Free things to do in Manchester this weekend ft. Christmas Markets + more

Scandi Stars at Manchester Art Gallery
For our first pick of free things to do in Manchester this weekend, we’ve got this free drop-in demonstration and workshop at Manchester Art Gallery. Norwegian ceramicist, glass-blower and Pankhurst in the Park founder Lotte Karlsen comes to the city-centre gallery for this two-hour session, where she will teach you to work with a much more pliable material than the ones she’s used to – paper. Scandinavia has a rich tradition of making paper decorations around Christmas decorations: Something you might remember trying at primary school, but has no doubt fallen by the wayside since. Lotte will dig into the significance of these decorations, whilst also showing how to create ambitious, three-dimensional paper structures that your six-year-old fingers would never have mustered.
Sat 1 Dec, Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3JL, 1pm – 3pm, www.manchesterartgallery.org

Levy Christmas Market
Levy Market hosts its first Christmas event for 2018 this Saturday, with a big day-long market in the heart of Levenshulme. The station car park will be turned over to dozens of stalls serving up festive treats and handmade gifts. Already confirmed for this fair are recycled decoration makers Owl and the Coconut, bicycle-based grinders Coffee Cranks Cooperative and a live recital from The Madeley School of Dance. There’s bound to be plenty of surprises on the day, so keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information.
Sat 1 Dec, Levy Market, Levenshulme, M19 3AB, 10am – 4pm, www.facebook.com

Frost Fair at The Whitworth
A second Christmas fair is happening on Saturday and Sunday at The Whitworth. The Oxford Road gallery’s Frost Fair features arts activities, outdoor cinema and circus performances. Check out our full preview for more details.
Sat 1 Dec – Sun 2 Dec, The Whitworth, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER, Tel: 0161 275 7450, 11am – 7pm, whitworth.manchester.ac.uk

ShinDigger Meet the Brewer at Band on the Wall
Music venue Band on the Wall hosts another of their free Meet The Brewer events this Saturday evening, this time inviting local brewery ShinDigger along to showcase their wares. Founded only six years ago by a pair of Manchester University students, ShinDigger has grown into one of the most recognisable local beer brands, with over a dozen different brews coming out of their kegs. They’ll be bringing along some free samples of several of their most recent concoctions, and even more brews can be bought from behind the bar.
Sat 1 Dec, Band on the Wall, 25 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JZ, 4pm – 7pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Christmas Fair at YES
One final Christmas fair for the weekend, as new venue YES on Charles Street hosts their Christmas fair. All four floors of this former auction house will be taken over with pop-up stalls from indie retailers and promoters, including Piccadilly Records and Remake/Remodel, whilst its multiple bars will be slinging mulled wine and warm gin. YES won’t just be giving over floorspace, but also opening their kitchens to Pepperoni Playboy and Firebird Hope, who’ll be serving up up great deals on delicious festive food, including vegan burgers and Christmas dinner pizza.
Sun 2 Dec, YES, 38 Charles Street, Manchester, M1 7DB, 12pm, www.yes-manchester.com