Last Updated on 1 November 2026 by Colette
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
I am continually updating this post as information is released about new festive attractions for 2026 but please do check with individual venues for the most up to date information!
If your children are perhaps a little bit past visiting Father Christmas now (sob!) or you’re simply wondering what to do in Manchester this Christmas, then I thought it would be worth putting together a list of suggestions of other festive events, activities and days out to get you and your family into the Christmas spirit.
If you’re looking for Christmassy days out in Manchester and the surrounding area this festive season, why not take a look at some of the suggestions below:
- Ice skating in Cathedral Gardens
- Manchester Christmas Markets
- Manchester Christmas Lights
- Dunham Massey Light Trail
- Yuletide: A Glittering Winter Garden Adventure at Tatton Park
- Northern Lights Manchester at Heaton Park
- Glow 2026 at RHS Garden Bridgewater
- Popper’s Penguins, Waterside
- The Grinch Meet & Greet Disco at Cockfields Farm
- Around the World in 80 Days at The Christmas Mansion, Tatton Park
- Enchanted Winter Walk at Quarry Bank
- Christmas Carols in the Stableyard at Tatton Park
- Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
- Christmas Bauble Painting at Kargo MKT
- Free Christmas Kids Crafts at Kargo MKT
- A Trail of Tails: Christmas in the House at Dunham Massey
- Manchester’s Christmas Parade
- Operation Elf: Save Christmas at Quarry Bank
- Christmas Carols at Lyme, Stockport
Check out these handy links to plan your next adventure …
Contents - Click here to jump to the section you need
Ice skating in Cathedral Gardens – Friday 6th November 2026 to Sunday 3rd January 2027
The Skate Manchester pop up ice skating rink returns to Cathedral Gardens for Christmas 2026.
Skate Manchester’s large, covered ice rink is back again this year, allowing you to enjoy a festive skate whatever the weather. There is a well organised one way system in and out of the event which flows much better than in previous years.
We’ve been visiting the ice rink in Cathedral Gardens for quite a few years now and it’s a family tradition we’re keen to keep up with as the kids get older!
Tickets are available on site on the day but it’s advisable to book in advance to guarantee your space: www.skatemanchester.com. Adult tickets are priced from £17.50, children’s tickets from £13.75 and family tickets from £52. Skate aids cost an additional £5.
There are also dedicated SEND skating sessions on Mondays from 3pm to 4pm, as well as parent and toddler sessions, discounted community skating and special offers throughout the season.
You can read more about visiting Skate Manchester here:
Tips for going ice skating at Skate Manchester this Christmas
Click through here for alternative places to go ice skating in Manchester this Christmas.
Manchester Christmas Markets – Friday 6th November to Tuesday 22nd December 2026
The Manchester Christmas Markets are some of the largest in the UK and have grown enormously over recent years covering ever increasing areas of the city throughout November and December.
2025 finally saw the Manchester Christmas Markets return to Albert Square after several years hiatus due to the Town Hall renovation and this year the square is once again at the heart of the celebrations, complete with a huge 50 metre Ferris wheel, vintage helter-skelter, festive pop-up pub and covered seating areas.
The main sections of the Manchester Christmas Markets are traditionally in Albert Square, outside the town hall and then through St Ann’s Square and down to King Street as well as Cathedral Gardens. This year the markets will cover ten locations across the city centre, including a brand new addition at Lincoln Square and a new layout at St Ann’s Square. In fairness there’s a lot of repetition across the markets so you really don’t need to see it all! The food stalls in Cathedral Gardens and Albert Square will remain open until Sunday 3rd January 2027 to tie in with the Cathedral Gardens ice rink.
The Manchester Christmas Markets are extremely popular and as such are heaving most nights and all day of a weekend. Your best bet for a quiet wander is to try and get down earlier in the day midweek otherwise prepare to be shuffled around the market with every man and his dog.
