The Manchester Christmas Markets have finally returned to the city centre, filling streets with wooden huts and festive cheer.
It’s one of the biggest events in Manchester’s cultural calendar and attracts thousands to our city every year.
The 2021 Manchester Christmas market celebrations have moved to a new location, with a central hub at Piccadilly Gardens for the first time.
This corner of the city centre will become the Winter Gardens, featuring market stalls, bars, a live music stage and street food stands, taking the reigns from the usual hub at Albert Square.
But the festivities won’t end there, with six other sites, including at St Ann’s Square, King Street and Market Street.
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Here’s everything you need to know about the Manchester Christmas Markets.
When are the 2021 Manchester Christmas Markets?
The old hub at Albert Square. The Markets are now centred around Piccadilly Gardens. Credit: Flickr (Andrew Stawarz)
This year’s celebrations are officially underway, after weeks of wooden sheds beginning to appear across the city centre.
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The 2021 markets are open from Friday November 12, and will run until Wednesday December 22.
The one exception will be the Winter Gardens at Piccadilly Gardens, which are open right through until January 3.
The Christmas Markets are open from 10am every day, though some sites and stalls will close earlier than others.
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Where are the Manchester Christmas Markets sites in 2021?
The new hub at Piccadilly Gardens. Credit: The Manc
There’s loads to explore at this year’s Christmas Markets in Manchester, from family-friendly sites with ice skating to the main festive hub with live music and loads of bars.
Here’s a rough breakdown of what you can find and where.
Piccadilly Gardens/Winter Gardens – This will be the heart of the Manchester Christmas Markets for this winter, with a live music stage, covered marquee seating, and dozens of bars and food stalls.
St Ann’s Square – As well as the traditional nativity scene (part of the festive light trail), St Ann’s Square will have a campervan photo booth, food from local favourites Yard & Coop, and lots more market stalls.
Market Street – Manchester’s main shopping street will have a slightly scaled-down offering for 2021 to give people more room to move around.
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Catherdral Gardens – This will be the family-friendly hive of activity at this year’s event, featuring an ice rink and live entertainment, plus food and drink huts.
King Street – A haven for all things Alpine, most of the huts along King Street will be serving up French and Italian produce – including a hot gin bar.
Exchange Square – Someone sound the Yorkshire pudding wrap alarm, for Exchange Square will be home to Porky Pig this year, alongside the familiar Mill Exchange bar with its massive chimney.
New Cathedral Street – This small section of markets is home to a giant sausage sculpture with the Witchouse food stall, joined by loads of market stalls selling gifts and clothes.
How much is beer and wine at the Christmas Markets?
The Witch House at New Cathedral Street. Credit: The Manc
Piccadilly Gardens Hot Roast Pork Rolls – £4.50 mulled wine or cider Off Piste Bar – £5 piste lager, £5.50 Alpine ale or Weissebier, £5 wine, £4.50 mulled wine or plum cider, £5 spirit and mixer
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Cathedral Gardens Well Spruce bar – £5 mulled wine or spiced cider
Exchange Square Elsie May’s Cookie Dough – £5.50 boozy hot chocolates, £5 wine, £6 prosecco (extra 50p for shimmering prosecco) The Mill Exchange – £5 warm drinks, including caramel cider, and mulled wine flavours of raspberry, strawberry and amaretto, and blackberry and apple
New Cathedral Street Witch House – £5.50 lager, £10 Bavarian Maß, £5.50 hot boozy drinks, £5.50 with hot chocolate with alcohol,
St Ann’s Square Mamma Mia! – £5 pint Peroni, £6 prosecco, £4.50 wine or mulled wine Munchen Bar – £5 gluhwein (£7 for special gluhwein), £3.50 hot chocolate (£5 with alcohol), £6 pint of lager or wheat beer
King Street Bistrot Le Petit Paris – £4 mulled wine (£5 with brandy or amaretto), £5 sparkling wine, £10 champagne, £4.50 pint lager, £4.50 wine. Best Sausage – £4.50 pint of lager.
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What about Covid?
This year’s Christmas Markets in Manchester. Credit: The Manc
Manchester City Council has said that there’ll be measures in place at the Christmas markets this year to limit the possible spread of Covid-19.
That includes a one-way system and limited visitor numbers at the main hub at Piccadilly Gardens.
Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesperson, said: “We’re making up for lost time this year and I can’t wait to see the transformation in the city centre into the festive wonderland we know and love.
“Of course, all of our attractions have public health at their heart and the safety of our visitors will be paramount.
“Covid remains a real concern and we will have strict maximum numbers in some areas like the Winter Gardens to make sure people can maintain their distance – and security will be helping us manage crowds.”
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Where’s the Giant Santa this year?
Manchester’s new Giant Santa, who has replaced the much-loved Zippy. Credit: Manchester City Council
Sadly there’ll be no sightings of Zippy, Manchester’s famous blue-eyed festive mascot, this year, as he headed into retirement in 2019.
