Manchester Christmas Markets

[Cotton City]

Will they be returning this winter? Nothing on the web about it.

Hope so

[ScouseinManc]

Originally Posted by Cotton City

Will they be returning this winter? Nothing on the web about it.

Hope so

The word ARRRRRRRRRGH!! springs to mind.

It's only September Cotton!!

You aint been to Tesco & bought a couple of tins of Roses already???

DFS haven't even started their Chistmas advertising (well they never ever stop advertising actually...) campaign yet & not a word uttered in work re. a Christmas doo...

Maybe something's amiss...

But re. you question, yep, I'm sure they'll be back. Bigger & better than ever

[flange]

Do they know it's August?

Deborah Linton

August 11, 2009

IT may still be summer and some 135 days away but preparations are already under way for a magical Manchester Christmas.

A programme of celebrations is being drawn up by town hall bosses including the big lights switch-on and the annual visit of the popular festive markets.

Arrangements are also being made for the return of the city centre ice rink - last year in Spinningfields - which will help transform Manchester into a winter wonderland.

Festivities will start with the lights switch-on in Albert Square on November 12, with the city's illuminated Santa taking residency at the town hall.

The Christmas markets will have a one-month run, from November 18 to December 21, bringing the usual gluhwein, arts and crafts and continental cuisine from some of Europe's finest stallholders.

Manchester's council spokesman Pat Karney, said: "Manchester will lead the country in Christmas celebrations.

"We're currently planning a spectacular programme of events and will make sure we cheer up every adult who has been struggling with the downturn and give every child a magical holiday season."

Exciting

Last year's lights switch-on included performances from Strictly Come Dancing starlet Alesha Dixon and X Factor winner Leon Jackson.

Another exciting celebrity line-up is expected this year and it is hoped the full festive programme will once again bring visitors flocking to the city centre.

And transport bosses have given a guarantee that current works to the city centre Metrolink system will be finished in time to accommodate crucial Christmas shopping.

Metrolink director Philip Purdy said trams were scheduled to begin running through the city centre again by early November.

He added: "Our intention has always been to start running city centre services again on November 2 and we are on track to meet this contractual deadline. It's important people can make good use of the newly improved tram system to come into town in the run up to Christmas."

All highways and utilities agencies working in the city have been given a November 15 deadline for the completion of works to avoid any disruption to the festive period.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....now_its_august

[flange]

Manchester plans ahead for Christmas

24th August 2009

By James Graham - Business Correspondent

MANCHESTER City Council is already planning for Christmas 2010.

It has put out a tender for 70 of the small wooden huts that are used for the city's Christmas markets and other events.

But they would not be used this year because the rental agreement runs for 36 months from January 2010.

The Christmas markets, and other speciality markets, have become regular fixtures in the city's calendar and attract thousands to Albert Square and St Anne's Square.

The deadline for expressions of interest is September 29.

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/

[Potato Man]

Reading Richard Leese's blog the other day where is suggested the new supersize big wheel should also be in place for the festive season.

Am I right in thinking this will also see the structure moved to Piccadilly Gardens? God, I just hope that dosen't mean they will be moving that awful slide to Exchange Square...

[monkey_rat]

oh joy.

its shite anyway but if it goes in piccadilly gardens it will re-define shite.

it must be a terrible strain on Leese's hand writing all those letters to the MEN under pseudonyms begging for the wheel to stay in Manchester.

[flange]

X Factor winner to turn on Christmas lights

Deborah Linton

October 08, 2009

ALEXANDRA Burke will bring the X Factor to Manchester's Christmas celebrations this year.

The TV talent show winner will switch on the city centre lights, launching a season of en tertainment and shopping, in cluding the return of the popular Christmas markets in every square.

Alexandra scooped last year's X Factor crown and went to number one with her cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah after performing with superstar Beyonce in the ITV final. Her new single Bad Boys is released next week.

The Albert Square switch-on will take place between 7pm and 8pm on November 12.

The ice rink will return to Spinningfields on the same day where it will stay until the New Year. It was moved from Piccadilly last year and will stay in that area despite claims it was not as popular as when it was based in Piccadilly.

The markets will open on November 18 with stalls from across the continent bringing cuisine, crafts and Gluwhein to Albert Square, St Ann's Square, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street and Brazennose Street until December 21.

