Home Spennymoor Brand-new community events set to celebrate creativity and community spirit in Spennymoor

Brand-new community events set to celebrate creativity and community spirit in Spennymoor

Spennymoor Town Council is inviting residents, visitors, local charities and community organisations to come together for a brand-new community event taking place for the first time in 2026.

The new Bloom, Bake & Create Competition 2026 will launch at Spennymoor Town Hall on Friday 4 September 2026, giving local people the opportunity to showcase their talents across gardening, home or allotment grown produce, baking, arts and crafts, poetry, art and photography. Dedicated Under 16s classes will also be available, making the competition a fantastic opportunity for all ages to get involved.

Entries will be benched between 3:00pm and 6:00pm on Friday 4 September, with judging taking place at 6:00pm prompt. Entry costs 50p per class, with cash prizes available across adult and Under 16 categories. Whether residents are allotment holders, keen gardeners, talented bakers, creative crafters, budding photographers, artists, poets or grow-your-own enthusiasts, there is a category for everyone to enjoy.

The competition is open to Spennymoor parishioners only, with one entry permitted per class. Adult entrants may be asked to provide proof of address, and exhibitors are responsible for booking and displaying their entries in the correct class area.

Competition classes include vegetables, flowers, homemade produce, craft, poetry, art, photography and Under 16 categories. Highlights include best homegrown produce basket, wonky vegetables, floral displays, jams and preserves, biscuits, cakes, scones, crochet or knitted items, sewn fabric items, original poems, Spennymoor-themed artwork, and photography capturing life and wildlife in Spennymoor.

Adult classes will offer prizes of £20 for first place, £15 for second place and £10 for third place. Under 16 classes will offer £15 for first place, £10 for second place and £5 for third place.

On Saturday 5 September 2026, the Town Hall will open its doors for the first ever Celebrate Spennymoor 2026, a free community event running from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Visitors will be able to view the Bloom, Bake & Create entries and enjoy a full day celebrating the people, organisations and community spirit that make Spennymoor special.

Alongside the competition displays, visitors can explore the Bob Abley Art Gallery and Mining Museum, enjoy refreshments at the new Pit Stop Café, and meet local charities and community organisations at information stalls throughout the day.

Town Mayor Cllr Billy McAloon said:

“Celebrate Spennymoor event with the Bloom, Bake & Create competitions are fantastic additions to the town’s events calendar, bringing residents of all ages together to share their talents, support one another and take pride in the creativity that exists across our community. I am delighted to see these new events being introduced and look forward to seeing Spennymoor come together to celebrate everything that makes our town so special.”

Residents are encouraged to take part, support friends and family, discover local talent and enjoy a great day out in the heart of the community.

Event schedule

  • Friday 4 September 2026, 3:00pm – 6:00pm: benching and setting up competition entries.
  • Friday 4 September 2026, 6:00pm prompt: judging takes place.
  • Saturday 5 September 2026, 10:00am – 4:00pm: public viewing and Celebrate Spennymoor community event.
  • Saturday 5 September 2026, 4:30pm – 5:00pm: lifting, when entrants collect exhibits.
  • Wednesday 9 September 2026: prize money available to collect from Town Hall reception, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Event information

  • Bloom, Bake & Create Competition 2026: Friday 4 September 2026, 3:00pm – 6:00pm, Spennymoor Town Hall. Entry fee: 50p per class.
  • Celebrate Spennymoor 2026: Saturday 5 September 2026, 10:00am – 4:00pm, Spennymoor Town Hall. Free entry.

Competition classes 

  • Vegetables: ‘best home grown produce basket’ and ‘wonky vegetables’. 
  • Flowers: ‘best home-grown bouquet or flower display’, ‘best home-grown buttonhole flowers’, and ‘best front garden’ (photo entry with address and date taken). Exhibitors must provide their own vases. 
  • Homemade produce: ‘sweet jams’, ‘marmalades and curds’; ‘savoury chutneys and pickles’; ‘biscuits or cookies’; ‘cakes’; and ‘scones’. Baking will be judged on appearance and taste, and allergen information must be provided. 
  • Craft: ‘crochet or knitted items’, with a rail provided for larger items, and ‘small hand-sewn or machine-sewn fabric items’. 
  • Poetry: ‘original poem’. 
  • Art: ‘artwork representing the Spennymoor area or people’. 
  • Photography: ‘out and about in Spennymoor’, and ‘wildlife in Spennymoor’. 
  • Under 16 categories: animal made from fruit and/or vegetables, biscuits or cookies, cakes, scones, crochet or knitted item, sewn fabric item, original poem, Spennymoor-themed artwork, out and about in Spennymoor photography, and wildlife in Spennymoor photography.

Find out more

For more information, please contact Spennymoor Town Council on 01388 815276, email events[@]spennymoor-tc[.]gov[.]uk or visit www.spennymoor-tc.gov.uk.

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Spennymoor's local community newspaper.

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