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Christmas Light Switch-On's | Christmas Markets | Ice Skating | Festive Family Fun | Christmas Shows | Santa's Grotto's | Carols and Concerts | Food & Drink | Christmas Shopping
1. Enjoy the Bolton Christmas Light Switch-On with local lad Paddy McGuinness.
2. Oldham will be lighting up the skies at their big switch on, with X Factor's very own 'snow fairy' Saara Aalto as this year's very special guest.
3. Jingle all the way to Bury and enjoy Charity stalls, entertainment, food and drink, plus a chance to meet Mr C!.
4. Wigan's Christmas Light's switch-on will be joined by Radio 1 DJ's Danny Bee and Luke Marsden on 14th November.
5. Visit the UK's original, award winning Christmas Markets in Manchester City Centre, with the biggest and best festive offering to date.
6. Explore the diverse mix of artisan goods, crafts, street food, fresh local produce Levenshulme Christmas Markets have to offer (they run a cracking night market too!).
7. Get yer’ skates on for Cathedral Gardens' popular glittering ice rink (and don’t worry if you can’t skate, we have very helpful penguins on hand).
8. Visit Manchester Ice Rink at their new location at First Street by Deansgate Locks. As well as ice skating, First Street has plenty of food, drink and entertainment options to enjoy.
9. Follow Dunham Massey’s magical, after-dark, illuminated trail through the historic woodland, transformed into a winter wonderland for the first time.
10. Ride the super fun snow slide at Bolton Winter Festival along with a visit to their ice rink, magical Santa's Grotto and festive artisan markets.
11. Experience 10 free light experiences spanning across Salford Quays, from the Plaza between The Lowry and the Lowry Outlet, to MediaCityUK at Quays Culture's Lightwaves.
12. Add a little thrill-seeking to your Christmas cheer with Winter Wonderland's indoor theme park at EventCity
13. Watch the children's eyes light up and their imaginations run wild on a magical night time journey through Chester Zoo.
14. Discover the magic of Santa's Grotto on real snow and experience a Christmas like no other only at Chill Factore.
15. Visit Europe's tallest walk-in Christmas tree for a truly magical Christmas feel at Cheshire Oaks (and grab yourself some designer bargains!)
16. Spend Christmas at HOME and snuggle in for a Tim Burton trio of Christmas films including Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Batman Returns.
17. Have a very merry pugmas at LEAF this year. Take your little pug friend along to enjoy a menu full of festive treats including mince pug pies, pupcakes and puguccinos.
18. Elf the Musical is set to blow your Merry Christmas socks off this year with seven weeks of shows at The Lowry.
19. Watch your favourite festive film, Nativity the Musical take to the stage in the musical adaptation at The Palace Theatre.
20. Experience miserly Scrooge being whisked away on a terrifying journey through the past in ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Waterside Arts Centre.
21. Join John Barrowman and The Krankies in the Dick Whittington Pantomime playing at Manchester Opera House. Oh no you won’t! Oh yes you will!
22. Head to Bolton Albert Hall for the magical fairytale panto, Cinderella, starring some familiar faces including cbeebies presenter, Katy Ashworth.
23. Travel Around the World in 80 Days and witness a cast of eight play over 125 characters in this imaginative, high-spirited escapade including six trains, five boats, four fights, three dances, two circus acts and an elephant!
24. Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups in family favourite, The Gruffalo at The Lowry.
25. Start your Christmas celebrations in style with wonderful music, thrilling lights and dazzling indoor fireworks at Brightwater Hall’s Christmas Spectacular.
26. Visit Contact Theatre this Christmas for their immersive theatrical adventure for young audiences and the taller people that look after them - The Siege of Christmas.
27. Witness one of the most unique, provocative and genre-defying bands one could come across at HOME in a very special show from Meow Meow and The Tiger Lillies.
28. Experience an operatic performance of Cinderella at Royal Northern College of Music, alive with drama, humour and even a touch of bitter sarcasm.
29. Bring all the family to the big screening of The Snowman, accompanied by the Hallé performing Howard Blake's beautiful score.
30. Tatton Park’s annual Christmas carol singing is a firm favourite. Set in their Stableyard with a live band, you can’t beat it for seasonal atmosphere!
31. Join the Hallé for an amazing afternoon of festive family fun packed with sing-alongs, jingle-alongs, surprises, laughter and jaw-dropping wonder.
32. Listen to traditional music and Christmas songs at Oldham's Brass Monkey Winter Music Festival with lots of fun activities for the kids and plenty of shopping on offer.
33. Join in the festive extravaganza as RuPaul's Drag Race queens to the UK after its sell out 2016 tour for their fantastic ‘Christmas Queens’ show at Manchester Academy.
34. Kick off the festive celebrations with a magical ride on East Lancashire Railway’s steam powered Santa Specials!.
35. Join Father Christmas and his loveable elves at the Finest Toy Shop in the World for fun, magic and theatre at this very special time of year.
36. Meet Prancer and Dancer, Father Christmas's two adorable reindeers at Tatton Park's Christmas Grotto.
37. Embark on a magical and breath-taking adventure to the North Pole - The Polar Expedition at intu Trafford Centre.
38. Get your Christmas wish list ready as Santa's Grotto opens at Manchester Arndale.
39. Take the kids for breakfast with Santa at Hard Rock Cafe including a full breakfast spread as well as face painting, balloon modeling, magic.
40. Shop for longer this Christmas with late night shopping during the week at Cheshire Oaks.
41. If wild and alternative is your shopping arena, get yourselves to Afflecks and pick up a truly unique gift.
42. Kick start your Christmas in style by joining Manchester Craft & Design Centre’s resident makers for their annual family friendly festive celebration, with free craft activities for the kids, live music and complimentary mince pies and mulled wine.
43. It's not Christmas in Manchester unless you've visited Oklahoma, renowned treasure trove of all things gift, kitsch, cool and nostalgic.
44. Board one of the East Lancashire Railway's diesel trains and enjoy a scenic journey through the winter wonderland that is the Irwell Valley, as well as taking advantage of some exclusive offers from nearby shops, cafes and pubs.
45. Head to the Christmas Markets and pick up a Great British Sunday Roast wrapped (burrito style) in a Yorkshire Pudding!
46. Eat & Drink Festival Christmas will be lighting up EventCity Manchester, bringing together the best in exciting trends in modern cuisine and mixology, after all Christmas is arguably all about the food and drink!
47. Take a well-deserved break from Christmas shopping and head to Hilton Manchester Deansgate for a festive afternoon tea amidst the clouds.
48. Treat yourself for a drink (or 2...) at Bar Hütte in Spinningfields with festive favourites, the Gin Apple Winter Toddy and the house special, the Twisted Bombardino.
49. Enjoy an Apres-ski experience at Cheshire Oaks Designers Outlets Christmas Corner with an alpine themed bar, swing-grill and much more.
50. Spend Christmas day being wined and dined overlooking Manchester’s twinkling cityscape at Hilton Deansgate’s Podium restaurant or Cloud 23 Bar.
51. Book a seat for an immersive arctic dining experience nestled within a pop-up forest, and enjoy food, drink and dance with expedition companions.
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