As winter sets in, the temptation to stay in all December-long and bask in the glow of scented candles is real. Particularly with all this chilly weather. Need a push in making the most of the last month of 2025? Check out these wonderful activities and events (both Christmas-related and not) taking place across Manchester this December and finish the year with a bang.
1. Visit this trail of spectacular light art installations
Staged around outdoor locations across MediaCity and Salford Quays, Lightwaves Festival returns this winter and invites visitors to explore a trail of dramatic light art installations that animate and transform the urban waterside area. Now in its eleventh year, the free event will take place from Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th December, lighting up different locations around Salford Quays and MediaCity. From 4pm to 10pm each evening, visitors can enjoy illuminated works from leading artists, both local and national, bringing a variety of different pieces; thought-provoking, surprising and playful.
2. Travel back in time to ancient Machu Picchu with this new immersive VR experience
Tick Machu Picchu off your seven-wonders list with the most ground-breaking 45-minute adventure – Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City. This wonderful event in Manchester takes you on the world’s first large-scale free-roam VR expedition, where you can travel 450 years back to the ancient Inca Empire, offering an extraordinary VR journey for the whole family. The VR experience is guided by top 3D specialists and historians, ensuring both stunning visuals and historical accuracy.
3. Hit up Manchester’s famous Christmas markets
It’s not a December well spent without a trip to the Manchester Christmas Markets. Attracting thousands annually, the huge market spans the entire city centre, with plenty of quirky gift stalls, food stalls and bars to enjoy. Taking the form of a traditional Bavarian market, guests can expect classic grub such as Bratwurst, Dutch pancakes and more, alongside plenty of desserts, cheese and even Italian food.
4. Browse the brand new Anthropologie store in Manchester
Anthropologie, the global lifestyle brand known for its curated mix of apparel, accessories, homeware, and unique store experiences, has now officially opened its newest UK location at the Royal Exchange, Manchester – and we couldn’t be more excited. The store showcases home, accessories and clothing including Anthropologie’s own-label fashion collections, Maeve, Pilcro and Daily Practice, alongside a curated selection of popular womenswear brands.
5. Glide into December with a spot of ice skating in Manchester
Grab your skates, Mancs, you’ve pulled! (A date with the ice rink, that is). Popping up all over the city for the festive season, guests can glide their way towards December 25th to the tune of Wizzard’s I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday while enjoying a hot mug of mulled wine, with plenty of new and wintery scenes to skate around. Skate Manchester and Planet Ice are just some of the venues in and around Manchester that are great for ice skating.
6. Enjoy classic Christmas soundtracks at this stunning Candlelight concert
From ‘Rocking Around the Christmas Tree’ to ‘Jingle Bells’, fans of the classic Christmas songs are in for quite the treat this month. Taking place at the Concorde Conference Centre, the fantastic and very unique venue (think festiveness but under the wings of a plane) will be immersed in the sounds of well-known festive tunes – all brought to life by talented musicians. There’ll be plenty of festive favourites to enjoy, with candlelight bringing the festive ambience to the already stunning venue.
7. Hideaway from the bitter cold in a twinkling tipi
Need to hide from the chill? Escape to one of Manchester’s many cosy tipis or huts, each of which is decked out with the most festive of aesthetics. Kick back with a mulled wine, enjoy a festive meal, or just hang out with friends in these warm and toasty hideaways.
8. Browse independent stalls at this cosy waterfront Christmas market
GRUB, Manchester’s leading independent street food and events collective, has teamed up with MediaCity to bring a brand new festive food market and Christmas schedule to the waterfront this winter, called GRUB On The Docks: Christmas Takeover. During December, the site will come alive with a rotating street food line up and Christmas specials from the likes of CAFF, Above and Beyond, Baby Mayhem and Wholesome Junkies. Plus, a cosy festive market will be there between December 3 and 6, featuring artisan makers and producers from across the North West selling treats, gifts and stocking fillers.
9. Drink a whole lotta mulled wine
It’s time to get merry and by ‘get merry’, we mean tipsy on this season’s hottest drink: mulled wine. An absolute staple at Christmastime, the season isn’t done right without at least one taste of the warming brew, and luckily for us, there are plenty of places to get your hands on a mulled wine this winter in Manchester. And of course munch on a mince pie to make for the perfect festive match.
