From magical light trails to Santa’s grottos, this lot will get you in the festive spiritThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Enchanted is back at Knowsley Safari(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
If you’ve got children or grandchildren then chances are you’ll already be thinking about Christmas.
The festive season usually means planning a day out or two with the kids and there’s so much to choose from this year.
Whether it’s a trip to the one of the region’s many magical light trails, like the new Northern Lights event heading to Heaton Park this year, or a visit to the Trafford Centre’s Christmas fair and ice rink, there are loads of family-friendly activities taking place in and around Greater Manchester.
Check out our full round-up below and to make sure you’re always up-to-date with events, you can sign up to our Manchester Family newsletter or join our free Family WhatsApp group HERE.
Shaun The Sheep, Aviva Studios
Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show is making its UK premiere in Manchester this Christmas and there are lots more activities taking place alongside it.
Brought to the stage by the internationally-acclaimed Australian circus ensemble Circa and Academy Award-winning, independent studio Aardman, it’s coming to Aviva Studios from December 11 to January 4.
Combining the extreme physicality and awe-inspiring feats of Circa and the playful charm of the multi-award-winning, globally successful Shaun the Sheep, ‘a visual spectacle for the entire family’ is promised, ‘packed full of Aardman’s signature comedy and outright hilarity, as the Circa ensemble continues to blur the lines between movement, dance, theatre and circus’.
Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show is coming to Aviva Studios(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
Shaun and the Flock will entertain the audience through ‘incredible feats of daredevil acrobatics and vibrant circus skills’.
To celebrate the show, a free Shaun the Sheep Trail is also happening around Aviva Studios. The Find the Flock sculpture trail, created by Wild in Art, will see six Shaun the Sheep sculptures hiding across St John’s and Spinningfields between November 27 and January 4.
From December 11 to January 11 there’ll be some Winter Family Drop-Ins offering free creative activities for families inspired by Factory International’s winter shows.
Drop by the Social for free paper-crafting activity packs for children including: Create your own Shaun the Sheep bunting, Doodle and Draw inspired by David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) and The Moonwalkers, Paper doll dress-up inspired by VOGUE: Inventing the Runway.
Other free sessions include Drop-in PlayStation, where kids can choose from EA Sports FC26, Space Invaders Forever and Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. These are running from November 8 to December 31.
And from December 17 to January 10, there’s Glam Station, with nail art and face, body art and temporary tattoos.
Tickets to Shaun The Sheep’s Circus Show cost from £10 and can be booked on the website. Find out more about the full programme here.
Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ
Christmas Fair, Trafford Centre
The festive season kicks off in full at the Trafford Centre this weekend with two characters parades on Saturday, November 15.
The Christmas Parade takes place at 11.30am and 2.30pm and will feature favourite characters such as Bluey and Bingo, Paddington, Gruffalo, Stickman, Hey Duggee and of course, Father Christmas himself. The events is free, but is very popular so it’s advised to get there early to grab a good spot.
And there’s lots more happening at the centre this Christmas too, including the return of its grotto, the huge Christmas fair and an ice rink.
The big wheel is already up offering views over the Trafford skyline and beyond – with tickets costing £5 for kids and £7 for adults – and next month will see the opening of Gandeys Snowstorm Wish inside the big top.
The fairground – open from November 22 to January 4 – will feature a range of rides and there’ll be Christmas market huts outside it serving up seasonal delights such as mulled wine and Bratwurst.
The Trafford Centre grotto is back (Image: The Trafford Centre)
Entry costs £3 online, or £3.50 at the gate, and visitors buy tokens costing £1 each to pay for the rides, which cost between 1 and 5 tokens each.
The rink is open between the same dates, giving visitors the chance to skate under the stars with friends and family, before warming up with a cup of hot chocolate.
Tickets cost £12.50 for ages 13 plus and £10 for under 12s off peak and £15, or £12.50 at peak times. For a family of four – either two adults and two kids, or one adult and three kids, it’s £40 off peak and £50 peak.
The grotto opens from November 22 and will once again be housed in the the former Frankie & Benny’s restaurant outside The Great Hall. This year, families are set to ‘become part of a magical mission… saving Christmas cheer’.
Gandeys’ show runs from December 5 to January 4 and invites guests to step into the frost-kissed realm of Snowstorm Wish, ‘where world-class figure skaters, jaw-dropping circus artists, and breathtaking visuals come together in a magical blend of storytelling, artistry, and adrenaline’. Tickets are available from £10 on the website.
