5 December – The Christmas Blitz at IWM North & Frozen at the Lowry Outlet

Polly Checkland Harding

Our cultural countdown to Christmas… Enjoy two immersive experiences at the Quays – Christmas during WWII and smash-hit Frozen brought to life.

Step inside a festively decorated 1940s house in IWM North’s Horrible Histories: Blitzed Brits exhibition on a Closer Look Tour (daily throughout December, 3.30pm). It’s an immersive way of marking the 75th Anniversary of the Manchester Christmas Blitz and discovering what life was like during the Second World War Blitz – when peoples’ Christmas would have been rather different, and plagued by air raids. For families, there’s also Christmas Craft on a Ration – a chance to learn about Second World War food rationing and create your own hanging decoration (weekends throughout December, plus daily during school holidays from 19 – 31 December, 11.30am-12pm). A Closer Look Tour: Christmas Blitz, IWM North, free

 Christmas during the Blitz & an immersive Frozen experience

Also at the Quays is the Lowry Outlet Frozen Experience, where families can be guided through a snowy forest into Elsa’s ice palace for a mini sing-along music show her and Anna, plus a chance to meet Olaf the snowman. Frozen fans are sure to be enchanted by special effects, twinkling lights and falling snow in the ‘Let It Go’ finale. The Frozen Experience shows will be running each weekend from Friday 13 November until 20 December. The Frozen Experience, Lowry Outlet, shows at 10.30am, 12noon, 1.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm, tickets £4 per child, with one adult going free (additional adults at £4 per person)

Image by Jonathan Schofield.
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