What's On
Tom Hardy is back reading bedtime stories on CBeebies for a full week
Emily Sergeant -
15th April 2020
Emily Sergeant -
15th April 2020 What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 30 December 2024 – 5 January 2025
Emily Sergeant
Can you believe it’s time to say goodbye to 2024, and welcome in 2025 this week?
The presents have been opened, the mince pies eaten, and you may have even taken down your tree too, but while all the fun of the festive season may’ve been and gone by now, this doesn’t mean there isn’t lots of things to look forward to in 2025, as Greater Manchester‘s events calendar already seems very exciting.
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 to help you out.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
___
ADVERTISEMENT
Skate Manchester 2024
Cathedral Gardens
Monday 30 December 2024 – Wednesday 1 January 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
Skate Manchester is festive staple, and this is your last few days to get on the ice.
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.
___
Bar Hütte
Kampus & Great Northern
Monday 30 & Tuesday 31 December
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.
___
Wicked The Musical
Palace Theatre Manchester
ADVERTISEMENT
Monday 30 December 2024 – Sunday 12 January 2025
Wicked The Musical has landed in Manchester and has taken over the iconic Palace Theatre stage for the festive season.
Sure, there may be a major motion picture adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande currently on in the cinema right now, but if you’re keen to see the beloved musical production on stage in the way it was originally intended, then you can head on down to the Palace Theatre to see the story of Elphaba and Galinda live.
Of course, this has been one of the hottest tickets in town for quite a while now, but there’ll still some last-minute seats left to get your hands on, so keep your eyes peeled.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
ADVERTISEMENT
___
Winter Holiday Programme
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 30 December 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
One of Manchester’s most popular museums has been transformed into an immersive ‘Light Lab’ for the festive season.
This is your chance to escape the cold and brighten up the winter holidays with an adventure though light and colour, as the Science and Industry Museum is currently running its full festive events programme and there’s loads to get involved with.
ADVERTISEMENT
You can also explore a gaming extravaganza, and be engrossed by festive-themed science shows at the city centre-based museum this December.
Find out more about all the events here.
___
Jurassic World: The Exhibition
Trafford Centre
Monday 30 December 2024 – Sunday 5 January 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
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.
Find out more and grab some tickets here.
___
ADVERTISEMENT
Wild
Manchester Museum
Monday 30 December – onwards
A groundbreaking new immersive exhibition exploring our relationship with the natural world is now open at Manchester Museum.
‘Wild’ look at how people are creating, rebuilding, and repairing connections with nature, and how the natural world has traditionally been presented and idealised through Western art, as well as looking at some unique approaches to environmental recovery too.
The exhibition will also crucially look at how we can tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis by making the world more wild.
ADVERTISEMENT
Find out more and grab your FREE tickets here.
___
Looking for some ways to see in the new year?
Across each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs, there’s plenty of ways to welcome in 2025, but we’d be here all day if we tried to list them all, so instead, we’ve decided to just share a few with you – including fireworks, countdowns, and more.
_
Manchester’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks
St Peter’s Square
ADVERTISEMENT
Tuesday 31 December
Manchester city centre is hosting one of its famous fireworks displays to “say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new” this year.
Families from all across Greater Manchester are invited to the “fun-filled event” from 10pm.
This year’s end of the year celebration marks the first time St Peter’s Square has been used for the New Year countdown event, and also the first time that New Year fireworks will be let off from the roof of Manchester Central Library.
Find out more about the FREE event here, and check out all the road closures and parking suspensions that will be in place on the night here.
ADVERTISEMENT
___
Fireworks Extravaganza
Mayfield Park & Freight Island
Tuesday 31 December
Freight Island is taking New Year’s Eve into its own hands and kicking 2025 off with a bang by hosting a big fireworks display to remember.
Taking place in Mayfield Park as soon as dusk hits, there’ll be lots of family-friendly festivities – including free sparklers and marshmallow roasting for the little ones to enjoy as midnight nears – all before a spectacular 12-minute firework display lights up the night sky above Manchester to welcome in the new year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Find out more and get your last-minute tickets here.
___
Featured Image – Bar Hutte | Chris Curry | Skate Manchester
What's On
10 of the best theatre shows to see in Greater Manchester in 2025
Thomas Melia
Greater Manchester already has a jam-packed 2025 theatre schedule, and in the words of Hairspray, Manchester really can’t stop the beat.
There’s no denying that Manchester and its surrounding areas are no stranger to a live performance or two, after all, with three cracking theatres to choose from, it would be hard to miss one of these spell-bounding tours.
Without further ado, here’s a brief overview of 10 of the best theatre shows to see in Greater Manchester in 2025.
___
Wicked
Palace Theatre Manchester
3 December 2024 – 12 January 2025
The smash-hit blockbuster of the year is continuing its reign even into the New Year for two weeks of gravity defying awesomeness.
Currently nearing the end of its remarkable cinema run, thanks to leading ladies Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, continue the magic of the two witches in the form of live theatre.
