What's On
Two mini Christmas Markets are going ahead in Manchester from this week
Will you be heading down?
The most popular traders from the Christmas Markets can be found in pop-ups in Piccadilly Gardens and St Ann’s Square, the council has confirmed.
From this week, Manchester will be hosting a scaled down version of its world-famous Christmas Markets, including a new Winter Market pop-up in St Ann’s Square.
The two mini markets will take place over the next two weeks and will feature some of the most popular food vendors.
At St Ann’s Square visitors can expect gooey cookie dough creations from Elsie May, and Porky Pig will be serving up their famous Yorkshire pudding wraps.
Eat Greek will also be serving up their halloumi fries and you can get your hands on the market staple mini pancakes and bratwurst, as well as burritos from Mango Rays.
Unfortunately, if you’re prone to a festive tipple, alcohol will not be permitted at the mini-markets meaning no mulled wine or steins.
The existing Winter Market in Piccadilly Gardens has also now been expanded so there will be a range of craft and gift stalls.
As well as being smaller, the markets are likely to look a lot different with social distancing measures in place.
The number of people who can access the stalls will be limited and there will be a one-way system.
Coun Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson, said: “We know people were so disappointed to hear this year’s Christmas Markets could not go ahead.
“Public safety must be at the heart of everything we do, and we could not put on our usual world-class event while keeping people safe.
“Since then, we have been looking at ways of supporting the Christmas traders at an important time of year for their businesses, while also attracting people to the city centre in a safe and manageable way.
“Our Winter Markets have attracted some of the city’s – and region’s – top makers and traders, who provide a real alternative to the high street.”
Piccadilly Gardens Market
Open now until December 23rd
Week one:
- The Crusty Pie Company
- Popsters
- The Great British Cheese Company
- Johnsons Toffees
- The Closet Boutique
- Zen Experimental
- Mandalay Accessories
- The Cocktail Co
- Amazonas Gifts
- Cheshire Cheese Company
- Personalised Gifts
- Paul Collins
- Trolle Trading Limited
- Snugglebottle
- Priya
- Sticky Chocolate
- The Olive Tree
Week Two: - Snugglebottle
- Chi CHi’s
- The Little Gift Hut
- Mayflower Apiaries
- Priya
- The Cheese Board
- Sticky Chocolate
- The Closet Boutique
- From the Olive Tree
- O’Donnell Moonshine
- Malvavisco
- Just The Cheese
- Amazonas Jewellery
- Johnsons Toffees
- The Crusty Pie Company
- Popsters
- The Cocktail Co
- Paul Collins
St Ann’s Square
Open December 9th-13th & December 16th-20th
- Porky Pig
- Eat Greek
- Elsie May’s
- Traditional Christmas Pancakes
- Gourmet English Sausage & German Bratwurst
- Mango Rays
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.
Find something to do in Manchester
Powered by 
The VR gaming experience at airport where you can escape reality
The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Simmons Bar opens first Northern site in Manchester with free drinks at launch party
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year
