Stockport town centre experienced its busiest Sunday in four years last weekend, as the Spectacular Sunday event took place in the town centre. 

According to figures released by event organisers, the event saw visitor numbers increase by 56%, across the town, making it the town's busiest Sunday on record since 2019. 

The event was organised by Global Groovers, and featured no less than 60 shows and 220 artists throughout the town centre, from Market Place to Merseyway. Both new visitors and locals alike turned out to catch music, dancing, gymnastics, giant roaming puppets, and much more. 

Mr Wilson's Second Liners brought the style and the groove outside Market Hall; troupes of Santas played silver band; comedy duo Granny Turismo tottered around the town centre on shopping carts; the event, in sum, was nothing short of a Pennine carnival.

Mr Wilson's Second Liners leave the stage outside Market Hall and bring the groove directly to the audience! (Image - Alasdair Perry)

Cllr Frankie Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport at Stockport Council, said: "The Sunday Spectacular really lived up to its name! It was a truly magical day that attracted so many visitors who were enthralled by the variety of performances across the town centre. 

"Our Town of Culture status has allowed us to put on events on a scale never seen before, with so much more to come over the next few months. Thank you to everyone who braved the rain to support us and helped to make this such a magical day."

Stuart Broadbelt, Director of Totally Stockport, said: "Despite the rain, we were delighted that Stockport's first Spectacular Sunday enticed huge numbers into the town centre [...]. 

"Never have we seen so many amazing acts entertaining visitors of all ages, on one day, in one place! It was truly magical [...] and a fantastic start to Christmas.

Spectacular Sunday's Santas play some merry tunes (Image - Alasdair Perry)

"By working in partnership with Stockport Council and with Merseyway, we were able to animate the town centre with a magical array of roaming street theatre, breath-taking shows, carnival fun, amazing acts, live music, and food.

"In what has been a difficult time for so many of us, it's brilliant to have attracted so many people into Stockport and to have been able to support out town centre retailers at such a critical trading time. I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone involved."

Victoria Nichol, Centre Manager at Merseyway Shopping Centre said "What a town! Seeing so many people come into the shopping centre despite the terrible weather really shows how unique the community in Stockport really is.

"Not only did this one-day event bring incredible entertainment to visitors, but it also increased dwell time, resulting in many of our stores reporting significant hikes in both sales and footfall."

The one-day event was created as part of a programme of events, bringing a year of culture to everyone in the town as Stockport celebrates being named Greater Manchester's latest Town of Culture for 2023. For more information on Town of Culture, click HERE:

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