Steaming mugs of mulled wine and German sausage are the order of the day but you’ll find plenty of sweet treats and gifts to peruse as well. (I’ve bought a fresh Christmas wreath for the front door from the markets before now and have previously picked up a delicious hazelnut liquor – you could even get a fresh Christmas tree if you wanted to!).
Find out more about Manchester Christmas Markets 2026. Entry is free.
If the Christmas Markets feel a bit much for you, why not check out a festive afternoon tea in Manchester instead.
Manchester Christmas Lights – Friday 6th November 2026
It looks as though there won’t be an official Christmas lights switch-on event in Manchester city centre again this year, but the city will still be going all out with its festive displays to get us in the Christmas mood!
The Christmas lights will be illuminated from Friday 6th November, coinciding with the opening of the Manchester Christmas Markets.
And there’s some good news for anyone who’s missed Manchester’s giant Santa! After spending years outside Central Library in St Peter’s Square, he’s finally heading home to Albert Square, taking pride of place in front of the Town Hall for the first time in almost a decade.
This year, Santa has a brand-new feature too. Instead of sitting on his enormous Christmas present, he’ll be perched above a giant green Christmas cracker which visitors can actually walk through! The cracker will be decorated with twinkling fairy lights and accompanied by a soundtrack of Christmas classics.
With more than 20,000 LED lights, Giant Santa will be illuminated 24 hours a day from Friday 6th November until Sunday 3rd January 2027.
There’ll also be plenty of festive decorations throughout the Christmas Markets, including a giant Christmas tree with a life-size sleigh inside for family photographs in Albert Square.
Dunham Massey Light Trail – Friday 20th November 2026 to Saturday 2nd January 2027
After hearing so many good things about Dunham Massey Light Trail over the years, we finally managed to visit ourselves in December 2021 and it was absolutely stunning. We can’t wait to go back this year for our fourth visit (though I’m sure we won’t be so lucky as to have snow again).
Christmas at Dunham Massey is a family-friendly one-mile magical festive trail of illuminations and is a festive family tradition for many. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, this year’s trail promises brand new light installations, spectacular projections onto the historic house and the return of some old favourites.
It is recommended that you book your tickets early to avoid disappointment, priced from £19.50 for adults and £13 for children (under 3s go free). National Trust members will receive free car parking this year but you must select this at the time of booking and show your membership card on the night. Non-National Trust members must also pre-book their parking when purchasing tickets.
You can read more about visiting the Dunham Massey Christmas Light Trail here:
Christmas at Dunham Massey [2024]
Christmas at Dunham Massey [2023]
Christmas at Dunham Massey – Review & Tips [2021]
Yuletide: A Glittering Winter Garden Adventure at Tatton Park – Selected dates from Saturday 14th November to Wednesday 23rd December 2026
This festive season Wild Rumpus (creators of Just So Festival) invite you to create a new winter family tradition with a glittering garden adventure at Tatton Park.
Let me tell you, having attended a number of Wild Rumpus events over the years, these guys know how to create magic. This Yuletide celebration will immerse you in a world of folklore, festive tradition and ridiculous rituals as the characters and creatures from winter myths and stories come to life.
New for 2026 is a reimagined trail through Tatton Park’s gardens, with new installations, illuminated puppets and plenty of magical surprises along the way.
Expect a magical illuminated trail, storytelling, live music, acrobats and fire juggling antics as well as a campfire for toasting marshmallows.
Book Yuletide tickets priced from £19.50 for adults and £11.50 for children on off-peak dates, rising to £23 for adults and £14 for children on peak dates. Under 3s go free. There will be no charge for parking from 2pm, although a voluntary £1.50 donation is requested.
Northern Lights Manchester at Heaton Park – Thursday 20th November to Sunday 21st December 2025
Northern Lights Manchester at Heaton Park – Thursday 19th November to Thursday 31st December 2026
Whilst Heaton Park is no stranger to a festive light trail, Lightopia went bust and Christmas at Heaton Park dropped off after only a year so I’m thrilled to see the creators of Kendal Calling and Bluedot bring Northern Lights – a glowing mile-long trail of light, sound and festive magic – back to Manchester’s Heaton Park this Christmas as we absolutely loved it last year!
