Forget stars and snowflakes and Santas – you could hang an army of festive dildo baubles off your tree this Christmas…
An event taking place in Manchester this weekend will allow ticket-holders to bedazzle their own phallic Christmas ornament with everything from glitter to diamantés to neon paints.
The Xmas Dildo Decorating Workshop is taking place at Grub, and demand has been so great they’ve had to add a second event.
The 18+ event comes from artist and tattoo artist Ben Saunders, who promises the festive workshop will be ‘prioritising queer joy, creativity, body positivity and s3x positivity’.
Every ticket includes your own handmade dildo decoration to jazz up however you want, then you can take it home to hang on your tree.
Plenty of art supplies, including paint, brushes, glue and loads of glitter, will be provided at each of the two workshops, but ticket-holders are welcome to bring their own supplies along too.
You could turn your willy-shaped decoration into a pop-art style ornament, a mirror ball penis, or a shimmering glitter phallus – the options are endless.
The Xmas Dildo Decorating event will be held in a private room at the street food village in the Green Quarter on the outskirts of Manchester city centre, and will be soundtracked by Christmas music.
An Xmas Dildo Decorating Workshop event is taking place in Manchester this Christmas. Credit: Instagram, @bensaunders.art
You can grab drinks from the Grub bar or a bite to eat from any of the food vendors stationed there while you get into the ‘Christmas (k1nky) spirit’.
Sharing the news on Instagram, Ben wrote: “No art experience is necessary – suitable for all levels and types of artists! This is a festive workshop prioritising queer joy, creativity, body positivity and s3x positivity!
“At the end of the workshop, you will be able to take home your decorated d1ldo ornaments to display for all your guests to see!”
There are discounted tickets available to those on a low income, and you can pay-it-forward towards the price of a low income ticket for someone else too.
Full-price tickets for this Manchester Christmas event are £35 each, with the afternoon session running from 2pm until 5pm.
One person commented on Grub’s event post: “F*ck the wreath have you seen this?!”
Another joked: “Is that a ding dong merrily on high?”
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains are back again this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally only the second week of September, and we’ve technically still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of Halloween and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The heritage railway has announced that its popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam train rides are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
You can already grab tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides this Christmas / Credit: ELR
And in recent years, the much-loved event has been even bigger and better than ever before.
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 truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station.
You’ll first get to meet some old favourites and new characters, including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess, all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves, with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
The famous East Lancashire Railway ‘Santa Special’ steam train / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipple, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
East Lancashire Railway’s famous Santa Specials are running on weekends and selected weekdays from Saturday 22 November – Wednesday 24 December.
Tickets now on sale starting from £22.50 for kids and £23 for adults.
You can book your seats here before it’s too late.
Featured Image – ELR
Christmas
Manchester’s largest outdoor ice rink is returning to the city centre this festive season
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s massive outdoor ice rink has been confirmed for a return to Cathedral Gardens once again this festive season.
Skate Manchester has always been a festive staple of our city centre, and there’s also a flurry of other frozen events and activities planned for 2025 too – including the return of the Scare Skate for Halloween.
Following success in previous years, Scare Skate returns this spooky season, and families, friends, and festive fun seekers visiting the rink this season can expect Halloween-themed music, lighting, and themed props to ignite the fright factor.
After Halloween, the magic continues as the rink transforms into a festive wonderland.
Manchester’s largest outdoor ice rink is returning to the city centre this festive season / Credit: Supplied
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.
You’ll 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.
The rink will also offer a variety of skate sessions tailored to meet the needs of all visitors, which includes dedicated quiet and toddler sessions designed for a more relaxed environment, along with discounted tickets and weekly events for students.
New this year is the Skate on and Skate off ‘Pit Lane’ available during skating for those needing a break and a hot chocolate or mulled wine, plus a VIP ticket option allowing for a fast-track entry into the rink.
Super early bird tickets are now available to buy / Credit: Supplied
Skate Manchester is also one of the most sustainable events in the UK, thanks to being partially powered by the grid.
“We’re proud to bring one of the top five largest ice rinks in the UK to Manchester once more, as part of our mission to create magical and sustainable winter events that will set the standard for winter attractions globally,” commented Rob Derry, who is the Director at Tamarisk Events, the company that coordinates the event.
“By being partially powered by the grid, Skate Manchester is one of the more environmentally responsible attractions of its kind, allowing visitors to enjoy the magic of skating with a lighter footprint.”
Skate Manchester will be returning to the city on Saturday 25 October and running right up until Sunday 4 January 2026, with super early bird tickets now available to get your hands on, and discounted family tickets and student night tickets also available.
You can find more information and to book tickets here.
Daisy Jackson -
21st November 2023 