Find out more about Christmas at the Trafford Centre here.
Trafford Centre, Trafford, M17 8EH
The Christmas Fair is returning to the Trafford Centre(Image: The Trafford Centre)Skate Manchester, Cathedral Gardens
Manchester’s huge ice rink is back open in the city centre, partially powered by a wind turbine with a cute snow globe attached to the bottom of it for visitors to skate around.
There’s another new addition to this year’s rink in the form of a ‘Skate on and Skate off Caffè Nero Pit Stop’, available during skating for those needing a break and a hot chocolate or mulled wine, plus a VIP ticket option allowing for a fast-track entry into the rink.
This year’s rink forms part of a first-of-its-kind partnership with Octopus energy, which has supplied the 15-metre tall 15kW turbine.
And the good news for Octopus customers is that anyone signed up to its reward scheme Octoplus can get a two for the price of one ticket offer.
This year’s rink features a wind turbine with a giant snow globe attached(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
From now until December 6 the rink will be open daily from 11am to 9pm (doors open at 10.30am), with the last session starting at 8pm. From December 7 to January 4, opening hours extend from 10am to 9pm (doors open at 9.30am), with the last session starting at 8pm.
Skating sessions last up to 45 minutes, organisers recommend ticketholders to arrive 30 to 40 minutes before their session to get ready to take to the ice.
Adults/teens from £17.50 (off peak + booking fee), children (aged between 3 and 12 years old) from £13.75 (off peak + booking fee) and family ticket from £52 (based on two adults and two children, or one adult and three children, off peak + booking fee).
VIP Fast Track adults/teens from £23.50 (off peak + booking fee), children (aged between 3 and 12 years old) from £19.75 (off peak + booking fee), family ticket from £76 (based on two adults and two children, or one adult and three children, off peak + booking fee).
Skates are available to hire at the rink for £5 on a first-come, first-served basis (subject to terms and conditions).
To book tickets visit the website here.
Cathedral Gardens, Corporation Street, Manchester, M4 3BG
Skate Manchester(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)Manchester Christmas Parade
Manchester’s popular Christmas Parade, billed as ‘the heartwarming event of the festive season’ is returning on Sunday, December 7.
Now in its fourth year, the annual parade has been a festive favourite with Mancunians since first taking place in the city centre in December 2022.
In previous years the spectacular Christmas parade has featured life-sized festive animals, a toy procession, lollipop dancers, giant snails and of course Santa weaving their way along the city’s streets.
The parade is set to be filled with music and laughter with the return of Manchester’s very own, spectacular Elf Express, complete with VIP passenger Santa hitching a ride on his way to the North Pole, together with his trusty team of elves.
Manchester Christmas Parade will return on December 7(Image: Mark Waugh)
Expect also to see Nutcracker-inspired Toy Soldiers sweeping their way through the parade on Segways whilst happy to stop and pose for saluting selfies, a roaming Christmas tree, a pair of gentle giant-sized reindeer escorted by elves, a stunning Artic Fox, and Jack Frost himself accompanied by a troupe of frosty dancers.
Brand new also for this year will be the fantastic Festive Fantasy Candyland Castle – described as ‘truly the stuff of fairytales and sugarplum dreams’.
And of course it wouldn’t be the Manchester Christmas Parade without everyone’s favourite, the enchanting Snow Queen mesmerising all as she sits in her giant snow globe sliding her way through the city streets.
In past years the parade has set off at 12pm, but organisers say the exact timings of the 2025 parade will be confirmed nearer the parade date.
Manchester’s Christmas Parade is back in December (Image: Mark Waugh)Christmas Family Experience, The Hideaway
A new Christmas Family Experience is coming to Greater Manchester from the team behind The Hideaway children’s play and community centre.
The Hideaway, part of the Hidden Treasure Trust, a grassroots charity supporting families facing poverty in Partington, is promising to bring ‘something truly special’ to Altrincham, with ‘a magical and affordable Christmas Experience that gives back’.
It’s been loaned a warehouse space to create the event where visitors will journey through eight immersive themed zones, including Narnia, The Grinch, Santa’s Grotto, and The Gingerbread House.
The event will feature crafts, food, and festive fun, all designed to inspire families to give back this Christmas. Every penny raised will support The Hideaway’s vital work helping local families thrive and break the cycle of poverty.
