BLOG – Live Well Spring Festival & Eid Celebrations at Stoneyfield Park, Rochdale
On Saturday 21st March 2026, to celebrate Eid and as part of the Live Well spring festival, local volunteers, supported by the Groundwork team, hosted a community celebration day at Stoneyfield Park in Rochdale. The event was a huge success, welcoming an estimated 200 people throughout the day, bringing together a vibrant mix of ages and backgrounds and creating an inclusive and lively atmosphere for all who attended.
Guests enjoyed a variety of activities alongside plenty of delicious food, with a whopping 225 samosas shared over the course of the day! Many attendees commented on how much they valued the opportunity to be outdoors, reconnect with familiar faces and meet others from across the community.
How the Event Came About
The event was initiated by the park’s Green Community Hub Steering Group, who wanted to generate more interest in volunteering and looking after the park, while renewing their connection with the local community. The celebration also provided an opportunity to bring people together in a positive, inclusive setting that reflected the diversity of the area.
Inspiring More Community Volunteers
The celebration successfully inspired attendees to get more involved in their local park with a total of 18 new people expressing an interest in volunteering. Their interests ranged from gardening and facilitating arts and crafts activities to running more activities for younger people. This is a great outcome for the Green Community Hub Steering Group, who are keen to mobilize more community action in the area.
Strengthening Community Connections
The celebration day highlighted the important role events like this play in fostering community cohesion. People from different cultures, religions, and ethnic backgrounds came together, helping to reduce social isolation and providing opportunities for cultural education for those who may not be familiar with Eid traditions. Neighbours reconnected, new friendships were formed, and the overall sense of belonging was strengthened. One attendee summed it up perfectly:
“Everything is great, we need more of this!”
Other comments such as “Thank you so much and Eid Mubarak” reflected the meaningful impact of the day. Others shared:
“It is so nice to all be together outside again, I have seen lots of people from my community today that I haven’t seen in a long time.”
“The children have really enjoyed the food and activities.”
“Very enjoyable, loved the atmosphere and it’s free!”
The celebration successfully combined fun, food, and community spirit, creating a lasting positive impression.
We look forward to building on this success and working with the community to create more opportunities for people to come together in the future.