Whether you are new to Manchester, have grown up in the city, or are a returning student to the University, Manchester’s Christmas festivals, traditions and hotspots had something for everyone this year. Ranging from the returning Christmas Markets around the city’s landscape, Skate Manchester and the Lightopian event to the Christmas drive in cinema and plays like Aladdin in Oldham or Stick Man in Salford, Manchester’s festivities have been nothing short of diverse, popular, and wondrous. 

Manchester’s Christmas Markets returned after another tiresome year in late November and with it, opened the doors for people to resign from their troubles and indulge themselves in the festive mood and celebrations this wintry season offers. After the isolated Christmas of 2020 in which the markets were cancelled, it was enlightening to observe all the happy smiles and experience the joyous atmosphere when walking through the streets. Market Street and Exchange Square for example were constantly filled with families and students, adults and children, celebrating the end of the year and the start of the next.

The 2021 Markets even saw the introduction to a new main hub for the festivities, with the Winter Garden in Piccadilly, which offered an outdoor social space for those wanting to eat or drink in the Yuletide Bar or from the food traders stalls, and music performances that featured bands and singers on stage filling the air with a celebratory liveliness. The food in particular was delicious and the drinks refreshing, especially after their absence from our lives and our Christmas last year. Of course, when you visit Manchester’s Christmas Markets, you would be missing out if you didn’t treat yourself to the cakes, sweets, hot chocolates, coffees and teas, bagels, hot dogs, sausages, cheeses, liquorice or the warm, fresh waffles and crepes. My particular favourite in this list were the hot chocolates and marshmallows: after all, they are my own personal definition of winter and emitted a warmth that I found combated the cold Christmas we have had in 2021.  

Having only experienced two Christmas Markets in Manchester during my time as an undergraduate student before, with the first being in 2019 in my first year at University of Manchester, I found them to be especially inviting and stimulating: a break from normal life in the city and a chance to enjoy the festivities. Considering graduation is round the corner for most third years, I found that the markets were a lovely and much needed intermission from the stresses of studying and researching.

Manchester’s Christmas culture by no means ended there though. You might have enjoyed the Forbidden Forest experience or live performances like The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. However, if you preferred virtual online events, the Lapland themed Breakout Room provided a space and activity for families and students to enjoy in their homes. Whatever you had in mind for Christmas, it was at your doorstep in Manchester.

I hope all students had the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years.

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