There’ll be the opportunity to visit Santa as an optional extra, as well as a VR sleigh ride, inflatable Christmas slide and the festive Starry Night Café for Christmassy treats.
The event runs from November 29 to December 31, with tickets costing from £12.50 on the website here.
D3, Network Business Park, Atlantic Street, Broadheath, Altrincham, WA14 5EW
A new Christmas Family Experience is coming to Greater Manchester from the team behind The Hideaway(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)Knowsley Safari
Knowsley Safari’s illuminated festive extravaganza, Enchanted, is returning this winter.
The event sees a spectacular trail of illuminated animal displays come alive after dark, transforming the Foot Safari into ‘a world of colour and festive fantasia’.
Running from November 22 to December 23, it will feature life-size light-up animals including giraffes, penguins, zebras and polar bears – plus, of course, Santa’s Grotto.
Visitors can explore an Enchanted Woodland, take selfies in neon geometric-shaped walkways – and for the budding actors in the family, perform in their own shadow puppet show for everyone else to see.
The magical Winter Village, with crackling fire pits and popular marshmallow toasting, will also be returning, as well as rides and amusements, as well as festive food and drinks.
Access to Enchanted is from 4pm until 8pm, with tickets starting from £9.50, dependent on peak periods and special discounts for members. Under 1s and carers are free. Book on the website.
Knowsley Safari, Prescot, Merseyside, L34 4AN
Enchanted at Knowsley Safari(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)Santa Specials, East Lancashire Railway
Tickets for the Santa Specials at East Lancs Railway fly out each year, but there are some spaces remaining for the ‘magical’ trips, which give families the chance to enjoy a steam train journey through Lancashire’s very own winter wonderland.
The seasonal event attracts more than 40,000 people each year and features decorated stations, brass bands, carol singers and costumed characters.
East Lancashire Railway’s Santa Specials return for 2025(Image: East Lancashire Railway)
Little ones get to meet Father Christmas as he gives a present to each child and a glass of Sherry and mince pie to the adults.
The Santa Special journeys will kick off on the weekend of November 22 and 23 and will continue every weekend until December 14 and then daily from December 21 to Christmas Eve.
Tickets begin at £22.50 for children and £23 for adults – available here. People can also pre-book tickets for the Santa Shuttle Diesel Railcar (£3 per adult, £2 for children) to make their way from Heywood to Bury Bolton Street Station in true festive style.
East Lancashire Railway, Bury Bolton Street Station, Bolton Street, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0EY
Tickets for the Santa Specials at East Lancs Railway fly out each yearLanterns and Light, Chester Zoo
Animals of a different kind come out to play at Chester Zoo at Christmas time – glowing ones.
Lanterns and Light is a festive family event featuring animal-inspired illuminations, magical lanterns, twinkly costumed characters and Father Christmas himself.
Chester Zoo has revealed a raft of new additions for 2025, with organisers promising this year’s trail will be its ‘brightest ever’.
The event will see the zoo transform into a spectacular winter wonderland with colour-changing forests, glowing animals, show-stopping puppets and a host of new immersive installations.
Among the exciting new highlights is The Airquarium, ‘a dreamlike world filled with floating, glowing sea creatures’, and the Bubble Walk, ‘a joyful explosion of light and colour’. Also debuting this year is Submergence, ‘an awe-inspiring walk-through tunnel of light that fully immerses guests in a dazzling, interactive display’.
Alongside the new additions, much-loved attractions will return, including giant festive baubles, neon-lit walkways, marshmallow toasting stations, fairground rides, an enchanting fire garden and the chance to catch a glimpse of Father Christmas hard at work in his toy workshop with his busy team of elves.
The event is running on selected dates from November 14 to January 3. Tickets, priced from £19 for adults, £12 for children, £2.50 for toddlers (babies under 12 months go free) are available on the website.
Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester, Chester, CH2 1EU
Chester Zoo’s Lanterns and Light event(Image: Chester Zoo)Cockfields Farm Park Christmas Experience
Tickets are always a sell-out for the popular Christmas event at Cockfields Farm Park so you’ll have to be quick to get a slot.
The Magical Experience is taking place this year with a ‘magical train ride to the North Pole’ and a ‘heartwarming visit with Santa in his cosy grotto’.
Families get to ‘journey through a snowy, festive landscape’, wander through Elf Village and receive a golden coin from Santa to exchange for a toy in Santa’s Toy Shop.
