A spectacular winter carnival will launch Tameside’s Christmas celebrations in style.
The borough-wide Northern Lights event will be held in Stalybridge on Saturday 16 November and will include a dazzling lantern parade as well as beautiful and atmospheric lights showcasing key features of the town.
It will be the first of the many Christmas celebrations being planned, with the community, for towns across the borough.
The lantern parade, which starts at 5pm, will culminate in Armentieres Square with entertainment and a Christmas lights switch on from approximately 6.15pm.
Celebrations will also include a Christmas Craft Market in Stalybridge Civic Hall on the day from 11am, with a fun fair and wide variety of festive and artisan stalls including delicious food and drink.
Tameside Council has successfully applied for Arts Council funding and is working with international festival specialists Global Grooves to stage the event.
Any dance troops, bands or community groups that would like to take part can email events@tameside.gov.uk
There will also be opportunities for families and individuals to get involved in lantern making workshops at Astley Cheetham Art Gallery on 2 and 9 November, just drop in between 10.30am and 1pm. Community groups and schools can also book lantern making workshops by emailing events@tameside.gov.uk.
In addition to the Tameside wide event, there will also be more local community led Christmas celebration events – supported by the council – in other towns as detailed below. As part of this, there will also be new, more contemporary and environmentally friendly Christmas lighting on key civic buildings and features in each town.
Tameside Council Executive Member responsible for culture Cllr Leanne Feeley said: “I’m really looking forward to this year’s Christmas celebrations – we’re working with towns and the community to plan some fantastic festive events and we really want people to get involved, while supporting their local towns and traders.
“I’m particularly excited about the Tameside wide event being held in Stalybridge this year. The lantern parade promises to be a real spectacle and the town will look especially beautiful and atmospheric with key features illuminated for the event.
“There are lots of opportunities for community groups to get involved and for everyone to take part in lantern making workshops at the wonderful Astley Cheetham Art Gallery. The Christmas market in Stalybridge Civic Hall is an added attraction. It should be a fabulous celebration for all to enjoy.”
Other town Centre community Christmas celebrations
| Friday 22 Nov |
4-7pm | Audenshaw | Entertainment on stage Craft stalls in Ryecroft Hall Fun fair Father Christmas |
| Friday 22 Nov |
5.30pm – 6.35pm | Dukinfield | Fun fair Entertainment Father Christmas on sledge |
| Friday 22 Nov |
6-6.30pm | Micklehurst | Brass band Father Christmas |
| Friday 22 Nov – Sunday 24 Nov | 11am-8pm Friday & Saturday 11am-5.30pm Sunday |
Denton | Three day Christmas market Mulled wine Denton’s Got Talent Sat 23 Nov 2-4pm Lights Switch on Sat 23 Nov time tbc |
| Saturday 23 Nov |
12-6pm Lights switch on from 5pm |
Droylsden | Fun fair Entertainment on stage Stalls |
| Saturday 23 Nov |
3.45-7pm Lights switch on from 6.30pm |
Mossley | tbc |
| Saturday 30 Nov | 3.45-4.45pm | Hollingworth | Father Christmas to switch on the tree lights |
| Saturday 30 Nov | 10am-6.30pm Lights switch on from 4.15pm |
Hyde | Frozen theme even Christmas Market Entertainment |
| Saturday 30 Nov | All day Lights switch on at 4.30pm |
Ashton | Frozen theme with singers, entertainment and fun fair |
| Friday 6 Dec | tbc | Hattersley | Lights switch on |
Am interested in doing a craft stall