Manchester is a city that knows how to do Christmas very well, and this year has proved no different. From festive pop-ups to immersive light shows, we’ve picked out five different experiences in and around the city centre that’ll have even the sternest of Scrooges bellowing Jingle Bells in no time.
Struggling to get into the festive mood? A wander through the annual award-winning Lightopia festival at Heaton Park should do just the trick.
Stretching 1.5 miles, visitors will stroll past winged lions, a 100m long Chinese-style dragon and a field of rave-programmed lightbulbs, all combining to kick your senses into overdrive.
Taking over the Trafford Centre’s outdoor space is a brand-new winter wonderland going by the name Tinsel Town.
At the heart of it is a 600m covered ice skating rink which welcomes adults and children alike. For anyone not so confident in their skating skills, the vast new space also boasts a fairground, Santa’s Twinkling Tipi and local indie food favourites like Oh My Glaze and boozy ice cream from A Few Scoops.
Manchester is a city packed with an endless stream of showstopping theatre, and Contact have had a huge part to play in that reputation.
Throughout December, the renowned venue will be hosting a unique twist on the classic tale of Dick Whittington.
Dick Whittington and His Amazing Cat promises an upbeat, modern production of the time-old rags-to-riches story, following Whittington and his loyal cat Scratch.
Film buffs and nostalgia fans rejoice, as HOME have confirmed plans for a season of classic flicks being shown throughout the festive period.
Expect the likes of Die Hard, Gremlins and A Nightmare on Elm Street in this genre-spanning programme that forms part of the venue’s wider Christmas calendar, revisiting an array of crowd-pleasers from a golden era of cinema that have no doubt stood the test of time.
Wed 1 Dec - Fri 31 Dec
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Wed 15 Dec 2021
Having taken over Spinningfields Square, A Clubhouse Christmas is hosting alpine-style karaoke huts, duelling pianos and a ten metre-long curling lane for anyone looking for a little friendly competition from their December night out.
There are Christmas-inspired cocktails like the kiwi and coconut Life’s a Grinch, or the pink gin and cranberry Santa Baby, and Kong’s Chicken Shop are on-hand to cover the food, serving up loaded fries, poutine and festive kebabs.
The pop-up also boasts the city’s tallest Christmas tree, and the heated pergola will offer welcome shelter from the infamous Mancunian elements.