Top 10 Christmas activities in Manchester

Manchester goes all-in at Christmas – although that can be true any time of year. With glowing light trails to epic ice shows and festive food villages, last-minute gifts, sipping something warm while your ears defrost, and even ice skating, Manchester Christmas has never been this good. We’ve pulled together ten of the very best things to do this year – so read on to learn more…

1. Get locked up at Alcotraz

Skip the standard bar crawl. Alcotraz Manchester is part cocktail bar, part prison break, and the ultimate Christmas twist on your usual night out (or an amazing Manchester Christmas do). Smuggle your own liquor inside, dodge the watchful Warden, and let our inmate bartenders mix you up something strong. There’s no menu and no rules, so you can have whatever you like, including non-alcoholic if that’s your preference. It’s also fully immersive – the guards, the inmates and the Warden are always in character, and you can be too. It’s like absolutely nothing else.

2. Feast on the chaos of the Manchester Christmas Markets

It’s a classic for a reason. Wooden chalets, glowing lights, bratwurst, glühwein, and more festive snacks than you can reasonably eat in one evening (but with enough time to try). The Manchester Christmas Markets spread across the city, so you can stroll between St. Ann’s Square, Piccadilly, and Albert Square, sipping, shopping, and soaking up the smell of cinnamon and sausages. Go early if you want elbow room. Go late if you want to complain about the crowd! It’s what everyone else does!

3. See why Freight Island rebrands to Winter Island at Christmas

When the temperature plummets and snow starts to fall, regular-old Freight Island transforms with the season into Winter Island, with alpine décor, DJs, firepits, food halls and festive drinks flowing all December long. You’ll find Christmas cocktails, live entertainment, and seasonal street food; it’s all under cover, so it doesn’t matter what the weather’s doing, unlike the Christmas Market. There’s a full schedule of events if you want to plan ahead, or you can just turn up, grab a table, and see where the night takes you.

4. Listen to your favourites at Candlelight Concert

There’s nothing else like it. Candlelight Concerts take place in iconic venues like Manchester Cathedral or Halle St. Peter’s, with live musicians performing everything from Hans Zimmer scores to Coldplay, Queen, and Ed Sheeran. It’s moody, moving and Christmassy, especially when you’re hearing those familiar songs surrounded by hundreds of flickering candles. For a low-effort, high-impact date night or something different with friends, it’s hard to beat.

5. Snuggle up at The Oast House

The Oast House does Christmas properly. You’ll find fire pits, fairy lights, live music and seasonal drinks tucked away in its wooden courtyard. It’s cosy without trying too hard, and festive in all the right ways. Grab some mulled wine, pull on your thickest jumper, and claim a spot by the fire. Ideal for winding down after work or as a warm-up before heading deeper into the city. Just don’t expect to leave quickly.

6. Brave Market Street at the busiest time of year

You know what this is. It’s panic. It’s packed. It’s Christmas shopping on hard mode – or whatever’s beyond hard mode. But there’s something about Market Street in December; the noise, the lights, the frantic last-minute grab for stocking fillers and novelty socks… it can be fun, in its own way. You’ll definitely overheat, and you’ll definitely lose someone in the crowd if you’re there with a group, but it’s all part of the charm.

7. Follow the Manchester Christmas light trail at Twilight Trail, Mayfield Park

Come Christmas, Mayfield Park transforms after dark for the Twilight Trail, a massive light and sound experience curated by La Discothèque. You can expect to enjoy more than 50,000 lights, interactive zones, DJs, food vendors and a bar to keep things moving. It’s festive but not traditional – maybe a new kind of tradition – perfect for couples, mates, or the family. Wrap up warm and make a night of it. 

8. Risk your ankles at Skate Manchester

You can’t beat ice skating in Manchester at Christmas, and Skate Manchester sets the scene with a full-size covered rink right in the Cathedral Gardens. Whether you’re Bambi on ice or secretly auditioning for Dancing on Ice, it’s old-fashioned festive fun, and with the rink covered there’s no need to worry about the weather ruining your moves. Pair it with mulled wine or hot chocolate from the nearby stalls and you’ve nailed a classic.

9. See the incredible at Snow Storm Firebird, back for 2025

Back for 2025, Snow Storm Firebird is an international ice show featuring sixteen world-class skaters and a rotating cast of circus stars. Think backflips, feathers, and festive drama on ice. If you’re looking for something big, loud, and completely different, this one’s hard to beat. Performances are packed with colour and energy, and it’s ideal if your group wants to do something a bit more “wow” than another pub night.

10. Light up your night at Northern Lights Manchester

Heaton Park goes full Christmas spectacular for Northern Lights, coming back to Manchester from the 20th of November to the 31st of December. It’s a mile-long trail through over a dozen illuminated areas, each with its own theme and soundscape, and packed with stops for festive drinks and local food. You can go for the Insta moments, the music, the atmosphere,  or just to burn off some anxious energy from the Christmas markets. There’s even a Christmas village at the end if you’re not ready to call it a night.

Why have your Christmas party at Alcotraz?

Because nobody remembers the Christmas party where they just sat around and drank wine under strip lighting! Alcotraz is made for end-of-year blowouts. It’s different, it’s immersive, and it’s actually fun, especially for groups who want something they’ll still be laughing about in January. Give it a go. You won’t be disappointed!