Last updated: November 11, 2024
Discover the joy of the holidays in Stockport with our ultimate guide. Whether you've lived in Stockport for years or just arrived, this guide ensures a joyful holiday season.
One of the highlights of the festive season is the Manchester Christmas Markets, where visitors can explore a variety of stalls offering unique gifts and seasonal delicacies. Additionally, the Manchester Christmas Ice Skating Rink provides a delightful outdoor skating experience, perfect for families and friends to enjoy. And the vibrant Winter Island at Freight Island is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring food, drinks, and entertainment amid a cozy winter atmosphere. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Contact information and details below.
Immersive winter light show with curated soundtracks.
The Twilight Trail at Mayfield Park features spectacular light displays, lantern installations, and a captivating soundscape, transforming the park into a dazzling city-centre winter escape.
Where: Manchester | More Info: The Twilight trail, Mayfield Park
Illuminated festive trail with seasonal music and installations.
Christmas at Dunham Massey features beautiful walk-through light installations, joyful Christmas music, and seasonal food and drink amidst the historic gardens and moat of Dunham Massey.
Where: Altrincham | More Info: Christmas at Dunham Massey
Iconic festive lights trail and real ice skating rink.
Christmas at Bolesworth offers a comprehensive holiday experience with an iconic festive lights trail, a 240sqm real ice skating rink, Santa's Grotto, and a huge fairground with various rides and attractions. The event also features festive food and drink options, including mulled wine and marshmallows, as well as an Alpine Lodge for indoor refreshments. Visitors can meet Santa's reindeer at Rudolph's Rest and enjoy a picturesque setting with seasonal color and interactive installations.
Where: Tattenhall | More Info: Christmas at Bolesworth
Extensive variety of seasonal goods and festive food in a historic city centre setting.
Manchester Christmas Markets offer over 200 stalls across nine city centre locations, featuring unique gifts, seasonal goods, and festive food and drink. The markets include iconic wooden ski chalet stalls, craft sellers, and traditional market dishes like German sausages and Glühwein. Visitors can enjoy the city's Christmas lights trail, Skate Manchester's ice rink, and the annual Manchester Christmas Parade.
Where: Manchester | More Info: Manchester Christmas Markets
Family-friendly event with festive games and refreshments.
Stockport Christmas Fair is a family-friendly event featuring exciting stalls for Christmas shopping, fun games, and refreshments including mulled wine and mince pies. Santa's Grotto and a raffle with amazing prizes add to the festive atmosphere.
Where: Stockport | More Info: Stockport Christmas Fair
Santa's grotto and festive light show.
Light Up Bramhall is a vibrant celebration in Bramhall Village Square, featuring market stalls, Santa's grotto, a fantastic light show, and a Lantern parade.
Where: Bramhall | More Info: Light Up Bramhall
Community-driven market with local vendors and festive atmosphere.
The Holmes Chapel Christmas Fair is an annual event featuring nearly 50 charity and commercial stalls selling gifts, novelties, food, and drink. Local musicians and singers provide entertainment, and Father Christmas makes a special visit.
Where: Holmes Chapel | More Info: Holmes Chapel Christmas Fair
Immersive light and sound show with interactive activities.
Winter Island at Freight Island transforms the venue into a heated outdoor and indoor winter festival featuring a Father Christmas Experience, Twilight Trail, festive street food, and various entertainment options.
Where: Manchester | More Info: Winter Island at Freight Island
Interactive show with song, puppetry, and reindeer games.
Rudolph the Reindeer's Christmas Roadshow is a delightful show for children aged 3-7 and their families, featuring song, puppetry, and reindeer games. The show is a fun adventure where kids help Rudolph regain his magic.
Where: Bolton | More Info: Rudolph the reindeer’s Christmas roadshow
Immersive adventure through iconic Wizard of Oz scenes in a historic mansion.
Journey to Oz at Tatton Park transforms the historic mansion into iconic scenes from The Wizard of Oz, featuring beautifully decorated staterooms and festive decorations.
Where: Knutsford | More Info: Journey to Oz at Tatton Park
Immersive storytelling with puppetry, music, and laughter.
Join the intrepid Earl of Dunham Massey as he returns from his travels, bringing an array of wild animal friends into his magnificent home. The family pets, who have been looking after the place in his absence, have other ideas, leading to mischief and lessons in friendship, diversity, and sharing. Stuff & Nonsense Theatre brings winter magic through puppetry, music, and laughter.
Where: Altrincham | More Info: Squirrels Trail Winter Experience at Dunham Massey
Interactive entertainment with local crafts and festive activities.
Step into Christmas in Macclesfield features balloon modelling, face painting, live music, and entertainment under the town centre Christmas lights. Enjoy crafts from ArtSpace, a Living Window in the Grosvenor centre, Santa’s Grotto, and the Father Christmas Parade.
Where: Macclesfield | More Info: Step Into Christmas
Immersive fairground and ice show experience with Santa's grotto.
The Trafford Centre's Tinsel Town offers an outdoor fairground with thrilling rides, Gandeys Circus SNOWSTORM 3 ice show, and a winter ice rink outside the Great Hall. The event also features a new traditional Santa's grotto, festive flicks, delicious food, and live entertainment.
Where: Manchester | More Info: Tinsel Town at The Trafford Centre
Covered ice rink supporting environmental initiatives.
The Manchester Christmas Ice Skating Rink at Cathedral Gardens offers a covered rink experience, supporting environmental initiatives through a partnership with Everclime. Tickets include skate hire, and sessions last 45 minutes.
Where: Manchester | More Info: Manchester Christmas Ice Skating Rink
Interactive Christmas adventure with elf-themed activities.
At Reddish Vale Farm, embark on a journey to Father Christmas's North Pole headquarters. Collect your passport, pass through the naughty/nice machine, and learn a special elfish rhyme to enter the time travel portal. Visit Elf Academy, build your own Christmas friend, and decorate gingerbread with Mrs. Claus. Meet the Pole Office Elves, sort Christmas letters and parcels, and enjoy a personal visit with Father Christmas.
Where: Stockport | More Info: Farmer Christmas Experience, Reddish Vale Farm
Interactive bear-making and animal encounters.
At Christmas at Cockfields, meet Santa in his Grotto, build your own bear at the Elf Academy, and enjoy various festive activities like making gingerbread men and cuddling animals in the Elf Village.
Where: Oldham | More Info: Christmas at Cockfields
Meet Santa and his elves in a festive farm setting.
Visit Lancaster Park & Animal Farm for a festive holiday experience featuring Santa's Grotto, where you can meet Santa's elves, send letters to Santa, and enjoy storytime with Mrs. Claus. Meet Mr. Grinch and hop on Santa's life-sized sleigh for a photo opportunity.
Where: Stockport | More Info: Christmas on the farm, Lancaster Park & animal farm
Interactive holiday experience with festive characters and activities.
Castaway Play's Christmas Alpine Retreat offers a festive journey with Santa's Grotto, Elf's Toy Workshop, and unique activities like meeting beloved characters and dancing under the Northern Lights.
Where: Congleton | More Info: Castaway Play Christmas Alpine Retreat
