Editing Oldham (section)

=== Carnival ===
The annual Oldham Carnival started around 1900, although the tradition of [[carnival]]s in the town goes back much further, providing a "welcomed respite from the tedium of everyday life".{{sfnp|Drummond|2005|p=|ps=}} The carnival parade was always held in mid-to-late summer, with the primary aim of raising money for charities.{{sfnp|Drummond|2005|p=|ps=}} It often featured local dignitaries or popular entertainers, in addition to brass, military and jazz bands, the Carnival Queen, people in [[fancy dress]], dancers and decorated [[Float (parade)|floats]] from local churches and businesses.{{sfnp|Drummond|2005|p=|ps=}} Whenever possible, local people who had attained national celebrity status were invited to join the cavalcade.{{sfnp|Drummond|2005|p=|ps=}} The carnival's route began in the town centre, wound its way along King Street, and ended with a party in [[Alexandra Park, Oldham|Alexandra Park]].{{sfnp|Drummond|2005|p=|ps=}}

The carnival fell out of favour in the late 1990s but was resurrected by community volunteers in 2006 and rebranded the Peoples' Carnival. The parade was moved into Alexandra Park in 2011. The event hosts live stages and other activities alongside a parade in the park.<ref name="Todays Carnival">{{cite web |url=http://www.peoplescarnival.org.uk |publisher=peoplescarnival.org.uk |year=2007 |access-date=10 November 2007 |title=A History of Oldham's Carnivals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114183027/http://www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk/carnivalhistory.htm |archive-date=14 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Carnival History">{{cite web |url=http://www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk/carnivalhistory.htm |publisher=oldhamcarnival.org.uk |year=2007 |access-date=10 November 2007 |title=A History of Oldham's Carnivals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114183027/http://www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk/carnivalhistory.htm |archive-date=14 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 2016 marked ten years since the carnival was reinstated by volunteers. The main organiser is Paul Davies who runs the carnival with a number of committee members and volunteers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk|title=Oldham Carnival RootZ Festival|website=www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk|access-date=14 September 2006|archive-date=25 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825130607/http://www.oldhamcarnival.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>