Festive Sundays
Manchester city centre
Every Sunday from 13 November – 18 December 2022
Times vary
FREE
WE WISH YOU A MANCHESTER CHRISTMAS
SIX SUNDAYS OF FESTIVE FAMILY FUN PLANNED IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE
Manchester city centre will be getting into the Christmas spirit with its series of Festive Sundays – six consecutive Sundays of sparkling street performances to delight and surprise families in the run up to Christmas 2022.
Commissioned and produced by Manchester Business Improvement District, on behalf of the city centre’s leading retailers and hospitality venues, in partnership with Manchester City Council, Festive Sundays will see roaming puppets, supersized penguins and illuminated bands take to the city’s main shopping streets, every Sunday from 13 November – 18 December. The events will create a fun and festive atmosphere for those doing Christmas shopping and enjoying Manchester’s bars and restaurants or visiting the city’s famous Christmas Markets.
The first two Sundays (13 & 20 November), will see an array of themed roaming performances around the central retail district, including a roaming Snow Globe, Living Lampposts, Mirror Men, Snow Fox Stilt Walkers, Penguins, Crumpet the Elf, Fat Cat Brass Band – and Spark! light-up band, combining LED lighting with beautiful costumes, choreography, and high impact drumming.
Sunday 13th November, 1pm – 7pm
Sunday 20th November, 12pm – 7pm
Manchester Arndale, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Street, St Ann’s Square, King Street and Deansgate
On the middle Sundays (27 November & 4 December), families can enjoy an illuminating early evening, with enchanting Ghost Caribou – a night-time street act with giant creatures, part caribou, part human who tell their story through music, song, and shadow – and the Spark! light-up band will be back.
Sunday 27th November, 4-7-pm
Sunday 4th, December, 4-7pm
St Ann’s Square and Deansgate
The final two Sundays (11 & 18 December) will see Christmas Crackers, Sugar Plum Fairies, Toy Soldiers and a Fairy Mouse taking to the city’s streets, with Sunday 11 December also including an extra special festive first for Manchester. Still under wraps at the moment, with more details set to be revealed very soon, a not-to-be missed city centre Christmas treat for everyone is promised.
Sunday 11th December, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm
Manchester Arndale, Market Street, St Mary’s Gate, Deansgate, St Ann’s, Cross Street
Sunday 18th December, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm
Manchester Arndale, Market Street
Jane Sharrocks, Manchester BID Chair and General Manager of Selfridges Exchange Square said: “Our festive roaming performers were a such huge hit with visitors last year, that we’re delighted to be able to build on this for 2022, with six consecutive Sundays of enchanting events.
“By working collaboratively with Manchester City Council and the Christmas Markets, Manchester BID’s Festive Sundays will enhance the visitor experience to the city centre this Christmas, particularly for families, who can enjoy everything the city centre has to offer on what is traditionally a quieter day.”
Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said: “Christmas in Manchester is going to be magical this year with the city’s streets and squares stuffed full of free entertainment and things to see and do to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.
“We’ve also got an extra special seasonal surprise that we’re keeping under our Christmas hats at the moment but that promises to be a spectacular festive first for Manchester. Watch this space – it’s going to be a cracker!”
For timings and event updates, visit visitmanchester.com/christmas
For more media information please contact Anoushka or Kat at ECHO on 07732 846650 or email anoushka@echo-pr.co.uk / kat@echo-pr.co.uk
Manchester Business Improvement District (Manchester BID)
Manchester’s Business District is a consortium of 400 leading retail and restaurant brands in the city centre. The BID is managed by the city centre management company, CityCo.
Businesses voted-in the BID in 2013 and pay a levy to help fund lobbying on a regional and national level for retail and hospitality industries, City Hosts (tourist information officers), operational and security support services, tourism campaigns and major public events, that support the vibrancy of the city centre.
The BID’s popular event programme sees the delivery of high-profile annual events in the city centre including Halloween in the City, Chinese New Year, The Manchester Flower Show, MCR Student Social shopping nights in partnership with Manchester Arndale, and retail support for Manchester Pride.
