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Hoorah! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is just around the corner and we can almost smell those delicious mince pies, as we round up some of the best family activities and fun days out taking place across Manchester and the North throughout the festive season.
For theatre-loving families: Our favourite Stick Man returns to The Lowry in Manchester to delight families of all ages, in this moving, relatable and totally hilarious adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man by Freckle Productions.
Experience the magic of the Hallé Christmas Family Concerts at The Bridgewater Hall this festive season, including ‘Bash and the Missing Merry Melody’, The Snowman and The Magical Music of Harry Potter.
And for an enchanting Christmas experience for the entire family, the Frost Fair at The Whitworth returns on 4 & 5 December, with music, dancing, entertainment, craft markets and street food, or step inside the dazzling Silcock’s Winter Wonderland at EventCity and experience a magical Christmas family adventure inside the largest indoor Christmas Theme Park in the UK, featuring over 50 spectacular rides, attractions and shows.
A very special visitor is coming to Manchester all the way from the North Pole for the magical and memorable Father Christmas Experience at Wythenshawe Hall.
Are you stuck for things to do during the winter holidays? Mini mechanics and small scientists are invited to the Science and Industry Museum to discover all there is to know about marvellous machines and learn some spectacularly surprising scientific facts, in an awesome programme of family activities.
Join in the festive fun at Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Manchester, for a LEGO®-tastic Christmas Bricktacular Experience, taking place from 4 December 2021 – 2 January 2022, you can also come along to the interactive Little Play Squad Sessions at Legoland Discovery Centre, designed for parents and their little ones to get creative and build new, colourful worlds.
Step into the Electric Gamebox in the Arndale Centre in Manchester for a new digital gaming adventure experience. You’ll be mind blown by this interactive, fully private high-tech digital room full of fun and immersive arcade-style games and challenges.
And if you don’t mind getting just a little bit muddy, take a visit to the Outdoor Art Club at the Whitworth Art Gallery, jam-packed with fun and creative activities designed to encourage your little ones to play freely while exploring nature and the outdoors with family and friends.
Here’s one for the football fanatics and a rainy weekend in Manchester. Prepare for a day of football discovery, penalty shoot-outs, interactive play and much, much more, with family activities at the National Football Museum.
Here are our picks
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1. Silcock’s Winter Wonderland at EventCity
Silcock's Winter Wonderland Silcock's Winter Wonderland at EventCity at EventCity, Until 2 January 2022, from £0.00 - Book now
Visit Silcock’s Winter Wonderland at EventCity this festive season and experience a magical Christmas family adventure inside the largest indoor Christmas Theme Park in the UK, featuring over 50 spectacular rides, attractions and shows you’ll never forget!
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2. Winter Holidays at the Science and Industry Museum
Science Museum Group Winter holidays at the Science and Industry Museum at Science and Industry Museum, Castlefield, 18 December 2021–4 January 2022, free entry - Find Out More
Mini mechanics, small scientists and eager engineers – are you ready to have your minds blown this winter? You’re invited to the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester to discover all there is to know about marvellous machines and learn some spectacularly surprising scientific facts.
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3. The Hallé Family Christmas Concerts at The Bridgewater Hall
Hallé Family Christmas Concerts at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 12–30 December 2021, from £16.50 - Book now
Experience the magic of the Hallé Christmas Family Concerts at The Bridgewater Hall this festive season, including ‘Bash & the Missing Merry Melody’, The Snowman & The Magical Music of Harry Potter.
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4. Frost Fair at The Whitworth
Manchester City Council Frost Fair 2021 at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 5 December 2021, free entry
The enchanting Frost Fair at The Whitworth returns on 4 & 5 December, with music, dancing, entertainment, craft markets and street food, for people of all ages!
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5. Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND®
Manchester Evening News Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND® at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Manchester, Until 2 January 2022, from £17.50 - Book now
Join in the festive fun at Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Manchester, for a LEGO®-tastic Christmas Bricktacular Experience, taking place from 4 December 2021 – 2 January 2022.