Northern Lights is already well established in Newcastle, Leeds and Cardiff’s Bute Park – expect a 90-minute journey through immersive installations, firelit festive villages, mulled wine, marshmallows and vintage fairground fun.
This year’s theme is A Christmas Time Machine, taking visitors on a nostalgic journey through Christmases past with brand-new light installations inspired by childhood toys and festive traditions. Expect giant neon Slinkys, glowing lava lamps, Nutcrackers and a colourful Scalextric-inspired display, as well as an expanded Christmas Village with food, drink and fairground rides.
Book tickets for Northern Lights Manchester priced from £19.50 for adults and £13.50 for children, with family tickets from £60. Under 2s go free. Peak and off-peak tickets are available.
There will also be two neuroinclusive evenings on Wednesday 2nd and Wednesday 9th December 2026, with reduced visitor numbers and lower audio levels for families who would prefer a quieter experience.
You can read more about Northern Lights Manchester at Heaton Park here:
Northern Lights Manchester Review & Tips
Glow 2026 at RHS Garden Bridgewater – Thursday 26th November to Wednesday 30th December 2026
This winter, Glow at RHS Garden Bridgewater invites you to follow the twinkling trail around the garden and discover RHS Garden Bridgewater transformed as spectacular illuminations light up the night.
This year’s Glow features a brand new route through the atmospheric woodlands, with interactive light and sound installations, including a five-metre-high immersive sunrise-to-sunset experience and colourful animated displays by illustrator Rob Hodgson. Expect plenty of opportunities to get involved with the installations as you explore the gardens after dark.
Treat yourself to a selection of warming drinks and tasty festive treats along the way to keep you aglow.
Tickets for Glow at Bridgewater are available to book now and adult tickets are priced from £6 for members and £9.25 for non-members. Children’s tickets start from £4 for members and £5.50 for non-members, with under 5s going free. Super off-peak tickets are available on selected dates.
There will also be a dedicated SEN evening on Tuesday 8th December 2026, with reduced visitor numbers, less flashing and lower noise levels for visitors who would prefer a quieter experience.
Lightwaves, Salford Quays – December 2026 TBC
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
Lightwaves is an annual 4-day interactive light festival presented at Salford Quays, home to Media City. Each December, the event attracts in excess of 400,000 visitors to explore a trail of illuminated installations that animate and transform the outdoor surroundings. With a focus on bold new commissions, the festival is proud to support international artists alongside local and emerging talent, with a growing focus on enrichment activity with local communities at its heart.
The festival is part of the Quays Culture Programme, a partnership initiative with a mission to animate public spaces, bringing extraordinary art into the heart of the community for everyone to experience free of charge.
This is a free event and tickets are not required to attend Lightwaves.
You can read more about Lightwaves here:
(For more free things to do in Manchester this Christmas, read this post next!)
Popper’s Penguins, Waterside – Christmas 2026
A Christmas play at Waterside in Sale is one of our most treasured Christmas traditions and this year sees the arrival of Popper’s Penguins, a heartwarming family show packed with puppetry, music and plenty of laughs.
Based on the much-loved children’s book Mr Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater, the story follows Mr Popper, a house painter who dreams of exploring Antarctica. When a penguin unexpectedly arrives at his door, his ordinary life is turned upside down and before long, his home is filled with a whole family of mischievous penguins!
Expect plenty of chaos, comedy and heartwarming moments in this festive family adventure.
Find out more and book tickets at Waterside.
The Grinch Meet & Greet Disco at Cockfields Farm – Friday 27th November 2026
Fancy meeting the Grinch this Christmas? He’s going to be heading down to Cockfields Farm for an evening of festive fun, games and mischief!
