Saddleworth villages ready for festive fun and Christmas lights switch-ons

JOIN COMMUNITIES across Saddleworth for festive fun as they illuminate the villages with their Christmas tree lights.

Grotton will switch on the lights of their tree at the junction of Oldham Road and Grotton Hollow on Sunday, November 29.

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Last year’s switch-on in Greenfield

Carols will be sung from 6pm followed by the switch-on at 6.30pm by Father Christmas.

Elsewhere, Santa will pay a special visit to Lydgate in his chauffeured racing car on Thursday, December 3 at 6pm.

He will switch on the tree lights at the cross roads of Oldham Road and Platting Road, where there will be mulled wine supplied by Love Lydgate and the White Hart.

Children must be accompanied by an adult as the roads are very busy.

Then on to the Parish Hall for sausage butties, listening to St Anne’s Primary School choir and meeting Santa. The Guides will have a stall of cakes and sweeties.

Love Lydgate are supported by Saddleworth Rotary, led by Community Officer Jon Stocker and friend of Lydgate Gill Bussey.

On Friday, December 4 Springhead will hold its lights switch-on near the Post Office at 6pm with Lees Band and the choir from Springhead Infant and Nursery School.

Afterwards there will be a Christmas Market with a variety of stalls, refreshments and a bar, carols and Father Christmas at Springhead Community Centre. Admission free.

A secret local celebrity will turn on the Christmas tree lights in Greenfield on Friday, December 4 at 6.30pm.

Villagers are invited to gather at the tree at the bridleway on Chew Valley Road for carols and entertainment by local primary school choirs and Boarshurst Band.

In Dobcross, the festivities will start on Saturday December 5 from 2pm with Narnia inspired crafts at Sandy Lane Church followed by the film ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ at 3pm.

Then the village will come ablaze with Christmas lights at 6pm in the Square before the DVC’s Christmas Quiz at the Band Club at 7.30pm. Teams of up to 6, entry £2 per person. For more information call Jim Grady: 01457 876164.

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Villagers gathered with Father Christmas last year in Grotton

Also on Saturday, December 5, fun on the snowy slopes will come to Delph as a giant winter slide will be installed on the car park at St Thomas’s Church from 3pm, organized by Wake Up Delph,

Then there will be carols and a procession at 4.30pm with Oldham Scottish Pipe Band and Delph Brass Band to the tree.

The Christmas lights will be switched on by local celebrity Mike Sweeney, from BBC Radio Manchester, and Father Christmas, before the impressive fireworks finale.

And at Lees on Saturday, December 5, villagers are invited to the switch-on event at 4.30pm at the junction of St Johns Street and High Street.

There will be carols around the tree accompanied by Lees Band before Father Christmas turns on the lights.

Saturday, December 5 will be a busy day for Uppermill as Saddleworth Round Table host the inaugural Santa Dash followed by their annual Winter Wonderland extravaganza.

All ages are invited to join in a ‘Santa’ Dash’ at 2pm (registration from 1pm) around the village, with separate courses for adults and children.

Then at 3.50pm, Father Christmas’s procession will parade from the Square to the Museum Car Park to turn on the Christmas lights, before returning to the Square at 4.15pm for Carols and a fireworks finale at 4.45pm.

Diggle will hold their annual Christmas Serviceon Sunday, December 6, starting at 3.30pm with carol singing at Diggle Band Club then walking down to the tree on the corner of Sunfield and Huddersfield Road.

The Christmas tree lights will be turned on by a pupil from Diggle School, who won their competition, at 4.30pm.

‘Light Up Denshaw’ will hold their event for only the second year as villagers are invited to gather outside Oddfellows on Sunday, December 6 at 6pm.

Finally, on Saturday, December 12, the Horseman’s Carol Service will once again be held at Friezland Arena (off Manchester Road), gather at 11am for an 11.30am service.

Everyone is welcome, whether accompanied by their horse/pony, any other animal, and the Oldham Music Centre Youth Wind Ensemble will be performing. Small charge of £2 to cover refreshments.

 

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