Our guide to what you can do in and around the borough this weekend

Santa Dash or Dawdle, Santa Train Rides at Springfield Park, Christmas Makers Market, Gaia Exhibition, Santa’s Grotto, Treasure Island Pantomime, Board Game Café, Fireground Christmas Open Day, Heywood Model Railway Group, Christmas Tree Festival, Live Music, Sail with Santa and a Giant Inflatable Snow Globe - lots to do in and around the borough this weekend.

• Events happening all weekend

Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics

There are a number of drop-in vaccination clinics running at various locations across the borough. No appointment is needed for any of the clinics, but people that are booked in elsewhere should stick to their existing appointments.

Full list of local vaccine clinics…

Gaia Exhibition – Number One Riverside every day until Christmas Eve
Open 9am – 5pm Friday, 10am – 5pm Saturday & 1pm – 5pm Sunday

Measuring seven metres in diameter and created from detailed NASA imagery, 'Gaia' is a huge work of art depicting planet Earth.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67090/

Sail with Santa – Hollingworth Lake, various times from 9am – 2pm from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 December

Hop aboard Santa’s floating grotto, take a trip across the lake and post your Christmas list in the elf post box.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67839/

Santa's Grotto – Touchstones Rochdale, Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 December, every 45 minutes from 10am – 4pm

Festive storytime session, craft activity, share your Christmas list with Santa and receive a gift to take home.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67842/

Christmas Makers Market – Touchstones Rochdale, Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 December, 10am – 5pm

Touchstones is hosting its first ever Christmas Market with local artists and makers.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67844/

Christmas Pantomime: Treasure Island – Middleton Arena, various times on Friday 10, Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 December

An unforgettable experience for children and adults alike with songs, dance and amazing special effects.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67380/

 

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• Friday 10 December

Springhill Hospice Wear your Woolies Day – At work, school or at home for the day

Get your festive jumpers at the ready to raise money for the local hospice.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67738/

HMR Circle Lunch Club-Club (Kirkholt) – The Strand Community Hub, 12noon

Lunch club style event with a fabulous 2 course meal, games and raffles.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67865/

Board Game Café – Nelson Street Church, 8pm – 9.30pm

An evening of board games, everyone welcome.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67918/

Live Music: Guns 2 Roses - Empire Rochdale, open 6pm - 4am, live music from 10pm

The ‘most notorious Guns n Roses tribute in history’.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67801/

For a full list of Friday’s events see the Rochdale Online Events Diary:

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/search?searchvalue=10-12-2021&searchtype=date

 

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• Saturday 11 December

Christmas Small Business Saturday – Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre, 9am – 5.30pm

Bringing together a variety of bespoke retailers and local small businesses.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67920/

Fireground Museum Christmas Open Day – Fireground, 10am – 4pm

Seasonal refreshments, fairground rides and an appearance from Father Christmas.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67664/

Heywood Model Railway Group Open Day – Unit 4 Park Works, 10am – 4pm

Accommodating stock in either N, 00, 0 or G gauges on large continuous run layouts. 

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67131/

Giant Inflatable Snow Globe at Rochdale Exchange – Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre, 11am – 3pm

Step into a winter wonderland, large enough to fit up to 8 adults.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67916/

Christmas Tree Festival – St Thomas Parish Church, Newhey, 11am – 2pm

Christmas tree display with stalls and raffles.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67790/

Christmas Party Night - Through the Decades – Ratcliffe Bars and Function Suites, 7pm – 1am

With a soul and motown singer and DJ playing anthems from the 70s, 80s & 90s.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67533/

Live Music: Marblehead Johnson – The Flying Horse Hotel, live from 10pm

The ultimate tribute to the classic UK Britpop era.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67895/

Live Music: Soul Federation - Empire Rochdale, open 6pm – 4am, live music from 10pm

10 piece soul band from Liverpool with a full brass section and backing singers.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67802/

For a full list of Saturday’s events see the Rochdale Online Events Diary:

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/search?searchvalue=11-12-2021&searchtype=date

 

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• Sunday 12 December

Santa Dash or Dawdle 2021 – Queen’s Park, 11am start

Springhill Hospice's Santa Dash is back for 2021 with a brand new location and route at Queen's Park, Heywood.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67736/

Santa Train Rides at Springfield Park – Springfield Park Miniature Railway, 12noon – 3pm

Rochdale Society of Model Engineers famous Santa train rides are back.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67893/

Sunday Soul Club - Hoochi Koochi, 3pm – 9pm

'Soul Sensation' Babalola Jr will perform all the biggest Soul & Motown classics live.

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/67586/

For a full list of Sunday’s events see the Rochdale Online Events Diary:

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/search?searchvalue=12-12-2021&searchtype=date

 

Submit an Event

You can advertise an event for free on Rochdale Online, just submit the details to us via our website:

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/submit

Search our Events section

Search through all the events being held across the Rochdale borough (Rochdale, Littleborough, Middleton & Heywood) on our local event listings: www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/