Want to know what's on in Manchester? Here's a bumper list of festive things to do next month
12 Days of Quarry Bank Christmas
Is there anything more festive than a holiday-themed scavenger hunt? We don't think so.
Scour the property at Quarry Bank Mill for the '12 Days of Quarry Bank Christmas' and fill in the song sheet. Once you've collected them all, submit your entry for the chance to win a hamper of Quarry Bank treats. Trail entry is £2 each and song sheets can be purchased from the Visitor Reception. Admission charges apply.
Where: Quarry Bank
When: 1 December - 7 January
Price: £2
Tickets & more info: nationaltrust.org.uk
Bauble-icious Bash at Victoria Warehouse
Scrap your boring office party. This is the real deal.
Victoria Warehouse are back with their Bauble-icious Bash and are promising a sexy, sparkling party packed with DJs and everything disco. This shared party event is ideal for groups, friends and colleagues who prefer their celebrations to be a little less corporate. There will be festive drinks, glitter artists, plenty of photo opportunities, and a special line-up of live entertainment.
Where: Victoria Warehouse
When: 16 December
Price: From £60 (+ booking)
Tickets & more info: events.livit.io
Christmas Cabaret: Ember & The Vixens
Christmas elves and festive foxes...this one's for you. Sell-out cabaret performance 'Ember & The Vixens' will be returning to Manchester Art Gallery this December for an evening of exquisite entertainment.
Expect live music, poetry and burlesque, each with its own festive twist. This event starts at 7:45PM.
Where: Manchester Art Gallery
When: 16 December
Price: From £24.12
Tickets & more info: eventbrite.co.uk
Dining with Distinction: Christmas Dinner
Be transported (literally) to a winter wonderland as you're steam-hauled through the picturesque Irwell Valley. Complete with Christmas crackers and a glass of fizz on arrival, this four-course, silver-served meal followed by coffee and mince pies is the perfect way to celebrate the season in style.
Where: East Lancashire Railway
When: 1/2/8/9/15/16/20/21/22/23 December
Price: From £77.50
Tickets & more info: eastlancsrailway.org.uk
Disney on Ice Presents 100 Years of Wonder
Dig out your mouse ears and get ready for an evening of magic. Disney On Ice returns to the AO Arena for the 30th time, this time celebrating 100 Years of Wonder. Hit animated film Encanto will be joining the show for the very first time in the UK. See familiar faces and your favourite characters take to the ice to perform incredible stunts and world-class skating.
Where: AO Arena
When: 13-17 December
Price: From £25.95 (+ booking)
Tickets & more info: ao-arena.com
DryWave Christmas Party
Ok, hear us out. What if we said you could have all the fun of a rave, without the hangover and anxiety the next day?
DryWave are putting on their sober Christmas bash at Club Vision on Whitworth Street. Described as 'a unique showcase that you will remember', this alcohol-free event will combine an energetic vibe with a community feel. Trust us, you'll feel amazing afterwards.
Where: Vision Club Manchester
When: 9 December
Price: From £15 (+ booking)
Tickets & more info: fixr.co
Eight Freestyle and Contact presents: Cinderella
You shall go to the ball (well, panto).
Providing a girl-power spin on the traditional fairytale, Cinderella, eight-freestyle are teaming up with Contact Young Company to envision the story like you've never seen it before. All of which will be set to a modern soundtrack of ballroom bangers from DJ Dandini.
This run of shows includes a range of access provisions, including BSL, captioned performances and relaxed conditions as well as discounted shows.
Where: Space 1, Contact Theatre
When: 9-31 December
Price: From £15
Tickets & more info: contactmcr.com
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World
Be inspired by this empowering musical. From one of the producers behind worldwide sensation Six, this theatrical performance is based on the book written by Suffragette relative Kate Pankhurst.
Expect to see incredible women throughout history brought to life, showing their tenacity and bravery, soundtracked to pop-style anthems that pack a punch.
Where: The Lowry
When: 5 December - 7 January
Price: From £24 (+ booking)
Tickets & more info: thelowry.com
Festive Happening with AMC Gospel Choir
Warm your heart and soul with a festive concert that will move the whole family. Closing the year with their ethereal performance, the AMC Gospel Choir return to help you feel merry and bright, just in time for the big day.