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6. Magical Father Christmas Experience at Wythenshawe Hall
Manchester City Council Magical Father Christmas Experience, Until 23 December 2021, from £11.00 - Book now
This Christmas, bring the whole family to the Magical Father Christmas Experience at Wythenshawe Hall for a memorable, festive, theatrical experience to get you in the Christmas spirit.
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7. Stick Man at The Lowry
Stick Man at The Lowry, Manchester and online, Until 9 January 2022, from £19 - Book now
It couldn’t really get much worse for poor Stick Man in this moving, relatable and totally hilarious adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man by Freckle Productions, which returns The Lowry in Manchester this festive season to delight families of all ages.
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8. Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth
Image courtesy of The Whitworth. Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 18 December 2021, free entry - Visit now
Get your wellies on this autumn and take a visit to the Outdoor Art Club at the Whitworth Art Gallery, jam-packed with fun and creative activities designed to encourage your little ones to play freely while exploring nature and the outdoors with family and friends.
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9. Electric Gamebox at The Arndale
The Electric Gamebox Electric Gamebox at Manchester Arndale, City Centre, Until 22 October 2022, from £5.00 - Book now
Step into the Electric Gamebox in the Arndale Centre in Manchester for a totally new digital gaming adventure experience. You’ll be mind blown by this interactive, fully private high-tech digital room full of fun and immersive arcade-style games and challenges.
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10. Little Play Squad at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Little Play Squad at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Manchester, Until 17 December 2021, from £15 - Book now
Are you ready to get creative and build new, colourful worlds with your pre-schooler? Come along to the interactive parent-child Little Play Squad Sessions at Legoland Discovery Centre at the Trafford Centre, Manchester, designed for parents and children aged 2-5.
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11. Families at the National Football Museum
National Football Museum Families at the National Football Museum at National Football Museum, Cathedral Quarter, Until 1 January 2022 - Book now
The National Football Museum in Manchester boasts a variety of football-themed activities for people of all ages. Prepare for a day of football discovery, penalty shoot-outs, interactive play and much, much more.
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2021
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Aladdin at Oldham Coliseum
Our favourite panto team are back to put some sparkle into the festive season – dust off your magic carpet and get ready to fly into Oldham this Christmas.
Lightopia at Heaton Park
The award-winning and visually sensational lantern and light festival returns to illuminate Manchester this winter.
The Not So Ugly Sisters at Waterside
The Yorkshire based theatre-company Wrongsemble bring this wonderful new take on the well-loved classic to audiences for Christmas 2021.
Ignite at Gibside
Get away from it all at Ignite at Gibside, a fantastical fire and lantern trail. We all love a stroll in the countryside, but this is a brand new way to experience the stunning eighteenth-century house and gardens.
Culture Guides
Exhibitions
With autumn in full swing, we may be missing the daylight but there are plenty of fantastic exhibitions this month to indulge your senses.
Literature
There are plenty of writerly launches, open mics, literature festivals, pre-Christmas book fairs and festive readings to pop into your diary, some online, some in person – and some both.
Classical Music in Manchester and the North
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Food and Drink in Manchester and the North
We’re cramming two seasons of festive cheer into one as we present our top Christmas menus and cocktail lists in Manchester and the North.
Tours and Activities
There is plenty to make, see and do in the winter months. This month’s top picks include soul-warming folk clubs, clay workshops and jewellery making.
Destination Guides
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We’re cramming two seasons of festive cheer into one as we present our top Christmas menus and cocktail lists in Manchester and the North.
Exhibitions
With autumn in full swing, we may be missing the daylight but there are plenty of fantastic exhibitions this month to indulge your senses.
Theatre
All-sung comedy thrillers, joyous musicals and our pick of the pantos. Our theatre guide spans the festive season and beyond.
Half Term
Half term fun here we come! Read through our handpicked selection of family events, pick your personal favourites, and spend some quality time together.
Things to Do in Manchester
There’s plenty of things to do in Manchester, from award-winning theatre and exhibitions to exciting food and drink offer and thriving literature and music scenes. Our guide to the best things to with your time in Manchester.
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Things to do right now
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