Expect all the usual hits like ‘Defying Gravity’, ‘Popular’ and ‘What Is This Feeling?’, get lost in the world of Ozian storytelling and recline in your own comfy bright red theatre seat.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
___
Here You Come Again
Opera House Manchester
4 – 8 February 2025
After workin’ 9 to 5, what better way to unwind than with a musical packed with hits spanning the Queen of Country music’s legendary roster.
This production sees the story of a diehard fan recounting ways in which Dolly Parton and her hits have helped him throughout his life.
Tricia Paoluccio takes on the role of the international icon sprinkling her sunshine, knowledge and wit wherever she goes.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
___
Kinky Boots
Palace Theatre Manchester
4 February – 8 February 2025
It’s all about star power with this musical as Johannes Radebe from Strictly Come Dancing playing Lola and the music and lyrics handled by pop icon Cyndi Lauper.
The musical follows the life of a struggling businessman who’s inherited his family’s shoe factory, all seems dire until he meets Lola a drag queen who might just solve all his problems.
It’s been a Broadway and West End success visiting our lovely city in the past and now it’s gracing Manchester once again.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
___
Come Fall in Love
Opera House Manchester
29 May – 21 June 2025
‘Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical’ as its titled is directed by Aditya Chopra, the film’s original director.
Since its big-screen release in 1995, the show has never left cinemas in Mumbai, becoming the longest-running title in Indian cinema.
This stage adaptation has a huge emphasis on colliding cultures, with the Bollywood production following the love story of two lovers from different backgrounds.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
___
Six
The Lowry
29 July – 3 August 2025
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, back in Manchester LIVE.
The six wives of Henry VIII have a special place in Manchester’s hearts, becoming a returning favourite since its not-so-quiet 2018 debut. For those who haven’t been lucky enough to see it, imagine Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour but a few centuries earlier – it’s a pure pop celebration.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
___
13 Going On 30
Opera House Manchester
21 September – 12 October 2025
Making its world premiere in Manchester, this cult classic follows the journey of a young girl who’s time-travelling dream gets granted.
13 year old Jenna Rink seemingly gets everything she wanted as she wakes up as an adult who’s “thirty, flirty and thriving”.
Lucie Jones known for her previous work in Wicked, Les Misérables and even represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
___
The Rocky Horror Show
Palace Theatre Manchester
19 – 31 May 2025
Something’s just go hand in hand – Fish and chips, tea and biscuits, and thespians and The Rocky Horror Show.
This musical carries alongside it one of the biggest fandoms of all time, and with Jason Donovan playing the role of Frank-N-Furter, the love for this production is set to grow much stronger. Manchester is no stranger to doing the ‘Time Warp’ and with the musical returning in summer 2025, they’re most definitely about to do it again.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
___
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
The Lowry
3 December 2025 – 11 January 2026
Start filling your Christmas calendar for 2025 early and enrich yourself in a classic novel set in the fantasy land of Narnia.
Watch Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter tackle enemies, face foes and create solutions while venturing through a world of wonders. You’re about to be in awe as you get whisked away to this mystical land and watch the story unfold on stage with a live cast and some mesmerising set designs.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
___
Mary Poppins
Palace Theatre Manchester
9 April – 17 May 2025
Mancs will be wanting more than a spoonful of sugar this Christmas as this theatre production is one of the most anticipated of next year.
Dates for this show are very flexible too, meaning theatregoers have lots of opportunities to see the miracle worker that is Ms. Poppins fly about the streets of London.
It’s a double Australian bill as both Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers who are reprising their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert, respectively, are both from down under.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
___
Tina
Palace Theatre Manchester
ADVERTISEMENT
25 November 2025 – 3 January 2026
‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’, ‘Proud Mary’ and ‘The Best’, you can’t deny the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll has certainly earned her royal musical status.
This monumental singer achieved 12 Grammy awards during her musical career and grew a strong cult fanbase who stuck with her through thick and thin.
Now fans and musical lovers alike can enjoy a show all about the life of the vocal pioneer while also reminiscing on some of the biggest hits of her career.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
___
Honourable Mention
Pride And Prejudice (Sort Of…)
The Lowry
18 March 2025 – 22 March 2025
There are lots of fantastic productions happening throughout the year and but we had to include this one because it’s Pride And Prejudice… well sort of.
Jane Austen’s groundbreaking novel has seen itself take on numerous adaptations since it’s original hardback debut from the big screen release in 2005 to this new stage musical coming in 2025. The drama will feature some of pop’s greatest records throughout the tale like ‘You’re So Vain’, ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ and ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
Read more:
- Wicked at the Palace Theatre – the magical musical EVERYONE is talking about arrives in Manchester
- Six reigns supreme at The Lowry as Henry VIII’s wives are turned into a pop group for the ages
- New family festival full of FREE activities announced in Manchester for early next year
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Image – Supplied
More What's On
Audio
Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute
Eats