Around 300 people gathered in Greenfield as sub-postmistress Mandy Gorey switched on the village Christmas lights while Boarshurst Band entertained with choirs from local schools.
Mandy was assisted by Poetry Competition prize winner Ellie Matthews, from St Mary’s Primary School, who received a £20 voucher for her poem ‘The Christmas Tree’.
SSGG raised money to replace the tree lights that were smashed on New Year’s Eve last year.
Meanwhile Wake Up Delph launched their village into festive cheer with a family extravaganza including a life-size snow globe and entertainment.
Residents lined the streets to sing carols as Delph Band and Oldham Scottish Pipe Band played before they processed through the village to turn on tree lights.
Football legend Joe Royle, accompanied by local fundraiser Gilbert Symes, plunged the switch to turn on the twinkling lights.
In Lees, Father Christmas and two elves were welcomed by around 50 people and Lees Brass Band to turn on the sparkling display, with an extra set of white lights this year thanks to Cllr Val Sedgwick.
And Lees Community Association worked with local businesses to provide garland displays along the High St and lights around Thomas St. Precinct.
In Dobcross, residents enjoyed mince pies and mulled wine at the band club before making their way to the picturesque Square to see the switch-on.
And the Saddleworth Consort Chamber Choir turned back the clocks by revving aset of eighteenth century carols for a hearty sing-along at the Swan Inn in Dobcross.
Meanwhile in Grotton, Father Christmas was on hand to lead a chorus of carols before lighting up the tree and greeting children at Lido House.
He also paid a visit to the Saddleworth Llama and Donkey Trekking Centre in Denshaw, where he rode one of the rescue donkeys up to his grotto.
Two more visits will take place at the Higher Oxhey Farm on December 8 and 15 at 12.30pm, when you can also see the new baby mammoth donkey, llamas, donkeys, pigs, sheep and rabbits.
Farm entrance fee is adults £2.50 and children £2.00, while a donkey ride to Santa’s Grotto and a present is £6. To book email santa@saddleworthllamatrekking.co.uk or text 07837 001933.
Meanwhile, the remaining Christmas lights switch-ons will add more festive cheer to Saddleworth’s villages.
On Friday, December 6 in Springhead, the tree at the junction of Ashbrook Road and Oldham Road will be lit up at 6pm.
The Saddleworth Round Table will host their annual Winter Wonderland event in Uppermill on Saturday, December 7 from 1pm in the Square.
The lights will be switched on at the Museum at 4pm followed a procession at 4.15pm to the Square, where there will be carols and fireworks finale around 5.15pm.
In Diggle, the annual Christingle service and carols along with the tree lights switch-on will be held on the village green opposite Diggle Chippy on Sunday, December 8at 4pm.
And on Thursday, December 12, Light up Lydgate, supported by the Rotary Club of Saddleworth, will take place at the junction of Oldham Road and Stockport Road.
Father Christmas will arrive with gifts in a red MG car between 6.20pm-6.30pm to light up the tree.
Meanwhile a Christmas Tree Festival at St Chad’s Parish Centre in Uppermill will see a dazzling display of trees decorated with a Christmas Carol theme by businesses, churches and other groups.
The festival will run on Friday, December 6 from 7-9pm, on Saturday December 7 from 10am-6pm and on Sunday, December 8 from 12noon-4pm.
Admission is free and there will be light entertainment and refreshments on sale, with proceeds going towards the 800th anniversary celebrations of St Chad Church in 2015.
And another Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church in Greenfield will run fromDecember 7-14.
For the first time ever, 16 trees will be erected inside the church and decorated by local businesses to bring the village and the church together.
And visitors can tuck into mulled wine and mince pies at the church every evening from 6pm (or earlier depending on events) as they browse the display and enjoy entertainment.
The festival will officially be opened by Saddleworth Parish Council Chairman Graham Sheldon on Saturday, December 7 at 7pm, followed by a concert by Detours at 8pm.
Tickets cost £6 for adults, £3 for children or £15 for a family and are available from St Mary’s Charity Shop, Scott’s Butchers, Barbara Christopher, pay on the night or online: www.detours.info
Then on Sunday from 4pm it will be children’s story time with Adele Taylor and harp music by Sarah Davies.
On Monday, Greenfield Primary School will perform from 6.30pm with their brass band, choir and Christmas poetry written by pupils.
On Tuesday from 6.30pm St Mary’s School guitar group, brass band and choir will be joined by St Mary’s Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, before The Soul Inspiration Gospel Choir on Wednesday at 7pm.
Dobcross Brass Monkeys will play on Thursday from 7pm and on Friday there will be a film showing of Despicable Me 2 from 6.30pm.
And to close the festival on Sunday there will be a Thanksgiving from 5.30pm with a brass group.
And elsewhere on Saturday, December 14 it’s the turn of the Lydgate Band Contestspecial Christmas Coffee Morning at the White Hart in Lydgate. The event will run from 10am until 12.30pm, with a raffle and tombola.
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