Stockport hosting ‘first ever’ Christmas festival to celebrate Town of Culture award

Stockport Council has announced its plans to hold its ‘first ever’ Christmas celebration in its centre after it was crowned Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture 2023.

To kick-off the festive season the town will have a one-day Christmas celebration this month taking residents and visitors on an enchanting journey through it’s shopping streets for Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday.

The event will be filled with a huge line-up of over 60 breath-taking shows featuring 220 artists alongside roaming acts, carnival fun, live music and festive food stalls – all guaranteed to capture the imaginations of youngsters whilst bringing extraordinary entertainment to families on a scale not seen before across the town.

Produced by carnival arts organisation, Global Grooves, Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday will take place on November 19th from 11am – 5pm, where visitors can expect to be amazed and entertained by a variety of charming performers at various locations across the town centre, including Merseyway Shopping Centre, Market Place and The Underbanks. 

Organised as a collaborative celebration by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport BID and Merseyway Shopping Centre, the event has been created as part of a programme of events bringing a year of culture to everyone in the town, to celebrate being named Greater Manchester’s latest Town of Culture for 2023.

The full event line-up will include Clint Boon providing the tunes, an aerial dance display, live music, performers, a choir, a carnival and plenty more.

The line-up will take place as follows:

Market Place

12pm – 4pm (performance times may vary throughout the day)

Promising to bring festive magic to all, shoppers and families can expect a grand celebration on Market Place. Mr & Mrs Boon will be presenting an afternoon tea with a twist, filled with sublime cakes, teas and tunes by Inspiral Carpets and Manchester legend, Clint Boon. 

Don’t miss the popular technicolour New Orleans marching band, Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, who will be bringing glorious carnival renditions of popular 90s hits while families can also enjoy a Christmas dance-along with Granny Turismo.

The Underbanks

12pm – 4.30pm (performance times may vary throughout the day)

Celebrating Stockport landmark, Strawberry Studios, the Underbanks will play host to Take Me to The Bridge, a grand concert piano recital showcasing classic tunes. Stockport’s very own aerial specialists Blush Aerial Dance, will perform several stunning shows suspended above the piano.

Curious, walkabout acts will make their way through the Underbanks, including roaming penguins and giant, enchanting puppets.

And to mark the end of the day’s performances everyone is welcome at 4.15pm for a huge, festive singalong under St Petersgate Bridge, where local musicians, choirs and community groups will come together next to the piano to mark the beginning of Christmas.

Merseyway Shopping Centre

11am – 5pm (performance times may vary throughout the day)

It’s a cultural Christmas extravaganza at Merseyway as visitors can expect stunning fairies, peculiar penguins, dinosaurs in Christmas hats, dancing snowflakes, Christmas Comedy Waiters, a giant stilt Holly tree, comedy acts and  more.

Santa’s street band, Red Hot Santas, will be playing classic Christmas hits with a modern twist, while Stockport’s very own specially designed ‘Rangoli’ will emerge throughout the day, created by acclaimed artist Ranbir Kaur.

If you’re passing by Suffragette Square and Mersey Square, listen out for the miniature carnival that will be parading between the two, at various times throughout the day.

Councillor Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “Our ever-popular Christmas event is even bigger and better this year to celebrate our Town of Culture status and to finish the year on a real high, with this free family-friendly event. 

“Christmas is a magical time of year and our town centre will be transformed to bring some festive cheer to our many residents and visitors and showcase our fantastic town. 

“This is the icing on the cake to a successful 2023 for our Town of Culture programme, which our local communities have really embraced, with so much more to come over the coming months.”    

Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday will take place throughout the town centre on November 19th from 11am – 5pm.