World famous Manchester Christmas Markets confirm 2017 dates

By I Love MCR
Last Updated 6 years ago

Manchester City Council have now confirmed dates for Manchester Christmas Markets 2017 dates which are 10 November to 20 December, with the Albert Square site closing on 21 December at 6pm.

Free and accessible to all, Manchester’s Christmas Markets are amongst the top 20 in Europe according to a poll at European Best Destinations. Arguably (non-negotiable) the largest and best Christmas Market in the country, Manchester Christmas Markets is the ideal destination for a festive group outing.

The Manchester Christmas Markets just get bigger and better every year, turning the city centre into a festive wonderland.

This year they were open longer than ever before, lasting no fewer than 41 days (42 in Albert Square), with nearly 350 stalls offering a massive array of produce.

Launched in 1999, the Manchester Christmas Markets aka German Markets were the first in the UK, growing from a single site in St Ann’s Square in 1999 to become one of the biggest in Europe.

Spread across the city centre, some 300 traders offer mouth-watering international food, drinks and delicately crafted Yuletide gifts in the heart of this buzzing city. Our family friendly site on Cathedral Gardens has its own ice rink, so plenty to keep the kids happy.

In Albert Square’s traditional German zone, the food stalls’ delicious scents tempt you to a mug of warming gluhwein or a tasty bratwurst, while the flavour in nearby King Street is distinctively French, with crepes and macaroons on offer. One of the original and longest serving traders, Dirk the Dutch Flowerman, sets the scene with a beautiful array of Christmas trees, wreaths and household decorations, and the stunning variety of jewellery, arts and crafts available would satisfy even the fussiest list for Santa.

So hallo bratwurst, gluhwein, Bavarian strudels and stollen. Goede dag Dutch waffles, Buddha candle and incense holders, handmade soy candles, alpaca accessories and liquorice. Nice one African hand crafted garden pots, reindeer skins and clothes, hot water bottle covers, Nepalese woollen jumpers, chocolate-dipped fruit kebabs and those big chocolates that look like marshmallows but aren’t.

There’s no place like Manchester at Christmas time.

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