clay oven pizza, cakes and exotic foods, face painting, fast cars, pony rides, a grand auction and over 100 stalls.
There will also be a display of the newest range of Audi models, including the R8, Q7, S3, A4 and Audi TT.
10. Over the same two days, Bolton Steam Museum will have its engines running for a free to attend Bank Holiday opening.
Based in Mornington Road, off Chorley Old Road, from 10am to volunteers from the charity group will be showing off some of its 30 rescued and restored stationary steam engines, some of which once powered the cotton mills of Lancashire.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here