STALYBRIDGE is set to be lit up as it is the choice to host this year’s Lantern Parade.
The event, which kicks off Tameside’s Christmas events, was earmarked to be held regularly in Ashton-under-Lyne.
However, development work on the town’s market saw it moved to Hyde.
Now, 2025’s is almost certain to take place in Stalybridge on Saturday, November 15.
The proposal will be voted on at a meeting of Tameside Council’s executive cabinet on Wednesday, June 25.
Documents state: “With the development of Ashton’s Market Square, the events panel, alongside the executive leader of Tameside Council, proposes that the Lantern Parade takes place in Stalybridge on Saturday, November 15 to ensure that the increasingly popular event can be delivered safely and professionally.
“Given the high-profile nature of the parade and the benefits it brings to town centres, the events panel proposes that the parade continues to rotate to the town centres where there is adequate space to host such large-scale parades safely and professionally.
“The annual Lantern Parade is unique to Tameside and has attracted inward investment since 2015.
“In 2025, the Lantern Parade will be funded externally though Local Authority Flexible Grant funding.
“The events panel proposes that the arts and engagement team continue to seek external funding for future parades wherever possible and investigate whether sponsorship to further enhance the event in 2025 can be found also.”
As summer starts, the thought of Christmas may seem a million miles away to many people.
But plans are already in place for the festive season.
And papers revealed £18,000 of funding is in place to provide a tree and lights and organisers for each town have been told to get their requests in sooner rather than later.
They add: “The local organising teams are encouraged to fully fund their own events though sponsorships etc.
“Any further funding shortfall is not automatically met by the council, but in-kind support is available through marketing, technical and event management support and sponsorship advice.
“In 2024, all eight towns (Hyde held the lantern parade in 2024) took up either the full Christmas package offer including a free cut tree, Christmas tree lights and the installation and deinstallation of these elements.
“The towns where festive lighting schemes on buildings and lamp columns had previously been commissioned benefitted from these being switched on again also.
“The events panel recognises the amount of work done by volunteers to ensure towns can celebrate Christmas in line with their local customs and practices.
“The panel accepts that organisers spend a lot of time generating income to support their events and therefore it proposes the council again offers the towns a free cut Christmas tree and associated lights including the installation and deinstallation of these.
“Additionally, the events panel proposes that the arts and engagement team supports organisers with dates that ensures best value for money to the council with regard to engineer cover costs and maximum opportunity for external sponsorship.
“Finally, the panel proposes that for organisers to benefit from the free Christmas package they must submit the event notification minimum eight weeks prior to their event.”