It’s time to get festive! Christmas markets
FESTIVE MARKETS OPEN TODAY FOR NEARLY SIX WEEKS OF SEASONAL FUN
THE tree is up, the lights are on and Zippy is on the town hall roof. There’s only one thing left to make it a Manchester Christmas – the markets.
The festive stalls open at midday today after a ribbon-cutting by this year’s Manchester pantomime stars, The Krankies.
The markets will run until December 20 at 10 sites across the city centre.
Launched in 1999 as a single site in St Ann’s Square, the markets are now a sprawling attraction that bring millions of visitors each year.
The usual wooden huts and stalls will be in Albert Square (European market and main hub), St Ann’s Square (German market), King Street (French), Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, Cathedral Gardens (family friendly area), Market Street, The Corn Exchange, and Brazennose Street.
In Albert Square, in front of the town hall, the market is open from 10am to 9pm daily, and will stay open for an extra day, till December 21. Stalls at all other sites will be open from 10am to 7.30pm in November and from 10am to 8pm in December. All bars and food areas will stay open until 9pm.
An ice rink in Cathedral Gardens will be open from 11am to 9pm every day until January 7 (closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day). Dogs aren’t allowed – except guide dogs – and visitors with small children and young families are advised to stay away from Albert Square at peak times. Armed police will patrol the markets for the first time this year, working alongside plain clothes officers carrying guns. Barriers will also be put up at key locations in the city centre. More than 100,000 people visited the markets on last year’s opening weekend and this year is expected to be just as popular. All the bars at the markets serve hot drinks from the same mugs, which you pay a £2.50 deposit for when you buy your first drink. You can either return the mug to any bar for your money back or take it home with you. Each year brings with it a new design, and for 2017 they’ve created new stackable mugs with festive characters. Coun Pat Karney, Manchester council’s Christmas spokesman, said: “It’s no secret that we love Christmas in Manchester. The only shame is that our markets only open in November despite our petition to keep them open from summer through until spring. “This year’s celebration will transform our city centre in to a winter wonderland and it’s a fantastic opportunity to get into the festive spirit.”