This year’s event includes a Grinchmas Disco with festive music, plus the chance to meet the Grinch himself and take photographs in his Grinch Photo Lair. Children can also enjoy meeting the animals in Cuddle Corner, riding the carousel and posting their Christmas wishes at the Whoville Post Office.
The event runs from 4pm to 8pm, with last entry at 6pm. Marshmallow and s’mores roasting kits will also be available to purchase.
Book tickets to meet The Grinch at Cockfields Farm priced at £19.95 per adult or child, with tickets for babies from £5.95.
Around the World in 80 Days at The Christmas Mansion, Tatton Park – selected dates from Saturday 21st November to Thursday 31st December 2026
This Christmas at Tatton Park, experience a magical Christmas Mansion inspired by Jules Verne’s classic tale Around the World in 80 Days.
Follow in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg as he travels around the world, with each of the rooms beautifully decorated to bring to life a different destination, from Victorian London to Egypt, India, China, Japan and America. Expect immersive displays, dazzling decorations, costumed characters and plenty of festive magic.
There’s also an interactive family passport trail where children can collect stamps as they explore the Mansion.
Tickets are available to book online now priced at £16 for adults and £12 for children aged 2–15 (under 2s go free). The ticket price applies to National Trust members too.
You will also need to pay for parking on site at a cost of £9 on weekdays or £10 at weekends. You can save 10% by booking your parking online in advance.
Enchanted Winter Walk at Quarry Bank – selected dates from Friday 4th to Thursday 31st December 2026
With festive lighting and illuminated walkways, take a wander through the Upper Garden on the Enchanted Winter Walk at Quarry Bank. Keep an eye out for Mrs Claus preparing the sleigh for Christmas Eve, and little ones, don’t forget to pick up your reindeer food ready for the big day.
Your ticket includes entry and a hot drink for adults or reindeer food and a child-size hot drink for children. From 28th to 31st December, children will receive a New Year’s party treat instead of reindeer food. This experience should last around 30 minutes. Don’t forget to wrap up warm!
Book tickets for the Enchanted Winter Walk at Quarry Bank priced at £9.95 per person. Babies under 12 months go free. National Trust admission charges do not apply – both NT members and non-members need to purchase tickets for this event. Parking is free.
There will also be quiet sessions on Saturday 12th and Tuesday 29th December 2026, from 4.15pm to 5pm, with reduced lighting, no music and fewer visitors for families who would prefer a more relaxed experience. Book tickets for the Enchanted Winter Walk quiet sessions, also priced at £9.95 per person.
Seasonal Winter Family Trail at Dunham Massey – Christmas 2026 TBC
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
This winter, follow a short winter trail at Dunham Massey designed to encourage younger children to put their coats on and get outside to embrace the sensory delights of the season.
Find out top winter facts, wander past historical buildings and ancient trees. Don’t forget to stop for some deer spotting, and enjoy a hot drink in the restaurant or café when little legs tire (or you could even pack a hot picnic to warm little tummies through!)
This event is free, however normal admission charges apply for the venue.
Christmas Carols in the Stableyard at Tatton Park – Sunday 20th December 2026
Get yourself into the Christmas spirit and sing along to Christmas carols and songs in the twinkling Stableyard with the King Edward Musical Society Band and choir. Pick up a song sheet and join in with all your festive favourites from 3pm to 4pm.
Warming food and drink to takeaway will be available from the Stables Restaurant.
This is a free event with no booking required, however standard parkland vehicle entry applies to all visitors, including National Trust members. You can save 10% on vehicle entry by booking online in advance.
Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre – Sunday 22nd November to Wednesday 30th December 2026
This Christmas at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, take part in a festive scavenger hunt in the winter wonderland themed MINILAND®, build and decorate a LEGO gingerbread creation or make your own LEGO snowflake, rock around the LEGO Christmas tree at the pop-up dance parties with the LEGO mascots and you can even spin the advent wheel and see what number it lands on to win a treat!
