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Stockport to host ‘captivating’ Christmas festival with 50 FREE shows and hundreds of performers

Events will take place right across the town centre.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 21st October 2024

More than 50 free shows and hundreds of performers are set to descend on Stockport town centre this festive season.

Back by popular demand to kick off Christmas in style, especially after last year’s event resulted in the busiest Sunday for the Greater Manchester town’s centre since 2019, Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday will be returning next month for a one-day festival packed with magical street theatre, banging brass bands, carnival fun, and loads more.

Hundreds of captivating performers will take over Stockport for the day, with a brand-new lineup for 2024 promising something for the whole family.

Think giant rollerskating presents, a living snow globe, roaming Christmas dolls, gigantic balloon men, and a water show that turns members of the audience into human fountains – with enjoy more than 50 free shows and activities to enjoy all day long.

Produced by renowned carnival arts organisation, Global Grooves, and organised by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport, Merseyway, and Stockport Market, the town centre will be buzzing with Christmas excitement from 11am right through to 5pm, as performers take over iconic Stockport locations.

Head to Market Place, the Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock, and Suffragette Square to make the most of all the festive fun.

In what is surely set to be one of the stand-out events, the festival will close out with a grand finale that brings together the brass bands of Stockport with an unforgettable flash mob and stirring rendition of ‘All You Need Is Love’.

Stockport is hosting a ‘captivating’ Christmas festival with 50 FREE shows / Credit: Supplied

“Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday is all about starting the holiday season in style,” explained Cllr Singleton, who is the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture, and Sport at Stockport Council.

“We’re so excited to bring this event back after last year’s amazing success. It’s such a fun way to get everyone in the festive spirit, and really shows off what makes Stockport special – our sense of community and joy.”

Read more:

Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday returns to the streets of Stockport town centre on Sunday 17 November from 11am-5pm, and it’s free for all to attend.

Featured Image – Supplied

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Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 opening date announced – including Albert Square return

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester Christmas Markets are merely months away, and the opening date and important details for 2025’s return have been announced.

It’s official… holidays are coming, and the countdown is on.

Just as we do every year, the Greater Manchester public has been eagerly awaiting news of when the city’s iconic Christmas Markets would be making a comeback for the 2025 festive season.

But now, Manchester City Council has announced that the famous wooden huts will be lining Manchester‘s streets once again from the first week in November, and for the first time in six years, Markets will also be returning to Albert Square.

Where to find the cheapest drinks at the Manchester Christmas Markets, from beer to mulled wine
2022 Manchester Christmas Markets
The Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 return date has officially been confirmed / Credit: The Manc Group | Flickr

Now in their 27th year, Manchester Christmas Markets are known and loved for bring thousands of people into the city centre each year to fill up on the fantastic festive treats and to soak up all the Christmas atmosphere.

While restoration work has been carried out on the city’s Grade I-listed Town Hall building, markets have been spread all across the city centre in recent years, instead of the central hub being in Albert Square – but this year, some of the festivities will return to where they belong.

More than 200 stalls will also be spread across nine other sites throughout the city centre.

Markets will take over 10 major locations across the city centre / Credit: Manchester City Council

Promising to be plenty on offer for seasonal shoppers of all ages, 2025 will see the iconic wooden ski chalet market stalls take over King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Corn Exchange, and Cathedral Gardens, as well as Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens as usual.

Dominating a twinkling seasonal skyline on Albert Square will be an enormous 50-metre-high ferris wheel, as well as an enchanting vintage carousel for children, and other Christmas fairground-style attractions. 

The new ‘A Taste of Christmas’ event will be open on Albert Square until Sunday 4 January 2026, bringing the space back into the heart of the city’s countdown to Christmas festivities and staying open throughout the festive season for families to enjoy into the new year.  

2022 Manchester Christmas Markets Guide
Councillors are going all out to make Manchester the world’s number one Christmas city / Credit: Manchester City Council

“We’re going all out this year to make sure that Manchester is the number one city for Christmas – not just in the UK, but in the world,” commented Councillor Pat Karney, who is the Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council.

Cllr Karney also teased that there are a few other ‘Santa surprises’ to come that we can expect to be announced in the coming weeks.

He concluded: “In the meantime, dust off your baubles, un-twirl your tinsel, and get ready – Albert’s back.”

Read more:

Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 will officially open across the city on Friday 7 November and close on Monday 22 December.

That is except for A Taste of Christmas on Albert Square, and the stalls at Cathedral Gardens – which will remain open throughout the Christmas period until 4 January 2026.  

Featured Image – Flickr

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Spooky steam trains will be back travelling through Greater Manchester this Halloween

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Spooky season will soon be on its way, and one of Greater Manchester’s most-popular Halloween events is returning.

What’s Halloween without East Lancashire Railway‘s (ELR) eerie ghost trains at this point?

Generally selling out each year, the heritage railway’s Halloween Ghost Trains always prove to be top of the Halloween bucket list for people looking for ‘loads of spooktacular fun’ once the scariest time of year rolls around, and 2025 is expected to be no different – especially as there’s set to be ‘fresh twists and new surprises’ to celebrate ‘Year of the Bat’ this year.

Those brave enough at lending the Monster Squad a helping hand at banishing ghosts and ghouls will be whisked away on a haunted steam engine through the atmospheric Greater Manchester countryside.

You’ll be greeted by legendary monster hunter, Dr Hurtz Von Driver, who’ll first share tales of his terrifying adventures before deciding if you have the right stuff to join the Monster Squad.

If you make it, you’ll then get to join Count Brian the Vampire, his trusted henchman Bogeye, and the rest of the team on a chilling adventure.

In this year’s event, the railway will be transformed with elaborate decorations and eerie lighting, and visitors are encouraged to ensure that ‘no ghouls fly under the radar’.

Spooky steam train rides through Greater Manchester are returning this Halloween / Credit: ELR

If you’ve got the guts for the ride of a lifetime, then you’ll first start with a haunted house walkthrough, all before you hop on a 60-minute spooky steam train ride through the Irwell Vale and back.

As you take in the autumn sights and delights of the local countryside out the historic steam train’s windows, there’ll be lots of spooky entertainment and music along the way, and, as it always is each year, screaming and singalongs are to be expected too – and encouraged – as this is all part of the experience.

Families are also encouraged to ‘show off your spookiest fancy dress’ on the day, and if you make it to the end, then a goody bag for every child ‘full of tricks and treats’ awaits.

The Halloween Ghost Trains are happening over an extended weekend in late October to early November, running from Thursday 30 October to Saturday 1 November – and tickets are now on sale starting from just £14 per person.

Read more:

Find out more and grab your tickets here.

Featured Image – ELR

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