What's On
Manchester Christmas Markets 2021: Opening and closing times and which traders are there
Everything you need to know…
The Manchester Christmas Markets 2021 kicked off this morning, with people flocking to the city centre to check out this year’s offerings.
Things are going to be little different for 2021: while the heart of the markets is usually centered around Albert Square, ongoing renovations to the Town Hall have forced them to move to Piccadilly Gardens.
The area has been transformed into the ‘Winter Gardens’, with all the usual yuletide bars, market stalls and food huts still at familiar locations such as St. Ann’s Square, Exchange Square and King Street.
David Dixon / Geograph
What dates are this year’s Christmas Markets on?
The markets opened today, Friday November 12th, and most stalls will close on December 22nd – however, there are extended opening hours at both the Winter Gardens and at Cathedral Gardens.
The main Piccadilly Gardens Winter Garden hub will be open until Sunday January 2nd – as will the Cathedral Gardens markets and ice skating rink.
When do Manchester Christmas Markets open and close?
Generally speaking, food and drink stalls will be open from 10am-9pm every day with retail stalls closing at 8pm.
Below are the opening hours for the Christmas Markets that are staying open beyond December 22nd.
The Winter Gardens festive hours:
- Christmas Eve: 10am-5pm
- Christmas Day: CLOSED
- Boxing Day: 10am-5pm
- December 27th: 10am-7.30pm (Bank Holiday)
- December 28th: 10am-7.30pm (Bank Holiday)
- December 29th: 10am-7.30pm
- December 30th: 10am-7.30pm
- December 31st: 10am-5pm
- January 1st: 10am-5pm (Bank Holiday)
- January 2nd: 10am-5pm
Cathedral Gardens festive hours:
- Christmas Eve: 10am-5pm
- Christmas Day: CLOSED
- Boxing Day: 10am-5pm
- December 27th: 10am-7.30pm (Bank Holiday)
- December 28th: 10am-7.30pm (Bank Holiday)
- December 29th: 10am-7.30pm
- December 30th: 10am-7.30pm
- December 31st: 10am-5pm
- January 1st: 10am-5pm (Bank Holiday)
- January 2nd: 10am-5pm
@mcrchristmasmarkets / Instagram
Which traders will be there and which area will they be in?
Piccadilly Gardens:
- Little Spain
- Mexico Joes Ltd
- Bars&Yours Ltd
- One Catering
- Porkys of Yarm
- Clowbecks
- The Pancake House
- Brook’s Mill / Hollies
- The Manchester Winter Ale House
- Elsie Mays
- Cheshire Cheese Company
- Silver Flowers
- G&J Catering
- de Creperie
- The Great British Cheese Company
- MM Coffee Company Ltd
St. Ann’s Square:
- Star Bakery GMBH
- The Pancake House
- Yard & Coop
- Manke Markets UK Ltd
- Gingerbread House Confections
- Pure Indulgence
- Johnsons Crafts
- Metal Art Productions
- Winbridge
- Drydock Driftwood
- Manc & Proud
- The Cheese Board
- Continental Cottage
- Bellapaella
- Amber Jewellery
- Wraptious
- Eat Liquorice
King Street:
- O Sweet Home
- N & P Events Ltd
- Cuisine Provencale
- Xmas Food & Drinks Ltd
- Eat Grk
- Le Moulin Au Chocolat
- Urban Colours
- Terrasa Ltd
- The Salford Rum Company
- Charles Taylor Trading
- N & P Events Ltd
- Dorri Limited
- Small Batch Cocktails Ltd
- Soaps of Provence Limited
- M Crafts
- Malvavisco
- Johnsons Toffees
- The Best Of Italy
- Frank’s Jewels
- Cherry Tree UK Ltd
- The Toast Italiano
Exchange Street:
- The Great North Pie Company
- Birchwood Leather
- Earth, Rock & Stone
- MCR Wall Art
- Angel Belle Jewellery
- Dontbitchstitch
- Trolle Trading Limited
- Lakeland Picnic Ltd
- Mamma Mia
New Cathedral Street:
- Eat New York
- Mango Rays (MCR) LTD
- Bar 3
- The Witch House
- Zen Experimental Ltd
- SGB Trading
- Mantra
- Cheshire Cheese Company
- Birchwood Leather
- The Little Gift Hut
- Eat Liquorice
- Celtic Spirit Co
- Unikalus Vaizdas
- Mouse And Moon
- Artesania
- The Cocktail Co
- Laura’s Fudge
- Mayflower Apiaries
- Java Bar Espresso Ltd
- The Buddha Beauty Company
- Lanx Group Ltd
@mcrchristmasmarkets / Instagram
Exchange Square:
- The Mill Exchange Ltd
- Tikka Kebab Kitchen
- Forum Foods Ltd
- de Creperie
- Turks Charcoal Pit
- Round Food House
- Elsie Mays
- Gingerbread House Confections
- The Crusty Pie Company
- Wall Art Collective Ltd
- Zakad d.o.o.
