Manchester’s Christmas Market is one of the biggest and busiest in Europe, drawing in more than nine million visitors last year.
But the rest of the region is also getting into the festive spirit, offering plenty of alternatives for those who want to escape the crowded city centre and enjoy a mug of mulled wine closer to home.
Here are the events confirmed to us so far. Please fill in the form at the bottom to let us know about any more and we’ll add them to the list.
Manchester
Levenshulme: The town’s thriving weekly market will host a special night market on Friday, November 28, to celebrate the town’s Christmas lights switch-on, and another on Friday, December 19, when it will open late for last-minute Christmas shopping. Full details have yet to be confirmed, but previous night markets have included plenty of family-friendly entertainment alongside the usual array of food, drink, arts and crafts stalls.
Upper Campfield Market: Still in the city centre but just off the beaten track enough that you might manage to avoid the hordes of tourists, the Victorian market hall on Deansgate is hosting its Christmas Off The High Street market every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from November 28 until the big day. Featuring an array of stalls from the city’s finest artisans and craftspeople, it’s the perfect place to find that extra-special gift. There will also be music, craft beers and mulled wine to get everyone in the festive spirit. From 10am until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays and until 6pm on Sundays.
Joel Goodman A festive market at Upper Campfield last year
Spinningfields: Running alongside the main Manchester Christmas markets, the trendy district will host a rotating selection of 101 stall-holders and street food traders, giving visitors a reason to return time after time. It will also be home to the ice rink again and, adding to the festive feel, there will be live music performances every evening. Open from 11am to 7pm every Thursday to Sunday, from Friday, November 14.
Salford
Salford Quays: Take a step back in time as the Victorian Christmas Market returns to the Lowry Outlet Mall. More than 150,000 people flocked to last year’s event, and with more than 100 stalls this year, packed with quality food, gifts, mulled wine and cider, it is bound to be popular again. The event will feature live brass band performances and carol-singing as well as Victorian re-enactors and entertainers. From December 4 to 7.
Tameside
Ashton-under-Lyne: The town’s first Christmas market was hugely popular last year – and with an all-new ice rink and ferris wheel this year there is even more festive fun. More than 30 wooden cabins will surround the town’s market hall, offering local and European Christmas goodies, from crafts and gifts to continental food, hot chocolate and mulled wine. The event also boasts a stage with family-friendly live entertainment from local music talent, as well as a magical Winter Wonderland lantern parade and a show-stopping fireworks display. From November 29 to December 21.
Town centre: A festive Foodie Friday will kick off three days of festive markets and entertainment in the town’s market place over the last weekend in November. It will be followed by a Christmas-themed market and entertainment on Saturday and a festive twist on all the town’s specialist markets, including the vintage, handmade and teenage markets, on Sunday. From November 28 to 30.
Stockport Market Hall
Trafford
Trafford Centre: The shopping centre will host an array of festive stalls at Barton Square and next to the Selfridges ice rink, located on the lawn outside the store. Full details to be confirmed.
Bury
Town centre: Bury Market and the Mill Gate Shopping Centre are hosting Christmas markets every weekend throughout December in the run-up to the big day. They will be based in the market square, next to the market hall, from Thursday to Sunday during the first three weeks in December.
The Rock shopping centre will also be holding a Christmas Fayre featuring a hog roast, German sausage swing grill, creperie and sweets stall and children’s rides, from November 6 to January 4.
Ramsbottom: Real reindeer and even hawks and owls will join Father Christmas at Ramsbottom’s Christmas Markets in Bridge Street and St Paul’s Church Gardens. Organised by the town’s business group, they will be held on December 7, 14 and 21. The town’s monthly Artisan Market, franchised by the council, are also hosting a festive event on Sunday, December 14.
Prestwich: As in Bury, there will be a one-off Christmas-themed Artisan Market, this time on Sunday December 7. Full details have yet to be confirmed.
Sophie Leach roasts chestnuts at Prestwich’s festive farmers’ market
Oldham
Town centre: Head to Tommyfield Market before the town’s Christmas lights switch-on on Saturday, November 8, for range of festive crafts and gifts stalls, plus hot food to keep you warm and well fed into the evening. The event, from 11am to 3pm, will also feature appearances from Ben the elf and Holly the fairy princess from Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom before they head to the stage for the ceremony.
The market will also host a Victorian Christmas weekend on Saturday December 20 and Sunday December 21, featuring jovial street entertainers and free fairground attractions including a traditional carousel, coconut shy and stalls. There will also be free roasted chestnuts, mulled wine (non-alcoholic) and prizes, plus merry magic with Festive Foxley and his penny farthing, from 11am to 4pm.
Wigan
Town centre: An artisan Christmas market takes place at The Galleries shopping centre on Saturday December 6. Shoppers will find a wide variety of unique handmade Christmas crafts and goods as fabulous grottos, Christmas trees, light and even roaming choirs turn the covered malls and external walkways into a Winter Wonderland.
Bolton
Town centre: There is no Christmas market confirmed this year but the town will be transformed into a winter wonderland with a giant snow slide, ice rink and ferris wheel. The 50 metre long snow slide will be based in Newport Street near the skating rink and big wheel in Victoria Square. There will also be a Santa’s grotto on Oxford Street. From November 29 to January 4, 2015.
Rochdale
Littleborough: A festive farmers’ market and seasonal craft fair will be held to celebrate the town’s Christmas lights switch-on. The event will feature music, dancing and a fun fair in the Square as well as a visit from Santa and his elves. From noon on Saturday November 22.
Know of an event we haven’t listed here? Let us know using the form below and we’ll add it to our listings.
