Festive Sundays in Manchester City Centre

Festive Sundays at St Ann’s Square, City Centre, 13 November–23 December 2022, free entry - Visit now

Get in the Christmas spirit at Festive Sundays in Manchester City Centre, starting on 13 November and running every consecutive Sunday until 18 December. Festive Sundays will feature dazzling street performances, live music and incredible puppetry for families in the weeks running up to Christmas.

Commissioned and produced by Manchester Business Improvement District, on behalf of the city centre’s leading retailers and hospitality venues and in partnership with Manchester City Council, Festive Sundays will see puppets and supersized penguins roaming Manchester’s shopping streets to the backdrop of live music reverberating around the city centre. This special entertainment will make for a fun and festive atmosphere for Christmas shoppers, or those out having a mulled wine at the Christmas markets – and they’re free!

The first two Sundays (13 and 20 November) will see themed performances around the central shopping district, moving around the Manchester Arndale, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Street, St Ann’s Square, King Street and Deansgate. You might see a Sensational Snow Globe, Living Lampposts, Mirror Men, Snow Fox Stilt Walkers, Penguins, Crumpet the Elf, Fat Cat Brass Band – and Spark! a light-up band, combining LED lighting with beautiful costumes, choreography, and high impact drumming.

On the next two Sundays (27 November and 4 December), families can head down to St Ann’s Square and Deansgate to enjoy a spectacular early evening, with enchanting Ghost Caribou – a night-time street act with giant creatures, part caribou, part human, who tell their story through music, song, and shadow – and the Spark! light-up band will be back.

The final two Sundays (11 and 18 December) will get really, truly festive, as Christmas Crackers, Sugar Plum Fairies, Toy Soldiers and a Fairy Mouse take to the city’s streets, exploring Manchester Arndale, Market Street, St Mary’s Gate, Deansgate, St Ann’s, Cross Street. Sunday 11 December will also feature an extra special festive treat for Manchester – more to come, watch this space!