A unique interactive arts festival coming this weekend is set to light up the streets of Sandbach.

The 'Legends, Lights and Lullabies' artistic event is being run by festival organisers, SpareParts, and residents are encouraged to take part.

Jodie Gibson, the artistic director at SpareParts, told Sandbach Nub News: "We've been working with Sandbach Transport Festival for the three years with the aim of bringing some arts programming to non-arts festivals."

In February, the organisers of the Transport Festival announced that the event would be postponed until 2022 due to uncertainty around the lockdown.

Jodie added: "We thought we could find some creative solutions to still make something happen and celebrate that festival when it should be happening because it is a big feature in the town every year."

On Thursday (15 April), selected households across the town will receive a copy of a specially commissioned bedtime story called 'Chuck the Trucker'.

These households will form a route for Lullaby, "a magical illuminated bike parade specially commissioned as a gift to the town".

The book follows the story of Chuck, a retired truck driver who has "lost his sense of adventure" and the attempts of his young neighbour Jade to cheer him and teach him how to ride a bike and "overcome his fears".

Jodie said: "This story has been written for Sandbach and has loads of Sandbach references. Not just big ones like the Saxon crosses, but little ones, like Phil's Sweet Shop and Foden's Band also features."

At dusk on Saturday (17 April), residents along the route will be invited to watch from their windows as an illuminated bicycle parade passes by while playing a lullaby to accompany the story.

"The bike parade with the lights passing people's houses and delivering the book to people through their letterboxes is an important feature because some people will never have heard of us before in some fashion have not been on Facebook not be online," Jodie said.

Internationally renowned artist Luke Jerram has created the parade.

Asked how the pandemic has caused the artists to rethink their work, Jodie said: "We don't have venues, so we're not like the theatre or museum where we expect people to come to us. The whole purpose of SpareParts is to bring some arts programming to audiences that might not normally engage with the arts."

Residents and local groups have also contributed to the festival through the 'Sing-a-Story for Sandbach' collaborative artwork being curated by artist Leo Mercer and composer Stephen Hyde. The song will be available to watch online over the weekend.

Copies of 'Chuck the Trucker' will be available in Sandbach Library following the event, as well as being made available online for residents to read.

Residents have also been invited to take part in the illuminated parade on Saturday. Organisers are looking for people aged 16+ who can either cycle individually or 'bubble' in a group of six under the current Covid-19 rules.

Spaces to take part are limited, and anyone interested in taking part should email [email protected].

For updates on the event, visit the Spare Parts Festival Facebook page.