NOTHING marks the start of the festive countdown quite like Manchester's Christmas Markets.
Manchester's Christmas Markets were also crowned 'Europe's Best' by ChristmasMarkets.com this year, beating off competition from Basel, Dusseldorf, Graz and Bath.
Scattered over nine different sites (listed at the bottom) across the city, the expansion will see traders set up shop on Market Street and Cathedral Gardens (by the National Football Museum in the Urbis) for the first time come Friday 14 November.
The markets began in 1999 with a single site at St Ann's Square. Now in its sixteenth year, it has attracted tens of millions of visitors from across the country and thousands of stall holders selling delicacies from food, beer, cheese and chocolate, to quirky handmade gifts and crafts from around the world.
According to last year's figures alone, Manchester hosted over 300 stalls and welcomed a record nine million people in 2013, boosting the city’s festive economy by £90m.
Manchester's Christmas Markets were also crowned 'Europe's Best' by ChristmasMarkets.com this year as they beat off competition from Basel, Dusseldorf, Graz and Bath.
Xmas Lights Switch-On
Xmas Markets
Market Street will see the usual high street retailers sit side-by-side with 28 independent Christmas traders and Cathedral Gardens will see a 16m high windmill plonked under the Manchester Cathedral building. Not a bad spot for a Bavarian beer, right?
Previous sites will still be as gloriously hectic as ever, particularly Albert Square which will be seen over by the customary festive landmark, in the shape of a gigantic LED tweeting Santa sitting astride the Town Hall (@MCRsanta).
The big red guy's lights will be illuminated at this Friday's FREE Christmas light switch-on (7 November, 7.30pm), which will see a huge party take to Albert Square hosted by Manchester funny man Jason Manford.
The council's Christmas spokesperson, Cllr Pat Karney, said:
“We love how the markets enhance our high streets, giving shoppers a range of options for their Christmas shopping – and when the city centre transformation is complete, the markets will be bigger and better than ever.”
“When Santa gets lifted into place, that's when Christmas really begins in Manchester. It’s the moment the festive transformation begins and before we know it the Christmas lights will be on and the markets will be back – bringing with the smell of bratwurst and Gluhwein. I can’t wait!”
A full list of the market sites can be found below:
Christmas Market – Market Street (NEW FOR 2014)
Christmas Market – Cathedral Gardens (NEW FOR 2014)
European Christmas Market – Albert Square
Christmas Market – Exchange Square
Arts & Crafts Market – Exchange Street
Christmas Market – New Cathedral Street
French Christmas Market – King Street with rotating weekend stalls
German Christmas Market – St Ann's Square
World Christmas Market – Brazennose Street
Markets will open on Friday 14 November from 10am until 9pm daily (other sites close from 7.30pm)