- Crios Gifts
- Zara Cakes Ltd
- Faith & Sons
- De Luciano
- Priya Trading
- The Cheese Board
- Artisan Farm
- The Festive House
- Terrasa Ltd
- Pineapple Events Solutions Limited
- Pure Indulgence
- Riverside Spirits
- Dorri Limited
- Mosaic
- Grey Thread
- Sasha Ray Photography
- From The Olive Tree
Market Street:
- Garlic Grater
- Popsters
- Ken The Hat Man
- Baby Leon
- Amazonas Jewellery
- Exglo UK
- Carpe Diems Finest Ltd
- Kingdom Of Sweets
- Edges Arms
- Personalised Gifts
- Xtravertz
- The Great British Cheese Company
- Mandalay Accessories Ltd
- Crios Gifts
- VietnamUKConnect Ltd
- TWS TRADING LIMITED
- Tiger Mountain
- O’Donnell Moonshine Ltd
- Silver Flowers
- Pretty Little Princess
- Amazonas Gifts
- M & C Crafts
- Vybrid
- The Melting Pot
Cathedral Gardens:
- Continental Catering
- de Creperie
- Well & Spruce
- Windmill
- The Dog House
- Agathas Farm
- Farman & Son LTD
- The Great British Cheese Company
- Sorelle
- The Closet Boutique
What's On
The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Get in the festive spirit!
Get in the festive spirit with a brand new FREE Christmas makers night market, with over 40 traders and small businesses from across the region.
Brought to you by Renaker, the Manchester Made Christmas night market is coming to New Jackson, Deansgate Square from Friday December 6th to Sunday December 8th.
Following on from a successful summer market in May, the Manchester Made Market is returning bigger and better than before but with a Christmassy twist.
Manchester Made Market
Expect a ‘cosy and magical’ Christmas night market experience, with food, drink, live music and even a grotto for visits to Father Christmas.
There’ll be Christmas trees galore, glittering with lighting, with one huge show-stopping tree taking centre stage.
Bringing together over 40 artisanal traders and small businesses from across the region, the three-day event will showcase a plethora of food produce, homewares, crafts and creations.
Manchester Made Market
Visitors will be sure to find unique Christmas gifts that support local businesses, including from The Cole Men and their award winning sauces, Moon & Sixpence’s handmade jewellery, and fine art photography by Craig Barker.
There’ll be live music from a 20-piece choir, playing Christmas classics, cocktails from Manchester Gin and Gooey’s sweet treats.
The experts from Millington Hall Farm in Altrincham will be bringing a taste of their Wild Grill experience, including live sausage making demonstrations and an array of German sausages served from a festive BBQ trailer.
Manchester Made Market
Families with children can visit the Christmas grotto, where Father Christmas himself will be waiting in a cosy tipi – kids will get a gift from Santa, and bookings can be made online for £8.50 per child.
Manchester Made Market will be open from 4pm to 9pm on Friday December 6th, and 1pm to 9pm on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th – pre-register for a free guest list ticket and 50% off a hot chocolate HERE, or book the Christmas grotto HERE.
What's On
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Get in the festive spirit in Stockport!
Stockport’s free, one-day Christmas festival is returning this festive season, with 200 performers and more than 50 shows.
Spectacular Sunday will return to the town on November 17th at various sites and venues.
Following the success of last year’s event, hundreds of performers will take over Stockport, with everything from giant roller-skating presents to a living snow globe and roaming Christmas dolls.
There will also be street theatre, including grumpy Christmas grandads, a gigantic balloon man and water show.
Matthew Nichol Photography
Produced by carnival arts organisation Global Grooves and organised by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport, Merseyway and Stockport Market, the town centre will be buzzing with Christmas excitement.
Events will be happening in iconic Stockport locations like Market Place, Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock and Suffragette Square.
A grand finale in Merseyway will bring together the brass bands of Stockport, ending the day with a huge flash mob and rendition of All You Need Is Love.
Cirq Delight
Cllr Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport, said: “We’re so excited to bring this event back after last year’s amazing success.
“It’s such a fun way to get everyone in the festive spirit and really shows off what makes Stockport special – our sense of community and joy.
“With loads of free performances and activities, plus a chance to enjoy the newly improved areas of Merseyway, it’s a perfect day out for families.
“Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday is all about having fun, making memories, and starting the holiday season in style.”
Spectacular Sunday is happening from 11am to 5pm on Sunday November 17th – find out more HERE.
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year next month, bringing with it a vibrant gallery space showcasing thousands of works from over 500 artists.
One of the biggest and most significant events in the UK art world calendar, it’ll take over Manchester Central for three days, from Friday November 15th to 17th.
The city will be flooded with art from all corners of the world, championing everything from local heroes to new emerging talent, as well as international artists with worldwide acclaim.
Manchester Art Fair
A wide range of artistic disciplines will be represented at the event, from painters, illustrators, and sculptors to graffiti artists and everything in between.
Expect exhibitions, workshops, Q&A sessions, demos, book signings and parties happening across the event.
Tickets include free access to art workshops and talks from leading artists and cultural experts, and are on sale now.
You can grab them HERE.
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