A new range of funny Christmas jumpers has landed – and they’re the perfect festive attire for Manchester locals.
Featuring United legend Cristiano Ronaldo, Corrie heartthrob Roy Cropper, and everyone’s favourite snack the humble sausage roll, there’s something to set any northern heart aflutter.
You’ve got time to stock up on funny new threads ahead of Christmas Jumper Day on December 10, as well as Manchester-inspired t-shirts, mugs, and wall art.
Have we just sold all your Christmas shopping woes? We might well have, yeah.
Get Gail Platted
Whether you’re a Coronation Street fan or not, we all know Gail Platt.
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The soap legend and top dancer (ahem) is now adorning a range of funny Christmas jumpers.
Champagne flute in hand, she looks pretty happy to be the star of the show.
Make sure you keep up with our festive gear and what’s on in Manchester this Christmas from markets to events here.
Christmas
Manchester’s biggest outdoor ice rink will be returning to the city centre this winter
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s massive outdoor ice rink has been confirmed for a return to the city centre once again this winter.
We may still be awaiting news on the return of this year’s world-famous Manchester Christmas Markets, but what we do know is that the city’s biggest outdoor ice rink will be back in Cathedral Gardens for the festive season, and there’s also a flurry of other frozen events and activities planned for 2024 too.
Skate Manchester is a festive staple of our city centre, and skaters can expect to glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink for another year.
Families, friends, and festive fun seekers will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas whatever the weather has in store for our city this year too, as although the rink will be outdoors in the heart of Cathedral Gardens, the ice is fully covered.
If you’re not too confident on the ice, however, the rink will also offer a variety of skate sessions that are tailored to meet the needs of all visitors.
Dedicated quiet and sensory-friendly sessions designed for a more relaxed environment are among these special sessions, along with discounted tickets for wheelchair users too.
“Skate Manchester marks the beginning of Christmas in the city for many Mancunians,” commented Kelly Baker, who is the Director of Managed Ice Rinks, the company that coordinates the annual event.
Manchester’s biggest outdoor ice rink will be returning to the city centre this winter / Credit: Matt Eachus (via Supplied)
“Hosting Manchester’s biggest outdoor undercover ice rink amongst the world-famous Christmas markets and celebrations is such a joy, and we can’t wait to welcome thousands of skaters onto the ice this festive season.”
Skate Manchester will return to Cathedral Gardens in Manchester city centre from 8 November 2024 through to New Year’s Day (1 January 2025), and tickets are now officially on sale – with prices starting at £14 for adults, £10 for children, and discounts for families available.
From Monday 2 – Sunday 8 December, 10% of all ticket sales will be donated directly Cash for Kids’ annual ‘Mission Christmas’ campaign.
Extra date added for festive screening of The Holiday with live orchestra in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
You can watch The Holiday on a big screen with a live orchestra playing the soundtrack in Manchester this Christmas.
The Holiday is one of the best-loved Christmas films of all time.
In case you haven’t got around to watching it before, the 2006 romcom directed and produced by Nancy Meyers stars Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Jack Black, and tells the story of how two women, who have never met and live 6,000 miles apart, find themselves in the same exact place in life.
They meet online through a home exchange website, and impulsively switch homes for the holiday.
Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing either wants or expects – a new romance.
An extra date has been added for a festive screening of The Holiday with live orchestra in Manchester / Credit: Universal Pictures
Since its release nearly two decades ago, watching The Holiday has become an annual tradition for millions worldwide every time the festive season rolls around – but how would you like to watch this classic in the most magical way possible? Streamed live onto a big screen in the theatre with a complete concert orchestra playing its soundtrack by the legendary Hans Zimmer? Well now you can this Christmas.
After a sell-out run in 2023, The Holiday In Concert will be going on a 16-date tour across the UK again this November and December, and will be taking place in the some of the country’s greatest concert halls – including The Bridgewater Hall here in Manchester.
The in-concert experience with a full orchestra and cinema-size screen is described as being an “incredibly unique” and “immersive” way to experience this cult-classic film.
JUST ANNOUNCED // Due to popular demand, The Holiday in Concert returns to the Hall on Monday 23 December for an extra date! Enjoy Hans Zimmer's score played live-to-film by a stunning full concert orchestra 🎼 Tickets on sale Friday 13 September 10am. ℹ https://t.co/TslToqd32Apic.twitter.com/5WpA6X5vQ2
Due to overwhelming demand for the Manchester show on Friday 6 December, a second date in our city has now been added to the tour’s run on Monday 23 December, and tickets for the new show are on sale at 10am tomorrow (Friday 13 September).
Liverpool, York, and Sheffield are some of the other northern English cities forming part of the tour, while the show will also be staged in London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Swansea, and more.
Daisy Jackson -
19th November 2021 
