As November chimes into December and children’s glassy-eyed festive wonder threatens to boil over into mutinous hyperactive carnage, Manchester’s family-friendly events schedule offers more than enough entertaining diversions to quell the excitement until 4.30am Christmas morning.
From absorbing theatre productions and twinkling light trails to scientific spectaculars and Santa meet-and-greets, here are some of the best family days out around the region this month.
From spellbinding stately home installations and neighbourhood festivals to a winter wonderland at The Trafford Centre and the return of the wildly popular RHS Glow, Greater Manchester offers a dazzling variety of immersive light trails for families to explore throughout the festive season.
Check out our round up below.
From Fri 29 Nov until Christmas Eve, the beloved National Trust site Lyme invites visitors of all ages into a wintry realm of seasonal entertainment with a sprawling programme featuring choir performances, afternoon teas, sanguine shopping and a delightful animal-themed activity experience in the main house.
Find out more HERE, and book your visit below.
Taking over HOME from Fri 6 Dec to New Year’s Eve, Meredith Willson’s Miracle on 34th Street brings a dose of merriment to Manchester with a show-stopping new production featuring iconic songs, breathtaking stage design and a cast of decorated actors.
Set against the inimitable backdrop of Christmastime Manhattan, a struggling Macy’s faces irreversible ruin ahead of their make-or-break yuletide sale, and their discontented Santa has quit at the worst possible time. As the dreaded Christmas crunch approaches, the shop is forced to trust in a kindly stranger who remains certain that St. Nicholas is real.
Book your tickets to the unmissable theatre adaptation of the classic Christmas tale below.
From festive light shows and Space Dome screenings to seasonal cinema and cosmic Christmas shopping, Jodrell Bank’s Winter of Wonder programme promises a thrillingly family trip across the universe, with events running from Sat 7 to Sun 22 Dec.
Marvel at the brand new Starlight Spectacular science show, get hands on with an assortment of Christmas crafts and settle in for special dome screenings of The Snowman, Elf, Home Alone and more.
Find out more HERE, and book your visit below.
Whether you’re beating the mid-December madness or a proud Christmas Eve trolley dasher, Greater Manchester’s farms and specialist stores offer a sprawling selection of Christmas trees to suit every occasion, from colossal statement firs to miniature shelf shrubs.
Choose from mercifully manageable potted trees at Kenyon Hall Farm, traditional evergreens from Paul Haley, 25-foot behemoths at Clayton Fold Farm and many more.
Check out our roundup of the best Christmas tree farms around the region below.
Returning with another annual instalment on Sun 15 Dec, the RNCM’s ever-popular Christmas Family Day invites music-lovers of all ages to enjoy a fabulous day of creative activities, face painting, absorbing interactive workshops and a host of musical treats, before a screening of Magic Light Pictures’ wondrous animated adventure, Stick Man, with a stunning live orchestral accompaniment throughout the film.
Led by a stellar cast of professional singers and musicians, Opera North take to the Stoller Hall stage on the final Saturday before Christmas with a relaxed, interactive family-friendly performance of Cinderella, showcasing the boundless joy of opera, storytelling and music.
Singing and dancing are heavily encouraged as the world-renowned opera company bring a fantastical new twist to the beloved seasonal fairytale.
For a yuletide family day to remember for toddlers and pre-teens alike, stop by one of the countless Santa’s Grotto experiences taking place around the region throughout December.
Whether it’s a festive meet and greet at Freight Island, an enchanted forest experience at BeWILDerwood or a magical train ride with East Lancashire Railway, the big man himself is set to appear at a variety of venues, stores and events venues around Manchester this Christmas.
Read our round-up of the best Santa’s Grotto experiences below.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Fri 22 Nov 2024
Running from Sat 14 Dec into the new year, the Science and Industry Museum’s enchanting winter programme provides endless family fun for curious kids to enjoy for free.
Head to the Light Lab and discover the secrets of light through illuminating activities, special shows and immersive experiences, before exploring a hall of mirrors, light-bending experiments and even a rave room.
Elsewhere, visitors of all ages can face off in ‘ultimate gaming experience’ Power Up, with over 150 playable consoles spanning five decades of video game magic.
Returning for another year, the first of the Royal Institution’s Christmas Lectures will be screened live at the museum on Tue 10 Dec, ahead of being broadcast on the BBC. On this occasion, Operation Ouch! Co-presented Dr. Chris van Tulleken will be delving deep into our guts to reveal the latest science around what happens inside our bodies when we eat.
As always, guests can see science in motion in the interactive Experiment gallery, gaze upon mighty machines in the Textiles Gallery and discover world-changing ideas in Revolution. Incredible personal objects from Professor Stephen Hawking’s office are also on display in its highlights area.
Find out more HERE, and click below to book your visit.