4-PAGE SPECIAL: The best festive family events
There’s no shortage of Christmas events for families in Manchester and many of them are booking up fast. Whether you’re looking for fairground rides, or the chance to have a go on a giant snow slide, or you want more of a sedate affair with an illuminated
Winter Wonderland, EventCity
THE festive family extravaganza Winter Wonderland is coming to back to Manchester this Christmas for the fifth year.
This year it opens its doors on Saturday, December 9 and tickets are already being snapped up for the event, which promises to be ‘bigger and better’ than ever.
Legendary children’s TV show Rainbow will be the star attraction of this year’s event, which sold a record breaking 100,000 tickets in 2016, and Pip Ahoy! will return to meet and greet visitors who will be able to enjoy playing on the real sand or relaxing in a deckchair.
At the heart of the winter wonderland is Santa’s house and there’ll also be real reindeer, as well as elves and fairies. Rainbow’s irrepressible duo Zippy and George promise to bring ‘magic, mayhem and comedy capers,’ while the Christmas Circus will putting on daily performances.
The event transforms 22,000sq m of EventCity into a ‘sparking seasonal spectacular’ featuring more than 50 family rides and attractions - with everything included in the one ticket price.
Sessions last for four hours and run at different times on different days with afternoon and evening slots available.
Tickets cost £20.50 for adults and children aged three to 16. Under threes go free. A family ticket for two adults and two children, or one adult and three children costs £70.
Book your tickets now at www. winterwonderlandmanchester.com
Follow on Facebook facebook. com/WinterWonderlandManchester and Twitter @WWManchester.
Santa’s Experience at Cockfields Farm, Ashton
CHILDREN can head to the stables to meet Santa’s reindeer and cuddle some of the rabbits guinea pigs and chicks as the Christmas Experience returns to Cockfields Farm.
Arrive at the North Pole to check in and collect your passports ready to start your Winter Wonderland Journey.
Follow your elf down through the candy cane forest to Mrs Claus’ Kitchen to listen to a magical Christmas Story while you enjoy a hot chocolate, mince pies and decorate a gingerbread man to take home.
Then its onto the Elves Workshop to learn how to be an Elf in Elf school before creating your own teddy bear to take home too.
After that there’s time to meet Santa in his Magical Grotto.
The grotto visits are private this year, giving your little ones more chance to have a little chat with the big man who will hand over a gold coin for them to spend on any toy they want in his big Toy Shop.
Advance bookings only by calling 0161 331 3322.
Tickets cost £11.95 for adults and £24.95 for children. Babies under one (not participating but still having grotto time £4.95). Prices rise on December 23 and 24.
Visit the website for more information and to book. Cockfields Farm, Lees Road, Ashton, OL6 8AR.
Family zone at Manchester Christmas Markets
THE family zone at Manchester’s Christmas Markets is open across the festive season - with an ice rink and traditional funfair.
The winter wonderland opened at Cathedral Gardens in November, but now all the stalls have opened too.
The fun fair includes a ferris wheel, carousel, swing chairs and a helter skelter.
The Cathedral Gardens site is open from 10am to 8pm throughout December. The rink is open 10.45am to 7.45pm until January 7.
Tickets cost £10 for adults, £8 for kids (age four to 16) or £30 for a family ticket of two adults and two children, or one adult and three children.
Rides vary from £3 for the ferris wheel, swing chairs, helter skelter and carousel, to £2 for the infant rides including the Christmas Convoy.
Pre-booking is recommended at www.ticketsource.co.uk/therinkatcathedralgardens or by calling 0333 666 33 66, or you can just turn up and pay on the day.
Bolton Winter Festival
A HUGE snow slide is coming to Bolton as part of this year’s Winter Festival. The 55-metre artificial slide will be one of two giant attractions forming the centrepiece of the town’s festivities this Christmas.
Thousands of thrill seekers enjoyed the slide last year and council chiefs are bringing it back as a highlight of the Winter Festival 2017 programme.
While Newport Street will be taken over by the popular slide, Victoria Square will host a covered ice rink so that families can skate whatever the weather.
Tickets have now gone on sale for the snow slide, which will cost £3 for one ride and £5 for two rides.
Both attractions will be open from Saturday, December 2, until Sunday, January 7. The slide will open daily from 10am and until 5pm on Sundays, until 7pm Monday to Wednesday, and 8pm Thursday to Saturday.
Visit www.boltonwinterfestival. com for more information and to book tickets.
People can also buy tickets in person from a box office on Victoria Square, once the attractions open.
