One of Manchester City Council’s key Councillors has spoken out this morning offering Mancunians a fresh update on this year’s Christmas lights switch-on.
It was confirmed by the council at the end of last month that following a period of review around all major events in the city’s seasonal celebration calendar amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a number of festivities would sadly have to be cancelled this year.
The Christmas Lights Switch-On – which usually attracts around 20,000 people to the city centre – was one of those cancelled events.
Speaking at the time on the cancelations, Councillor Pat Karney – Manchester City Council’s Christmas spokesperson – said: “Christmas in Manchester is an incredibly important time for the city’s economy. The city attracts millions of visitors each year, which local businesses rely on – and it’s important to the city’s recovery that we can bring people back into the city safely.
“COVID-19 means that Christmas will be different this year, but we are working hard towards celebrating the festive season as safely as possible.
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“So watch this space.”
Now, speaking live on BBC Radio Manchester this morning, Cllr Karney has indeed provided an insight into how the Christmas Lights Switch-On will unfold this year and it certainly sounds pretty special.
Cllr Karney said: “Because of safety, the traditional switch-on, which we normally have 20,000 people at, has been cancelled for obvious reasons, but, we are having Christmas lights throughout the city which will be switched on on November 17th, a Tuesday evening.
“NHS workers, our heroes – who saw us through that first horrible phase – are going to be switching on the lights on Deansgate.
“[The event] brings the Christmas celebrations and recognition to the NHS workers we owe our lives to.”
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He added that he believed it would be a “fantastic” occasion for the city.
It has been confirmed that the switch-on event – which is in partnership with BBC Radio Manchester – will have “no crowds” in attendance on the evening, but more information regarding the running of the and the way in which Mancunians will be able to tune in, is expected in due course.
Keep your eye on the Manchester City Council website here for all the latest.
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 11 – 17 November 2024
Emily Sergeant
November is in full swing now, and so is the festive season.
There’s officially no escaping from it now, Christmas is fast approaching, so as you can imagine, there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to across Greater Manchester throughout this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though?
We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide, so here’s some of our recommendations.
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2024
Manchester City Centre
Monday 11 November – Sunday 22 December
Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 / Credit: Manchester City Council | Flickr
Manchester Christmas Markets are now back open for 2024.
The iconic annual event is an absolute staple in Manchester’s festive events calendar, and always draws in thousands of visitors from all across the globe – with hundreds of stalls across several sites all lining the streets of our city centre.
Visitors are able to tuck into a wide range of festive foods and drinks, and shop for Christmas gifts from countless independent traders.
Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 here.
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Skate Manchester 2024
Cathedral Gardens
Monday 11 November – onwards
Skate Manchester 2024 / Credit: Matt Eachus (via Supplied)
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
Back once again for 2024, Skate Manchester is festive staple, and this year, skaters can glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink.
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.
A brand-new festive light trail has arrived in Greater Manchester for the winter, transforming the hidden Wilderspool Woods at the Trafford Centre into a twinkling wonderland.
The 4.5-acre event running until early 2025 has brought dozens of jaw-dropping light and interactive illuminations to the woods, filling paths and treetops with festive magic, from giant overhead shooting stars to huge illuminated presents.
There’s also an impressive selection of festive street food on offer curated by Freight Island too.
The UK’s largest animation festival, and celebrating its tenth edition this year, the festival is taking over HOME in the heart of the city centre for the week, and promises to offer audiences and the industry alike with the incredible opportunity to experience some of the world’s best animated film content.
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Featuring international guests, premieres, masterclasses and panels, there’s something for everyone on the jam-packed programme.
The Oast House’s legendary Christmas has returned to Spinningfields for the festive season.
Bound to be popular spot for locals and those who’ve finished a hard day at work during the colder months, The Teepee officially reopened last week and is made up of three tents joined together with a huge open hub, complete with two roaring fires, twinkling fairy lights, faux fur throws.
NEW OPENING – Archie’s Atomic / Credit: The Manc Group
Beloved Manchester-founded burger brand Archie’s has now revealed its latest venture… an all-pink roller rink, diner, and arcade called Archie’s Atomic.
This exciting addition to Greater Manchester over at Trafford Palazzo includes the north’s largest leisure roller rink, geared towards skaters of all abilities, and you can rent a pair of Archie’s Atomic roller skates before going for a spin beneath a huge spinning disco ball on the bespoke bright pink rink.
A major Jurassic World exhibition that’s been mesmerising visitors all over the world has now arrived here in Greater Manchester, and it’s recently been announced that it’ll be sticking around until the new year.
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Based on the beloved blockbuster film franchise, this official award-winning experience is one of the fastest-selling exhibitions in history.
Manc visitors will be able to walk through the iconic Jurassic World gates, explore some richly-themed environments, and encounter a life-sized Brachiosaurus, Velociraptors, and the most fearsome dinosaur of all, the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Taking over one of Manchester’s most prestigious stages, and set to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year nice and early, Elf The Musical at the Palace Theatre takes one of the best-loved Christmas films and turns it into an all-singing, all-dancing stage production.
