The festive season has officially arrived with the opening of this year’s Manchester Christmas Markets.
Running from today right up until December 22, the Christmas Markets are spread across nine locations in the city centre.
The main festive hub is the Winter Gardens at a transformed Piccadilly Gardens which is home to dozens of food traders and several craft stalls.
Two white marquees adorned with twinkling lights have been added to the area, providing more under-cover space for shoppers.
Now in its 26th year, the markets are accompanied by a lights trail through the city, a covered ice rink at Cathedral Gardens and the annual Christmas parade – the only one of its kind in the UK – on Sunday 8 December.
A new addition to the markets this year are festive photo booths. Located at St Ann’s Square, Piccadilly Gardens and Cathedral Gardens, festive shoppers can take home a memory of their day out, priced at £6 for four photos.
Councillor Pat Karvey, the council’s Christmas spokesperson, described Manchester as “a proper Christmas city”.
In previous years, the markets were partly held on Albert Square but the square is currently blocked off due to works on the city hall.
In regards to this, he said: “We are working our socks off to get back into Albert Square.
“These markets, these Christmas markets, need the magic of Albert Square.”
The Councillor also detailed two plans in the works at the council, “a spectacular New Year’s celebration” and a Manchester Big Weekend with Barcelona next June and July.
German trader Anja Manke has been trading at Manchester Christmas Markets since it began in 1998.
“There were just a few tiny huts and just look how big the place is right now – how it is evolving from year to year. I’m so happy to be back,” she reflected.
The Christmas Markets are also located on St Ann’s Square, Exchange Square, Cathedral Gardens, New Cathedral Street, Corn Exchange, Market Street, King Street West and Exchange Street.
The stalls at Cathedral Gardens will remain open until December 31 and the skating rink until January 1.
Entry to the markets is free. The craft stalls will be open daily from 10am to 8pm and the food and drink stalls from 11am to 9pm.
Featured Image: Jessica McKeown