And for the first time, plans are being finalised to turn Piccadilly Gardens into a winter wonderland with an ice palace.

City centre chief Coun Pat Karney said "Manchester is famous all over the UK for its amazing Christmas programme and we hope that residents and visitors will enjoy what's in store this year.

"The atmosphere in Manchester at this time of year is fantastic and we are sure that everyone will find something to enjoy in this year's sparkling events programme."

Other highlights include an illuminated art car parade - an outdoor art feature which will travel through the city centre on November 26. The free event will see a procession of vehicles, including cars, bikes and a musical milk float, head from Cathedral Gar dens at 6.30pm to Albert Square.

There will also be a farmers' market in Piccadilly Gardens on December 11 and 12 and a real food market from December 13 to 19.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....ristmas_lights

[WatcherZero]

Is it always 4 weeks? Felt like it had run longer in previous years. I keep meaning to Ice Skate every year but never get round to it.

[markydeedrop]

MANCHESTER HAS THE CHRISTMAS FACTOR

Published Wednesday 7th October 09

X Factor winner Alexandra Burke to star at the Switch-On, Markets in every square, the return of the Ice Rink and surprises in Piccadilly Gardens.

This year, residents and visitors alike can "see what Manchester's made of" with more choice than ever and experience a huge range of shopping, entertainment, art, culture and cuisine.

Christmas Lights Switch-On
Thursday 12 November, 7.00pm - 8.00pm,
Albert Square, Manchester

This Christmas Manchester's programme of festive events is even more exciting than ever and to officially start the season, Manchester City Council and its Christmas Lights Switch-on media partner Key 103 have lined up The X Factor winner Alexandra Burke to bring glamour and sparkle as she performs at the ceremony. The annual Switch-On, in the UK's number one Christmas city is a free event which attracts thousands into the city's biggest square and heralds the beginning of the countdown to Christmas.

Spinningfields Ice Rink
12 November 2009 - 3 January 2010, Spinningfields, Manchester
The Christmas ice rink returns to Spinningfields for a second year, providing a fun, festive treat in a magical setting - the perfect location for a family outing or office party.

Illuminated Art Car Parade, Manchester,
Thursday 26 November 6.30 pm - 8.00pm,
Manchester City Centre

New for Christmas 2009, mechanical mischief from Walk the Plank. A free event with vehicles created by artists from all over the country. The parade features cars, bikes and pedal-powered vehicles in all shapes and sizes and includes a musical milk float and an Ice Palace built around a white hearse!

Preview: Cathedral Gardens from 3.00pm - 6.30pm
Parade starts at 6.30pm in Cathedral Gardens to Albert Square.
Prize giving Mount Street 7.30pm
Manchester Christmas Markets, Manchester City Centre
18 November - 21 December

One of the city's consistent success stories, the Christmas Markets return this year with yet more stalls, making the city centre a hive of bazaars. St Ann's Square sees the return of the original German Christmas Market from Frankfurt, where Manchester tasted its very first Glühwein! The markets extend to Albert Square's European Christmas Market, through Brazennose Street, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street and Exchange Street leading into St Ann's Square. In addition, Piccadilly Gardens will host a Farmers' Market on 11 and 12 December and a "Real Food" Christmas Market from 13 - 19 December. Also new for 2009 are the weekend art, craft and gift stalls at a new location outside the Triangle shopping centre, each Thursday to Sunday for the duration of the market.

Piccadilly Gardens

Look out for the announcement of a new attraction in Piccadilly Gardens over the festive season.
Councillor Pat Karney City Centre Chief said "Manchester is famous all over the UK for its amazing Christmas programme and we hope that residents and visitors will enjoy what's in store this year. The atmosphere in Manchester at this time of year is fantastic and we are sure that everyone will find something to enjoy in this year's sparkling events programme."

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/news/ar...ristmas_factor

[flange]

Christmas markets better than ever

Exclusive: Deborah Linton

November 09, 2009

THE much-loved Christmas markets return a week on Wednesday.

More stalls than ever will open on November 18 - turning the city centre into a winter wonderland.

The markets, now in their second decade, are expected to attract hundreds of thousands of shoppers to make the most of the European fare on offer until December 21.

Stallholders from across the continent will bring the usual Gluhwein, meats, cheeses and baked goods. There will also be a new crafts area outside The Triangle shopping centre each Thursday to Sunday.

