Sure, the famous Manchester Christmas Markets are the flagship of the festive season here in the city. But if you’re tired of the same old sights after visiting season after season, there’s plenty more to see and do outside of those lined-up timber chalets. From quaint and Christmassy food markets to perfect independent gift stalls, here’s our guide to the best alternative Christmas markets taking place in Manchester this year.
1. Winter Island at Freight Island
Freight Island‘s ‘Winter Island‘ has proven to be a massive hit in previous years, and luckily for us Mancs, it has returned for the festive season. Running until Christmas Eve (December 24) the local favourite Depot Mayfield food hall is one of the city’s biggest winter wonderlands, with a host of festive traders popping up.
Freight Island’s Plant Room will be transformed into a captivating Grotto, where it will host a special Visit Santa Experience – an interactive journey for children to visit Father Christmas and his Elves. New for this year is a Northern Lights Lounge installation in collaboration with WeRoad, situated on the mezzanine inside Freight Island, bringing an extra touch of magic to this alternative Christmas Market in Manchester. Of course, there will also be the classic street food on offer, everything we know and love from Freight Island, with a warming festive twist. This magical alternative to the usual Christmas markets offers one of the most central options in Manchester.
📆 November 14 − Christmas Eve (December 24).
📍 Freight Island, 11 Baring St, M1 2PZ.
2. Makers Market (various locations)
Offering an alternative from the usual festive huts of the city centre, the Makers Markets in Manchester and Salford continue throughout the festive season, with wonderful markets popping up in MediaCity, Ancoats, Stockport, the Northern Quarter, Chorlton, Sale, West Didsbury and Prestwich between 1st−22nd December. Get your gift-buying on whether it’s jewellery, art, food, clothing or anything you might stumble across at these artisan markets, and perhaps get something for yourself too. You can find a full line up of locations and dates on the Makers Market website.
📆 December 1 − 22.
📍 Various locations.
3. Festive Winter Fair at Victoria Baths
The Festive Winter Fair is back! From 11am – 4pm on Sunday 1st December, explore Victoria Baths and browse 50 specially-selected stalls, selling a fantastic variety of unique and handmade artwork, jewellery, ceramics and food. Tea Room volunteers will be serving sandwiches, cakes and hot and cold drinks – not to mention mulled wine and mince pies, and the Gift Shop will also be open, selling a great variety of items including tea towels, mugs and handmade items to support the work of Victoria Baths Trust.
Get the festive feeling with performances from local choirs, and whilst you’re at it, you might fancy a tour of this fascinating building. There will only be one tour on the day, which lasts one hour, and can be included with your entry ticket for £10. Find ticket options here.
📆 December 1.
📍 Victoria Baths, Hathersage Rd, Manchester M13 0FE.
4. GRUB Indie Christmas Market
GRUB has rounded up an array of Manchester makers and creatives and putting together a gorgeous festive market for Sunday 1st December. This market will have a strong focus on sustainability, supporting local and small independent businesses. As part of the day you can expect over 20 stalls from local small businesses selling a variety of sustainable gifts including art, jewellery, homewares, skincare, food, vintage, alongside hot drinks, mulled wine, boozy winter warmers and more. Why not visit this independent Manchester staple is you fancy and alternative to the usual Christmas markets this festive season?
📆 December 1.
📍 GRUB, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4HF.
5. The Night Market Christmas Special at Fairfield Social Club
Get set to stuff your Christmas stockings Manchester! The Night Market UK are returning to Fairfield Social Club on Saturday 7th December for a fantastic festive evening event. To help you prepare for a Christmas to remember, FSC has some treats in store to turn shopping chores to shopping cheers. The entire venue will be filled with over 50 local makers, bakers and shakers ready to tempt you with locally created treats and gifts for all your nearest and dearest.
As it is a Saturday event, the doors will be opening a little earlier than usual (4pm-11pm) to allow for even more shopping, socialising and street food sampling. Why not treat yourself to something tasty from Killa Carbs or Isit Kitchen? Christmas shopping is hungry work! Meanwhile, the live DJ will be spinning their Christmas magic to keep you moving and grooving. You can grab hourly timeslot tickets here.
📆 December 7.
📍 Fairfield Social Club, Irk Street, M4 4JT.
6. Diecast WINTERHOOD
Just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly station, WINTERHOOD takes over Diecast for the holiday season, kicking off just in time for the dark nights with lowlights. Step into Christmas, indulge in festive eats, slurp on marshmallow topped hot chocolate, and £6 Daiquiri cocktail specials. Sing and get merry in the Winter Beer Hall, party all night in the Berlin-esque, Club Leno Ex Machina, or embrace holiday cheer in the new outdoor Tinsel Town Trailer Park.
Indulge in the likes of ‘Nduja G-Balls, Porchetta or Squash & Gorgonzola Pizza, andCinnamon Dough Balls, alongside sausages, steins, and bagels and the Rum Punch Cabin and Christmas House of Daiquiri. The new addition of the Tinsel Town Trailer Park is Diecast’s cosy winter escape, complete with firepits, Smokehouse Saturdays from 2pm, mulled drinks, and twinkling lights. Grab a Cookie Crumble Hot Choco or a Mulled Negroni and browse the Christmas Night Market. Book ahead of time here.
📆 November 13 − December 31.
📍 Diecast, 51 Ducie St, Manchester M1 2JQ.
7. Stockport Victorian Christmas Market
Get down to Stockport Market for the annual Victorian Market event where you’ll get so much more than the usual delights. This includes: fairground rides, meet & greet with Santa for FREE with a gift, choir band performance, DJ Rachel, 12 Christmas loyalty voucher launching and more, with special festive purchases available from many of the regular traders to ease your gift buying dilemmas on the run up to Christmas!
📆 December 6 & 7.
📍 Stockport Market, 21 Market Place, Stockport SK1 1EU.
8. Stockport does Gothmas
If you’re around Stockport and the Victorian Market doesn’t float your boat, how about this? Gothmas celebrates all things alternative and is a family friendly Christmas shopping event that combines the spirit of the festive season with lots of gothic charm, stalls, a bar, food and a spooky grotto. You’ll find curious art, jewellery, clothing, trinkets, antiques and much more, and with free entry, you can bring the whole family along to enjoy the festivities. You can reserve a free spot during ‘quiet hour’ here.
📆 December 15.
📍 Stockport Masonic Guildhall, 169-171 Wellington Road South, Stockport SK1 3UA.
9. Melanin Markets Winter Wonders at The Royal Exchange
Melanin Markets are ready to make this year even more special by bringing their festive edition back to the historical Royal Exchange. Expect a vibrant atmosphere packed with live music, mouth-watering food, and unforgettable experiences. Whether you’re a long-time supporter or discovering Melanin Markets for the first time, this is the perfect way to kick off your holiday season, whether you’re coming solo, with friends, or bringing the whole family.
This year’s Winter Wonders offers something for everyone. Featuring both new and returning Black-owned businesses, the market will host traders from across the UK—London, Leeds, Liverpool, and of course, Manchester—bringing the very best of Black entrepreneurship to this festive marketplace.
📆 December 8.
📍 The Royal Exchange, St Ann’s Square, Manchester M2 7DH.