Christmas Hours

Check when Council Services will be closing over this Christmas period.

Christmas hours

Events

Find out what to do if you are organising an event within the Borough of Oldham.

Events include fairs, pop concerts, festivals, religious events, fun runs, family fun days, car rallies, Remembrance Day parades, Whit walks, and street parties.

Notify the Council of an event

Do you need to notify the Council of your event? 

You should notify the Council if your event will:

  • Impact on traffic or parking
  • Take place on Council land
  • Require road closures or 'no waiting' restrictions
  • Have loud music
  • Provide entertainment
  • Sell food, drink, or alcohol
  • Require licences e.g. street trading or sale of alcohol

Oldham Council must be notified at least 3 weeks prior to any proposed event taking place in the borough. More time may need to be allotted for larger-scale events.

5 weeks is the standard prior notice period required for any event organisers who require a road closure.

If your event is on private land and doesn't fall into one of the above categories you do not need to notify the Council. However, the Council can help advertise your event:

Use of parks and open spaces

 The use of our parks is generally free, however, larger or commercial events may incur a charge. 

The cost of hire:

Large Park: £545.64
Large Park (Charity Event): £343.92
Small Park: £254.16
Small Park (Charity Event): £171.96

Large parks:

Small parks:

Use of town centre

If your query is relates to town centre issues such as promotional stalls, areas for street performers, shopping times etc. Please can you contact our Town Centre Team:

Guidance and documents

A number of useful documents ranging from completing risk assessments to guidance on closing a highway are available for download below. all are designed to give you all the guidance you need to successfully organise and run an event on public land

Inflatables and fairground attractions

To comply with guidance set by the Health and Safety Executive, Oldham Council only allow inflatables/funfair rides which have valid PIPA tags/certification or an ADIPS declaration of compliance (DoC). We will only accept safety certification from these two industry inspection schemes

Music at events

All organisers of events that involve music will need to obtain the appropriate licence from PRS. This process is independent from the Council and should be done prior to the event taking place.

PPL PRS - Charity and Community Discounts

Any organisers who wish to apply for a community or charity discount from PPL PRS must complete the application form in full, and submit the form at least 14 days prior to the event.

Audience

If the event is suitable children and young people (aged 0 – 25 year) who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families then please register with Oldham’s SEND Local Offer.

Our SEND Local Offer is a free directory of services, activities, information and events for Oldham’s families with SEND.  You can apply to advertise here free of charge if your event is suitable.  You can also advertise other events and activities too.  

More advice

The Council's Events Team are happy to help you with any queries