There’s also access to the usual LEGO build and play zones, two rides and the 4D cinema. The full range of festive activities will be available at weekends and during the school holidays.
On selected dates there is also the option to visit LEGO Santa in his grotto. This costs an additional £6 per person and includes the opportunity to meet LEGO Santa, receive an “awesome” gift and take your own photographs.
You can book your tickets for the Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre with standard admission currently priced from £16 per person when booked online. Under 2s go free. (Don’t forget to use TopCashback when you book too!)
Christmas Bauble Painting at Kargo MKT – Sunday 20th December 2026
Get creative this Christmas at Kargo MKT with a festive bauble painting workshop. Children can decorate their very own wooden Christmas baubles to take home and hang on the tree.
The workshop is suitable for all ages and runs from 1pm to 2pm.
Book tickets for Christmas Bauble Painting at Kargo MKT priced from £3.96 per person.
Free Christmas Kids Crafts at Kargo MKT – Saturday 19th December 2026
Kargo MKT are hosting a free Christmas craft workshop where children can get creative making their own festive suncatchers. It’s a lovely little activity to keep the kids entertained during the Christmas holidays, and you could always grab something to eat from one of Kargo’s independent food traders while you’re there.
The workshop runs from 10am to 12pm and tickets are free, although advance booking is required. At the time of checking, tickets are sold out.
Find out more about the Christmas Kids Crafts at Kargo MKT
A Trail of Tails: Christmas in the House at Dunham Massey – Friday 20th November to Thursday 24th December 2026
This winter, Dunham Massey House is bringing a touch of festive mischief to Christmas with A Trail of Tails, an interactive family adventure created by Walk the Plank.
The circus has come to Dunham Massey but the animals have escaped and are running wild through the house! The Christmas tree has been disturbed, presents have disappeared and there are mysterious clues to uncover.
Follow the footprints, search the rooms and track down the missing gifts to save Christmas. This experience is suitable for the whole family and should take around 30–45 minutes to complete.
A Trail of Tails: Christmas in the House is included with whole-property admission, priced at £20 for adults and £10 for children aged 5–17. National Trust members can visit for free and no advance booking is required.
The experience is open daily from 10am to 3pm, with last entry at 3pm.al admission charges apply for non-members on arrival.
Manchester’s Christmas Parade – Sunday 6th December 2026
Manchester’s Christmas Parade will return for a fifth year in a row, which I think definitely grants it festive tradition status now!
Hosted by Manchester City Council, the parade promises another spectacular procession of Christmas-themed acts through the city centre. Previous years have seen Nutcracker-inspired toy soldiers on Segways, a roaming Christmas tree, giant reindeer, Jack Frost accompanied by a troupe of Frosty dancers and, of course, Father Christmas himself aboard the Elf Express.
Last year’s Manchester Christmas Parade started at 1pm and followed a circular route starting and ending at Manchester Cathedral, passing through Victoria Street, Deansgate, John Dalton Street, Cross Street, Market Street and St Mary’s Gate.
Manchester’s Christmas Parade is a free event, with no tickets required. The start time, route and entertainment details for 2026 have yet to be confirmed.
You can read more about the Manchester Christmas Parade here:
Manchester Christmas Parade 2024
Operation Elf: Save Christmas at Quarry Bank – Wednesday 2nd December 2026 to Sunday 3rd January 2027
This Christmas, Quarry Bank’s popular indoor play space is getting a festive makeover as the top floor is transformed into Elf HQ!
The elves need your help to save Christmas with a range of festive tasks including stacking presents on Santa’s sleigh, testing your snowball skills and even creating your very own elf CV.
There will also be plenty of familiar favourites including soft play, a swing, giant snakes and ladders, a puppet show and a performance stage complete with costumes, as well as festive crafts and games.
Operation Elf: Save Christmas at Quarry Bank is included with normal admission to Quarry Bank and is free for National Trust members.
