Good Morning Cheshire! 👋 

Cheshire is buzzing this week with everything from fireworks to food trucks, family fun to Fleetwood Mac tributes.

In this week’s Cheshire Buzz:

• 🎆 Fireworks Champions 2025 lights up Arley Hall

• 🎶 Charity gigs and music fests across Malpas, Chester & Crewe

• 🐑 Sheepdog trials, free climbing walls & fairy garden workshops

• 🛍️ Artisan markets in Sandbach, Northwich & Winsford

• 🐴 Meet the gentle giants at Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre

• 💎 Hidden Gem: A perfectly preserved 1950s train station on the Wirral Way

Plus: a Greek food night, owl encounters, zoo after-hours, and your chance to vote on our new format 👇

Let’s dive in!

🎉 What’s On In Cheshire

🎉 Topsy Turvy 25’
8-10 Aug, Whitby Park, Ellesmere Port
Free outdoor festival of circus, puppetry, DJ sets, workshops and interactive installations for all ages, plus ticketed & “Pay What You Like” indoor shows.
👉 Details

🎶 Deva Fest 2025
7-10 Aug, Cholmondeley Castle, Malpas
A family-friendly festival with indie acts, comedy, fairground rides and street food - over four days of summer sunshine and fun.
👉 Details

🎶 Firevolt Festival
8-10 Aug, Whitebottom Farm, near Etherow Country Park
Three days of hard rock, blues and classic bands under big top tents; camping, beer tents, and food stalls included.
👉 Details

🐑 Macclesfield & District Sheepdog Trials
8-9 Aug, Sutton Hall Farm, Bullocks Lane, Sutton, Macclesfield
Friday’s tug-of-war and Saturday’s trial runs showcase local and international handlers, plus craft fair, bar and family picnic areas.
👉 Details

🧗 Free Climbing Wall at The Carrs
8 Aug, 10:30-4:30pm, The Carrs, Wilmslow
Wilmslow Town Council brings a staffed climbing wall (suitable 4+) to The Carrs play area - free, no booking needed, trainers recommended.
👉 Details

🎶 Fleetwood Shack: Tribute to the Music of Fleetwood Mac
8 Aug, 7:30pm-2am, The Arena Crewe
Relive the magic of Fleetwood Mac hits such as ‘Go Your Own Way’, ‘Dreams’, ‘The Chain’ and more, with an authentic tribute followed by a classic rock disco.
👉 Details

🤝 Business Networking Event
8 Aug, 9:30-11:30am, Woodside Golf Club, Holmes Chapel. Grow your Cheshire connections over coffee at this informal networking meetup-no pitches, just real business support for local business owners. 👉 Details

🎆 Firework Champions 2025
9 Aug, From 4pm, Arley Hall & Gardens
Three top UK pyrotechnic teams go head-to-head in choreographed displays, plus drone show, live music, street food and optional camping.
👉 Details

🍽️ Chester Food & Craft Festival
9 Aug, 10-4pm, The Carriage Shed, Chester
A free-entry celebration of street eats, live music, artisan makers and homewares, dog-friendly and family approved.
👉 Details

🎶 Prevent Breast Cancer: Charity Rock Show
9 Aug, The Saddle Inn, Chester
A benefit concert featuring rock bands and original artists raising funds for cancer research - great music for a good cause, with fully family‑friendly vibes. Tickets from just £3.30.
👉 Details

🛍️ Sandbach Makers Market
9 Aug, 10-3pm, Market Square, Sandbach
Discover handmade crafts, Persian street food by Coral, live tunes from Jack Hamilton and a free kids’ crafting corner under the cobbles.
👉 Details

🎶 Macmillan Charity Music Festival
9 Aug, from 12-Noon, The Mill, Upton, Chester
A free-entry line-up of live bands, BBQ, outdoor bar, raffles, games and stalls in aid of Macmillan. No tickets needed, just turn up and celebrate!
👉 Details

🇬🇷 Greek Street Food Night
9 Aug, 2:30-8pm, Bondies Bar Micropub, Ellesmere Port
Family-friendly pop-up from So Greek Full. Souvlaki, gyros, mezze plates, Greek dessert and coffee bar for grown-ups & kids (until 7pm for kids).
👉 Details

