Park N Party’s Christmas City has returned to Greater Manchester, screening festive classics at its drive-in cinema.
The immersive drive-in experience has opened its doors and will be showing Christmas blockbusters right through until New Year’s Eve.
This week alone, Christmas City’s line-up includes family favourites like Elf and Home Alone, which families will be able to enjoy together from the safety of their own cars.
There’s romance in the air too, as hit romcom The Holiday hits the big screen, plus screenings of Miracle on 34th Street, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Santa Clause.
The fun continues right the way through until December 31, and next week features some festive family action like Abominable, A Christmas Carol, and The Polar Express.
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Visitors will also be able to park up for cosy viewings of The Polar Express, The Christmas Chronicles, and A Christmas Carol.
Later in its run, Christmas City will throw a fancy dress extravaganza while screening Disney blockbuster Frozen – and there’ll be prizes for the best-dressed.
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Christmas City has taken over a new location at the Soccer Dome in Stretford.
It brings the biggest outdoor screen in the UK – a whopping 150 sq metres – to our home city.
As well as the films, visitors will travel through a Christmas Village with live actors and plenty of festive surprises.
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Kids can post their letters to Santa in the dedicated Christmas post box and explore the North Pole – Santa Claus himself will even be there to greet people.
There are photo opportunities available with scenes from Elf and The Grinch, plus a fully-licensed bar and festive food vendors.
The line-up for Christmas City – December 2 to December 12
The Holiday – Thursday December 2, 8pm
Home Alone – Friday December 3, 8pm
Elf – Saturday December 4, 2pm
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The Santa Clause – Saturday December 4, 5pm
Miracle on 34th Street – Saturday December 4, 8pm
How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Sunday December 5, 2pm
Home Alone – Sunday December 5, 5pm
Elf – Sunday December 5, 8pm
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Elf – Wednesday December 8, 8pm
A Christmas Carol – Thursday December 9, 8pm
Christmas With The Coopers – Friday December 10, 8pm
Abominable – Saturday December 11, 2pm
The Polar Express – Saturday December 11, 5pm
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Office Christmas Party – Saturday December 11, 8pm
The Christmas Chronicles – Sunday December 12, 2pm
You can also book a premium Christmas pod, which seats six people, for £66.
Featured Image – Park N Party
Things To Do
Giant inflatable monsters descend on Manchester again next month for their BIGGEST celebration to date
Emily Sergeant
Halloween in the City returns next month with its biggest celebration ever to mark a decade of monster mayhem.
Organised by Manchester BID and sponsored by British confectionery maker, Swizzels, Halloween in the City will be back in Manchester city centre next month once the spooky season arrives – bringing a free weekend of family-friendly fun and spectacular street entertainment.
To mark a decade of monster mayhem, the two-day celebration will bring the city to life with walkabout performers, party games, live DJs, spooky storytelling, and a spectacular roaming procession.
There’s also set to be brand-new birthday bake off this year to celebrate the big 10, and everyone is invited to join the party
But, of course, at the heart of the celebrations will be giant inflatable monsters.
The MCR Monsters are back next month / Credit: CityCo & Manchester BID
The MCR Monsters have been a staple in Manchester’s Halloween celebrations for a decade now, and this year, they’re going all out across the city’s iconic buildings and landmarks.
Created by artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas, and brought to life by Designs in Air, the giant inflatable creatures will make their way into the city for their longest trail to date, celebrating eight days of monster mischief over October half term from Saturday 24 to Saturday 31 October.
Visitors can expect a city-wide monster invasion at locations – including Exchange Square, Manchester Arndale, Selfridges Exchange Square, Corn Exchange Manchester, Printworks, Science and Industry Museum, The Royal Exchange Manchester, Treehouse Hotel Manchester, AO Arena, KAMPUS, Mayfield Park, and Medlock Square.
It’s set to be the biggest celebrations to date to mark a decade of monster mayhem / Credit: Supplied
Then, the big Halloween in the City Weekender will take place on Saturday 24 October from 10am-6pm and Sunday 25 October from 10am-5pm.
Some of the activities on the Weekender lineup this year include a live storytelling performance by Z-Arts in Manchester Arndale, a big Monsters Disco over in Exchange Square, a Rave Yard with resident evil DJs in St Ann’s Square, the Swizzels Spooky Sweet Stop on New Cathedral Street – which is new for 2026 – and then the main event, The Monsters Party Procession.
Designed and created by Walk the Plank, The Monsters Party Procession will ‘bash, boogie, and stomp’ its way through Market Street and Manchester Arndale, so expect dancing monster puppets, towering stilt walkers, and a six-piece brass band suitably spooky soundtrack.
And, of course, no monster birthday would be complete without a Halloween dress-up, which everyone is encouraged to join in with.
Halloween in the City returns from Saturday 24 October, and you can find out everything happening over the eight-day period online here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Things To Do
A FREE shopping event dedicated to saving students money is returning to Manchester Arndale
Thomas Melia
One of the city centre’s most popular shopping events helping students save money is returning to Manchester Arndale and the city centre.
MCR Student Socialis heading back to the city with its big discounts, freebies, giveaways and plenty of entertainment to keep you busy while you browse.
This interactive shopping event encourages new and current students to wander roundManchester Arndaleand the surrounding streets while snapping up some seriously good deals.
Expect discounts of up to 50% off at 120 stores including big high street retailers like Champion, Søstrene Grene, Selfridges, Sephora, and Berghaus.
This incredible 50% off deal continues into some of Manchester Arndale’s big-name food vendors like Wingstop, Archie’s, Barburrito, Sides, HOP Vietnamese and more.
If you’re after carrying thatZara Larssonenergy into your next academic year, the Arndale’s Rhinestone Rodeo celebration includes a Charm Bar in Exchange Court, where you can turn photos into personalised charms.
No shopping trip is complete without a matcha in-hand and you can bag yourself a free hot or iced drink in Exchange Court at the Cult Beauty Matcha Station.
Look out for our Audio North truck on Market StreetThe Manchester Arndale MCR Student Social is back
There’s even the Arndale’s Party Tuk Tuk which will be roaming around the city-centre shopping complex blasting out hip-hop tunes and some of your song requests.
Just outside Manchester Arndale on Market Street, there’s plenty of activities split across three dedicated zones, like Food & Drink by familiar foodie faces like Franco Manca and Great British Doner.
The Party Zone will be buzzing as Footasylum, Museum of Illusions and Urban Playground all unite, while there’s plenty of giveaways over at the Info Zone with brands like Science + Industry Museum and RSPB.
And, our very ownAudio North x The Manc DJ Truck is soundtracking Market Street with student DJs playing out everything from dance and funk to classic party anthems.
MCR Student Social is taking place on Thursday 24 September at Manchester Arndale from 12pm to 7pm and you can find more information via its official websiteHERE.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd December 2021 
