Three inflatable Easter parties will take place across Oldham and surrounding areas in April 2026. The first event runs March 28 to April 6 at Uppermill Park, followed by April 8-11 at Werneth Park, and April 18-19 at Aldwinians Rugby Club in Audenshaw. Each venue features different attractions including bouncy castles, obstacle courses, slides, jungle-themed activity centres, fairground rides, and Easter egg hunts for children aged two to 11. Entry is free with rides from £2 each, and food stalls will be available. Tickets can be purchased online at jkevents.co.uk/inflatable-easter-party.
Pennine Mencap, an Oldham-based disability charity, will host 'A Night at the Movies' on April 24 at Hurst Community Centre. The event features adults with learning disabilities performing songs, dance routines and theatrical sketches inspired by Hollywood and British films. Emily Trelore, activity coordinator, said rehearsals are building excitement with performances ranging from Mrs Doubtfire to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The show will feature two groups: ShowAbility dance troupe and Stage Right Performing Arts drama group. Tickets cost £7 and can be purchased online at penninemencap.org.
First Choice Homes Oldham is supporting Keep Britain Tidy's Great British Spring Clean with multiple community and school litter picks across the borough from March 13-29, 2026. Events include a March 21 litter pick on Barker Street in Coldhurst, a March 27 clean-up in Shaw targeting Salts Street and surrounding areas, and a March 25 event with St Hugh's Primary School and Oldham College in Holts Village. A litter picking tournament will take place in Werneth Park on March 20. FCHO is partnering with community groups, charities, and volunteers, offering small funding and practical support for neighbourhood improvement events.
E-ACT The Oldham Academy North hosted a community Iftar event attended by more than 600 guests. The gathering, held during Ramadan, brought together students, staff, families, and local residents for an evening of reflection and unity. Interim headteacher Natalie Kennerley described the event as 'incredibly special,' emphasizing the school's commitment to inclusion and respect for all faiths. Guests broke their fast together, shared food, and engaged in conversation. Funds raised during the event will be used to install water pumps in Bangladesh and Pakistan, each bearing the academy's name.
Whit Friday brass band contests return to Saddleworth on Friday, May 29, 2026, with 11 villages hosting events. Bands from across the UK and abroad will compete in contests starting at 4pm, with last registration at 10.30pm (9pm for youth bands). The event features Delph, Denshaw, Diggle, Dobcross, Friezland, Greenfield, Grotton, Lees and Springhead, Lydgate, Scouthead and Austerlands, and Uppermill as contest locations. Each village contest is judged anonymously by hidden adjudicators. No entry fees apply for bands or spectators. The Whit Walks will take place from 10am to 1pm before the contests. Road closures will affect travel, with specific parking information available on the Whit Friday website.
Women from various professions gathered in Chadderton for an International Women's Day event organized by the Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub. The event at Ram Mill Business Centre featured networking, panel discussions, and exhibitions centered on the UN's 2026 theme of 'balancing the scales'. Speakers included Oldham Council leader Arooj Shah, who discussed challenges women face in leadership roles, and Janine Smith, director of the Business Growth Hub. The panel addressed issues including digital safety, social media impacts, and education. Representatives from organizations like Recondition, The Pankhurst Trust, and Smart Works attended the event.
The Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Oldham hosted a vibrant outdoor Holi celebration on March 4, 2026, marking the Hindu Festival of Colours. Families from across the borough gathered at the temple, transforming surrounding streets with colourful festivities. Dozens of community members participated in the event, which saw people from Oldham's diverse population come together to celebrate. The celebration filled the area with colour as part of the traditional Hindu festival observance.
Stand & Be Counted Theatre participated in the Illuminate Oldham parade, creating colourful masks in partnership with Oldham artist Mel Roberts. The project united SBC's Soap Box Oldham and Bradford groups for the first time after an invitation from Global Grooves. John Tomlinson, joint CEO of Stand & Be Counted Theatre, described the experience as phenomenal and a moment to shine light on solidarity, community, and pride in Oldham. The theatre company runs weekly Soap Box sessions for adults seeking sanctuary in Oldham, Bradford, and Sheffield, using theatre and creativity to build confidence, develop English skills, and foster connections. Illuminate Oldham was organised by Oldham Council.
Families gathered at Alexandra Park's Environment Centre in Oldham for World Breastfeeding in Public Day, organised by Home-Start HOST's Infant Feeding Peer Support Team with Oldham Council support. The event aimed to encourage parents to feel comfortable feeding babies in public and address stigma around breastfeeding outside the home. Grace Redmond, a mother who has attended for two years, said she has fed her children hidden under muslins and in cafe corners, making the event important for raising awareness. The event follows last year's in Rochdale and comes as breastfeeding rates in Oldham reach a record high of 52 per cent of babies aged six to eight weeks being at least partially breastfed in 2025. New and expectant parents connected with healthcare professionals, took part in craft activities, and had breastfeeding portraits taken as mementos.
