Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets will soon return, celebrating 15 magical years with more attractions than ever before – promising the biggest and best markets to date.
To celebrate this record-breaking milestone, the Christmas Markets have minted thousands of special Christmas Market shillings, each with a value of two pounds that can be used as a fun currency at one of the 300 market stalls, or kept as a memento of the market’s extraordinary anniversary year.
Being named in the top ten Christmas markets in the world, the markets today regularly attract 1.5m visitors to the Albert Square site alone – with estimates up to and above 7m visitors across the city – generating tens of millions of pounds for the local economy.
This year’s Christmas market will be brought to you by Manchester City Council is now spread over nine sites – including a one-year-only market on Corporation Street, a much expanded site on Exchange Square and the return of the ever popular weekend markets on King Street, which offer an ever-changing selection of stalls.
Traders from across Europe, from Transylvania and Lapland to Spain and France (and of course Germany), along with many local north-west businesses, will fill more than 300 chalets for six weeks, all housed in beautifully crafted, traditional wooden chalets.
The French Market on King Street, which has proved popular in past years with the market’s nocturnal clientele, has been given a full make-over this year – complete with new chalets and a re-designed layout that will bring a traditional Gallic feel to the city centre street.
Exchange Square will return as another market hub after its success last year with a much larger selection of stalls, taking advantage of a closed Corporation Street to expand – as well as a completely new site on Corporation Street itself, for one year only!
Returning to Exchange Square will be the beautifully crafted 16-metre high windmill crowning the ever popular bratwurst stand, as well the Christmas Vintage Lounge – a raised stage that will host a tea room, cocktail bar and microbrewery, as well as live music and live broadcasts throughout the festive season.
Close by, Exchange Street and New Cathedral Street will welcome back the coffee-house and covered German beer house for a successful second year.
And of course, the tweet-happy giant Santa will take his place above Albert Square, once again hosting the European Christmas Market.
Each market boasts the finest in gift ideas, including jewellery, ceramics, handmade toys, puppets, clocks, glassware, and a market favourite – the limited edition Manchester Christmas Market coffee and Gluhwein mugs.
Food lovers will once again be agog at the range of culinary delights on offer, more than ample to satisfy even the most fervent of festive foodies, with a chance to sample traditional delights form across Europe – including Gluhwein, liqueur coffee, macaroons, pancakes and bratwursts amongst many, many others.
Listings information:
Manchester Christmas Markets, Friday 15 November – Sunday 22 December
European Christmas Market, Albert Square
10.00am – 9.00pm daily
Opening times and locations for all other markets
November 10.00am – 7.30pm
December 10.00am – 8.00pm
Christmas Market, Exchange Square
Christmas Market, Corporation Street **New for one year only**
Arts and Crafts Market, Exchange Street
Christmas Market, New Cathedral Street
Christmas Market, Corn Exchange
French Christmas Market, King Street with rotating weekend stalls.
German Christmas Market, St Ann’s Square
World Christmas Market, Brazennose Street
ALL BAR AND FOOD AREAS OPEN UNTIL 9.00pm
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