Festive fun with the kids - here’s what’s on offer
CHRISTMAS time is family time and there’s no shortage of events to take the kids to in and around Manchester.
Whether you’re looking to pay a visit to Manchester’s Ice Village , or you want more of a sedate affair with an illuminated walk through the forest, there is something for everyone.
WALKING WITH THE SNOWMAN, MEDIACITY
The trail is open until January 6. A free event, it has been planned to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Raymond Briggs’ heart-warming picture book The Snowman and features 12 giant Snowman sculptures themed around the song The Twelve Days of Christmas.
The trail runs from now until January 6, while smaller one-metre Little Snowmen sculptures, decorated by pupils from local schools, will be displayed inside the Lowry Outlet, The Lowry and MediaCity’s Open Centre from December 8 until January 13 slightly later than the main trail. The Open Centre is playing host to craft sessions to coincide with the trail, where children can make either a Snowman Snowglobe, Snowdog Lantern, or paint a Christmas tree bauble.
THE ICE VILLAGE, CATHEDRAL GARDENS
Manchester’s Ice Village, the first of its kind in Britain, is in Cathedral Gardens and features an Ice Cavern displaying hundreds of intricate ice sculptures, from animals and elves to a giant steam train.
In fact 250 tonnes of ice have been used to create everything from a yeti and a polar bear, to Christmas toys and, of course, Santa and Rudolph.
The Ice Village itself is free to enter and there are some free activities, but tickets are needed for the Ice Cavern, grotto and ice rink and there are some paid for games too, like hook-an-iceberg - a bespoke Ice Village interpretation of hook-aduck.
CHRISTMAS AT DUNHAM MASSEY
Dunham Massey is being transformed into a magical winter wonderland this Christmas.
The illuminated experience arrived at the park for the first time last year, delighting families and visitors of all ages.
With a sparkling trail filled with singing trees, twinkling tunnels, a scented fire garden and a canopy of more than 100k lights, the magical, after-dark experience is running from November 30 to December 30.
Tickets cost £16.50 for adults, £10 for children, aged five to 16, and £50 for a family of two adults, two children. Under fives go free.
THE LANTERNS AT CHESTER ZOO
There are more lights to enjoy at Chester Zoo - but this time it’s glowing animals.
The Lanterns are returning on selected nights up to December 23 and tickets are already selling fast.
A festive family event, it features animal-inspired illuminations, magical lanterns, twinkly costumed characters and Father Christmas himself - who along with his posse of elves, will this year be interacting with young visitors.
Families arriving at the winter spectacular will be welcomed by nine specially created ‘worlds’, including the Garden of Delight, Moonlit Meadow, Cloud Cuckoo Land and a snow-filled Enchanted Woodland.
Tickets, ranging from £10 to £17.50 for adults and £5 to £15 for children, are on sale now.
Infants two and under go free.
SANTA’S CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE, COCKFIELDS FARM, ASHTON
The Christmas Experience at Cockfields Farm is always a popular event with families. Before your visit you can even arrange for a personalised letter to come to your little one in the post, inviting them along to the ‘North Pole’ to see Santa. Arrive at the North Pole, check in to be greeted by one of Santa’s Elves who will provide you with your passport and tokens for your ‘magical journey’.
At your allocated time you’ll be collected by your Guide Elves and taken straight to the Elves Workshop where you will join in an Elf School and build your own teddy bear to take home. Little ones will write and post that all important letter to Santa, visit the Elves Sweet Shop and choose a bag of sweets before heading to Mrs Claus’ Kitchen to listen to a traditional Christmas story.
They’ll also decorate a gingerbread man while mums and dads enjoy some hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies.
Tickets cost from £14.95 for adults and £29.95 for children and can be booked online .
Under ones from £5.95.
WINTER FUNLAND, EVENTCITY, TRAFFORD
Winter Funland is coming to EventCity near the Trafford Centre this Christmas.
The similar sounding Winter Wonderland has been at the venue for the last five years, but this year it’s a new event from the team behind the Geronimo family festival at Arley Hall.
With rides, entertainment, an ice rink and a new 1,000-seater auditorium, there’ll be live shows from a line-up including CBBC star Andy Day with his Odd Socks band, performances from ‘Frozen’, and a festival circus.
Tickets cost £22.50 each, plus booking fee and can be booked online.
Under threes go free.
SAIL WITH SANTA, PORTLAND BASIN, ASHTON
Your little ones have the chance to join Santa aboard the Community Spirit canal boat for a festive 35-minute round trip along the canals of Tameside with songs, stories, and presents with Santa.
The event, organised by 2 Boards and A Passion Theatre Company, is aimed at children of all ages and their families.
Spaces are limited to 10 people per trip and all tickets cost £8.50.
Trips are taking place tomorrow, December 8-10; December 12, December 17 and December 19 -sailing at 10am, 10.50am, 11.40am, 12.30pm, 1.50pm and 2.40pm.
Each ticket includes a gift, snack and drink for the children and a mince pie or cake and drink for the grown ups.
CITY AIRPORT BARTON
Children can watch Santa arrive by helicopter at Christmas parties at City Airport Barton.
The events are taking place tomorrow, December 8 and December 15.
Tickets cost £13.50 for children, with one adult included. Additional tickets £6. Book online.
CHRISTMAS DRIVE-IN, A J BELL STADIUM,SALFORD
Home Alone, Elf and The Greatest Showman are among the films coming to a giant drive-in cinema this Christmas.
It’s taking place at Salford Reds’ home ground where elves will be serving up festive cocktails and drinks at Santa’s North Pole Bar.
Claiming to be Europe’s biggest Christmas drive-in, the four-day event will run from December 20 to 23, showing some of the most popular festive films.
WINTER WONDERLAND, STOCKPORT
Stockport is getting an ice sculpture trail of its own this Christmas.
The free trail is coming to the town centre and will feature characters including The Grinch, Olaf the snowman from the hit film Frozen, Tinkerbell and more.
On December 15, there’ll be a live carving of an angel, while on December 22, visitors will be able to watch as a unicorn is created.
The sculptures will form an Ice Trail around the town centre at St Peter’s Square, Mersey Square, Merseyway, Suffragette Square at Redrock, Peel Centre, Market Place, Stockport Exchange, Great Underbank and at Warren Street.
ENCHANTED, KNOWSLEY SAFARI
There are more glowing a animals to be found at Knowsley Safari, which is hosting an Enchanted event this Christmas.
The attraction’s foot safari is being given a touch of magic with an illuminated trail.
BIG SCREEN EVENTS, VUE CINEMA, PRINTWORKS
A variety of live theatre, classic films and family Christmas events are coming to Vue Manchester Printworks as part of its Big Screen Events calendar. Live ballet is first, on Monday in the form of one of the Royal Ballet’s most popular productions, The Nutcracker perfect for the festive season.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the classic Raymond Briggs’ picture book,
The Snowman, the Oscarnominated animation will be brought to the big screen.
In a special double-bill screening, the short film will be shown back-toback with its 2012 sequel, The Snowman and the Snowdog, on Saturday, December 8-9.
THE ELF ADVENTURE AT THE ICE CREAM FARM, CHESTER
Further afield, 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.