From magical light trails to Santa's grottos, this lot will get you in the festive spirit
We may not yet be in December, but with Halloween and Bonfire Night done and dusted, most people's thoughts have turned to Christmas .
Visitors will be able to book on a 45-minute ice skating session on the 25m x 20m covered ice rink, underneath a canopy of twinkling lights. There are new rides including a brand new attraction VOID, and a 'spectacular ice show' from Gandeys inside the heated big top. Fairground entry is £2 if pre-booked online, or £2.50 on the day, with ride tokens available to purchase separately. Gandeys Snowstorm 3 tickets are available to purchase here, priced from £12.99 with deals to be had on family tickets.
Tickets are available now, with prices starting at £15.50 for adults and £12.50 for children, with discounted family, group bookings and season tickets also available. For more information and to book tickets, visit the website.Manchester Christmas Parade, Toy Procession If you are heading into the city centre this Christmas then you may as well time it with one of the many free events taking place.
There'll be a 'magical takeover' across the city centre with giant roaming puppets, street performers, and live music from the Fat Cat Brass Band and Bloco Band. Children will be able to enjoy encounters with woodland creatures including larger-than-life robins, the meandering arctic fox, a giant snowy owl and Handmade Parade’s beautiful, illuminated reindeer.
Festive Sundays are brought to the public by Manchester’s Business Improvement District, Manchester City Council and Manchester Markets. Last year's events saw thousands of families line the streets for the magical performances.Christmas at Dunham Massey One of the most popular festive events for families is the spectacular magical lights trail at Dunham Massey.
Tickets, costing from £12 for children, from £19 for adults, or from £60 for a family of four, can be booked on the website here, or via the National Trust website. Parking costs £8 or is free for National Trust members.Christmas at Heaton Park New for this year from the same company behind the Dunham Massey event is Christmas at Heaton Park.
There'll be a fairground village with seasonal snacks on offer from hand-picked street food vendors and refreshments such as spiced winter warmer, hot chocolate or toasted marshmallows. And for those who don't want to leave their dogs at home, the trail is dog-friendly too. Santa Specials, East Lancashire Railway Another sought-after festive event is the Santa train at East Lancashire Railway and tickets are already flying out.
The Santa Special journeys will kick off on the weekend of November 25 and 26 and will continue at weekends and select weekdays throughout December until Christmas Eve. They get to snuggle animals in Santa's cuddle corner, meet Prancer and Dancer at the Reindeer Stables, enjoy a private family visit to meet the big man himself and so much more.
The event promises to 'transform the zoo into a spectacular wonderland, full of sparkle, illumination and a sprinkling of snow' and tickets are already on sale for this year. Dine With Santa is available Friday to Sunday from November 24 to December 17, excluding December 10 and then daily from December 19 to 23. Tickets cost £25 for adults and £35 for children and can be booked online. Zoo tickets need purchasing separately.Reddish Vale Farm The Farmer Christmas Experience is coming to Reddish Vale Farm featuring a Father Christmas Workshop, Elf Village, Mrs Claus's Kitchen and lots more.
Bosses say the 2023 event will be packed with brand new experiences as well as the return of old favourites. It will include a host of illuminated animals across the site where real-life giraffes, tigers and hippos are more usually to be spotted in the daytime. Santa tickets are sold separately at £20 per child and include a Safari-themed toy as well as a goody bag full of treats.
As well as all the favourites like joining Mrs Claus for a Christmas story in her cosy cottage and meeting Santa himself, there are some new additions this year. Santa at Bents There are lots of ways for little ones to see Santa at Bents this Christmas. The big man made his grand arrival at the Glazebury store on Thursday, November 9 when he met families who were waiting to greet him.
Winter Island opens from November 9 until Christmas Eve, with the Twilight Trail running from November 17 to December 31. Trail tickets cost from £7 for November dates and from £8 for December dates. Family ticket available at £28 for November dates and £32 for December dates. Under twos go free.Yuletide at Tatton Park A new festive family experience is coming to Tatton Park in the form of Yuletide.
Families can wrap up warm round a glowing campfire to watch live musicians, listen to campfire stories, toast marshmallows and even watch impressive fire jugglers. There will also be food vendors serving up tasty festive treats and mulled wine. Families are invited along to enjoy 'a magical evening stroll with stunning new light displays along the way'. Weave your way through yew domes festooned with fairy lights, dance to Manchester anthems under the rainbow lights at Garden Cottage, and be entranced by the twinkling magic of the Chinese Streamside Garden.
It opens in Walkden Town Centre shopping centre, in Salford, from Saturday, December 2 and runs until Christmas Eve. Tickets cost £18.95 for children, including a gift from Santa, and £12.95 for adults, with a £2.50 booking fee. Under twos and carers go free. To book, visit the website here.Lands of Lights at Gulliver's World Giant animal lanterns will make the Gulliver's World theme park glow this Christmas as a new lights festival arrives.
Land of Lights is a 90-minute experience and will be at Gulliver’s World theme park from November 11 until February 25, 2024. To book tickets, costing £19 each , visit the website. Under twos go free, concessionary tickets £9.50 . Billed as 'the North West’s biggest and best Christmas light trail', it is set in 15 acres of stunning countryside and features all of your favourite Christmas characters along the journey.
The event runs from November 24 to December 24 and tickets, costing £16.50 for children, £23.95 for adults or £75 for a family of two adults and two children, can be booked online.Santa Cruise, Manchester River Cruises If you're wanting something a little different this year then you can hop aboard the Santa Cruise on the Manchester Ship Canal.
With festive lighting, giant sparkling presents and illuminated walkways, guests can wander through the Upper Garden at the National Trust property. The Enchanted Winter Walk is one of many events running at the Styal venue between now and Christmas. For more details see here.Sail with Santa, Hollingworth Lake There's another chance to set sail with Santa with a floating grotto at Hollingworth Lake this Christmas. Families can jump on board the Lady Katherine for what promises to be a 'unique grotto experience'.
You can also upgrade tickets to meet Lego Santa in his grotto while you're there. For an extra £5 per person on selected dates, you can head into his grotto to have a souvenir photo taken with the brick man himself and get an 'awesome gift'.
Christmas Family-Friendly Activities Greater Manchester
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