Ashton Town Team & Tameside Markets
present
The Snowman
and The Snowdog
A MUCH loved feature of the festive season is coming to Ashton. On Saturday, December 4, the Snowman will be in the town centre, and what’s more he’ll be bringing his faithful friend the Snowdog with him.
The Snowman has been a Christmas classic since 1982 when Channel 4 commissioned an Oscar-winning animated television film based on Raymond Briggs’s 1978 picture book. The Snowdog followed 30 years later.
Families and shoppers will be able to experience the magic of these two popular characters on the market ground where they will be spreading joy and goodwill by meeting and greeting people at intervals from 11am.
Plus, there will be lots more fun throughout the day as Ashton celebrates Small Business Saturday encouraging shoppers to support independent businesses in the town centre. Students from Tameside College will be onsite to showcase their culinary skills preparing delicious Caribbean food. The Bakery department will have delicious festive treats like Christmas Cakes and Mince Pies available. Hair & beauty students will be offering face painting and you can support Willow Wood Hospice by purchasing one of the re-usable bags too. Travel and Tourism students will also be guest hosts for the day.
Cllr Allison Gwynne, Tameside Council’s executive member for neighbourhoods, said: “Watching ‘The Snowman’ has become as much a part of Christmas entertainment for children as a pantomime or a visit to see Santa.
“I’m sure the two characters will prove very popular and parents can take advantage of their time in Ashton town centre to do some Christmas shopping.”
Cllr Bill Fairfoull, assistant chair of Ashton Town Team, added: “Ashton town centre has a lot to offer at any time of year but especially at Christmas.
“The Snowman and the Snowdog should attract lots of people who may not have visited previously, but I’m sure they’ll be back when they’ve seen the market and surrounding shops, and the array of items on sale.”
The appearance of the Snowman and the Snowdog has been funded through the Welcome Back Fund which aims to attract people back into town centres following the covid-19 pandemic. The event is supported by Tameside Markets and Ashton Town Team.
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS
Small Business Saturday, ow in its ninth year in the UK, is a campaign that has grown significantly each year with a record £1.1 billion spent with small businesses on Small Business Saturday in 2020, and 15.4 million people choosing to shop small.
Don’t forget to support our Ashton town centre small businesses on December 4th which will also be celebrated by students from Tameside College. The college will be having special stalls representing bakery, catering, health and beauty, business along with students from Travel & Tourism.
Download our special Town Team Christmas booklet packed with local town centre independent businesses
FESTIVE ARTISAN
Ashton Artisan Market on November 27th promises to be a special event as the town centre celebrates Christmas. Apart from the fabulous array of food and gift stalls we also have community stalls including Willow Wood Hospice, Cancer Warriors, Ashton Air Cadets and many more. Tameside Rotary will be bringing along Father Christmas and Tameside Raw Feeds will have their lovable huskies too.
Entertainment will also be provided by the incredible Accord Choir featuring some of your favourite tunes of the season. Plus don’t forget the Ashton Town Team Prize Tombola !
Who are Ashton Town Team?
Following the Portas review, an independent review into the future of our high streets, the Ashton Town Team was formed in 2012 with local businesses, Tameside Council and key stakeholders within the town centre.
It’s a voluntary organisation which relies on funding and sponsorship to achieve its aims in supporting our town centre and its small independent businesses. Small businesses offer something unique that provides an essential element in the mix of national retail and leisure which should form part of Ashton town centre. Over the years the Town Team have introduced events like Scarefest, Heritage Day and supported Totally Locally campaigns like Fiverfest. We have campaigned on issues like parking, town centre signage and security. In 2019 we produced a map for the town centre and this year we launch the Independent Business Awards for the town centre.