Family things to do in Manchester and the North

Shekina Rose, Families Editor

As we move into the festive season (that came around quickly?!), Manchester’s arts and cultural calendar is packed with brilliant events and activities for families.

Events coming up include The Bear at Waterside Arts, Rockin’ Rhinos Christmas Cracker at Z-arts, Our Kids Social Xmas Pyjamarama Party at Freight Island, Winter Tales at The Stoller Hall, Stick Man at The Lowry plus outdoor art activities, LEGO experiences, museum visits and more.

If you’re looking for low-cost activities, check out our free families guide.

Our top picks

The Bear at Waterside Arts

The Bear at Waterside, Manchester, 1–29 December 2024, from £14.50 - Book now

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to get up close to a polar bear? What about sitting on its lap, or riding across snowy deserts on its back? Join Tilly and the Bear in this special, snowy event for families.

Tilly and the bear
Paul Blakemore

Our Kids Social Xmas Pyjamarama Party

Our Kids Social Xmas Pyjamarama Party at Freight Island, Manchester, 15 December 2024, from £8.50 - Book now

Get ready for the Our Kids Social annual Christmas knees-up at Freight Island, pyjama style!

Xmas Pyjamarama Party
our kids social

Rockin’ Rhinos Christmas Cracker at Z-arts

Rockin Rhinos Christmas Cracker! at Z-arts, Manchester, 8 December 2024, from £9.50 - Book now

Rock your hearts out this Christmas at the Rockin’ Rhinos Christmas Cracker at Z-arts.

Rockin Rhinos Christmas Cracker at Z-arts
Z-arts

Stick Man at The Lowry

Stick Man at The Lowry, Manchester and online, 10 December 2024–5 January 2025, from £19 - Book now

Everyone’s favourite Stick Man is back in town and heading to The Lowry this festive season, and he is having a TERRIBLE day!

The Stick Man at The Lowry
Stick Man at The Lowry

Winter Tales at The Stoller Hall

Winter Tales with Orchestra: The Nutcracker, Swan Lake & Sleeping Beauty at The Stoller Hall, Manchester, 19 December 2024, from £27.50 - Book now

Enjoy an atmospheric winter’s evening as the acclaimed Mystery Ensemble plays some of Tchaikovsky’s masterpieces, which include the beautiful, wintry sounds of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. 

An illustration of a nutcracker and a girl in a pink dress, on a gold background
Red Events

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Manchester Barton Square, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AS - Visit now

The ultimate indoor playground! LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is an immersive indoor attraction where iconic sites from Manchester’s skyline and other famous UK buildings can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum

Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 30 September 2025 - Book now

Whether you’ve half an hour or a full day, you’ll always find something new to discover at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum.

Discover and Explore at the Science and Industry Museum
State of Mind installation at the Science and Industry Museum. Image courtesy of Orbie Pullen Photography.

The Mountain Witch at Interplay Theatre

The Mountain Witch, 10 November 2024, free entry - Find Out More

This autumn enjoy the spellbinding story of The Mountain Witch produced by Speedwell Dance.

A woman dressed in a green flowing dress, holding up a garland of colourful ribbons, surrounded by children.
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Wicked at Palace Theatre Manchester

Wicked at Manchester Opera House, Manchester, 3 December 2024–12 January 2025, from £32.00 - Book now

Have you ever considered that the Wicked Witch of the West might not be so… wicked?

Wicked at Palace Theatre Manchester
via ATG Tickets

Revolting Rhymes at The Stoller Hall

Revolting Rhymes: A Family Concerts at The Stoller Hall, Manchester, 7 December 2024, from £7.00 - Book now

Get ready for an unforgettable musical family adventure at Revolting Rhymes at The Stoller Hall, where storytelling and classical music combine!

A boy wearing a paper crown watching a show in the stoller hall
Drew Forsyth/Stoller Hall

Sleeping Beauty at Stockport Plaza

Sleeping Beauty at Stockport Plaza Cinema, Stockport, 6 December 2024–5 January 2025, from £19.80 - Book now

Experience the magic of Christmas with Sleeping Beauty at Stockport Plaza.

Sleeping Beauty at Stockport Plaza
iStock/Radist

Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth

Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 21 December 2024, free entry - Visit now

Get your wellies on and enjoy fun and creative outdoor activities.

Toddler standing on grass with a paintbrush in hand turning to the right to look at the camera. He is wearing a navy blue rainsuit with a burgundy and navy blue long sleeved tiop underneath. He is standing in front of large cream coloured sheets that have been strung up on a washing line. The sheets have mud marks making on.
Image courtesy of The Whitworth.

Power Up at the Science and Industry Museum

Power UP at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Until 30 March 2025, from £8.00 - Book now

From Mario to Sonic and Pong to Fortnite, play your way through five decades of the best video games. Fun and educational. Win-win.

Boy playing retro arcade games in Power Up.
Image courtesy of the Science and Industry Museum.

PHM’s Playful Protest Space

PHM's Playful Protest Space at People’s History Museum (PHM), Manchester, Until 30 December 2024, free entry - Visit now

Explore activism through fun crafts and activities, including games and films, all inspired by the museum’s collection.

Children sat at a table and colouring
People's History Museum

More families events

Bonfire Night in Manchester and the North
Until
FestivalsLancaster
Light Up Lancaster

Festival of light and art Light Up Lancaster returns to the city with installations, projections, performance and fireworks illuminating the city’s historic buildings, charming streets and hidden squares.

free entry
Timekeepers
Spotlight on

Light Festivals in the North

From enchanting lantern parades to epic LED installations, light festivals are a brilliant way celebrate the magic of the winter months.

Take me there

Family things to do in Manchester and the North

HOME Manchester
Manchester
Theatre
HOME Manchester

Offering a packed schedule of events and things to do, HOME Manchester is one of the city’s leading hubs for arts and culture.

Manchester
Park
Platt Fields Park

Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield is steeped in history, the land having been acquired by the Platt family in 1225.

The Hepworth Wakefield
Wakefield
Gallery
The Hepworth Wakefield

Winner of the 2017 Art Fund Museum of the Year Award, The Hepworth in Wakefield is easily one of the leading cultural highlights of the North.

The MerseyMade building in Liverpool
Liverpool
Shop
MerseyMade

In the MerseyMade shop you’ll find bottled gin from the likes of Turncoat Gin, Anfield Gin, Albert Dock Gin and Three Graces Gin. Yep, Liverpool REALLY likes its gin.

Cumbria
Event venue
Penrith Old Fire Station

Main venue for Eden Arts, an artist-led organisation based in Eden in Cumbria creating projects around mass participation, local distinctiveness and digital engagement, from Picnic Cinema to The Winter Droving.

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in Manchester and the North

Alongside experimental performance, new writing and free arts festivals, we take a look at some of the Christmas shows happening in the North.