There’s an Enchanted Forest, a Christmas show and build-your-own-bear experience, treat decorating in Mrs Claus’s Kitchen and so much more.
The event runs every weekend from November 29 to December 21 and then daily from December 22 to Christmas Eve. Tickets, costing £32.87 for adults and £41.97 for children, can be booked online. Under ones cost £16.07.
Cockfields Farm, Lees Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8AR
The Christmas Experience at Cockfields Farm(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)Believe! The Polar Express Experience
A brand new Polar Express experience has arrived in Manchester this Christmas from Warner Bros.
Believe! The Polar Express Experience is a ‘fully immersive walkthrough experience’ and promises to ‘bring the magic of Christmas to life’ this winter.
Families are invited to journey through the heart of the beloved story, following the Hero Boy and Hero Girl on what’s being described as a ‘fantastical trip to the North Pole’.
It’s not a train ride, but something ‘entirely new’, bringing the world of The Polar Express off the tracks and into a hands-on ‘magical adventure’ designed for those looking to experience the story in a brand new, up-close way.
Brought to Manchester by Warner Bros Discovery Global Experiences, Rail Events Inc and Plus Live Events, it will be taking place at Victoria Warehouse from November 14 to December 31. Find out more about the experience here.
Ticket prices range from £39.50 to £49.50, depending on the date and time selected. For exact timings, pricing, and more event information, visit the website here. A relaxed performance day for guests with neuro diverse conditions will also be held, with details released closer to the date.
Victoria Warehouse, Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, Stretford, M17 1AB
Believe! The Polar Express Experience at Victoria Warehouse(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)Christmas at Dunham Massey
An ‘unforgettable’ Christmas is once again promised at Dunham Massey with the return of its spectacular lights trail.
The after-dark illuminated trail has become a cherished attraction over the years and this year features an array of enchanting new light installations, alongside beloved favourites.
Created by Culture Creative and brought to you by Sony Music in partnership with the National Trust, Christmas at Dunham Massey promises a magical experience for visitors of all ages.
Among the exciting additions for 2025 is ‘Fish Are Jumping’, an installation that brings the lake to life with illuminated points of light leaping like fish in a mesmerising dance of light and reflection.
Multicoloured lasers invite guests to wander through a vibrant landscape of dynamic, colourful laser beams, creating ‘an immersive and otherworldly atmosphere’.
A captivating projection on the façade of the historic house will also narrate festive stories through ‘dazzling’ visuals, seamlessly blending Dunham Massey’s rich heritage with modern technology.
Additionally, a large triangular geometric light show, enhanced by atmospheric haze, will provide a dramatic moment that is sure to captivate visitors.
Alongside these new features, guests can look forward to the iconic tunnel of lights, larger-than-life illuminated flowers, and the ever-popular appearances by Father Christmas.
A selection of hand-picked street food vendors will be on-site and visitors can warm up with a spiced winter drink, enjoy a rich hot chocolate, or sample toasted marshmallows.
The event runs on selected dates from November 14 to January 3. Tickets, costing from £17 for adults and from £12.50 for children (under twos free), can be purchased here.
Dunham Massey, Woodhouse Lane, Altrincham, WA14 4SJ
Christmas at Dunham Massey returns for 2025(Image: Andrew Ogilvy / Christmas at Dunham Massey)Twilight Tales, Manchester
A new Christmas event has arrived in Manchester city centre this year as Winter Island returns for the festive season.
Following the success of the popular Twilight Trail at Mayfield Park, the event has evolved into Twilight Tales, which takes place over at Freight Island’s spacious and heated courtyard, transforming it into ‘a wonderland of light, sound and festive adventure’.
Purpose-built for the 2025 festive season, Twilight Tales has been designed to be Manchester’s most financially accessible Christmas experience for families, with children’s tickets starting from only £5, and promises to be ‘a captivating blend of storytelling and sensory discovery’.
Guests begin their journey by stepping into ‘a towering enchanted garden’, centred around a giant storybook that brings the tale to life, surrounded by ‘a twinkling Christmas tree forest’.
This ‘magical entrance’ will set the scene for the adventures ahead, promising to immerse visitors ‘in a world of festive storytelling and wonder’. Throughout the tales, Santa’s mischievous elves will be playing hide and seek, with guests who spot all 10 having the chance to win a festive gift.
Twilight Tales(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
The experience continues as guests step into a series of immersive walkthrough installations, ‘each one bursting with festive wonder and designed to ignite the imagination’.
