Our Swinton Grove Park Christmas Tree lights were switched on in style yesterday afternoon by our biggest crowd ever. We had a dry afternoon for hot chocolate, goody bags, crafts and wonderful singing from children from St Chrysostom's and Plymouth Grove schools. Plus songs led by the brilliant Joyful Noise. Here are some photos - we hope to add more soon.

Thank you to all the hard-working volunteers, the children and staff from the two schools, Joyful Noise and sponsors and partners Hello Student, M13 Youth Project, Biffa, Elizabeth Gaskell's House, Grove Village, MossCare St Vincent Housing, Manchester City Council, One Manchester and local churches Brunswick Church, Longsight Church of the Nazarene and Victoria Park Fellowship.

We gave out welcome sheets which included details of other Christmas events happening in the next few weeks, including this family pantomime. If you didn't get a copy, you can download one here.

Our 2024 Community Christmas Lights Switch-On event is next Wednesday. As well as switching on the festive lights on the tree in Swinton Grove park we will have children from both St Chrysostom's and Plymouth Grove schools will be singing. There will be hot chocolate to drink, goody bags, a craft stall, gifts for the children. 'Joyful Noise' will lead a couple of singalong traditional Christmas songs.

Come along at 3:30pm to get your Festive Season off to a great start.

Once again there will be festive lights on the tree in the corner of Swinton Grove Park, and we will be having another switching on event on Wednesday December 4 from 3:30pm. Gathering on Swinton Grove beside Elizabeth Gaskell's House with hot chocolate, crafts, singing and goodies. It's all free, so why not come along for ​some community festive fun building up to the big count down?

We had a brilliant time yesterday at our Community Christmas Lights Switch-on event. A lovely dry - if a bit chilly - afternoon and loads of people came to enjoy crafts, a walk-about quiz, refreshments (including much appreciated hot chocolate with marshmallows), goody-bags and other treats and fantastic singing from the Joyful Noise choir, some of which we were able to join in on from our words sheets. Then the big countdown to the switching on of the lights. It was great to have all 3 of our local councillors there too.  Hear and see Joyful Noise in action here.

Big thanks to all the volunteers who worked so hard, Joyful Noise and sponsors and partners M13 Youth Project, Elizabeth Gaskell's House, Grove Village, Tesco Community Grants,, MossCare St Vincent Housing, Manchester City Council, Longsight Church of the Nazarene, Victoria Park Fellowship and Brunswick Church.

Our words sheet also has details of other Christmas and festive events happening locally in the run up to Christmas (including this pantomime). Download a copy here.

Once again the festive season is approaching and we will be switching on the lights on the tree in the corner of the park on Wednesday November 29 from 3:30pm. Gathering on Swinton Grove beside Elizabeth Gaskell's House for ​some community festive fun with crafts, singing and goodies.

The Ardwick Climate Change Roadshow in the park on Tuesday August 22 was a lot of fun for all who came.  There were craft activities including decorating bird-boxes to go up in the park, making miniature gardens and herb pots, a eco banners and painting a re-cycling race with prizes and making delicious smoothies with a bicycle. Also free resources and information to help us all be more planet-friendly. And the rain held off for the whole time!

The event was run by Manchester City Council with support from the Friends of Swinton Grove Park, Ardwick Climate Action, M13 Youth Project, Biffa and more. Big thanks to all who came and helped.

We had an excellent time yesterday at our Community Switch-On event for the Christmas lights in Swinton Grove Park. Despite the cold, it was a lovely fresh and dry late afternoon and it was great to welcome families and children to have fun together. We had refreshments, a festive craft stall, treat bags and selection boxes for the children, and a special traditional Christmas activity: making a Christingle, or Christ light, a reminder of the original Christmas Story. We even attempted to sing some carols! And of course counted down from 10 to switch on the lights.

Big thanks to sponsors and partners M13 Youth Project, Elizabeth Gaskell's House, Grove Village, Forever Manchester, MossCare St Vincent Housing, Manchester City Council, Longsight Church of the Nazarene, Victoria Park Fellowship and Brunswick Church. The photos include some of the hard work beforehand getting ready for the event– thank you to all our voluneers. If you would like to help make this or other events happen in the future why not get in touch?

Everyone is invited to our official switch-on event for the Swinton Grove Park Christmas Lights on Wednesday December 14, 4-5pm. We will be gathering on Swinton Grove beside Elizabeth Gaskell's House for ​some community festive fun.

Here are some photos from the switch-on event of our Christmas lights in the park. We estimate over 100 people turned out (so many we struggled to have enough treats for the children). It was a fantastic evening with refreshments, music from children from St Chrysostom's school, carol singing, a craft stall, and of course the big switch on, proceeded by a very loud countdown. Big thanks to the Council for providing the lights and other resources, and to Elizabeth Gaskell's House, Moss Care St Vincent Housing, Grove Village and Longsight Church of the Nazarene for their help and support. Maybe we'll do it again next year...