Join Buddy the Elf as he embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity.
The Big Manchester Bake / Credit: Big Bakes | Brydn Webb
The Big Manchester Bake has landed, and believe us when we tell you it’s one of the best ways to spend an evening in the city.
Baking enthusiasts and novices alike can indulge in the enjoyment of the Big Bakes experience, with step-by-step instructions allowing you to bake your way through the 90-minute timed task and be crowned ‘star baker’ (or…not).
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are coming back to Manchester once again this week.
Bringing Alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks to two city centre locations from this Thursday onwards, dozens of cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under twinkling lights will open down at both Kampus and Great Northern Square.
There’s also a handful of other events on the lineup throughout the festive season, including live music and DJs, wreath making workshops, and movie nights.
Manchester Art Fair is returning to our city centre this weekend, and there’s so much to look forward to.
Founded back in 2008, and going on to become one of the largest and most significant art fairs in the UK, Manchester Art Fair has cemented itself among the most celebrated cultural events in Greater Manchester‘s annual social calendar.
It’s known and loved for bringing together a wide range of artists, galleries, and artist studios along with a full programme of talks and art classes.
See everything you need to know about Manchester Art Fair 2024 here.
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The Dashing Dachshund Pup-Up Cafe
Revolution Parsonage Gardens
Saturday 16 November
The Dashing Dachshund’ Pup-Up Cafe / Credit: The Pup Up Cafe
The Dachshund Pup Up Cafe is back in Manchester this weekend, and if the concept of the popular event wasn’t flipping cute enough already as it is, this time around, it’s a Christmas-themed edition, and it’s all sounding set to be the perfect festive day out in the city with your four-legged friend.
More than 250 sausage dogs and their owners will meet under one roof in a safe space to roam free and get festive.
The Grotto at the Trafford Centre / Credit: Supplied
The main man is making our northern city his new home at one of Greater Manchester’s biggest shopping centres this winter time.
Starting in this Saturday and running all the way up until Christmas Eve, Santa is swapping the cold air of the North Pole for the cloudy skies of Manchester, as he starts his annual journey around the world by making a visit to our region.
Not only is Santa travelling with his grotto, he’s also giving visitors the chance to experience the world of the North Pole as he brings the chilly destination to the Trafford Centre.
Manchester Coffee Festival 2024 / Credit: Supplied
Manchester Coffee Festival is back for 2024 this weekend.
The renowned event celebrates all things caffeine and is a must-visit for anyone in the industry, or just anyone who’s a coffee fanatic.
Visitors can work their way around the vast event at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre, where there’ll be everything from a marketplace for shopping, a tasting room where you can sample loads of different coffees, workshops to have a go at, and talks and panels with industry experts.
The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park are being transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ this festive season.
Families will be whisked away into a world of folklore, enchantment, and enthralling performances as they enter the gardens of the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire for an immersive, festival-like experience known as Yuletide.
Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a “truly magical experience” where folklore stories come to life through storytelling and live music.
Credit: Manchester Art Fair | Flickr | The Pup-Up Cafe
What's On
Hacienda Classical announces record-breaking show at Castlefield Bowl next summer
Emily Sergeant
Hacienda Classical is set to make yet another triumphant return to the historic Castlefield Bowl next summer.
Manchester’s iconic celebration will mark its record-breaking ninth appearance at the Sounds of the City festival when it arrives in the city centre next July, and will once again be captivating local audiences and travelling fans alike.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the groundbreaking musical project, Hacienda Classical fuses a unique blend of classic dance tracks and orchestral arrangements, with the unmatched spirit of the legendary Hacienda, garnering rave reviews from critics and fans along the way.
Resident DJ Graeme Park carefully curates a selection of iconic anthems from the late 1980s and early 1990s, which are then reimagined with orchestral arrangements by the Manchester Camerata Orchestra.
The not-to-be-missed experience featuring powerful vocals and special guests has sold out multiple shows at prestigious venues worldwide.
At next year’s Castlefield Bowl date, the voice of M People, Heather Small, will join the show, along with house legends K-Klass performing a full live set, while DJ Paulette and Tom Wainwright also join as resident DJs for the night.
Curator Graeme Park will also take to the decks before the show too.
“I am already beyond excited that Hacienda Classical is returning to Castlefield Bowl in the heart of Manchester for the ninth time,” Graeme Park said.
“No other live act has performed so many times at this superb outdoor venue and it’s an honour to be part of this incredible journey that is now a major highlight in my diary and yours too. I can’t wait to bring the love next July.”
Hacienda Classical returns to Sounds of the City at Castlefield Bowl on Saturday 5 July 2025, and tickets officially go on general sale this Friday (8 November) at 10am.
The Manc -
8th October 2020 
