The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 18 – 24 November 2024
Who’s ready for another week filled with festivities?
The most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching, so as you can imagine, there’s absolutely no shortage of Christmas-themed activities 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 18 November – Sunday 22 December
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 18 November – onwards
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.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Bar Hütte
Kampus & Great Northern
Monday 18 November – onwards
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are back in Manchester once again.
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 are now 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.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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The Christmas Trail
Trafford Centre
Monday 18 November – onwards
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, so there’s something for everyone.
Find out more and get tickets here.
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Yuletide
Tatton Park
Monday 18 November – onwards
The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park have been transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ for the 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.
Find out more and get tickets here.
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The Teepee
The Oast House
Monday 18 November – onwards
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.
The Teepee is famed for its free live music, home-cooked food, and laidback warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Find out more and make a booking here.
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Land of Lights
Gulliver’s World
Monday 18 November – onwards
After proving to be a huge success in 2023, the magical Land of Lights has returned to Gulliver’s World once again, and this year features all-new lanterns inspired by the wonders of nature, leading visitors around a twinkling wonderland filled with light and colour.
With a WonderWild theme, the breathtaking spectacle over in Warrington has a unique blend of “animal-inspired artistry with a fantastical twist”.
The one-mile trail showcases a huge array of lanterns and displays, creating a wondrous, wild, and magical atmosphere that’s suitable for all ages.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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The Grotto
Trafford Centre
Monday 18 November – Tuesday 24 December
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.
Find out more here.
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Winter Assembly
Spinningfields
Monday 18 November – onwards
A brand-new festive hub has arrived in Spinningfields, and you’ll be able to visit a new ice rink, drink cocktails in a snow globe-like rooftop dome, and get merry in a yurt.
Winter Assembly at Courts Club is home to the city’s newest, fully-independent ice rink, On Ice, as well as lots of different food traders serving up winter gyros from Lucky Gyros, festive grilled cheeses, boozy hot chocolate, German BBQ specials, and so much more.
There’ll also be ‘Chalaoke huts’, where you can cosy up in a log cabin with your own private karaoke machine.
Find out more about everything happening here.
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Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake
Lowry
Tuesday 19 – Saturday 30 November
Matthew Bourne’s rule-breaking reinvention of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, Swan Lake, is back on stage in Greater Manchester this week.
This world-renowned production – which is known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble – first premiered almost 30 years ago, but it will take flight once more in a major new revival for the next generation, with The Lowry being one of the stops on its major UK tour.
Described as being “thrilling, bold, witty, and emotive”, it’s time to turn tradition on its head, and this is not one to miss.
You can get last-minute tickets here.
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Rochdale Fire Festival
Rochdale
Friday 22 – Sunday 24 December
Rochdale town centre is hosting its very own festive-themed Fire Festival this weekend, and it’s completely free to visit.
Taking place from this Friday leading up to the Christmas lights switch-on on Sunday, Ignite will be transforming the gardens opposite Rochdale Town Hall into a flamed-fuelled spectacular, with three free night-time shows delivering a magical trail of fire, lights, and entertainment for all the family.
There will also be hot food, mulled wine, and other seasonal drinks available to buy.
Find out more here.
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Christmas Screenings
King Street Townhouse
Friday 22 November – 24 December
Elf, Love Actually, and Home Alone are just some of the classic Christmas films hitting the big screen at a hidden cinema in Manchester.
Film fans looking for some wholesome festive fun are being invited to get themselves down to one of Manchester’s most popular hotels, King Street Townhouse, in the run-up to the big day itself, as it’s very-own exclusive cinema will be screening a jam-packed lineup of fan-favourite festive films over the next couple of weeks.
Find out more and book tickets here.
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Santa Specials
East Lancashire Railway
Saturday 23 November – Tuesday 24 December
East Lancashire Railway’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas.
Running right through until Christmas Eve, ELR’s ‘Santa Specials’ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make “enchanted memories” that last a lifetime.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West, and there’s still some tickets left available.
Find out more and grab ticket here.
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Music of the Movies
The Bridgewater Hall
Sunday 24 November
Call yourself a cinephile? This is your chance to experience the epic and inspirational music from the worlds of TV, film, and fantasy brought to life by a full symphony orchestra and stunning choir at The Bridgewater Hall.
This unmissable concert features some of the greatest movie music of all time, including The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Avatar, and loads more.
Grab some last-minute tickets here.
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Featured Image – Bar Hutte | Yuletide | ELR