If Manchester wasn’t going to be oozing enough Yuletide vibes with the return of the Christmas markets and the lights illuminating the streets, a series of Festive Sundays are coming to the city. Over six consecutive Sundays, sparkling street performances will be taking over Manchester city centre to delight and surprise families in the run up to Christmas.
Commissioned and produced by Manchester Business Improvement District (BID), Festive Sundays will see roaming puppets, supersized penguins and illuminated bands take to the city’s main shopping streets, every Sunday from November 13 – December 18. The events will create a fun and festive atmosphere for those doing Christmas shopping and enjoying Manchester’s bars and restaurants or visiting the city’s famous Christmas Markets.
On the first two Sundays, will see an array of themed roaming performances around the central retail district, including a roaming Snow Globe, Living Lampposts, Mirror Men, Snow Fox Stilt Walkers, Penguins, Crumpet the Elf, Fat Cat Brass Band – and Spark! light-up band, combining LED lighting with beautiful costumes, choreography, and high impact drumming. The events will run on Sunday 13th November, 1pm – 7pm and Sunday 20th November, 12pm – 7pm at Manchester Arndale, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Street, St Ann’s Square, King Street and Deansgate.
On the following Sundays, families can enjoy an illuminating early evening with enchanting Ghost Caribou – a night-time street act with giant creatures, part caribou, part human who tell their story through music, song, and shadow – and the Spark! light-up band will be back. These events will take place on Sunday 27th November and Sunday 4th, December, both from 4-7pm, and located at St Ann’s Square and Deansgate.
On the final two Sundays, Mancs will see Christmas Crackers, Sugar Plum Fairies, Toy Soldiers and a Fairy Mouse taking to the city’s streets, with Sunday 11th December also including an extra special festive first for Manchester. Find the Festive Sundays events at Manchester Arndale, Market Street, St Mary’s Gate, Deansgate, St Ann’s Square and Cross Street on Sunday 11th December at 1pm, 3pm and 4pm, then Manchester Arndale and Market Street on Sunday 18th December at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.
Jane Sharrocks, Manchester BID Chair and General Manager of Selfridges Exchange Square, said: “Our festive roaming performers were a such huge hit with visitors last year, that we’re delighted to be able to build on this for 2022, with six consecutive Sundays of enchanting events.”
Find out more about Festive Sundays in Manchester here.