"No suitable location" - Manchester Christmas lights switch-on won't go ahead
It comes just days after it was announced there'll be no council-run bonfire events
Last updated 17th Oct 2022
Manchester City Council has confirmed there will be no Christmas lights switch-on in the city this year, citing a lack of a suitable and safe location to stage the event.
Officials at the local authority say they've spent the last few weeks looking for a location that would be both big enough and also safe enough to host the annual event that usually attracts thousands of people into the city centre to kickstart the festive season.
On Monday 17 October, it was announced that due to the amount of construction work currently taking place in prime locations in the city centre, the prospect of holding a 'big switch-on event' has been scrapped.
But we are being reassured by the council that the event will return to the city centre again in 2023, the year before what's expected to be the 'biggest and best-ever switch-on event in Manchester's history' when the event returns to Albert Square, which can't stage the festivities this year due to ongoing renovation work on the Town Hall.
Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said: "We've tried really hard to make a big Christmas lights switch-on event happen again this year after not being able to have one for the last couple of years, but despite our very best efforts this just isn't going to be possible.
"Anyone who has been in the city centre recently can't fail to have noticed all the development work going on to make Manchester even better than it already is, and as great as this is it does mean we've not got the space needed to safely manage a big switch-on event this year.
"The ongoing work to renovate the Town Hall rules out Albert Square, as does ongoing demolition and construction work at the end of Deansgate. Piccadilly Gardens unfortunately isn't suitable in its current formation for a switch-on event, and after having a good look at safety and sightline issues we've also had to rule out St Peter's Square as a site that is just too complex to manage to ensure a successful event that could be enjoyed by the thousands of people, including young children, who usually attend.
"We're very well aware how much families enjoy the switch-on and what it means to them and are gutted that we can't deliver an event this year for them.
"We will however definitely be back with a big switch-on event next year for them, followed by Manchester's best ever Christmas switch-on event the year after that in 2024 when our wonderful Town Hall and Albert Square will be back in use again.
"In the meantime we've pulled out all the stops and have got some extra special Manchester Christmas magic in store this year to bring a sparkle to the city's streets and put a smile on everyone's faces.
"Watch this space for more announcements very soon on some absolutely not-to-be-missed free festive treats coming to Manchester this Christmas."
Despite there not being an official switch-on event in the city this winter, Manchester City Council is promising to still dress the city with streetlights, lights in trees, and light installations from Thursday 10 November when the Christmas Markets open.
The exception to this is St Peter's Square, which will host Remembrance Sunday events on Sunday 14 November, and will therefore not be lit for Christmas until the week beginning Monday 15 November to coincide with the return of Father Christmas who will once again be taking up residence in front of Central Library for the duration of the festive season.