Elf Adventure Challenge
SANTA’S Elves need the help of your children in this festive challenge at the Great Northern Warehouse.
Chief Elf Pumpaa and his team have been sent on a special mission by Santa to share their top secrets with specially selected children and their families across Manchester.
Little ones can join the elves on the Elf Adventure Challenge as they take them on a journey full of games, challenges and fun, introducing them to the magical stories surrounding the work and play of Santa’s special helpers and all their Christmas preparations.
Children will be taught festive skills such as how to prepare Santa’s sleigh and how to make toys, ready for Christmas Eve.
Work together as a family and go away with an Honoury Elf certificate, a magical Christmas Elf Adventure storybook and an elfie selfie. The hour-long event is running from now until Christmas Eve. Tickets cost £12 per person, or £44 for a family ticket for four. Visit elfadventurechallenge.com to book.
Great Northern Warehouse, 235 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN.
Christmas Drive-in, Old Trafford
CHRISTMAS classics including Elf and Home Alone are being shown on a huge 100 square metre drive-in cinema screen.
What claims to be the ‘world’s biggest Christmas drive-in’ is returning to the site for a three-day event in December, showing some of the most popular festive films.
Families are encouraged to dress up or wear their best Christmas jumpers to enjoy the lineup of festive films on a giant LED screen, which also includes Home Alone 2 and cult Christmas flick Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis. They can also join in some in-car ‘caraoke’ and might get the chance to get a photo of Santa and his elves who will be making an appearance.
Entry is £26 per car and you can either take along your own food and drink or enjoy some treats from the Christmas food stands at the event. The drive-in cinema in the grounds of Old Trafford will be running between Thursday, December 21 to Saturday, December 23.
You can book tickets online at www.christmasdrivein.co.uk.
Santa Specials on East Lancashire Railway
THE Santa Special train rides have become an annual event for many families in the region, attracting almost 40,000 people each year. East Lancashire Railway hosts the steam journey with decorated stations, brass bands, carol singers, magician and lots of costumed characters.
Father Christmas is on board giving out gifts to the children, while parents enjoy a glass of sherry and a mince pie. The Santa Specials are running on the first three weekends in December then daily from December 21 until Christmas Eve.
Tickets cost from £12.20 per child, £15.80 per adult, or £24.10 for adult and child under three (unseated). Book here: Bury Bolton Street Station, Bolton Street, Bury, Lancashire BL9 0EY .
Because of the number of visitors over Christmas it is recommended that people park on the large free car park at Heywood Station (OL10 1LK ) and use the shuttle service to Bury - £2 for adults (£1 prebooked) and children 50p.
Christmas at Ordsall Hall
THE historic hall is getting in the Christmas spirit this year with both a grotto and a Sleepy Stories event for little ones.
The grotto is open on two Sundays between now and Christmas - December 10 and 17.
Children can meet Father Christmas in his ‘magical grotto’ and receive a gift. It costs £4.50 per child (plus booking fee), and can be booked online. A one-off Christmas event is also taking place on Thursday, December 21 when little ones are invited to take their favourite teddy along to join in Sleepy Stories and Christmas Cheer at Ordsall Hall.
The event is suitable for kids aged three and over and costs £7.50 a ticket, or £25 for a family of 4 (plus booking fee). Online booking is essential at www.salfordcommunityleisure. co.uk/culture/whats-on/sleepy-stories.
Ordsall Hall, 322 Ordsall Lane, Ordsall, Salford, M5 3AN.
Christmas at Tatton Park
THERE’S a host of family fun happening at Tatton Park over the festive season. It started with a 12 Days of Christmas event at the Mansion which kicked off the festivities on November 20.
A magical place all year round, the Mansion will have an added sparkle as it’s decorated with fresh foliage and greenery, inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas.
Children will get the chance to meet Father Christmas who will be down at the farm with his reindeer Prancer and Dancer every Saturday and Sunday from now until December 23. Tickets are £7 for adults and £6.50 for children, including a gift. Finally on Saturday, December 23 there is a special Christmas Carols in the Stableyard event where a magical live band. Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN.
Christmas at Dunham Massey
DUNHAM Massey is being transformed into a magical winter wonderland this Christmas.
The illuminated experience is set to delight families, with a sparkling new trail filled with singing trees, twinkling tunnels, a scented fire garden, a canopy of more than 100k lights and, of course, Father Christmas.
Inspired by the landscape itself, visitors will be greeted by the sights and sounds of Christmas, wander beneath tree canopies illuminated in seasonal shards of light and amongst largerthan-life snowflakes and baubles.
