They’re back!
The UK’s best Christmas market opens today in Manchester, with seven weekends of festive fun ahead instead of the usual six.
Earlier this week the huts began to arrive in the city centre in preparation for stall holders moving in for the run-up to Christmas.
Though Albert Square is still not in a position to host the markets, despite initial plans that it would, there are still nine sites that are hosting.
The main hub will once again be Piccadilly Gardens which will transform into the Winter Gardens.
Manchester Council confirmed the markets will open on Friday, November 8 and open daily right through to Sunday, December 22.
The markets which are thought to be the biggest in the UK with over 200 stalls are celebrating their 26th year in existence.
The ski chalet market stalls can be found in Piccadilly Gardens, Market Street, Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Square, The Corn Exchange and King Street.
As well as the markets, the Manchester Christmas lights trail will also return and will include the iconic giant Santa which will once again be positioned in front of Central Library in St Peter’s Square.
The ice skating has also returned and is situated in Cathedral Gardens while the popular Manchester Christmas Parade will take place in a months’ time on Sunday, December 8 at 1pm.
Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester City Council’s Christmas spokesperson, said: “Everyone knows by now that Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year and Manchester is my favourite place in the world to be during the festive season.
“Christmas is going to be wonderful in Manchester this year, with enough seasonal stalls across the city in our best-ever Christmas Markets to make sure that everyone gets their Christmas wrapped before the big day.
“And of course, Christmas in Santa’s favourite city simply would not be Christmas without the heart-warming event of the season, our magical Manchester Christmas Parade, which will be back again this year and promises to melt even the hardest of hearts.
“We’ve loved seeing how much our families enjoy it since our first Christmas Parade in 2022 and this year’s is going to be even more joyous and amazing – utterly unmissable! Not long to wait now until all will be revealed!”
Craft stalls are open from 10am – 8pm daily while bars and food stalls are open 11am – 9pm apart from December 22 when all stalls close at 6pm.
