MUCH-LOVED characters from across the worlds of fantasy, superheroes and science fiction will return to Ashton-under-Lyne soon for a milestone Sci-Fi Day.
Organised by Hyde Fundraisers, the annual event has become a firm favourite in the local calendar – and 2026 promises to be one of its biggest celebrations yet.
Visitors to the town centre on Saturday, May 2, can expect to come face-to-face with iconic figures including R2D2, Chewbacca, The Mandalorian, Predator and Davros, with more characters set to appear throughout the day.
From the market hall to the library and shopping centre, the town will be transformed into a hub of colour, creativity and cosplay.
This year’s event is being delivered in partnership with Tameside Markets, Ladysmith Shopping Centre, Ashton Town Team and Ashton Library, with funding from the Government’s Pride in Place programme.
A highlight for many will be the cosplay competition, taking place at Ladysmith Shopping Centre from 12.30pm. Organised by The Anthony Seddon Fund, the contest is open to all ages and is expected to draw a wide range of imaginative costumes.
The centre will also host R2D2 alongside a Chewbacca display, offering plenty of photo opportunities, with life-sized character cutouts dotted around for visitors to discover.
Meanwhile, Ashton Market Hall will once again play host to Tameside Rotary, alongside intricate Lego displays from Cameron McWiggan and members of Northern Bricks. Marking 25 years of sci-fi events in Ashton, a special photo exhibition will look back at previous celebrations while also honouring the memory of Peter Hawley.
At Ashton Library, families can enjoy a more relaxed pace with free superhero-themed colouring activities, while elsewhere in the market hall there will be a martial arts demonstration from Sitsiam Martial Arts, promising some “out of this world” skills. Live music will also feature, with a performance from young musician Jack Doyle.
Speaking ahead of the event, SP Bowling from Hyde Fundraisers said: “Ashton Sci-Fi Day is a popular fixture in the Ashton events calendar and our own. This year we also pay tribute to Peter Hawley, former town centre manager, who passed away in February because he instigated these events over 25 years ago with us.
“His confidence and innovative approach inspired us to partner with him which has now created this amazing legacy. Thank you again to all our supporters and sponsors who make this event happen and enable our donations to some amazing organisations.”
Hyde Fundraisers, a voluntary group founded in 1985, has spent four decades raising money for charitable causes using characters from franchises such as Doctor Who and Star Wars.
This year’s event will support organisations including Tameside Little Gems, The Anthony Seddon Fund, the RSPCA, Beechwood Cancer Care and Door 84.