As well as illuminations, the landscape will be filled with seasonal sounds including ‘Singing Trees’ and festive performances making the experience totally immersive.
A festive finale will see brightly coloured water jets dance in time to much-loved Christmas classics.
There’ll be festive refreshments on offer too - in the form of spiced cider, mulled wine and hot chocolate - and you’ll be able to toast your own marshmallows at one of the fire pits.
Advance tickets cost £16 for adults, £10 for children aged five to 16 and £48 for a family. On the day prices are £18, £12 and £56 respectively.
Visit christmasatdunhammassey. seetickets.com/tour/christmas-atdunham-massey to book.
Christmas the Georgian way at Quarry Bank
VISITORS to Quarry Bank are being promised a taste for Christmas past this festive season.
Currant loaf will be served in the Apprentice House, one of few festive treats enjoyed by the children who used to work in the mill.
Until January 7 the Apprentice House will be offering a ‘taste of Georgian life’ and giving people the chance to help make a ‘stir up pudding.’
There will be festive stories in the houseplace and the chance to make natural decorations and masks to take home. Inside the home there will be Christmas riddles, festive games and historic brainteasers to solve before discovering more about the impressive Christmas feast in the dining room. Elsewhere, Father Christmas will also need help trying to find his lost jingle bells, which fell off his sleigh as he flew over Quarry Bank’s gardens.
This event is free, but normal admission charges apply - children £5.85, adults £13, family £32.50.
For more details go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank.
Quarry Bank, Styal, Wilmslow, SK9 4LA. Winter Snow Garden at Merseyway
Winter Snow Garden
CHILDREN can dress up a pair of frosty snowmen, throw soft playable snowballs and write a letter to Santa, all for free, as the Winter Snow Garden returns to Stockport this Christmas.
Aimed at children nine and under, the attraction at Merseyway Shopping Centre will remain outside Specsavers until Saturday, December 23.
Little ones can also make ‘Santa Stop Here’ signs every Thursday in free craft workshops and new to the centre this year are Merseyway’s Festive Huts located around the centre selling all kinds of festive treats including artisan cheeses, novelty Christmas hats and stockings, personalised Christmas decorations, sweet treats, as well as waffles, mulled wine, Christmas wreaths and winter food.
The snow garden is open 11am to 4pm from Monday to Saturday and until 3pm on Sundays.
Follow @merseyway or visit www. merseyway.com for more information.
Merseyway, SK1 1NE for the Great Underbank, multi-storey car park, and SK1 1HG for the St Petersgate/High Bank entrance to the top-level car park.
The Lanterns at Chester Zoo
LIFE-SIZED illuminated animals are once again making Chester Zoo shine bright in a magical event this festive season.
Children can get up close to the ‘animals’ at The Lanterns spectacular, which promises to be its ‘biggest and best’ ever winter celebration.
The Lanterns at Chester Zoo has become a much-loved occasion on the festive calendar and is now in its sixth year.
For the first time, this year’s event has been lovingly created by the zoo in partnership with multi award-winning outdoor arts producers Wild Rumpus, the talented team behind the Just So Festival .
This year there are more live performance characters promising a new, more enthralling experience for visitors of all ages.
The event sees Chester Zoo transformed into an enchanting world full of illumination and spellbinding theatrical adventure.
As twilight falls, a magical Christmas postal depot will come to life. Visitors will imagine what the animals are asking Father Christmas for this year and post their own letters, sharing their dreams and wishes.
The Lanterns will run on selected nights from now until Saturday, December 30.
Tickets range from £12 to 17.50 for adults and £5 to £15 for children. Under twos go free.
Tickets can be purchased at www. chesterzoo.org .
The Elf Adventure at The Ice Cream Farm, Chester
THE Elf Adventure Challenge is back at The Ice Cream Farm this year, ‘bigger and better’ than before.
Santa’s Elves are on hand to share the secrets of Lapland and take children and their families on a journey to become honorary elves.
The challenge is running on 14 dates and features performers, games, challenges and creativity to deliver what promises to be ‘the ultimate interactive Christmas experience.’
New to this year, all children will receive an illustrated storybook about SproutElf, who learnt the important messages about the spirit of Christmas during her own Elf Adventure Challenge.
The event kicked off on the last weekend in November and is running on December 2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24.
Single tickets are £12 per person and family tickets £44. For more details and to book tickets, visit the website here.
The Ice Cream Farm, Drumlan Hall Farm, Newton Lane, Tattenhall, Chester, CH3 9NE.