Manchester Christmas Markets: All you need to know
The stalls open next Friday (8th)
With just over a week to go until Manchester's Christmas markets open and the countdown to Christmas officially begins, the city is pulling out all the stops to make this year's festive season in Manchester the very best yet.
There'll be 240 stalls across nine different locations in the city centre, selling all kinds of seasonal specials and gift items, as well as food and drink selections.
The hub of this year's Christmas Markets is once again the Winter Gardens at Piccadilly, with the picture perfect iconic wooden chalets also to be found at Market Street, Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, St Ann's Square, Exchange Square, The Corn Exchange and King Street - transforming the city centre into a twinkling winter wonderland.
Seasonal snappers might also want to look out for the new-for-this year festive photo booths located in the Winter Gardens at Piccadilly, St Ann's Square, and Cathedral Gardens.
This year also sees the return of the magical Manchester Christmas Parade on Sunday 8 December. Bigger and better than ever for 2024 with over 400 participants taking part - think Mistletoe dancing mice, segway skiers, and a spectacular Elf Express - a feel-good festive treat for all the family that's sure to melt even the most ice-cold of hearts.
Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester City Council's Christmas spokesperson, said: "Nowhere does Christmas quite like Manchester and with more than a quarter of a century of our world-famous legendary Christmas markets under our belts, we reckon we've got everyone's Christmas wrapped.
"The number of people who've visited our markets over the years must be well over the fifty million mark by now and twenty-six years on from our first-ever Christmas Market in 1998 we regularly attract visitors from around the globe.
"We can't wait to welcome everyone back again to Santa's favourite city to enjoy the markets and share in all the festive fun. Grab some tinsel, find a friend or round up the family, and come and join us!"
Manchester's Christmas markets open on Friday 8 November and close on Sunday 22 December.
They are open daily at the following times:
All craft stalls 10 am - 8 pm
All bars and food stalls 11 am - 9 pm
Father Christmas will take up residence in St Peter's Square after Remembrance Sunday.
The Ice Rink in Cathedral Gardens also opens on Friday 8 November and will close on 1 January. The food and drink stalls in Catheral Gardens alongside the skate rink will remain open until 31 December.