A four-week Yoga with Creative Writing course starts Saturday, March 21, in Saddleworth, led by John L. Matthews of First Ten Pages Writing School and yoga instructor Tasmin Humphrey of Nurture Yoga. The £58 course combines writing exercises with yoga techniques to help participants unlock creativity in a calm, focused state. Sessions cover character, world-building, plot, and scene development over 60-minute weekly meetings. Open to all regardless of writing or yoga experience, the course aims to provide a nurturing environment for self-expression through gentle movement and guided writing.
Parents and businesses in Oldham celebrated World Breastfeeding in Public Day at Alexandra Park's new Environment Centre. The event, organised by Home-Start HOST's Infant Feeding Peer Support Team with Oldham Council support, followed last year's successful inaugural celebration in Rochdale. The gathering aimed to boost parents' confidence when breastfeeding and counter stigma surrounding public breastfeeding. Families met local organisations and healthcare professionals, participated in craft activities, and had breastfeeding portraits taken. Breastfeeding rates in Oldham reached a record high of 52% for six-to-eight-week-old babies in 2025.
The Jayne Barnes School of Dance in Oldham is preparing for a trip to Disneyland Paris in June, where 13 of its 60 dancers will perform a 20-minute show inspired by Mary Poppins and Toy Story. Teacher Rachel Riley said the trip is special as most dancers have never been to Disneyland before. The school previously performed at Disneyland in 2018 in front of 6,000 people. The trip is being organised with Perform in the Magic, an official Disney Performing Arts partner, and includes 30 people total including parents and teachers.
Greater Manchester children are being asked to share the spaces and places that boost their mental health and wellbeing for Children's Mental Health Week 2026. The initiative, running from February 9-15, asks young people to identify locations where they feel safe, happy, and listened to. Submissions can be in writing, images, videos, or artwork and must be sent by March 20 to [email protected]. Selected contributions will be exhibited during the 'The Future is Ours' festival at The Horsfall, the art gallery and creative space of 42nd Street Mental Health Charity. This year's theme 'This Is My Place' focuses on friendships and creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children feel they belong.
Oldham Council is hosting Festive Saturdays, a series of free family events in Oldham town centre across four weekends from November 22 to December 13, 2025. The events run from 12-4pm each Saturday and include Victorian Christmas on November 22, Festive Feast on November 29, Winter Wonderland on December 6, and Santa's Workshop on December 13. Santa's Grotto will be available at the Market Hall from 12-4pm on all event dates. Dr Kershaw's Hospice will also run Santa's Grotto at Spindles from November 28 to Christmas Eve, with bookings via SantaBooker. Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said the events aim to bring extra magic to the town centre, offer free entertainment, support local businesses, and celebrate the season together.
Oldham Council is bringing extra festive cheer to the town centre this winter with Festive Saturdays, a series of free family events running across four weekends from late November to mid December. The annual Christmas Lights Switch-On Show will return on Saturday 15 November, transforming Oldham town centre into a festive wonderland. Tommyfield Market traders have requested to move into the new market, located in the revamped Spindles, in the new year. A much-loved Glodwick building is set for a new chapter as the refurbished Marlborough Centre officially reopens under the management of local boxing organisation, NxtGen Boxing. Councillors from Oldham Council joined young people, families and community members to celebrate 17 years of Outta Skool at its annual awards ceremony.
Oldham's Illuminate Festival took place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, bringing 'joy and energy' to the town centre despite cold and rainy weather. The annual event featured street performers, giant puppets, live music, and impressive light installations across multiple locations including the Old Town Hall, Gallery Oldham, Oldham Library, and Oldham Parish Church. A highlight was the transformation of the Old Town Hall with projected artwork based on the story of the Indian Roller Bird and the Queen Honey Bee. Residents praised the event online, with many calling it the best Illuminate parade to date.
Residents from Birchwood Nursing Home in Oldham participated in the My Voice event at Wakefield Exchange, organised by social enterprise Turning Point. The event brought together service users, families, carers, and staff from across Turning Point's services. Muhammed, a Birchwood resident, highlighted the importance of wellbeing and collaboration. Interactive sessions explored community building, service improvement, and social contribution. Service Manager Lisa Endley praised residents for passionately sharing their experiences about mental health advocacy. The event also examined how social, economic, and cultural changes affect people supported by Turning Point services.
Chadderton Town Hall will host its first wedding fair on Sunday 25 January 2026 from 11am-3pm. Couples attending and completing feedback forms will enter a free draw to win their wedding ceremony at the venue. The fair features over 20 exhibitors including florists, photographers, wedding cars, and cakes. Springhill Hospice will attend with donated wedding attire including bridal wear, suits, and bridesmaids' dresses available to try on and purchase at reduced prices. Registrars will be present to showcase the staircase, Oak Room, and Green Room, and to discuss ceremony bookings and legal requirements. Entry and parking are free, with goody bags for the first 100 couples. To book, email [email protected].