Manchester Christmas Markets

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Manchester Christmas Markets 2021

The Manchester Christmas Markets 2021 will open from the 12th November until the 22nd December 2021. The Winter Gardens in Piccadilly Gardens will run until the 3rd January 2022.

Piccadilly Gardens will take a star turn this festive season, becoming the hub for Christmas in Manchester – the UK’s one and only capital of Christmas.

This year’s festivities will return with a bang from Friday 12 November following a toned-down Christmas season last year in light of the Covid-19 global pandemic. 

Eager to make up for missed celebrations, Manchester will showcase a new family-friendly Winter Gardens  attraction in the heart of the city as Piccadilly Gardens is transformed with yuletide bars offering locally brewed ales, food stalls, craft sellers and – for the first time – a stage with live music and DJs throughout the festive season. 

The Winter Gardens will be open through until the New Year – Monday 3 January 2022 (to note the wider Christmas Markets close on 22 December)

Visitors will be able to warm those long winter evenings with lashings of food and drink, soaking up the Christmas atmosphere from under marquee covered seating (in case Manchester’s weather is true to form), and festoon lighting creating that festival feel. 

The Winter Gardens will see some foodie favourites from previous years pop-up in the new festive hub. Dutch Frites, and Greek Gyros will make the Gardens a must for hungry visitors. Finished off with warm cookie dough puddings and washed down with signature cocktails and local ales – a return visit will be a must. 

Public Health remains a top priority for the city as limiting the spread of Covid-19 is central to the planning of this year’s event, and the numbers of visitors will be strictly controlled in this area with one-way routes and separate entrances and exits helping people remain socially distanced

Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets will also return across another six city centre squares, offering the festive delights that the city is known for.

The Christmas Markets will open the same day as the Winter Gardens in Piccadilly Gardens (12 November) and trade through until just before the big day – Wednesday 22 December. 

St Ann’s Square 

Hand pulled pizzas will arrive in St Ann’s for the first time, along with a Christmas Markets stalwart, the Lakeland Burger company. The Northern Quarter’s Yard and Coop will be back with their fried chicken and salt and pepper fries – along with a host of new craft sellers. And Birdie the campervan will return for your free selfie prints in the campervan (cleaned between visits). 

Exchange Square 

A runaway hit of the Christmas Markets, Pork Pig’s Yorkshire Pudding wraps will be back for 2021, alongside the instantly recognisable Mill Exchange bar – complete with huge chimney. Tikka Kebab kitchen will bring the heat with their curries and spiced shwarma kebabs.  Along with gourmet pizza and local produce sellers, happy to be back in the buzz of the city.  

New Cathedral Street 

The street will welcome high end shoemakers, local vegan skincare products, jewellery and crafted produce, plus the ever-stylish Bar No3 serving smoking cocktails and gins.  The Witchouse will also return with their traditional steins and currywurst. 

King Street 

Returning with a host of French themed stalls with gallic food, beers and wines, plus a warming gin bar with over 100 varieties to choose from. Set aside a mouthwatering italian deli with a selection to beat any deli on any the high street.  

Market Street 

Offering some of the top makers and traders in the region, Market Street will offer some fantastic options for that Christmas list, on a slightly smaller scale than previous years to make sure people can keep their distance should they want to.  

Cathedral Gardens  

The Gardens will once again return as the family friendly area with the return of Skate Manchester’s ice rink and a range of food and drinks stalls to help skaters recover from their time on the ice. Plus, entertainment every week from Thursday through to Sunday, including kids shows. 

And of course, Manchester’s Giant Santa will take pride of place in the city centre, along with a trail of light sculptures taking visitors on an illuminated trip around the city. 

Manchester Christmas Markets Map 2021

View our map of the Manchester Christmas Markets to see all the locations across the city centre.

Manchester Christmas Markets Mugs 2021

The Manchester Christmas Markets Mugs are back for 2021, and this year’s mugs – a little different to previous years – will remind visitors that “Christmas is what you make”.

Originally designed for the Christmas Markets that never happened in 2020, they won’t – for the first time in the history of the festive cup - have a date on them, perhaps making them even more collectable. 

As ever, visitors will be given a mug when purchasing a hot drink, and will be asked to pay a £3 deposit (£1.50 for beer and wine glasses) – and collectors can either choose to return the mug for the deposit, or keep the mug as a memento of their visit. 

Manchester Christmas Markets Ice Skating

The magic returns to Cathedral Gardens this winter with a bigger than ever real ice rink. Enjoy skating by starlight under the cover of the rink’s roof, meaning you can skate in any weather and enjoy the atmosphere.

Manchester’s Giant Santa and Light Sculpture Trail

Manchester’s Giant Santa has returned to his favourite city today. He has taken his rightful place outside Central Library in St Peter’s Square- ready for the festive fun. Clocking in at 12- meters high and weighing 2.3 tonnes, Manchester’s festive mascot was carefully constructed this morning. He’s powered by thousands of  low-energy LED light bulbs transforming him into the sparkly, bright Christmas icon that he is.

Manchester’s favourite red resident is the final addition to a trail of light sculptures across the City Centre. There is a nativity scene in St Ann’s Square, light sculptures in Piccadilly Gardens (Winter Gardens)  including the popular sparkling Manchester Bee and, a large Christmas tree that will accompany St. Nick in St Peter’s Square- perfect for festive selfies! The Christmas Tree is made from recycled materials and is reused each year as a commitment to the sustainability of the city’s festive events.

Can't wait to visit Christmas Markets this year? Why not make a weekend out of it and enjoy some festive events in Manchester?

Family Friendly:

Aladdin

Gangsta Granny

School of Rock - The Musical

Christmas City- Drive in Cinema

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

Six

Musicals:

The Book of Mormon

Waitress

The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show

White Christmas

The Chicago Blues Brothers

Concerts:

Jessie Ware

Morcheeba

Michael Ball & Alfie Boe: Together At Christmas

Love Actually In Concert - the Film with Live Orchestra

Grand Christmas With Alan Titchmarsh

Christmas Carol Singalong

Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

José González