Christmas Carols at Lyme, Stockport – selected weekends November and December 2026
Join in with some Christmas carols at Lyme and you’ll feel jolly in no time. It’s the most wonderful time of the year to get together with your loved ones and enjoy some festive music!
This Christmas, local choirs will be performing festive favourites in the historic Courtyard at Lyme on most weekends throughout the festive season.
Pre-booking is not required for these performances, which are free to enjoy, although normal admission charges apply for non-members. Entry is free for National Trust members.
Find out more about Christmas at Lyme.
The Christmas events listed below took place previously and are not yet confirmed for Christmas 2026 but as always I’ll be updating this post regularly so keep your eyes peeled!
Christmas Pyjama-rama! at Escape to Freight Island – December 2026 TBC
The information below relates to a previous event and will be updated as soon as information becomes available.
Our Kids Social are bringing the Christmas family fun at Escape to Freight Island and the kids don’t even need to get dressed! Christmas pjs, onesies, Xmas jumpers – come as you are, wear what you like and get ready for a morning full of festive delights! (Don’t forget that Freight Island is a massive open warehouse type space though so could be quite cold – just saying!)
There will be Christmas card making, a glitter swoosh station, Hula Hula circus skills workshop, letter writing to Father Christmas – and of course the big man will be there himself to collect all of the letters! And when they say big – they mean enormous because randomly they’ve got an elf on stilts paying a visit!
Resident DJ Helen will be spinning all of your favourite tunes with a family silent disco, a fully stocked bar and street food will be available to order from 12pm if you want to make a day of it (and why wouldn’t you?)
Tickets for the Our Kids Social Christmas Pyjama-rama at Escape to Freight Island are available to buy now priced at £8.50 per person (babes in arms go free).
Grumpy Grotto at Zip World Manchester – December 2026 TBC
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
The grumpiest grotto in all the land returns to Zip World Manchester this December. You must help to steal back Christmas from the mischievous Grump replacing the gifts that have been stolen with lumps of coal! This experience includes an hour on the bouncy Treetop Nets, interaction with the mischievous Grump and a gift to take home.
Book tickets for The Grumpy Grotto priced from £12 per person.
You can read more about Zip World Manchester here:
Treetop Nets – Zip World Manchester: Review & Tips
TreeTop Trek at Zip World Manchester: Review & Tips
Bramall Hall Elf Trail, Bramall Hall – Christmas 2026 TBC
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
The elves are back at Bramall Hall and up to their tricks again! Search Bramall Hall to spot all the elves and earn yourself a festive prize!
The trail costs £3 plus general admission for accompanying adults and can be booked online or paid on the day. This trail is recommended for children age 3+
Tinsel Town at Trafford Centre – Christmas 2026 TBC
The information below relates to a previous event and will be updated as soon as information becomes available.
Set up outside The Orient, opposite The Great Hall entrance where we’ve previously seen both summer and Halloween events, Christmas takes up the mantle and brings all the glitz and glamour you’d expect of a festive event at The Trafford Centre with a new, sensational outdoor experience. Wrap up warm and explore a winter wonderland of rides and festive fayre. There will be fairground rides, a big wheel and a magical ice rink as well as a range of independent food vendors serving mulled wine, hot dogs, pizza and other festive treats.
Don’t miss the spectacular show SNOWSTORM Northern Lights, a sensational ice-skating extravaganza live from the heated theatre big top and you can pop into the Trafford Centre to see Father Christmas at The Grotto too.
For more information and to book: Tinsel Town at The Trafford Centre
The Twilight Tales, Freight Island, Manchester | No event for 2026
The outside area of Freight Island has been transformed into a festive playground with a mixture of interactive installations and lights – this isn’t so much of a Christmas light trail as a space full of interactive light installations and activities from writing letters to Father Christmas (Chloe asked if it would be possible for him to arrange for her to stop growing) to elves to find, the most bonkers train carriage full of phones (our favourite was the complaints line) and containers of neon light strings, disco balls and, dry ice filled bubbles!
