With Halloween and Bonfire Night over, the Christmas countdown has begun!

Here are the best things to do in and around the Trafford area in the run up to the big day.

1. FLIXTON BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Flixton Band, a musical group formed in 1877, are joining with sister group, Flixton Community Band, to host their annual Christmas concert on Friday 8 December. Elected Flixton band manager, Will Haw, says this event is “marking the start of our Christmas period”.

The show, set to begin at 7.30pm, will be held at St. Clements Church in Urmston. There will also be stands with refreshments available and a raffle. Tickets are £8 and available online or on the door. All money raised goes towards hosting further events and “to fund teaching people who want to learn to play an instrument in our community band, which is 10 years old this year”.

The band will also be “doing multiple carols around the area on people’s streets”, beginning December 2. This is booked by supporters and the idea came about during Coronavirus restrictions, with the group “wanting to try something new”, Will said.

2. SALE SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS FAIR

The Sale Salvation Army Church and Community Christmas fair will be held on Saturday November 10, from 10.30am to 1pm, with a range of stalls and a performance from the Sale Salvation Army Band.

3. URMSTON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON

The annual light switch on, hosted by The Urmston partnership and Indie Urmston, will be taking place on Friday 24 November from 5 pm to 9pm. The event will be at Manor Gardens on Queens Road, and will feature Christmas tunes, provided by DJ and compere, John Locke. There will also be a live performance from Flixton Band, and an all-new Elf and Winter Games, with the chance for little ones to meet Santa. The return of the Mini-Market will provide an array of food, hot drinks, sweet stalls, and a bar.

4. STRETFORD AND URMSTON CHRISTMAS FAIR

Stratford and Urmston will be having their annual Christmas Fair on Saturday 18 November. This is an event which has been running for more than 50 years, since Stretford and Urmston Methodist Church was built. Entry is free for the stalls, which will be selling a selection of handmade items, cakes, crafts and toiletries, but their Bricktastic Stay and Play Lego sessions will cost. This is running from 11am - 1pm, with Santa arriving at 11.30 for half an hour, until 12pm.

5. ST MARY CHRISTMAS FAIR

Taking place on Saturday November 18, St Mary the Virgin Church will be having a Christmas fair in the Church Hall from 10am to 3pm. Activities include raffles and tombolas, gifts and surprises, stalls and games, cakes and refreshments.

6. PAINT YOUR OWN PICTURE @ THE ROEBUCK

On Wednesday December 13, The Roebuck pub in Urmston will hold a ‘paintbrush and tipple’ workshop between 7pm and 9.30pm. Places are £25 per person, with fizz and nibbles available on the day. Limited spaces are available so attendees must book online here.

7. BRICKTASTIC STAY AND PLAY

At the Nebula Centre on Manchester Road, Carrington, on Sunday 10 December, there will be a ‘Bricktastic’ session with a visit from Santa. There will be two sessions, both £10 each. Session 1 at 12.20pm to 1.30pm - including a Lego Keyring and a visit from Santa at 1pm, and Session 2 (SEND), from 1.45pm to 3pm, again with a Lego Keyring and visit from Santa at 1.45pm. Organiser, Vicky, said: “We have a huge selection of loose organised bricks to help children with their creativity and problem solving skills”.

8. ST MATTHEW’S HALL STRETFORD

Raising money for the animals in rescue, St Matthew’s Christmas Fair will be at St Matthew’s Community Hall, on Saturday December 9. From 12om to 4pm, games, stalls and raffles will be there in aid of ‘The Society for Abandoned Animals’.

9. THE SNOW QUEEN - CHRISTMAS SHOW

Waterside Arts, located at Waterside Plaza in Sale, will host a “spectacular Christmas Show” between Wednesday November 29 until Saturday December 30. Tickets start at £14 and the “vibrant reimagining of the classic fairy tale” is aimed for those four years and over.

10. CHRISTMAS FAIR AND SANTA’S GROTTO

St Clement’s Parish Church in Urmston will be having an event on Saturday November 25. This will be running from 10.30am to 2.30pm and will include a raffle, cafe, cakes, tombola, jewellery and a children’s stall.

11. JOHN ALKER CLUB CHRISTMAS FETE

On Sunday December 3, John Alker Club will host a Christmas market, between 9am and 2pm. Attractions include Santa’s Grotto for £5 per child - tickets must be pre booked, family disco and party games, with mulled wine and hot cider sold on the day.

12. THE ENCHANTED FOREST

Hosted at the Nebula Centre, Carrington, on Sunday December 17, the venue will be transformed into a magical woodland. From 2pm to 4pm, there will be a chance to make Christmas decorations, cook up reindeer food in the mud kitchen and sing carols. Admission fee is £10 per child, with adults free.

READ MORE: From ice skating to Paddington Bear - all the festive fun coming to Trafford Centre

13. GARRICK’S HEAD MARKET CHRISTMAS

From 2pm, on Saturday December 16, Garrick’s Head will be transformed into a ‘Christmas Market’, with Santa’s Grotto, mulled wine and mince pies, stalls and food. They are currently accepting stall holders for the event.

14. PARTY BINGO - THE FINAL SNOWDOWN

Live from John Alker Club in Flixton, Party Bingo and Entertainment are hosting their last show on Saturday 16 December. With tickets selling out fast last time, they are available to buy on general sale now, at the price of £15. Money raised will go directly towards ‘Andy’s Man Club’, and their #itsoktotalk mental health campaign for men. Arrival time is between 6.30pm and 7pm.