Traders will be in St Ann's Square, Albert Square, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square and Piccadilly Gardens.

The German beer tent returns to Albert Square with a line up of stalls offering bratwurst, hog roast, fresh crepes, biscuits and cakes.

Customers will also be treated to free entertainment from carol singers and Spanish flamenco guitar.

The Alpine chalets of Brazennose Street will host a new Christmas village and dining area while the city's original German market will return to St Ann's Square.

A Real Food market will be in Piccadilly Gardens on December 11 and 12 and a Food Market, featuring produce from across the north west, from December 17 to 19.

City centre chief Coun Pat Karney said "Every year Manchester looks forward to these fantastic markets which undoubtedly rival the best in Europe. We're expecting people to travel from all over Britain and beyond to enjoy what's on offer in what has become the country's number one Christmas city."

Council bosses were last year forced to extend the markets' run to take in an extra weekend due to demand.

The stalls have attracted millions of pounds of business to the city for the past 10 years.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....tter_than_ever

[PeteVincent82]

Isn't Alexandra Burke supposed to be switching on the Leeds lights on the same night at around the same time?

[CDX]

Here's the Piccadilly Gardens offering this year

Piccadilly Snow Gardens

Enjoy the fun in the gardens!

Piccadilly gets chilly this Christmas when the Piccadilly Snow Gardens come to town 3 Dec - 3 Jan.

Take the family to visit Santa in his Magical Ice Palace, then frolic in the enchanting Snow Globe. Feel the Alpine rush on the Snow Slide or brave the Bungydome for a thrill in the chill.

Bungydome
Times: 11.00 am - 9.00 pm
Tickets: £6 (Min age 2yrs. Max weight 100kg)

Giant Snowglobe
Times: 11.00 am - 9.00 pm
Tickets: Up to 2 people including 1 souvenir photo £4, Up to 4 people including 1 souvenir photo £6, Up to 6 people including 1 souvenir photo plus 1 free photo £10, Additional photos £4

Magical Ice Palace
Times: 12 noon - 6.00 pm
Tickets: 1 Child £5, 2 Children £9, 3 Children £12
Price includes a present per child and 1 accompanying adult free

Snow Slide
Times: 11.00 - 9.00pm (Sat 10.00 am - 9.00 pm)
Tickets: £2 (£4 - three slides buy two and get one free)

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/50...y_snow_gardens

[Metrolink VI]

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/20...istmas_markets

Exchange Sq new this year.

Thought the free trams were after they opened, alas not.

Will head into town after work one day next week me thinks.

[MrBob]

It's today the Manchester Christmas markets open isn't it? Anyone been over yet?

I'm hoping to head into town in a few weeks to sample the delights.....and a few gluhweins too!

[WatcherZero]

Sheesh the moaners on MEN

"I went but I didnt buy anything because it was all European"
"Send them home to their Bavarian mansions"

[markydeedrop]

A little low quality as late in the day and the light was fading

[IMG]http://i50.************/167jg9g.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i46.************/2duwkys.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i49.************/2le5vsi.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i45.************/2gydfec.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i48.************/281c3z6.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i45.************/15h0fm0.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i46.************/ran8ll.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i47.************/2hdn1g0.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i46.************/scx5rs.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i50.************/xda1ib.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i47.************/2jiopl.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i49.************/nb4ib.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i50.************/2cfxo2h.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i48.************/162abli.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i48.************/bhimom.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i46.************/30kgbno.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i49.************/2dk0r44.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i45.************/14kvfic.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i49.************/3460z0g.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i47.************/2zxsheq.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i45.************/b6akgg.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i45.************/fbxbvo.jpg[/IMG]

[WatcherZero]

Was there around tea time, fairly buzzing with young couples and groups of freinds, didnt see as many office workers as last year though.

[Brum X]

Looks quiet to me

[Marksy_1]

Originally Posted by Brum X

Looks quiet to me

its going to be quiet on a thursday before everyone has come out of work....you should see it on a friday night in mid december, you cant move!!

[Tyne]

Originally Posted by Marksy_1

its going to be quiet on a thursday before everyone has come out of work....you should see it on a friday night in mid december, you cant move!!

Friday night yesterday was bad enough, I was there at about 6 and it was rammed.