10. Witness sparkling performers pass through the city’s streets at the Manchester Christmas parade
Now in its fourth year, the annual Manchester Christmas Parade will once again delight children, families and anyone young at heart when it makes its way through the city’s streets. Taking place on Sunday 7th December, the parade sees roaming puppets and illuminated acts take to the city’s main shopping streets in the lead up to Christmas. The event will consist of a spectacular procession of Christmas-themed acts, including runaway Christmas presents, Jack Frost, Snow Queens – Santa himself, and lots more.
11. Visit The Curling Club as it slides into Manchester with plenty of après ski vibes
Manchester has welcomed The Curling Club, marking the city’s first dedicated curling venue. Located at New Jackson, it promises high-energy curling, festive vibes, and delicious food amidst the city’s iconic skyline. With state-of-the-art lanes and guidance from expert coaches, its perfect for group outings and Christmas celebrations. Olympic champion Eve Muirhead will also host special events, adding to the excitement. Get ready to slide into winter!
12. Watch this epic and baa-my Shaun the Sheep circus show
Get ready for tricks, flips and some baa-my behaviour as a circus show featuring the much-loved, animated character Shaun the Sheep is coming to Manchester. Performance company Circa Contemporary Circus and globally-renowned animation studio Aardman, known for animations Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Morph and Chicken Run, have collaborated for the UK premiere of Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show. Running at Aviva Studios from December 11, 2025 to January 4, 2026, the show will feature Aardman’s classic, slapstick, comedy character Shaun the Sheep combined with live circus performance, simultaneously blurring the lines between movement, dance, theatre and circus for a visual spectacle packed with wit.
13. Snuggle up watching a festive film at King Street Townhouse
In the cellar of the historic Grade II listed building is King Street Townhouse’s private screening room, where this December it’ll show Christmas family-favourites such as Elf, Home Alone, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, as well as something for adults with the likes of Love Actually and the ever-debated Die Hard. Tickets start at £16.54 per person for screening-only and can be upgraded to include sweet treats, popcorn and a drink for £30. And why not add to the Christmas magic with a festive afternoon tea, or even a luxurious stay or spa experience at the hotel?
14. Say goodbye to Ducie Street Warehouse at its free-to-attend, final night party
Manchester’s destination hub, Ducie Street Warehouse, will close its doors on Monday 15th December, as the ground floor space will be transformed into an all-new concept set to launch in 2026. Before the next chapter begins, Ducie Street Warehouse is inviting the city to come together one last time for a celebratory send-off. Free to attend, the ‘Last Night of Ducie Street’ party will take place on Friday 12th December, from 7.30pm until 11.30pm. Guests can expect an evening of music from some of Manchester’s finest DJs including Gareth James, Reisner, Nathan Burroughs b2b Emile, and Mix-Stress b2b Sharples. Plus, to mark the occasion, guests can enjoy exclusive drinks offers throughout the evening, including £5 pints, £4 wine by the glass, £6 cocktails, £15 bottle of wine, and more.
15. Jingle all the way at a Christmas Candlelight concert
The festive season is now coming into view, and that’s one pretty good reason to smile. Happily, we’ve found another one that’ll bring joy to even the Grinchiest of grumps. A number of Candlelight Christmas concerts will fill St Philip’s Church in Salford and Concorde Conference Centre with the sounds of music from some of the world’s favourite Christmas films, including Love Actually and Home Alone, as well as festive classics like Jingle Bells and O Holy Night. Listening to those beloved melodies is bound to get you in the festive mood and prove that “love is all around” this December.
16. Get an insight into the process of legendary artist David Hockney at this exhibition
The landmark immersive exhibition Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) is set to allow Manchester art-lovers to marvel at the iconic David Hockney and his back catalogue of incredible work once again, it will return for a limited run at Aviva Studios this month. From December 16, 2025 − January 11, 2026, David Hockney is using the extraordinary capabilities of the vast warehouse space of Aviva Studios, to take audiences on a personal journey through 60 years of his art. The artist’s process is revealed in a cycle of six themed chapters, featuring his most iconic images alongside lesser-seen pieces and newly-created work.
17. Tuck into Christmas lunch on ‘Britain’s most luxurious train’ leaving from Manchester
Why not travel in luxury this holiday season by boarding the Northern Belle alongside a Christmas lunch? Described as Britain’s most luxurious train, the Northern Belle will be departing from Manchester Victoria on December 20. Probably the poshest train journey you’ll likely ever experience, the round-trip will include a seven-course festive lunch, flowing Champagne, and the stunning sights of the English countryside.