Manchester’s Christmas light switch on date confirmed with 10 festive light sculptures

Manchester’s annual Christmas light switch on date has been confirmed for 2021, and it looks like a number of exciting new additions will be joining the display.

On Friday November 12th, a magical display of ten Christmas light sculptures will be brought to life across Manchester’s city centre on the same day the Christmas Markets officially open their doors. 

Located at Piccadilly Gardens and St. Peter’s Square, there will be giant walk-through baubles, star-spangled archways, an 36ft Christmas Tree and a colour-changing word sculpture spelling out ‘Merry Christmas MCR’, all courtesy of local Blackburn-based company MK Illumination. 

@therealkingani / Instagram

Other installations will see the return of the popular sparkling Manchester Bee and Manchester’s new light-up Santa, which will be located at it’s new and temporary home at Piccadilly Gardens. 

And that isn’t all on the festive front this year; after Covid-19 ground our Christmas plans to a halt last year, there are a ton of amazing things happening in and around Manchester to celebrate the festive period. 

Perhaps most importantly, the Christmas Markets are back and they are bringing over 300 food, drink and retail traders with them – though, this year, the main hub of the markets will be located at Piccadilly Gardens while Albert Square’s Town Hall undergoes renovations. 

David Dixon / Geograph

Lightopia is also returning to Heaton Park to bring even more festive light displays this Christmas; Lightopia 2021 will feature a fantastical ‘Magic Circus’ display, complete with illusional installations and interactive entertainment.

There will also be the ‘Fantasy Forest’, an area that will home mystical animals such as a nine tailed fox and unicorns, ready for guests to view and explore.

Other attractions will include the ‘Fantasy Universe’ with a supernova display and bioluminescence plants; ‘Dragon’s Land’ featuring two huge 40m dragons and fabled fairies; ‘Candy Land’, a sweet-inspired illuminated dreamland; ‘Fantasy Bees’, the trademark Manchester’s bee brought to life in a fantasy world; and the ‘Wonders of the World’.

Manchester’s Christmas light switch on will be taking place on November 12th. Visit the Manchester City Council’s website for more information.