🏉 Ellesmere Port Rugby Club Fun Day
9 Aug, 10-4pm, Whitby Sports & Social Club
A community carnival with car boot sale, BBQ, street food, bouncy castles, Nerf games, glitter tattoos and fundraising for junior rugby.
👉 Details

🦉 Owl Awareness Day
9 Aug, 11-5pm, Gauntlet Birds of Prey Park, Knutsford
Meet 13 owl species in live shows & meet-n-greets, enjoy storytelling, BBQ, play area, cafe & 10 % off owl experiences.
👉 Details

🛍️ Northwich Artisan Market
9 Aug, 10-4pm, Witton Street & Barons Quay, Northwich
Monthly family-friendly market with 40+ artisan stalls, street food vendors and local crafts among town centre shops.
👉 Details

🧂 Murgatroyd’s Brine Pumps Demonstration
9-10 Aug, 12-3:30pm, Brooks Lane, Middlewich
Marvel at the giant salt-making pumps stripped down after 90 years - explore their hidden inner workings and watch an engineering marvel come to life.
👉 Details

🛍️ Winsford Table Top Sale
9 Aug, 12-3pm, Trinity Methodist Church, Winsford. Hunt bargain treasures or pitch your table from £5-£20 - new and vintage items welcome!
👉 Details

🛍️ Bents Artisan Market
9-10 Aug, 10-4pm, Bents Garden & Home, Warrington. A weekend of 80+ stalls, craft workshops, live music, children’s zones and seasonal produce, plus explore Bents’s gardens, golf & cafes.
👉 Details

🎉 Knutsford Family Fest
10 Aug, from 9am, Princess & Minshull Streets, Knutsford
Free family day with street performers, craft stalls, children’s games and outdoor dining pop-ups along the high street.
👉 Details

🧚 Fairy Garden Workshop
12 Aug, 10:30am, Abbeywood Estate, Delamere (CW8 2HS)
Kids (and grown-ups) can build their own living fairy garden with all materials provided, plus juice, a sweet treat and tea or coffee for adults.
👉 Details

🐶 Paint Your Pet Workshop
14 Aug, 1-3pm, Tattenhall. Learn to paint your own pet in acrylics, where your host sketches your furry friend and you add the colour. All materials, cake & hot drinks included.
👉 Details

📌 Quick Bites

🥇 Active Tag at Bidston Sports Center - Ongoing at Invigor8 Wirral. Climb, dash and balance through a three-floor laser-tag-style game for ages 8+. Earn points on your wristband, chase the leaderboard and feel the thrill of victory! Sessions run term-time. 👉 Details

🏊‍♂️ SEND Inclusive Multi-Sports & Pool Play (Ellesmere Port) - Wed 13 Aug, 10:30-11:30 am (pool) & 12:30-1:30pm (sports). Adapted sports sessions and pool play for children aged 5-17 with a paying adult. £4.70 per session. 👉 Details

🐯 Afterglow at Chester Zoo - 1st-17th Aug, evenings 3-8pm. Golden-hour zoo adventures with street food, pop‑up performers, fairground rides and dinosaur installations, perfect for summer evenings. 👉 Details

🌻 Mini Train to Sunflowers at The Hayloft Cheshire - Daily, 10-4:30pm. Ride the Whitfield Miniature Train to a bright sunflower field, then enjoy ice cream, goats and café treats at this summer pop‑up farm spot. 👉 Details

🥾 Middlewich Town Trail - Self-guided walks to discover Roman ruins & salt heritage via a downloadable map and guide. 👉 Details & Map

🚂 Crewe Heritage Centre - Free-Entry Wednesdays during the school holidays, 10 am-4 pm. Bring the family for hands-on railway history. Explore vintage locomotives, try interactive exhibits and ride the miniature railway, all free this summer. 👉 Details

🐴 Local Spotlight: Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre

Nestled just outside Tarporley in the heart of Cheshire, Cotebrook is the UK’s only Shire Horse stud farm open to the public. For over 50 years, the centre has bred prize‐winning giants, up to 30 majestic Shires during the stud season, and around 20 through winter months, each one stabled just a hoof’s length from the visitor walkways.

