The highly-anticipated Manchester Christmas Markets have returned for 2022 with hundreds of stalls across the city. But as the town hall continues to undergo renovations, the market has needed to seek a new home once again and therefore take place at a number of Manchester city centre locations.
Open at multiple locations across Manchester, Mancs and visitors can enjoy the event at full scale, with tons of food traders, gift stalls and pop-up bars back for the occasion – which is open between November 10th and December 22nd.
In addition to the usual festivities, Mancs will also be able to enjoy Piccadilly Gardens’ ‘Winter Garden’ once again, with a live music stage featuring DJs and bands, alongside yuletide bars and the usual foodie traders. The new Piccadilly Gardens hub will also boast plenty of marquee-covered seating, with tons of festive decoration surrounding.
The beloved market was cancelled in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, with the council hosting a small event for locals to enjoy as an alternative. The annual event attracts thousands every single year, marking the main event in the city’s annual calendar.
So popular this year, the specially produced Manchester Christmas Market mugs for 2022, which the markets’ traditional offering been of Gluhwein and mugs of hot chocolate laden with marshmallows and all the trimmings are served in, were a complete sell-out, breaking all previous records.
Manchester Christmas Markets come to a close on December 22 as the city celebrates a bumper year of festive trading with crowds back up to pre-Covid levels. According to Manchester City Council, visitor numbers to the Christmas Markets were further boosted by the very first-ever Manchester Christmas Parade – a magical and unforgettable festive-first for the city, held on December 11.
When’s it on?
Manchester Christmas Markets 2022 will take place between November 10th and December 22nd. However, the market stalls at Cathedral Gardens alongside the ice rink will however remain open in the run-up to Christmas and again after Christmas until New Year’s Eve.
The opening times for stalls at Cathedral Gardens from December 22 are as follows:
December 22 – open 11am, close at 9pm
December 23 – open 11am, close at 9pm
December 24 – open 10am, close at 5pm
December 25 – closed for Christmas Day
December 26- 31 – open 10am, close at 6pm
Where will it take place?
The main hub will be at Piccadilly Gardens this year, however, you’ll find stalls across the city at locations such as:
- Piccadilly Gardens
- St Ann’s Square
- Exchange Square
- New Cathedral Street
- King Street
- Exchange Street
- Market Street
- The Corn Exchange
- Cathedral Gardens
What are the Winter Gardens?
Bigger and better than ever this year, Piccadilly Gardens will once again be transformed into Winter Gardens for the festive season. Serving up pancakes, churros, and an array of winter tipples it will be at the heart of Manchester’s festive action.
Newcomers Parmageddon will join a mouth-watering line-up of food and drink that also includes vegan bratwursts, cookie dough, Amsterdam Frites, and two bars serving continental and foreign ales. There will also be dedicated weekly trial spots for new local traders as they step into winter trading and try out their wares on the Christmas market crowds.
Brand new for this year in Winter Gardens will be a giant Nordic-themed double tipi bar for over 18s. Fully heated, and festooned with ambient lighting, wooden benches, fake furs, and a fire pit, the new tipi promises to be a perfect meeting place for those seeking a cosy Christmas atmosphere full of festive cheer.
With entertainment throughout the week including live music and DJs, some amazing food vendors will make their temporary Christmas home next to the tipi including vegan foodies Panc, and last year’s smash hit, Korean hotdogs.
Old favourites the Pig and Barrel will be making a welcome return to the Winter Gardens offering up their delicious pork barms and cosy seating area with entertainment on most nights. Winter Gardens will also be home this year to the iconic Manchester Windmill which comes in a whopping 4metres high!
Which traders will be at Manchester Christmas Markets 2022?
Manchester City Council announced a long list of traders, all of will be dotted across the Christmas Markets locations including well known names in Manchester like Yard & Coop, Porky Pig, The Great North Pie Company, The Salford Rum Company, Triple B Bagels, Oi Dumplings and Parmageddon.
Also published on Medium.