What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 18 – 24 December 2023
Emily Sergeant -
18th December 2023 
It’s the week before Christmas, and all through the region… there’s so much festive fun to be getting involved with.
We know we’ve been talking about it for weeks at this point, but there’s no denying ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ is here now, is there? And so it’s absolutely no surprise that the Greater Manchester events calendar is absolutely jam-packed with all sorts of festive celebrations and activities to get stuck into as Christmas is right on the doorstep.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though, luckily, we’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2023
Manchester City Centre
Monday 18 – Thursday 21 December
Can you actually believe it’s the final week of Manchester’s Christmas Markets for 2023?
The iconic annual event may be an absolute staple in Manchester’s festive events calendar, and always draws in thousands of visitors from all across the globe, with more than 225 stalls across nine sites having lining the streets of our city this year – but, it’s time to bid the festivities farewell for another year this week.
This is your last chance to tuck into a wide range of festive foods and drinks, and shop for Christmas gifts from countless independent traders.
Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2023 here.
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Santa Specials
East Lancashire Railway
Monday 18 – Sunday 24 December
This is also your last week to catch East Lancashire Railway’s beloved Santa steam train rides.
Running right through until Christmas Eve, ELR’s ‘Santa Specials‘ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make “enchanted memories” that last a lifetime.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West, and there’s still some tickets left available.
Find out more and grab ticket here.
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The Twilight Trail
Escape to Freight Island
Monday 18 – Sunday 31 December
Manchester’s newest city centre park, Mayfield Park, has been transformed into a festive ‘Twilight Trail’ for the first time ever this Christmas.
This brand-new immersive experience is made up of several spectacular light displays, unique lantern installations, and a captivation sound-scape dotted around the pristine new park – with each circuit estimated to take around half an hour.
The Twilight Trail is running right through until the new year, and you can grab tickets here.
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Skate Manchester
Cathedral Gardens
Monday 18 – Sunday 31 December
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
Back once again for 2023 with twinkling lights, the smell of gingerbread, and Christmas songs playing on repeat, Skate Manchester’s stunning outdoor ice rink is in the heart of the city at Cathedral Gardens right up until the new year.
With the covered rink’s convenient roof allowing everyone to enjoy the ice, whatever the weather, visitors of all ages are invited to glide over the ice and admire the glorious Christmas tree right in the centre.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Bar Hütte
Great Northern & KAMPUS
Monday 18 December – onwards
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are back, and they’re bringing Alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks.
And this year, there’s not one, but two locations in Manchester city centre.
While Bar Hütte at Great Northern Square is back on Deansgate with 15 cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under a heated stretch tent and twinkling lights, Bar Hütte at Kampus also sees a new outdoor terrace with eight snug, wooden karaoke hüttes nestled beneath the trees, and an ‘Aprés Ski Bungalow’ serving as an indoor alpine bar.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Santa in the Sky
Cheshire Oaks
Monday 18 December – onwards
Cheshire Oaks’ beloved grotto looks a little different to usual in 2023.
That’s because the big man in red and his trusty elves are taking to the skies once again this year, and are inviting you on a fantastical festive adventure on the outlet’s ‘Big Wheel’.
Open every weekend and on selected weekday dates throughout December, the ‘Santa in the Sky’ experience is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas as a family this winter, and make memories to last a lifetime.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Land of Lights
Gulliver’s World
Monday 18 December – onwards
Land of Lights has transformed Gulliver’s World in Warrington into an immersive winter wonderland with 12 “vivid dreamworlds” full of dozens of gigantic lanterns that are inspired by animals, mega monuments, and wonders of the natural world.
As the sun goes down and the nights draw in, visitors to the North West attraction can explore an amazing array of light installations as they walk all around the park.
More than 7,000 individual lanterns and hundreds of thousands of LED lights create the spectacle.
Find out more and grab tickets from £12 here.
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Christmas Screenings
King Street Townhouse
Monday 18 December – onwards
A whole host of classic Christmas films have been hitting the big screen at the little cinema tucked away inside King Street Townhouse all this month.
And this week is absolutely no different.
With a marathon of three films set to be screened on each day of the event, the Christmas screenings schedule kicks off is made up of festive favourites such as Love Actually, Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Holiday, The Muppet Christmas Carol, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Bad Santa, and so many more.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Christmas at Heaton Park
Heaton Park
Monday 18 December – onwards
A brand-new breathtaking light trail has officially opened at Heaton Park for Christmas.
Having transformed the popular Manchester park into a twinkling winter wonderland, visitors can walk through fields of colour-changing orbs of light, venture among larger-than-life glowing flowers, and even wander through a giant twinkling tunnel as part of the all-new seasonal light display.
Neon strings reach high into the sky and a laser garden will light up its space with thousands of tiny beams of light.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Featured Image – Manchester City Council