Following the walkthrough journey, guests are invited to discover The North Pole Playground – an illuminated playground space in Mayfield Park designed for both children and grown-ups to play, explore, and let their imaginations run wild.
Guests will then be invited to climb aboard The Twilight Express – a neon-lit train experience that promises to ‘capture the excitement of a festive journey to the North Pole, with shimmering carriages filled with bursts of steam, enchanting sound effects and interactive controls’.
The Twilight Tales experience leads into ‘a cosy festive celebration’ where guests can gather around the firepit to toast complimentary marshmallows, enjoy hot chocolate or mulled wine, and for the little ones to get creative in Santa’s Workshop with crafts, plus free face painting.
Families can capture ‘the perfect festive photo’ on Santa’s sleigh and send Christmas wishes through the giant magical mail chute.
Winter Island, billed as the north’s largest heated indoor and outdoor winter festival, is now a beloved fixture of Manchester’s festive calendar. Just a short five-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station, Freight Island is an ideal spot for those travelling into the city and features a range of food and drink vendors and varied entertainment.
Winter Island (including Twilight Tales) runs from Thursday, November 13 to Wednesday, December 31.
Tickets for Twilight Tales are £5 (off-peak) and £6 (peak) for kids, £8 (off-peak) and £9 (peak) for adults. Family tickets are available at £24 (off-peak) and £27 (peak) for a family of four, up to two adults and two children.
A child ticket purchased throughout October includes a Kids Eat Free offer at Freight Island. To book, visit the website here.
Freight Island, Baring Street, Manchester, M1 2PZ
The North Pole Playground, part of the Twilight Tales event at Mayfield and Freight Island(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)Enchanted Winter Walk, Quarry Bank
There’s lots of festive fun planned at Quarry Bank this Christmas.
Events include the Enchanted Winter Walk with festive lighting and illuminated walkways where families can wander through the Upper Garden. Keep an eye out for Mrs. Claus preparing the sleigh for Christmas Eve, and don’t forget to pick up your reindeer food ready for the big day.
Tickets cost £9.50 per person, which includes entry plus a hot drink for adults. And for children tickets include entry, reindeer food and a child size hot drink. Book on the website here.
Quarry Bank’s indoor play space has also had a Christmas glow up. Younger visitors can transform into a character from the dressing-up wardrobe, and take to the stage. Plus, they can create puppet shows and challenge themselves to a giant board game.
Quarry Bank, Styal, Cheshire, SK9 4HP
Enchanted Winter Walk, Quarry Bank(Image: National Trust Images/Rob Coleman)Northern Lights, Heaton Park
A new Christmas light trail is making its debut at Heaton Park this winter.
Promising to transform ‘the city’s most iconic park into a glittering wonderland of 16 awe-inspiring light illuminations’, tickets are now on sale for Northern Lights Manchester.
From the creators of the popular Kendal Calling and Bluedot festivals, previous From The Fields trails, including Christmas at Bute Park and Northern Lights in Leeds and Newcastle, have been a huge success.
It was back in May when the company first announced its plan for Heaton Park, but now more details have been revealed.
With the first glimpse of this year’s trail map and preview of five illuminations, visitors can now start to visualise its scale and plan their festive journey through 16 ‘breathtaking’ lighting arrangements, synchronised to original soundtracks within the iconic park.
Each illumination has been designed by the creative teams behind headline installations at Kew Gardens, Netflix premieres and Glastonbury festival.
At the end of the trail, visitors will find a variety of festive treats within the Christmas Village, including mulled wine, hot chocolate, and toasted marshmallows, as well as vintage fairground rides.
Northern Lights Manchester runs from November 20 until December 31. Opening times are 4.15pm to 8.15pm (times may vary during off-peak days), and entry slots are every 15 minutes.
It’s expected to take visitors around 90 minutes to enjoy the mile-long route.
Prices for adults range from £15 to £23.95, while children (aged 3-16) are £5 to £16.50, and under threes go free. You can use the code LIGHTS20 to get 20% off for a limited time on the website here.
Heaton Park, Middleton Road, M25 2SW
Northern Lights is coming to Heaton Park(Image: Northern Lights Manchester)North Pole Experience, Reddish Vale Farm
The ‘most magical Christmas experience in the North West’ is promised at the popular Reddish Vale Farm this festive season where visitors are sent on ‘a magical journey’ to visit Father Christmas in his North Pole HQ.
