Third Sunday in June.

In Ashton the Whit Walks take place on the third Sunday of June although several other nearby places have their walks on Whit Sunday itself. In nearby Mossley and Saddleworth the walks take place on Whit Friday, the Friday after Whit Sunday.

Historically, Ashton's Walks were originally on Whit Friday. but then moved to the following Sunday (Trinity Sunday). In recent years the event has moved to the fixed time of the third Sunday of June.

Most of the churches in Ashton take part in the Whit Walks. A Procession from each church, accompanied by a band, makes its way to the centre of Ashton.

When all the churches have assembled in a town centre car park, a combined service is held, with hymns accompanied by one of the brass bands. Ashton's MP and local councillors usually take part in the service.

The church groups then process along a route around the town centre before walking back to their own starting points.

One of the traditions of the Whit Walks is for those taking part to wear new clothes for the occasion. In harder times this was something to look forward to as children would rarely get new clothes, more often receiving handed-down clothes from older siblings or relations.

The origin of wearing new clothes would seem to be based in the practice at one time of newly baptised members being received into the church at Whitsun (being a celebration of the birth of the Christian Church at Pentecost). The new clothes, often white, were symbolic of a new start.

Another custom, still in practice, is for people watching the walk from the pavement to look out for people they know taking part in the walk and to run forward and give them money.