The countdown is on to Lindley’s annual ‘Big Weekend.’

Lindley village will have a three-day celebration between Friday June 23 and Sunday June 25.

The award-winning annual weekend of community events includes the Lindley 10k race, Lindley Carnival and the Lindley Street Party.

Festivities will kick-off with the Lindley Street Party on Friday June 23 between 6pm and 8pm on Lidget Street, in the heart of Lindley village.

The event is free and it’s an evening of stalls, street food, shopping and entertainment. There will be live music from local rock band Alex Spy.

Lindley Carnival will take place on Saturday June 24 between 1pm and 4pm at Fern Lea Recreation Ground. The carnival is a family event which is also free to attend. It will include a range of activities and entertainment, including live music, street food and other stalls as well as funfair activities.

The Carnival will feature Jez Avery Stunt Show, with the mountain bike stunt legend and all-round showman, Jez Avery, performing all his own stunts and using several different vehicles. The show will include wheelies, doughnuts, drifting, precision driving and two-wheel driving.

The new Mayor of Kirklees, Lindley councillor Cahal Burke, will be opening the carnival and will be attending all the community events.

As Mayor, he has chosen to support two charities during his term of office – Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Charity and the Royal Air Force Association (Huddersfield branch).

Money raised at Lindley Carnival and during the ‘Big Weekend’ will be used to support both charities. The organisers of the community events, Lindley Community Group, will also be supporting the Mayor’s Charity this year.

Finally, the Lindley 10k race will take place at 9.30am on Sunday June 25, starting and finishing on Lidget Street, near Lindley Library. It is a 10-kilometre race for participants aged 15 and over. The Lindley Junior Run will take place on the same day at the earlier time of 9am.

Lidget Street/Hollybank Road Car Park will be closed on the day of the race, but limited parking will be available on Acre Street, across from Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, next to the Old Wire Works pub.

There will be some road closures on Sunday, including Lidget Street between 6am and 12.30pm; Acre Street (from Lidget Street to the Old Wire Works pub), between 8am and 10am; West Street (8.30am to 10.30am) and Weatherhill Road and Lindley Moor Road (9am to 10am).

Clr Burke, who is also chair at Lindley Community Group, said: “We are once again delighted that we will be able to run a full schedule of events in 2023, as Covid previously disrupted the events.

“This year is particularly special, as we celebrate 10 years of the Lindley 10k race and 15 years of the Lindley Carnival. I’ve been fortunate to have been involved since the beginning and it’s fantastic that the weekend of community events is a regular fixture in Lindley’s community calendar. I believe that the events have also gone from strength to strength.

“There’s a lot of work involved, and I’d like to thank our volunteers who work all year round to make the weekend of community events a success and the best that it can be. These community events create a real buzz in Lindley and are always well attended and enjoyed by all.”

Clr Anthony Smith, secretary at Lindley Community Group, said: “We have a team of committed volunteers, but we’re looking for more support, so if you would like to get involved and help us, please get in touch!

“Volunteering is a fantastic way to socialise as well as gain invaluable work experience, improve self-esteem and make a positive difference to people’s lives.

“The Lindley ‘Big Weekend’ is an amazing weekend of community events, which really brings the community together and strengthens local connections. The events are also great fun!”

Anyone interested in volunteering during the weekend of community events can complete an online volunteer form at: http://www.lindleygroup.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/VOLUNTEER-RECRUITMENT-FORM-1.pdf.

Individuals can also find out more about voluntary opportunities in Lindley by contacting Lindley Community Group at: info@lindleygroup.org.uk. Alternatively, they can contact the Lindley councillors directly.

There are still spaces available for the Lindley 10k and the Lindley Junior Run on Sunday June 25. Further information and online entry are available online at: http://www.lindley10k.org.uk/.

Further information about the Mayor’s Charity of the Year in 2023/24 can be found at the following link: https://www.chftcharity.co.uk/mayors-charity-of-the-year.

Individuals, groups or businesses who would like to support Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Charity can send an email to: chftfundraising@cht.nhs.uk. They can also telephone them at: 01484 344344 or write to them at: Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Charity, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Lindley, Huddersfield, HD3 3EA.

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