When Santa visits are a thing of the past, it can be tricky to find things to do for a festive day out
There’s a new festive race track at Chaos Karts in Manchester (Image: Chaos Karts)
It’s not easy when you’re running around after little ones and wondering if they’re actually going to want to meet Santa this year. But when the grotto visits are over, it can be tricky finding anything to interest older kids at all.
But if you are looking for ideas for the tweens and teens this Christmas, then don’t despair. I run the M.E.N’s Manchester Family Facebook page and have spent the last 10 years findings events for families to enjoy. Now I’ve been taking a look at some of the places even they won’t pull their faces at this festive season.
Whether it’s a festive walk at one of the many Christmas light trails, or you fancy taking to the ice, we’ve pulled together a few suggestions to give you and your family a little inspiration.
Chaos Karts / Pac-Man Live, Arcade Arena
If you’re wanting a less than traditional Christmas activity then Manchester’s Arcade Arena is your place. Chaos Karts is a karting experience that feels like being inside a game of Mario Kart, with the tracks projected onto the floor and walls around you – and it’s turning up the festive fun.
Chaos Karts is pulling out all the stops for the occasion with Santa’s Sky-High Track, a wonderfully wintry, high-speed Christmas circuit. Race through clouds above twinkling city lights, swirling snow, and festive fireworks as Father Christmas joins the fun.
Up to 8 drivers can take to the track as it comes to life in time for Christmas with ‘dazzling immersive effects, gamified power-ups, and spectacular seasonal visuals for turbo-charged holiday thrills’.
And for those craving a dash of retro Christmas nostalgia, the Pac-Man Live Experience promises to light up the holidays with its neon-lit, live-action maze where players dodge ghosts, collect power pellets, and race against the clock in a fast-paced, 60-minute session complete with pulsing, arcade-style sound effects.
Tickets for Chaos Karts cost from £24 as part of a family ticket, with Pac-Man tickets from £22.
Arcade Arena, Lower Byrom Street, Manchester, M3 4FP
Chaos Karts has turned festive(Image: Chaos Karts)Northern Lights, Heaton Park
A new Christmas light trail has made its debut at Heaton Park this winter in the form of Northern Lights – brought to Manchester by From The Fields, the creators of the popular Kendal Calling and Bluedot festivals.
The event features 16 installations spread across the mile-long route and each one offers something new, from the mesmerising, shimmering trees of the Frosted Forest to the sharp green beams illuminating the foggy air inside Laser Garden.
At the entrance to the Christmas Village – where the trail begins and finishes – there’s a bright pink Where Loves Lives archway playing the music to this year’s Christmas TV advert from John Lewis, which is the headline sponsor for the trail.
Inside the village is a range of stalls selling food and drink, as well as a few rides including the spinning carriage Joker ride for older kids and adults and a big wheel.
There’s a variety of food available including Crimbo cones and loaded chippy barms from Super Fry Guys’ Chippy Chick, duck rice bowls and wraps from Duck & Roll, burgers, pizzas, toasties and, of course, sausages.
And at around the half way point of the trail you can stop off for some marshmallow toasting and a drink from the Bar truck or a Hotel Chocolat Chocmobile serving up hot chocolates, coffees and teas.
The event runs from now 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.
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 book on the website here. Rides cost an extra £5 per person.
Heaton Park, Middleton Road, M25 2SW
READ MORE: 36 pictures of Northern Lights Christmas trail at Heaton Park with full food and drink price listsChristmas Fair, Trafford Centre
The kids might not want to see the big man in his grotto, but there’s lots more to entertain older ones at the Trafford Centre.
The huge Christmas fair has arrived with rides for kids of all ages, including some for the thrill seekers of the family.
An ice rink has also opened for the festive season, along with a big wheel offering views over the Trafford skyline and beyond. And next month will see the opening of Gandeys Snowstorm Wish inside the big top.
The fairground – open from now until to January 4 – costs £3 to enter if you book 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. There are Christmas market huts outside the fair serving up seasonal delights such as mulled wine and Bratwurst.
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.
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 and ice rink are back at the Trafford Centre(Image: The Trafford Centre)Skate Manchester, Cathedral Gardens
Manchester’s huge ice rink is back open in the city centre in the Christmas Markets’ Cathedral Gardens zone.
It looks a bit different this year as it’s partially powered by a wind turbine with a cute snow globe attached to the bottom of it for visitors to skate around. Forming part of a first-of-its-kind partnership with Octopus energy, which has supplied the 15-metre tall 15kW turbine, 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.
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.
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.
Of course you could always visit the markets while you’re there, but it depends how much cash you have to splash. With a total of 274 stalls spread across the city this year, including 26 at Albert Square, there are food and drink operators serving up all kinds of cuisine.
Cathedral Gardens, Corporation Street, Manchester, M4 3BG
Skate Manchester in Cathedral Gardens(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)Courts Club Winter Assembly, Manchester
Another place older kids will enjoy is the cosy winter hideaway in the heart of St John’s in Manchester city centre.
The Winter Assembly has returned to Courts Club with Christmas film screenings every Sunday and there are private karaoke cabins that groups can book.
There’s a range of street food traders serving up everything from Bratwurst to Scottish/Indian fusion food and guests can expect a line-up of indulgent festive drinks including tasty hot chocolates.
Courts Club, Goods Yard St, Manchester, M3 3BG
Winter Assembly at Courts Club(Image: mark crayden photography)Santa’s Village, Rochdale
Another place the kids can skate is Rochdale, which 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 opened on Friday, November 21 as part of Santa’s Village.
Tickets for the rink – which is outdoors 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 is open Friday to Sunday from now 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
There’s another ice rink in Rochdale too(Image: Santa’s Village)Christmas cinemas
You could always check out one of Manchester’s hidden cinemas this Christmas.
There’s one inside King Street Hotel it’s showing a host of festive favourites this year including Home Alone, Elf and How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Tickets have already been flying out for the screenings, which take place on weekends from November 15 to December 7, and then daily from December 12 to Christmas Eve.
Elf is showing at the King Street Townhouse cinema(Image: King Street Townhouse)
Films are shown at various times and include something for all ages. You can buy tickets either just for the film or to include snacks, afternoon tea and cocktails too. There’s a full screening room menu featuring everything from popcorn and pick ‘n’ mix, to pizzas, hot dogs, burgers, nachos and loaded fries.
Tickets for the films cost £15 per person, plus booking fees. For cocktail, screening and snacks it’s £30 per person and if you’re booking afternoon tea too – which is enjoyed before the screening – it’s £65 a head and also includes a cocktail, popcorn and pick ‘n’ mix.
To find out more, visit the website here and to book, see the screenings on Eventbrite.
And there’s another cinema inside the new Treehouse Hotel, which opened in the city centre earlier this year.
Flix boutique screening room is inside the new Treehouse Hotel(Image: Simon Brown Photography / Treehouse)
Flix, a 43-seat boutique screening room and you don’t have to be staying at the hotel to enjoy the cinema as it’s open to anyone – and there’s a host of Christmas and family films showing this festive season including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, Love Actually, The Polar Express, Home Alone and more.
It promises ‘a premium cinematic experience, featuring 4K projection and Dolby Atmos surround sound to ensure an exceptional viewing in a stylish and intimate setting’.
Tickets are priced at £12.50 for adults and £6.50 for children and are available to book on the Treehouse website.