Sing along, or just be in the moment and enjoy that joyous festive feeling.
Where: Albert Hall
When: 10 December
Price: From £3 (+ booking)
Tickets & more info: manchestercamerata.co.uk
Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas
Christmas is under threat. Can one young, courageous boy save the day?
A Horrible Histories take on Christmas can only mean one thing - there's something horrible in store for both kids and parents alike to love. From Victorian villains to Medieval monks, Puritan parties to Tudor treats, ticket-holders are in for an adventure in the company of historical figures including Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell, King Henry VIII and St Nicholas himself.
It's a celebration of all things Christmas, in the most wonderfully horrible and funny way you'll ever see.
Look out for the 🎁 below to find out how to enter our competition to win four (2x adult, 2x children) tickets to the boxing day show.
Where: The Bridgewater Hall
When: 26 December
Price: From £20.50
Tickets & more info: tickets.bridgewater-hall.co.uk
Handel’s Messiah: A Different Perspective
Always a sell-out, this moving and enthralling performance of song by candlelight will be set in the epic Great Nave of The Monastery. The Artistic Partner Kantos Chamber Choir will be performing in the round, giving viewers a unique 360 experience.
Since 1742, Handel's rousing 'Hallelujah' and 'For unto us a child is born' has been there to remind us of this magical, spiritual time of year. Let the incredible natural acoustics of the Great Nave enhance the music and provide a moment of stillness and rejuvenation just in time for the holiday period.
Where: Gorton Monastery
When: 3 December
Price: From £5 (+ booking)
Tickets & more info: themonastery.co.uk
Ice Cube with Cypress Hill & The Game
It'll definitely be a good day if you get tickets to this concert. California-born rapper and songwriter Ice Cube will be joining forces with fellow hiphop heavyweights Cypress Hill and The Game for the rap gig of the year.
Expect all the classics including Straight Outta Compton and Check Yo Self as well as some lesser-known curveballs too that only the OG fans will remember. Go on, get those tickets before it's too late - You Can Do It.
Where: AO Arena
When: 7 December
Price: From £91.50 (+ booking)
Tickets & more info: tourlink.to
Tales From The Octagon 2 with Michael Bisping
Following his sell-out tour in 2021, actor and sports analyst Michael Bisping will be returning to the stage for his brand-new show. This time, he'll be bringing two of the biggest names in UK MMA with him; Paul Craig and Tom Aspinall.
Join Michael, Paul and Tom as they share incredible stories and insights into the world of mixed martial arts.
Where: O2 Apollo
When: 16 December
Price: From £34.70 (+ booking)
Tickets & more info: academymusicgroup.com
Miracle on Cross Street
Manchester's only 100% Christmas-themed bar returns this year, bringing a winter wonderland and cocktail bar to Cross Street. Whether it's festive date nights, Christmas parties or cosy catch-ups with friends and family, Miracle on Cross Street is a unique pop-up that's not to be missed.
Nestled away speakeasy-style, Miracle serves an array of festive cocktails including the aptly named Jingle Juice, Candy Cane Spritz, and the Apple Pie Martini.
Bookings are recommended and includes a welcome drink, Santa hat, Christmas cracker, mince pies, and a free shot in Salt Dog Slims after the booking. Bookings secure 90 minutes in the grown-up grotto and plenty of time to get cosy by the fire, soundtracked by non-stop Christmas bangers.
Where: Enter via Salt Dog Slims
When: 17 November - 24 December
Price: From £10pp (From 1st December bookings will be £12pp)
Tickets & more info: bookings.designmynight.com
Tatton Park Christmas Gift Fair
Still got a few gifts to get? No worries, Tatton Park's Christmas Gift Fair will have just the bits you need for stocking fillers, decorations and more.
This year, the Tenants Hall inside the stately mansion house will be open to the public for a special, festive market of independent traders, full of everything from jewellery to candles to craft gins. Entry to the fair is completely free and there'll be musical performances throughout the weekend from local choir groups.
