Free Christmas events Manchester 2025
One again there are loads of fantastic and free festive events across Greater Manchester. Find all free Christmas events Manchester 2025. This post is part of a series of posts on Free Christmas events North West.
If you have an event you want to be added, drop me an email at – info@northwestforkids.co.uk and send me the details.
I’ve done my best to add the details of all these events accurately and keep it up to date but I strongly advise you to click through and check on the organiser’s website to ensure the dates and times have not changed and that the event is going ahead before travelling.
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Lightwaves – free light festival 2025
Where: Salford Quays and MediaCity
When: 4th – 7th December 2025
Lightwaves returns to Salford Quays and MediaCity to brighten up the dark winter nights. Visitors of all ages can enjoy illuminated works from established as well as emerging artists, local and national, bringing a variety of different pieces; thought-provoking, surprising and playful.
Full details here – Lightwaves Salford 2025 – QUAYS CULTURE
Manchester Christmas parade 2025
Where: across Manchester city centre
When: 7th December 2025
It promises to be jingle bells all the way on the day with a parade filled with music and laughter that will see 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.
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, the naughtiest full-of-mischief 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 – truly the stuff of fairytales and sugarplum dreams. Standing over 3 metres tall and surrounded by candy canes, the whimsical fairytale turreted castle slowly rotates as it glides along and is sure to bring the ooos and aahs and have all the youngsters in the crowd wide-eyed with wonder.
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.
Full details here – Manchester Christmas Parade
Ignite Fire Festival and Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch On 2025
Where: Rochdale Memorial Gardens, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ
When: 21st – 23rd November 2025, 5-8pm (light switch on 23rd), Torchlight procession 21st
Step into a world of fiery displays, blazing sculptures and glowing installations created by the award-winning outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank.
Full details here – Ignite – Fire Festival and Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch On | Rochdale Borough Council
Fletcher Moss Christmas trail, Broad oak heart trail – details for 2025
20th December 2025 – 5th January 2026
Follow the hand-painted hearts around Fletcher Moss using your trail sheet.
Find out more here – Broad oak heart trail
Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday 2025
When: 16th November 2025, 11am – 5pm
Free, one-day festival packed with magical street theatre, extraordinary performers, banging brass bands, carnival fun and loads more to kick off the festive season in Stockport.
Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday is back on Sunday 16 November. Now in its third year, this huge free event is our town’s unique way of launching Christmas and 2025 is set to be our biggest and best yet. Expect festive bands, comedy street theatre, huge puppets and hundreds of performers filling the streets all day long. Join us as we kick off the festive season the Stockport way.
Full details here – Stockport Spectacular Sunday
Magical Winter Tree Treasure hunt at Heaton park – no details yet for 2025
When:
Find out more here – Magical Winter Tree Treasure Hunt
Free Willow lantern making workshop, Waterside Sale, sold out for 2025
When: 6th December 2025
Lantern parade, Stanley square, Sale – 2025 details
When: 6th December 2025. 5-6pm
Where: starting Waterside plaza and finishing in Stanley Square.
Sale town’s skies will be illuminated by an intriguing carnival of light this Christmas. Celebrating nightime nocturnals, this year’s lantern parade will be led by illuminated magical animals and more! With music and merriment join us for a magical night walk through the town.
Full details here – Lantern Parade, Stanley Square Sale | Our Kids Social
Low cost Santa’s Grotto at Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream – no details yet for 2025
Full details here – Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm
Altrincham free Christmas events – 2025 details
Altrincham Lantern Parade & Nativity Journey
When: Saturday, 13th December 2025
Full details to follow. Find them here – Altrincham Lantern Parade & Nativity Journey
Advent trail, John Leigh Park
When: 6th December to the New year.
One again they’ve teamed up with Altrincham Baptist Church and friends of John Leigh Park to give you an Advent Trail full of wonder.
Perfect for all ages this trail is a festive journey to explore and enjoy!
Full details here – Advent trail
Nativity trail, Stamford park with St George’s church
When: 6th December through to the New Year!
Follow the clues on their Nativity Trail, discover the missing word, and return to the café for a small prize!
Full details here – Nativity trail
Stalybridge Street Fest – details for 2025
When: 25th November 2025 5-9pm
Where: Armentieres Square
Expect family fun, live music and tasty food and drink.
Full details here – Stalybridge Street Fest – November 2025
Wonderland family festive fun day, Z-Arts
When: 7th December 2025. 11am – 2pm, drop in
Where: Z-Arts, 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5ZA
Wintry Storytelling – listen to some new and well-loved festive stories.
Arts & Crafts – create a festive decoration to take home.
Christmas Games – try out your hand playing some festive themed games.
Wonderland Disco Room – come and have a dance with us in our winter wonderland disco!