You can read more about Twilight Tales here:
Twilight Tales – Review and Tips
Festive Sundays in Manchester – Christmas 2026 TBC
After a glorious run of events in 2023, Manchester’s Festive Sundays seem to have disappeared from the Christmas calendar, which is a real shame as they were such a lovely free family event!
Previously, Manchester city centre hosted a range of free-to-watch sparkling street performances on Sundays in the run-up to Christmas, including roaming puppets, street performers and live music helping to create a fun and festive atmosphere in town. There was something different going on every weekend, from giant illuminated animals to dancing Christmas characters.
Festive Sundays in Manchester were completely free and no booking was required. (You can find out more about this free Christmas event here.)
There’s currently no confirmation that Festive Sundays will return for Christmas 2026.
Free Festive Family Crafts at Lyme, Stockport – No details for Christmas 2026
The information below relates to a previous event and will be updated as soon as information becomes available.
Not all that glitters is recyclable! Give nature the gift of a greener Christmas and learn how to create Christmas decorations from things you might throw away at home with Lyme’s volunteer elves.
Pre-booking is not required for this event – entry is free for National Trust members, admission charges apply for non-members.
Backyard Cinema Manchester, Depot Mayfield | No event for 2026
The information below relates to a previous event.
The UK’s most magical cinema arrives in Manchester for a strictly limited run. This exciting alternative cinema experience is located on the rooftop of Manchester’s Depot Mayfield (home to The Warehouse Project and Escape to Freight Island). Watch your favourite Christmas movies on giant bean bags surrounded by an enchanted, magical forest… Festive films include classics The Holiday (a personal favourite!), Love Actually, Elf and Home Alone
Book your festive Backyard Cinema tickets here.
Christmas at Heaton Park | No event for 2026
Christmas at Heaton Park will not return for 2026 however there is a brand new light trail: Northern Lights Manchester at Heaton ParkÂ
New for 2023, and taking the place of Lightopia after they went into administration at the start of the year, the team behind Christmas at Dunham Massey and Christmas at Kew are bringing their special brand of twinkling seasonal lights to Heaton Park.
You’ll find fairground rides (these are be an additional charge), colour-changing globes of light stretching out into the distance, larger-than-life flowers and neon strings that reach high into the sky. There is a laser garden filled with thousands of tiny beams of light and a giant twinkling tunnel that surrounds you with sparkle and makes for fantastic photo opportunities.
There are limited food options and festive treats available too (or you could just pack a hot picnic if you wanted to save a few quid!)
Tickets for Christmas at Heaton Park must be pre-booked online. Early bird pricing is in place until the 1st of October with tickets available from £12.
You can read more about Christmas at Heaton Park here:
Christmas at Heaton Park – Review & Tips
Lightopia at Heaton Park | No event for 2026
Lightopia will not return for 2026 with the company behind Lightopia, Outreach Creative Limited, having filed for administration on 9th January 2023.
If you have any recommendations for festive days out in the Manchester area, I’d love to hear them!
Please note that, to the best of my knowledge, all information is correct at time of publishing but do check directly with individual venues to confirm!
For more festive days out why not read one of these posts next:
The best places to visit Father Christmas in Manchester
Christmas shows in Manchester this year
Cheap or free Christmas days out in Manchester
Christmas light trails near Manchester
The best places to visit Santa in Leeds
Christmas days out in the York area
Festive days out in the Leeds area
Family Friendly New Year’s Eve events in Manchester
If you have enjoyed this post and found it helpful, here are a few ways you can say thanks and support We’re going on an adventure:
Click here to buy me a virtual coffee – it’s like a little tip jar but with caffeine!
I’d love for you to tag me in any photos of your adventures on Social Media if one of my posts has inspired you to visit
Click here to leave We’re going on an adventure a Google Review
Share this post with your friends – you’ll be helping me and them!
Follow We’re going on an adventure on Facebook or Instagram
Another brilliant and informative blog post keep up the good work and stay safe the both of you.
Thank you x