Where: Tatton Park
When: 1-3 December
Price: Free entry (parking not included)
Tickets & more info: tattonpark.org.uk
Festive Biscuit Wreath Making at Bar Hütte
Hosted exclusively at Bar Hütte’s Great Northern Warehouse site, groups will be taught by Coy Biscuit how to make the perfect festive biscuit - just in time for Christmas. There'll also be the opportunity to make two complimentary Malibu cocktails; A Christmas Malibu Pina-Colada and a Malibu Hot Chocolate.
Where: Bar Hütte, Great Northern Warehouse
When: 6/12/13 December
Price: £20
Tickets & more info: eventbrite.co.uk
Wrongsemble presents: The Snow Queen
The Snow Queen is meant to control the weather, but the seasons haven't been behaving. The world is getting warmer and there hasn't been snow for years...
The adults don't seem to have noticed that the seasons aren't acting as they should, so Lumi takes the issue straight to the top of the world and finds the Snow Queen to see what can be done.
This musical re-telling of The Snow Queen is an exciting adventure for the whole family to enjoy and addresses the modern-day issues of global warming in a child-friendly manner.
Where: Waterside Theatre
When: 29 November - 30 December
Price: From £7 (+ booking)
Tickets & more info: watersidearts.org
Year's End Festival
This day-to-night festival will be taking over seven different stages across the Oxford Road Corridor and, for one day only, 46 artists and bands will be strutting their stuff and showing off their talent.
Presented by Manchester record label Scruff of the Neck, Year's End Festival highlights Manchester's impeccable music scene and encourages residents and visitors of the city to soak up the sounds. Who knows, you might even find your new favourite artist.
Where: Various venues across Oxford Road Corridor
When: 9 December
Price: From £20 (+ booking)
Tickets & more info: yearsendfest.com
Winter Wellness Ritual at The Midland Hotel Spa
The Midland is offering a lavish escape from the Christmas chaos this year. Visit the award-winning Rena Spa for a Winter Wellness Ritual and enjoy a day of relaxation before the holiday hustle and bustle starts. The spa is fully equipped with sleep chambers, steam rooms and highly skilled massage therapists.
The Winter Wellness Ritual includes a heated foot cleanse, lower leg exfoliation, lower leg, hand and arm massage, finishing with an ultra-relaxing scalp massage.
Where: Rena Spa at The Midland Hotel
When: Various dates throughout December
Price: £75 Monday to Thursday, £95 Friday to Sunday
Tickets: themidlandhotel.co.uk
Street Eyes Exhibition by Micah Purnell
Micah Purnell will collate 30 pieces of art from the last decade, showcasing global art and design on purpose built sites across Manchester.
The exhibition will feature work from some of the biggest names in world illustration, typography and photography, including illustrators; Matt Blease, Supermundane and Stanley Chow, typographers; Anthony Burrill, Gemma O’Brien and Dave Towers, and photographers; Anna Devís and Daniel Rueda, Yener Torun and many more. Most of the artworks on show will be available to buy on the night to support and continue the work of providing a canvas for artists and free art city dwellers.
Where: Chatham Mill
When: 5 December
Price: Free
Tickets: eventbrite.co.uk
Festive glow at RE:TREAT
Experience wellness this winter with the RE:TREAT Festive Glow package. Whether you're heading out to a seasonal soiree, or you just fancy treating yourself this Christmas, this package pairs beauty with wellness for the ultimate holiday glow.
Taking place within the newly renovated wellness sanctuary, guests will begin their session with an OPI signature gel manicure and pedicure, followed by a personalised VR experience. Finally, the package concludes with both a Miii express brow treatment and lash tint. Guests can also upgrade to a lash lift for just £20 extra.
Where: Re:treat at The Lowry Hotel
When: Various dates throughout December
Price: £110
Tickets: thelowryhotel.com
Know of anything interesting coming up? Let me know on Twitter: @Harley__Young or drop me an email: harleyy@confidentials.com
It's almost Christmas, so what better time to treat our readers to a prize? 🎁
You and your little ones can bag four (2x adult, 2x children) tickets to see Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas at The Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday 26 December 2023 at 5:30pm.
Just sign up to news and offers from Manchester Confidential below to enter. Easy peasy.
Winners will be contacted by Confidentials staff on Friday 15 December 2023. Only one entry per person is allowed. Good luck!
End Date - 15th December 2023
