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Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.
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Festive Family Fun | Christmas Walks | Virtual Events | Festive Drive-In Events | Meet Father Christmas | Christmas Shopping
1. Lightopia is returning to Heaton Park! Enjoy the award-winning and visually spectacular lantern and light festival. Explore interactive exhibits, immersive light installations, and the magical illuminated trail.
2. Head to the family favourite The Lanterns at Chester Zoo and watch the little ones’ eyes light up and their imaginations run wild on a magical night-time journey.
3. The Manchester Christmas Lights returns to the city centre as usual. Spot the Giant Santa in St. Peter's Square - along with a trail of light sculptures through the city.
4. Don't get caught snoozing this festive season, and grab your tickets for this year's unmissable, socially distanced pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, created especially for Christmas 2020!
5. Discover new immersive installations as the magical Christmas Light Trail at Dunham Massey is set to be bigger and better than ever.
6. 'The holidays are coming’ and while things may be a little bit different this year, Oldham is bringing some much-needed holiday cheer to all over the holidays is the seasonal Reindeer Parade Trail, which is guaranteed to bring lots of joy across the town centre.
7. Spend the afternoon in Oldham and look for the Window Wonderland project, that creatively transformed a number of café and shop windows into magical winter galleries.
8. Holly the Hare needs your help, she’s been invited to a festive garden feast with Tatton Park’s other woodland friends, but she’s mislaid her invitation! Journey through the Gardens and help solve the puzzles to find her friends at their Christmas party.
9. Join Peter Rabbit™ and his friends for some winter fun at Dunham Massey to lend a hand to some of Beatrix Potter’s well-loved characters.
10. Discover a festive lit walk through the Stenner Woods in Didsbury with artwork created by the pupils of Broad Oak Primary School with an Elf on the Shelf activity for kids (big and little).
11. Get into the festive spirit with the special Christmas Xplorer Trail. Santa, Rudolph and many more, much loved Christmas characters have been spotted in the Moss Bank Park and we need your help to track them all down.
12. Can you spot the Mystery Bird art installation travelling through Manchester streets? Don’t worry, if you have missed it- you will be able to watch the piece online and get involved in the collaborative video.
13. Steam into Christmas with a Festive Diner and enjoy a steam train journey through Lancashire's very own winter wonderland.
14. Step into a magical outdoor experience with dazzling lighting and supreme sound in the depths of a Cheshire woodland.
15. Stroll through the Fletcher Moss Park and take in the natural beauty of the place. The park has some lovely features such as the rock and heather gardens, as well as an Alpine house in the gardens adjacent to Fletcher Moss.
16. Breath in some fresh air as you circle around Hollingworth Lake, which is set against the dramatic backdrop of Blackstone Edge.
17. Wander round the Worsley Village and take some pictures of beautiful black and white buildings. If you stroll further to the Worsley woods, you will be able to see The Aviary, a mock Tudor house.
18. Boggart Hole Clough is a perfect spot for that post-Christmas lunch walk. It is steeped in history and combines a number of picturesque cloughs varying from steep ravines to gentle sloping gullies.
19. Kersal Wetlands will reward you with the views of Manchester skyline, the woodlands of Kersal Dale and the shimmering River Irwell. Perfect spot for family walks and cycling.
20. Explore the historic gem- Worsley Delph, that once was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and now is a tranquil beauty spot.
21. Explore Smithills Hall’s grounds as you follow the 'Elftastic' trail to find all the elves and answer the festive questions along the way.
22. Can you rescue Christmas? Santa has locked himself in his workshop, the elves are panicking, Mrs. Claus is not happy, the reindeers are offering little help. Solve the clues with Breakout Unboxed and save Christmas.
23. Deep beneath the city a secret world full of wonder awaits; where wizards bake endless gingerbread, goblins bottle festive cheer, and there's a whole department devoted to detangling fairy-lights! Humbug is an online adventure for the whole family.
24. Fill your home with music with Hallé’s Online Winter Season- nine concerts filmed and available online.
25. Curl up on the sofa and follow the story of two detectives who are tracking a deadly killer who is prepared to strike on Christmas Day.
