Oldham Christmas lights switch-on 15 Nov 2025

Oldham's Christmas lights will be turned on by a local child this Saturday 15 November after a last-minute raffle that closes at midnight on 12 November. The winner will join Father Christmas on the Old Town Hall stage at 5.30 pm to press the button that starts both the tree lights and the evening's fireworks.

The hour-long outdoor show packs in Oldham Coliseum's street-theatre piece 'A Christmas Fair', dancers from Fierce Dance, the Queen Elizabeth Hall panto cast, and pensioner fundraiser Frank Rothwell. Inside the Market Hall, Bluey and Bingo greet children from 2 pm onwards, giving families a reason to arrive early and spend the afternoon in town.

Council car parks will waive charges for the first three hours, a move designed to tempt shoppers towards Tommyfield Market and nearby independents before the streets fill up. Leader Arooj Shah says every pound spent locally 'stays in local pockets', and traders are banking on the extra footfall to kick-start seasonal sales.

If you miss the switch-on, the town centre repeats the party every Saturday until 13 December with roaming brass bands, craft workshops and pop-up performers from noon to 4 pm. The council has not said how many raffle entries it has received, so the odds of landing the star turn on stage remain anyone's guess.