The countdown is on to Christmas in Santa’s favourite city with Manchester’s world-beating Christmas Markets set to return on the 8 November – Manchester’s very own Festive Friday – for a six-week seasonal run until Sunday 22 December.
Now in their 26th year, Manchester’s Christmas markets continue to delight shoppers and visitors alike and are the stuff of Christmas legend, each year bringing millions of people into the city centre to fill up on the fantastic festive treats on offer and to soak up the glühwein and bratwurst-filled atmosphere of Christmas in the city.
With well over two hundred stalls across nine sites throughout the city centre, there promises to be plenty on offer for seasonal shoppers of all ages and tastes to enjoy.
This year sees the iconic wooden ski chalet market stalls take over King Street West, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange and Cathedral Gardens, as well as Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens.
The stalls will be open daily throughout the six-week run – which this year due to the way dates fall, includes seven weekends instead of the usual six.
Craft stalls and stalls selling seasonal goods will be open each day from 10 am – 8 pm, whilst food and drink stalls will be open from 11 am – 9 pm each day.
The markets will wrap up for Christmas at 6 pm on Sunday 22 December, except for the food and drink stalls at Cathedral Gardens which will stay open until December 31.
The city centre will of course also be looking its sparkly best for the Christmas season with the return of the Manchester Christmas lights trail – the perfect backdrop for those all-important Christmas selfies.
Think giant walk-through baubles, a Manchester bee and of course Santa Claus himself, keeping a watchful eye on visitors young and old for his naughty and nice lists from on high in St Peter’s Square.
For those who enjoy a seasonal skate, Skate Manchester’s covered ice rink will be back again this year in Cathedral Gardens from 8 November to January 1 with the covered ice-rink promising an unforgettable skating experience whatever the weather, amid twinkling lights, Christmas trees and a soundtrack of Christmas songs.
And of course, Christmas in Santa’s favourite city would not be Christmas without the family favourite now annual Manchester Christmas Parade, which will be making its heartwarming return to the city streets again this year.