It starts at ‘passport control’ and there’s lots of activities to do along the way – including checking whether children have behaved with the naughty/nice machine, learning special elf signs and a dance in the Elf Academy, and building your own Christmas teddy to take home.
Tickets are selling fast for the event, which runs from November 29 to December 24, but there is still some availability on the website here.
Reddish Vale Farm, Reddish Vale Road, Reddish, Stockport, SK5 7HE
Reddish Vale Farm(Image: Manchester Family/MEN)Yuletide, Tatton Park
This unique fusion of Christmas light trail and winter family festival is back for the third year running, with brand-new features and performances.
Yuletide is an immersive, theatrical journey that promises a magical escape for the whole family. Audiences are invited to step into a world of winter folklore and enjoy live music, cosy campfire stories, marshmallow toasting, and an impressive fire-juggling show – and new for this year, a troupe of leaping acrobats, a live music stage in the woods, and enchanting characters appearing round every corner.
There’s also a glittering light trail through Tatton’s famous gardens, with interactive light installations, glowing puppets, and characters inspired by festive tales.
Another new element is the wild Wassail, inspired by a centuries-old Twelfth Night tradition of singing and banging pots and pans together to bring good fortune for the coming year.
There will also be food vendors serving up tasty festive treats and mulled wine.
Yuletide runs on selected evenings from November 15 to December 23 with time slots between 3pm and 7pm. Tickets, costing from £19 for adults and £11 for children (under 2s go free) are available online.
Tatton Park, Knutsford, WA16 6QN
There’ll be some new features at this year’s Yuletide(Image: Wild Rumpus)Grumpy Grotto, Zip World, Heaton Park
For those looking for something a bit different this Christmas then you could head to Zip World at Heaton Park which is hosting a Grumpy Grotto event.
The attraction is set to be transformed into an alternative experience for kids of all ages as they embark on a quest to save their Christmas presents from the ever-present Grump.
Launching on December 6 and open on selected dates right up until Christmas Eve, this ‘fun-filled activity’ will see kids from ages three and upwards, bounce, slide and climb their way around Zip World Manchester’s popular Treetop Nets as they attempt to outsmart the Grump.
Successful adventures will see little ones enter the Grumpy Grotto where gifts are waiting to be stolen back and Christmas to be saved.
Sessions last up to an hour, at the end of which a special gift for participants will await as a reward for their efforts.
Tickets for the Grumpy Grotto cost from £12 per person and are available to book online.
Heaton Park, Manchester, M25 2GT
There’s a Grumpy Grotto event at Zip World(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)Glow at RHS Garden Bridgewater
RHS Garden Bridgewater once again transforms into a magical wonderland as RHS Glow returns with ‘a spectacular trail of light, sound, and festive joy’.
On selected evenings between November 26 and December 30, visitors are invited to experience the garden after dark, where twinkling installations, seasonal music, and warming treats await.
As dusk falls, the garden comes alive with 24 dazzling light artworks, including 13 installations never before seen at RHS Bridgewater and four brand new creations designed exclusively for RHS Glow.
This year’s trail promises moments of wonder around every corner, with interactive experiences, poetic sculptures, and glowing surprises that will delight all ages.
Among the highlights are two UK premieres. At Garden Cottage, internationally acclaimed light artist Tine Bech presents Enchanted Exchange, a playful installation where visitors can control the colours of the light show, connecting RHS Glow with Lightwaves Salford via a live webcam.
Meanwhile, in the tranquil Paradise Garden, Breathe by Kaleider floats gently on the lily pond – a kinetic sculpture that moves with the wind and light, inviting quiet reflection.
There’ll be glowing snowballs, illuminated swings which respond to movement, and so much more.
Guests can also enjoy hot chocolate, mulled wine, and toasted marshmallows along the route.
Tickets cost £13.50 for adults £8.25 members) and £7.25 for children (£4.50 members) on the website here.
Illuminated swings will feature at this year’s Glow at RHS(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)Alice in the Hidden Garden Light Trail, Bents
Bents Garden & Home is hosting a brand new Alice in the Hidden Garden Light Trail this Christmas – ‘a magical mile-long trail of twinkling lights and incredible life-sized animations’.
Promising to ‘take visitors on a magical journey telling the story of Alice’s adventures and the curious creatures she meets along the way’, the after-dark adventure will take place in the Hidden Gardens behind the centre’s outdoor plant area.
