29 MAY – What is so unusual about the Whit Friday Band Contests? The day is unlike any other, with 11 Brass Band contests held on the same day across the villages of Saddleworth. Competing bands travel around by coach, trying to visit as many contests as they can.
There are eleven villages in the Saddleworth and Oldham Whit Friday Brass Band Contests and each one of those offers a unique experience. Each contest has its own character and each is a like a mini brass band festival. Most spectators pick a village and stay to enjoy the experience at that venue. More adventurous types travel around on foot or bike.
Where exactly is Saddleworth? It is actually the collective name for a group of villages in the foothills of the Pennines on the outskirts of Oldham.
Making your way around the eleven contests in the Saddleworth and Oldham Whit Friday contests can be quite a challenge. There are temporary road closures and one-way systems to navigate. Planning your route ahead of time will help you on the day – Google Maps won’t!
The organisers say “we recommend leaving the car at home, or on the outskirts of Saddleworth and exploring the contest venues by foot or public transport.”
The bottom line is to do your homework and give yourself plenty of time to get into position. The contest in the villages of Diggle and Dobcross are reasonably accessible for Calderdale visitors, with many spectators parking at the roadside on the A670 between its junction with the A62 and Uppermill.
Alternatively, you can get to Greenfield Station from Huddersfield or Manchester and walk from there along lovely canalside walks, or use the shuttle buses.
Whatever method you choose, it will be worth it!
Here’s the band contest website which has lots of great advice and info: https://saddleworthwhitfriday.co.uk/