As the festive season is underway, it’s good to know that we have Europe’s favourite Christmas market experiences right on our doorstep.
As you’ve probably already seen the wooden Alpine huts popping up in several areas in town, the Christmas Markets will officially open on Friday, November 10th, to kick off the season’s festivities.
The festive extravaganza has been named as Europe’s best Yuletide markets, according to a new study conducted by security expert Heald LTD.
The Mancunian markets took the top spot ahead of Vienna, Austria, which came in second place.
This Austrian Christmas market attracts around 3 million visitors per year. Open for 45 days, it features 150 stalls and boasts a Tripadvisor rating of 4.5. With over 8,000 monthly searches and 1.5 million TikTok views, Vienna’s market is a magical winter wonderland.
Paris ranked fourth in the new study, with its markets drawing in around 15 million visitors. With 200 stalls and a Tripadvisor rating of 4.5, it’s Christmas market continues to enchant visitors.
Manchester’s markets boasts 220 stalls, rakes in a whopping 13.2 million TikTok views, and is rated highly on Tripadvisor at 4.5 – not bad, eh? They’re also typed into Google with a monthly search volume of up to 40,500 searches.
A great place to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with colleagues, friends and family, the Manchester Christmas Markets offer plenty of festivities for all to enjoy.
According to Heald’s Christmas market index – based on the average number of visitors and stalls, overall Tripadvisor rating, global search volume, length of opening and TikTok views – the top ten Christmas markets in Europe are:
1) Manchester (UK)
2) Vienna (Austria)
3) Birmingham (UK)
4) Paris (France)
5) Glasgow (UK), Frankfurt (Germany)
6) Cologne (Germany)
7) Brussels (Belgium)
8) Bruges (Belgium)
9) Dresden (Germany)
10) Winter Wonderland London (UK), Nuremberg (Germany)
This year marks 25 years of the city’s markets, which first began back in 1998 and has been a prominent feature ever since.
Also coming back to get you in the Christmas spirit is the popular Manchester Christmas Parade, set to tale place on Sunday, December 3rd. Last year’s parade saw thousands line the streets to watch this wonderful winter celebration.
As the nights draw in, The Christmas Lights Trail is set to illuminate the city again. Features include giant walk-through baubles, a Manchester bee, and a giant Santa Claus watching over St Peter’s Square.
Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester City Council’s Christmas spokesperson, said: “Christmas is looking even better than ever in Manchester this year, with the opening of our world-famous Christmas markets now only three weeks away and a stocking rammed full of things for all the family to see and enjoy over the festive season, including our magical Manchester Christmas Parade.
“And what a special year for our world-beating markets! Hard to believe it was exactly 25 Christmases ago that Manchester’s first-ever Christmas market took place.
“A quarter of a century later the markets bring visitors from quite literally all over the world to fill upon the fantastic festive treats on offer. Everyone knows Manchester is the city that Santa loves best and we just can’t wait to share all the Christmas fun and festivities with everyone.”
Manchester’s Christmas Markets open this Friday, November 10th and close on Thursday, December 21st.
The Christmas Markets are open daily at the following times:
All craft stalls 10 am – 8 pm
All bars and food stalls 11 am – 9 pm
Father Christmas will take up residence in St Peter’s Square after Remembrance Sunday, on November 12th. The Ice Rink in Cathedral Gardens will be open from November 2nd – January 2nd.
The food and drink stalls in Cathedral Gardens and skate rink will remain open until December 31st.
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.
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.