2 weeks Ago
Manchester's Christmas Markets are set to open in less than three weeks. The annual event will take over the city centre for six weeks from Friday, November 8 to Sunday, December 22. This year, the markets will include seven weekends of festive fun for visitors and Christmas shoppers instead of the usual six, due to the way dates fall.
The 2024 markets will see 240 wooden ski chalet market stalls across nine different locations throughout the city centre. This year, Winter Gardens at Piccadilly has been expanded (Image: Darren Robinson) New for this year is an expanded Winter Gardens at Piccadilly, with more space and stalls to enjoy along with two marquees fit for the festive season, each decorated with fairy lights, to provide more under-cover space for Christmas shoppers to get cosy if the weather turns cold. Also new this year at the Winter Gardens is an expanded seasonal offer from next-door neighbours Piccadilly Street Food Market, with stalls there also staying open until 9pm each night, serving up flavours from around the world.
With the Winter Gardens at Piccadilly at the heart of this year's Christmas Markets, the markets will also see the transformation of Market Street, Cathedral Gardens, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, St Ann's Square, Exchange Square, The Corn Exchange, and King Street into Manchester's very own Christmas wonderland. Food and drink stalls will be open from 11am to 9pm each day (Image: Supplied) Craft stalls and stalls selling seasonal goods will be open each day from 10am to 8pm, whilst food and drink stalls will be open from 11am to 9pm each day. The markets wrap for Christmas at 6pm on Sunday, December 22, except for the food and drink stalls at Cathedral Gardens which will stay open until December 31 alongside the ice rink.
The markets close for Christmas at 6pm on Sunday 22 December (Image: Supplied) Cllr Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said: "Less than three weeks to go now until the opening of our world-famous Christmas Markets and it's suddenly beginning to feel a lot like my absolute favourite tinsel-y time of year. "The markets sound incredible - we've got stalls selling everything from hand-made wrist watches, leather goods and jewellery, to fine art prints, designer hats, cheeses and chutneys, Christmas tree decorations and chocolate kisses - as well as mouth-watering treats and hot drinks at every turn. "They're going to be amazing, and we're all set for Manchester's best Christmas ever.
" A map of the markets will be available to download to help visitors find their way around the markets and point them in the right direction for food and drink, live entertainment , and toilet stops..
