Santa launches festive countdown

Crowds greet Santa as he arrives in oldham town centre

FATHER Christmas rode into town in style on Saturday, drawn by a pair of reindeer and flanked by Cinderella and the rest of the cast from the Coliseum Theatre’s Christmas pantomime.

Heralding the launch of the festive season in Oldham and the 45-day countdown to the Big Day, he got a rousing welcome from families who lined the streets in their hundreds to cheer him in and see him take up residence in his grotto in Spindles Town Square shopping centre.

The first hint that Santa was on his way came from faint strains of music from Oldham Scottish Pipe Band.

Excitement rose as the music got louder, and youngsters ran around shouting “He’s here, he’s here,” to anyone who cared to listen.

First into view was a banner heralding his imminent arrival, carried by two of Santa’s little helpers, followed by the pipers and larger-than-life puppets and stilt walkers. The Oldham Band (Lees) brought brass to the occasion, and Cinderella and her entourage handed out chocolate bars and sweets as they skipped and waved along the town centre procession route.

A herd of feisty ponies carrying Santa’s elves capered around the marchers, and the Adamson Military Band, from Dukinfield, brought up the rear with their own kind of music.

Mums and dads, grandmas and grandads, and most importantly, children of all ages, stood five deep along the procession route to watch the spectacle.

“We come every year and we love it,” she said. “It was really good — it always is. It’s fabulous — a real treat, for the children.”

The town centre was packed with families throughout the afternoon and Spindles and Town Square shopping centre manager, Mike Flanagan, said: “We see Santa’s parade as the launch of Christmas for the town centre.

“The marketing campaign has paid off — it has been a fantastic day and I would like to thank all the people who turned out to support it.”

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