26. In the snowy town of Seldomberg test tubes bubble, experiments explode and new inventions whirr for the Science Academy’s Final Exams. Can you solve puzzles and help Faina pass her exams?
27. Tune in to the classic story of Christmas Carol with Christmas ghosts and Scrooge the miser's redemption, presented in the way it was originally intended - told live to an audience.
28. Invite Cinderella into your home for a unique telling of her famous tale, with access to the online video for a whole day.
29. Fifty Artists. Six Streets. Twenty-five Performances. One Greater Manchester. Embark on a digital advent journey inspired by the voices of our region with All I Want For Christmas.
30. Tune in to a free Christmas Concert by Hallé. This magnificent performance will include contributions from the entire Hallé Orchestra, its family of Choirs and special guest readers.
31. Treat yourself to the ultimate Christmas Drive-in, from the people who brought you ScareCity, drive-in to the magic of our ChristmasCity event!
32. Get into the festive spirit at a friendly social distanced Christmas performance at outdoor venue with Car Park Panto: Horrible Histories.
33. Follow the clues, solve quizzes, get your photo taken in a Gingerbread Sleigh and meet the Big Man himself at Totally Christmas this year.
34. Enjoy a family fun-filled drive in your own vehicle that will take you through a Christmas winter wonderland. You might spot an elf or 2, Santa’s grotto, real reindeers in a snow-filled festive surrounding.
35. Enjoy kicking back and relaxing on Boxing Day with a delicious Mince Pie and a steam train ride, courtesy of the East Lancashire Railway.
36. Pay a visit to Santa’s post office and make sending a letter to Santa extra memorable this year with Manchester Arndale’s interactive post box.
37. Visit Father Christmas and his magical reindeer Norbert at the Trafford Centre’s Reindeer Lodge this festive season.
38. Head to Hayloft for a magical Santa Experience this Christmas, including writing a letter to Santa with his friendly Elves, taking a ride on the tractor and trailer, before enjoying a story and gift from Santa himself.
39. Make your way to the Toys and Kids departments at Selfridges Exchange Square to help Santa find Dixon, Dancer, Prancer and their six other red-nosed friends.
40. Enjoy a call with the Big Man himself, who has teamed up with Chill Factore to offer a COVID secure, virtual Santa experience.
41. Meet the Big Man virtually with Santa’s Grotto Live, a fully personalised HD video call, coupled with a beautifully designed Grotto, keep this Christmas as magical as ever for your loved ones.
42. Delve deep into the majestic basement of Hilton House in the heart of The Northern Quarter where you’ll be taken on a magical (and socially distanced) 60-minute journey through Christmas, where you will meet Santa and his Elves.
43. Get your festive shopping fix at The Trafford Centre, with everyone's favourite brands including Selfridges, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, Victoria’s Secret, Primark and Khaadi.
44. Or, you can of course find a huge selection of exciting shops from the leading high street names such as Apple, Monki, River Island and Topshop to lots of smaller, stylish specialists at Manchester Arndale.
45. Encourage your friends to unleash their inner Chef with a place on one of Food Sorcery's Cookery Classes, or purchase a voucher for them to choose themselves!
46. Get your Makers’ Market fix with The Makers Market Shop, an online delivery and collection service featuring a range of independent artisan makers, bakers and creators.
47. Give the Gift of Travel this Christmas with the Kimpton Clocktower’s Vouchers and treat your loved ones to an overnight stay or an experience at The Refuge by Volta.
48. Support sustainable brands from the workshops of the UK and Ireland with Manchester Art Gallery-based Blue Patch Eco-Store.
49. Take part in the 14th Annual Manchester Festival of Christmas Trees at Quayside MediaCityUK, browsing trees decorated by organisations, community groups and individuals across the region.
50. Explore the fantastic food, drink and retail neighbourhood Hatch, for independent Christmas shopping, haircuts, and take away street food.
51. Find your favourite local traders at Manchester Winter Markets. The markets will include the usual street-food traders, along with a range of craft and gift stalls.
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