It was the sell-out success of 2020 – and now the immersive drive-in cinema experience Christmas City is returning to Manchester once again later this month.
With the festive season right around the corner and Christmas creeping up on on us quickly, the much-loved drive-in cinema and entertainment phenomenon that took 2020 by storm in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, is coming back to Greater Manchester this November.
Christmas City will take over a brand-new location at the Soccer Dome in Stretford from 26 November 2021 – 2 January 2022 to bring entertainment safely to visitors in their own cars from the biggest screen in the UK.
And tickets are now on sale.
Returning with what is being described as a “festive extravaganza”, Christmas City – hosted by Park N Party, the team also behind popular drive-in events SecretCity and ScareCity – is set to show a huge selection of outdoor Christmas cinema classics, including Home Alone, Elf, The Polar Express, and so many more.
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But this is no ordinary drive-in cinema though.
Christmas City is returning to Manchester once again later this month / Credit: Park N PartyIt will take over a brand-new location at the Soccer Dome in Stretford from 26 November 2021 – 2 January 2022 / Credit: Park N Party
Each ticket gives visitors the chance to journey through the immersive ‘Christmas Village’, with surprises, live actors, and Santa Claus himself there to greet you.
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Christmas City is packed with goodies for a day filled with fun, so this year, you can wander through the magical candy cane forest, and take advantage of the many photo opportunities available with scenes from Elf and The Grinch, all before you wrap up your delightfully-festive day out with a Christmas classic displayed on a huge 150 sq m screen.
Visitors can choose between events that are suitable for families, or the strictly-for-adults alternative this Christmas.
Kids can post their letters to Santa in the dedicated Christmas post box and explore the North Pole from the safety of your car, all before you pitch up and watch screenings of favourites such as Home Alone, The Polar Express, Elf, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
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But if you’re looking for a grown-up escape this Christmas, then this immersive cinema experience is also the perfect evening out without the kids – with screenings of films such as The Holiday, Bad Santa, Die Hard, and Love Actually.
Christmas City is packed with goodies for a day filled with fun / Credit: Park N Party
There’s also set to be a fully-licensed bar and festive food vendors on site throughout the whole running of the event.
Tickets are priced at £45 per vehicle + VAT.
The full event schedule and the lineup of films can be found on the Park N Party website, and you can book your tickets here.
Featured Image – Park N Party
What's On
A hilarious and award-winning Star Wars burlesque show is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
In a galaxy not so far away, a smash-hit Star Wars parody and burlesque show is coming to Manchester city centre in the New Year.
You may have heard of the funny Star Wars stripper show or even seen clips of it online, but rumour has it that nothing can quite prepare you for the cheekiness of seeing this romp in the flesh.
In case you’ve been completely immersed in the dark side until now, here’s what you can expect:
Now well over a decade into its success and more than 200 Las Vegas shows, ‘The Empire Strips Back’ made its long-awaited transatlantic debut earlier this year.
Getting away at London’s Riverside Studios from May and enjoying a run until this past August, the comedy-driven twist on the classic Star Wars stories and beloved sci-fi characters was an instant hit with us Brits.
It started in Australia way back in 2011 and has gone not only to tour across Europe, but land a coveted residency at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Nevada.
Fast, funny, feisty and by all accounts, fantastic.
Now set to seek out new padawans and storm-strippers all over the cosmos, and by that we mean the UK, ‘The Empire Strips Back: Burlesque Parody’ is coming to Manchester.
Set to land at Depot Mayfield in the New Year – next spring, specifically, we cannot wait to see how this goes down with Northern crowds.
The Manc leg is scheduled to kick off on 6 March and last until 8 May, 2026, with various dates and times of day available.
It’s also worth noting that this two-hour show, including intermission, is a strictly 18+ only event; if you’re interested, you can find out more info and grab your tickets right HERE.
Manchester Open exhibition to return in 2026 with ‘biggest celebration’ of local creative talent
Emily Sergeant
The biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s creative talent is making a much-anticipated return next summer.
Taking place every two years and now in its fourth iteration, Manchester Open exhibition sees the HOME Gallery walls filled with hundreds of artworks selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives.
The exhibition is open to all and welcomes entries from people of any level of experience, including established professionals, students, graduates, new and emerging talent, enthusiastic amateurs, and even first-time artists.
Artists are invited to submit work into eight different categories, with the aim of creating an exhibition ‘rich in variety’ for visitors to explore.
Manchester Open exhibition is set to return in 2026 / Credit: Jason Lock Photography
This means you’ll get to explore works of ceramics, digital/moving images, drawings, prints, paintings, photography, sculptures/installations, and textiles.
Several awards will also be up for grabs throughout the exhibition – which is set to run from Saturday 20 June and Sunday 6 September 2026 – including a prestigious new award in honour of philanthropist and business leader, Kate Voke.
Three artists will also be awarded with artist development packages, managed by HOME and Castlefield Gallery.
“Following our 10 year anniversary in 2025, we are looking forward to 2026 and welcoming applications to HOME’s biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s artistic talent,” explained Karen O’Neill, who is the CEO of HOME.
“With a record number of applications to the last Manchester Open, we’re hoping for even more in 2026 and to demonstrate how the city continues to grow as a place where artists and creativity can thrive.”
Manchester Open exhibition is taking place in 2026 from Saturday 20 June and Sunday 6 September, and the application and submission process is now live – with all submissions being reviewed by the selection panel who make the final selection of work to be included in the exhibition.
Artists will only be able to submit one artwork, and the selection panel members will be announced in spring 2026.
Featured Image – Jason Lock Photography (Supplied)
Emily Sergeant -
5th November 2021 