Greeted by the white rabbit himself, visitors will ‘follow a series of theatrical sets, light projections and enchanting sounds all of which depict the twists, turns and questioning conundrums of this magical story’.
Having fallen down the hole into the white rabbit’s magical world, visitors will come across famous characters from the much-loved children’s tale such as the curious caterpillar on top of his giant toadstool, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Queen of Hearts who’s lost her tarts and the maddest tea party of all.
Visitors will ‘follow a series of theatrical sets, light projections and enchanting sounds'(Image: Bents Garden and Home)
The Hidden Gardens are just as the name suggests and over the past 12 years Bents has been carefully tending to this ‘beautiful piece of land’, creating an extensive area which can now be enjoyed by customers, starting with Alice’s Winter Light Adventure.
In addition to the light features that will greet visitors throughout the story, there will also be refreshment stops offering a range of hot and cold drinks as well as delicious festive treats, all ‘delivered with a Bents’ twist’.
Visitors will embark on their journey in timed group sessions to ensure they can enjoy their experience to the full. Free parking is available at Bents, with entry to the light show through the centre, starting around the lake before entering the Hidden Gardens for the culmination of the show. The trail ends with a group ‘selfie spot’, before arriving back in Bents’ popular Winter Food Market.
The event runs Monday to Saturday from November 21 to January 3, excluding December 24 to 26, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Tickets cost from £12.95 for children, from £18.95 for adults, or from £58 for a family of four. Under threes go free. For ore details, or to book, visit the website.
Bents, Warrington Road, Glazebury, Warrington, WA3 5QQ
Bents Garden & Home is hosting a brand new Alice in the Hidden Garden Light Trail this Christmas(Image: Bents Garden and Home)Santa’s Village, Rochdale
Rochdale is getting its own real ice rink for the first time in around 20 years.
Forming part of Santa’s Village at Rochdale Town Hall Square, ‘a magical experience for all ages and skill levels’ is promised at the rink, which opens on Friday, November 21.
Anyone aged four and above will be able to skate, with skate aids available to hire for children under 120cm if they need them.
Santa’s Village will also offer the chance to book for Santa’s Grotto at the Riverside, where Father Christmas will greet families into the cosy front room of his ‘authentic, rustic’ grotto.
And there’s lots more festive fun taking place in the town this Christmas, including the return of Ignite Fire Festival, which will transform the square and gardens around Rochdale Town Hall.
The event has now been extended to include beautifully restored pathways and parkland on Broadfield Slopes plus the rink and a Christmas market.
Ignite Fire Festival will return to Rochdale this festive season(Image: Supplied)
There’ll be three free night-time shows running 5pm to 8pm on November 21 to 23, promising ‘a magical trail of fire and lights’ and expecting bigger crowds than ever.
Fiery displays, blazing sculptures and illuminated installations created by artists and pyro technicians from multi-award-winning outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank will be open to walk through each evening, with the Christmas lights switch-on taking place at 5.30pm on the final night of Sunday, November 23.
Tickets for the rink – which will be outdoor but covered – cost £9.50 for children and £13.50 for teenagers and adults. Sessions last 45 minutes.
Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult on the ice and one adult can supervise up to five children.
The rink will open Friday to Sunday from November 21 to December 14 and then daily from December 19 to January 4 with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Tickets can be booked on the website here.
Rochdale Riverside, Rochdale, OL16 1BT
Rochdale is getting its own ice rink this Christmas (Image: Santa’s Village)Animal Crackers, Lyme Park
Visitors are urged to get in to the festive spirit with choirs singing, Christmas activities, and the house dressed for Christmas.
Animal Crackers returns for a third time as Lyme’s house is taken over by magnificent and unusual beasts created by local artist Sophie Tyrrell.
Fox returns with his host of wild and wonderful friends, alongside a mystery guest. Families are invited to join in with the theatrical fun as Animal Crackers takes you on a self-guided journey of ‘mischievous merrymaking’ through the house.
Animal Crackers at Lyme Park(Image: National Trust Images/Rebecca Hughes)
Have a dance party with King Stag, perform a puppet show, and do karaoke with badgers. With larger-than-life installations and a traditional Christmas theme, it’s an immersive and festive experience for all the family.
Included in the general admissions price, tickets cost from £25.50 for a family ticket with one adult, or free for National Trust members. Visit the website to book.
The park is also hosting Choirs in the Chapel and Festive Afternoon Tea.
Lyme Park, Disley, Stockport, SK12 2NR