On arrival, you can wander the Wildlife Watch Nature Trail, created in partnership with Cheshire Wildlife Trust, spotting native species both on the farm and in the surrounding countryside.

Post-stroll, the Lakeside Cafe beckons: pick from homemade soups, filled rolls, cream teas and seasonal specials (warm apple pie is a favourite), all served with views over the farm lake.

Beyond a day visit, Cotebrook offers adoption schemes, membership, experience days (from carriage driving to groom-for-a-day) and regular member events. A brilliant way to stay connected with these gentle giants all year round.

Why We Love It - A living slice of Cheshire’s heritage - giant Shire horses, tranquil lakeside walks and home-baked treats, all just off the A49.

🔗 cotebrookshirehorses.co.uk

🔥 Hot & New

🍫 Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Café - Opened in Jul in Wilmslow, the luxury chocolatier’s latest cafe features in-house bakes, signature Velvetised hot chocolates and luxury gifts in a sleek, cocoa-powered setting. 👉 Details

🏰 Beeston Castle 800th Anniversary - 9-10 Aug, various times, Beeston Castle, Tarporley. Celebrate 800 years of Cheshire history with guided tours, medieval re-enactments, family trails and picnic areas. Admission applies. 👉 Details

🍽️ Chester’s Rooftop Social (Pepper Street) remains buzzing with its heated cabanas, street‑food traders and games. Open Wed-Sun 12-10pm 👉 Details

🍸 Oden Lounge Rooftop Garden - Opened in July, this Afro-Caribbean spot has added a 30-seat rooftop terrace to its pub/restaurant, complete with astro-turf floor, cocktails, mocktails and panoramic town views. 👉 Details

🌟 Community Highlights

Here are some local news stories (without the crime or politics!)

• Sandbach & Middlewich green spaces shine - Sandbach Park, Brereton Heath and Fountain Fields retained their Green Flag status for top-quality green spaces. (source)

• New ‘itravel’ On‑Demand Rural Bus Service Adds Saturdays - Cheshire West & Chester has expanded its rural on‑demand bus service to include Saturdays from 2 Aug, improving weekend travel access. (source)
  

• Major Crewe Road Collapse Get £1M Repair Plan - Cheshire East has confirmed a £1 million engineering plan to rebuild Macclesfield Road (B5470) with work set to begin in late autumn. (source)
  

• Ellesmere Port “Touch the Moon” Art Trail Announced - Cheshire West & Chester’s summer arts programme will light up the docks with six interactive light-art installations from 15-31 August, culminating in a free overnight viewing party. (source)

💎 Hidden Gem: Hadlow Road Station

A preserved station set in the 1950's and features a lot of time period items, there is also a lovely cafe on site. The station sits on the Wirral Way so is easily accessible for both cyclists and walkers, plus there is a parking area.

Tucked away on the edge of Willaston, Hadlow Road Station is a perfectly preserved slice of 1950s railway nostalgia. Built in 1866 by the Great Western & London North Western Railways, this Grade II-listed station still wears its original Victorian brickwork and timber canopy, complete with a fully restored signal box and heritage ticket office.

After closing to passengers in 1956, the line transformed into the Wirral Way footpath in 1973, and today Hadlow Road serves as one of its two charming visitor centres.

Inside, you’ll find period-correct seating, enamel signs and an evocative display of lamps, timetables and railway paraphernalia. Outside, the eastbound platform gleams as it did under British Rail, while the westbound shelter reminds you of simpler travel days. Stroll the adjacent section of the old single-track line, spotting wildflowers and birds along the country park corridor that was Britain’s very first.

Why we love it: A sweet, unexpected experience - railway heritage, country-park trails and vintage charm all in one spot.

🔗 @friendsofhadlowroadstation

That’s it for this week.

🐈 Since this Friday is International Cat Day, I’ll sign off with a pic of our lovely cat ‘Thea’ (who we sadly lost last year).

Tag us with a pic of your cat on Instagram @cheshire.buzz to be featured next week!

Thanks for reading The Cheshire Buzz! See you next Thursday - same time, same inbox.