A new (less heavy) model was unveiled that same year, and he’ll be back to keep an eye over the festivities this year.
The newer Santa, complete with his twirly moustache and giant present perch, won’t be at the Christmas Markets themselves, but will instead be built in St Peter’s Square.
He’s expected to arrive next week.
Don’t miss out on any of Manchester’s Christmas celebrations! Keep up with what’s on here.
Featured image – Flickr
What's On
Free summer artisan festival series announced at revived iconic Manchester market hall
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s historic market halls has been revived for a new era, and a series of summer festivals are set to celebrate.
That’s right – an iconic Manchester building is rebirthed, and everyone is invited.
As part of the unveiling of the newly-revived Campfield Mega Campus, a grade II-listed building that will be returning to its original purpose as a bustling market hall for the first time this century, Department and GRUB has announced the return of The Weekender – a one-of-a-kind artisanal festival taking place on several dates.
After years of ‘transformative’ and ‘restorative’ work to turn the space into what it is today, this will be the first chance the public has had to step foot into the former market building that’s now repurposed as one of the UK’s most exciting creative and tech campuses.
Just as the name suggests, The Weekender will run exclusively on weekends, while during the week, the campus will become a ‘vibrant hub’ for innovation and entrepreneurship that houses Manchester’s flagship accelerator programme supporting the next generation of digital and creative businesses.
Kicking off for the first time on Saturday 28 June from 10am-4pm, The Weekender at Campfield will host a curated makers market, live music, creative classes, kids activities, top street food, delicious beverages, and a few other creative surprises.
On the day, visitors will be able to browse from more than 30 hand-picked independent traders showcasing the very best from Manchester’s flourishing makers and producers scene.
Free artisan festivals are coming to a revived iconic Manchester market hall this summer / Credit: Supplied
You can expect everything from bakers, brewers, and jewellers, to florists, bee keepers, distillers, crafters, printers, picklers, illustrators, chefs, and so many more, all trading under the magnificent skylights of Campfield.
DJs selected by award-winning broadcaster, Reform Radio, will also be playing throughout the day, alongside surprise big-name buskers.
Then beyond the markets and music, there’ll also be opportunities to try your hand at laughter yoga, life drawing, and other creative classes.
You can expect everything from bakers and brewers, to jewellers, florists, and more / Credit: Supplied
“GRUB has always believed in creating spaces where people can come together to enjoy great food and local talent,” says Jason Bailey, who is the co-founder of GRUB
“We’re thrilled to be part of Campfield’s next chapter – it brings together everything we champion at GRUB independent makers, grass-roots culture, and community-led experiences, and we can’t wait to see this astounding Manchester building buzzing with that energy again.”
The Weekender is free to attend and everyone is welcome on Saturday 28 June, where doors will be open between 10am and 4pm – with a schedule of events happening and tickets to workshops available to book here.
The festival will also return to Campfield again on 26 July and 30 August with new events, activities, and traders, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
There’s a midsummer party coming to IKEA with a live ABBA tribute act
Thomas Melia
Swedish household furniture giant and flatpack masterminds IKEA are hosting a midsummer party with a live ABBA tribute, because why the hell not?
I definitely don’t need to be soundtracked by a live ABBA tribute while shopping for new homeware, but hey, don’t threaten me with a good time…
IKEA‘s Manchester branch is hosting a party with a three-course meal, drinks and live music from none other than the Abberettes, a duo which covers classics by Swedish pop icons, ABBA.
Starters include a marinated salmon plate, salmon wrap or a small salad bowl, while one of the mains also features this fish favourite served with a bean mix.
The friendly Ikea team will be able to assist any queries on the day.
There are two more main menu options in the form of their menu highlights: meatballs, which always go down a treat, and veggies get to sample the meat-free alternative, plant balls.
In terms of a sweet treat, there are two dessert choices, both of which are equally delicious. Partygoers can choose from a Daim cake or an apple pie, and all guests are entitled to a hot or cold drink too, yum.
Kids can choose from the famed meatballs, plantballs or a tomato pasta meal, alongside a soft drink and a piece of fruit, a super meal for your little ‘Super Trouper’.
If you’re worried this special midsummer party and live ABBA tribute is going to cost you lots of ‘Money, Money, Money’, fear not as tickets are only £7.50 for Ikea family members and get this – kids eat free.
The Abberettes are doing two performances throughout the day, one from 5:30-6:15pm and a second show at 6:45-7:30pm, ‘Mamma Mia’.
Here’s a taster of the kind of crowds they pull in:
All I have left to say is I’ll have to get my tickets fast before they end up ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ or before ‘The Winner Takes It All’.
The midsummer party with a live ABBA tribute is coming to Ikea in Ashton, Greater Manchester, on Thursday, 19 June from 5pm, with tickets available now.
Daisy Jackson -
11th November 2021 