Full details here – Wonderland family festive fun day
Winter holidays at Manchester Museum of science and industry – details for 2025
When: 20th December 2025 – 4th January 2026
Discover the science behind shadows, draw faces of friends and family in the Silhouette Station and play with colourful projections in a shadow skyline. Plus, join our expert Explainers and put your mind to the test with brain-boggling illusions in our science show.
Get that festive feeling this December as you step inside the newly reopened Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery.
Model railways and toy trains have been a staple under the Christmas tree for generations—visit Power Hall and see the real-life locomotives that inspired these childhood favourites. Be inspired by these iconic engines and create your own using super-sized building blocks in the Revolution Manchester gallery.
Full details here – Winter holidays | Science and Industry Museum
Christmas at Salford Museum – 2025 details
There are lots of free Christmas events at Salford Museum.
Victorian Storytime – 9th December 2025, Free but booking required
Festive card making workshop – 1-2pm 12th December 2025, free drop in
Christmas Carols with Salford Cathedral Choir – 13th December 2025, free drop in
Christmas Decoration Workshop – 1-3pm 19th December 2025, free drop in
Festive mark making – 10:30 -11:30 am 19th December 2025, £1 per child, booking required
Musical Christmas Piano Performance – 10:30 – 11:30 am 21st December 2025, free drop in
Full details of all of these events here – Christmas at Salford Museum
Free winter festival at Ordsall Hall – 2025 details
When: 14th December 2025
Taking place throughout the interior of Ordsall Hall, as well as our magnificent gardens, our popular annual winter event returns for yet another year. We will be offering a fantastic selection of crafts, activities and refreshments suitable for the entire family.
There will also be a live choir and festive music happening throughout! The entire building will be decked out for the holiday season so it’s the perfect day to come explore all we have to offer during this magical time of year.
Be sure to keep an eye out because you may even spot Father Christmas himself roaming the grounds and enjoying the festivities!
Full details – Ordsall Hall winter festival
Winterfest at Hulme Community garden centre – 2025 details
When: 6th December 2025, 10:30am – 4:30pm
Where: 28 Old Birley Street, Manchester, M15 5
A day of festive winter family friendly fun! Make a winter wreath, an ivy crown or a tree decoration. Stalls, live music, mulled wine, and delicious food from the Garden Cafe.
Full details – Winterfest at Hulme Community garden centre
Free for National Trust members
Animal crackers Christmas at Lyme – details for 2025
When: 28th November – 24th December 2025
Free (admission fees apply to none members), booking not required.
The third year of Animal Crackers sees Fox returning with his host of wild and wonderful friends, alongside a mystery guest.
Join in the theatrical fun as Animal Crackers takes you on a self-guided visual journey of mischievous merrymaking through the house designed by The Strange Train Company.
Join in the theatrical fun as Animal Crackers takes you on a self-guided journey of mischievous merrymaking through the house, designed by artist Sophie Tyrell. Have a dance party with King Stag, perform a puppet show, and do karaoke with the 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 or free for National Trust Members, enjoy a low-cost full festive day out at Lyme this winter.
Full details here – Christmas at Lyme| Cheshire | National Trust
Winter family trail with Speechly the Pineapple, Dunham Massey – Details for 2025
When: 13th November 2025 – 28th February 2026
Embark on a magical winter journey with Speechly the Pineapple as he explores the estate while the house is closed! Follow the frosty trail through ancient woodland and sleeping garden, uncovering clues of the season with surprises along the way. Perfect for young explorers.
Full details – Winter Family Trail with Speechly the Pineapple
Christmas lights switch on events Manchester
- Dukinfield – Friday 21st November 2025
- Denton – Saturday 22nd November 2025
- Ashton-under-Lyne – Saturday 22nd November 2025
- Audenshaw – Friday 28th November 2025
- Droylsden – Saturday 29th November 2025
- Hyde – Saturday 29th November 2025
- Hattersley – Friday 5th December 2025
- Mossley – Friday 5th December 2025
- Micklehurst – Saturday 6th December 2025
- Full details of all the ones above here – Tameside Christmas lights
- Timperley village – 29th November 2025. Full details – Timperley village
- Manchester print works – 29th November – full details here – Printworks
- Oldham – 15th November 2025 – Full details here – The Oldham Christmas Lights Switch-On 2025
- Rochdale – 23rd November 2025 – Full details here – Ignite Fire Festival and Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch-On
- Altrincham – 22nd November 2025 – full details – Altrincham’s Christmas Lights Switch On
- New mills – 6th December 2025 – Full details – Christmas light switch on 2025 – Visit New Mills
- Bury – The rock shopping centre Christmas parade and lights switch on – 8th November 2025. Full details here – The Rock
- Stalybridge – 25th November 2025. Full details – Stalybridge street fest
More things to do this Christmas in Manchester
Find cheap Christmas days out Manchester here.
Find the best places to enjoy Christmas shows Manchester here.
Find out Where to see Father Christmas Manchester here.
Find all the Christmas events Manchester here.
Find the best Christmas shows Manchester here.
