EXCLUSIVE: Manchester's Christmas Markets are BACK for 2021
The famous markets had to be cancelled last year because of coronavirus
Last updated 16th Sep 2021
We can exclusively reveal Manchester's Christmas Markets will be BACK later this year.
They were cancelled in 2020 because of coronavirus and ongoing restrictions.
The full plans are still being finalised - but we now know they will open to the public from Friday 12th November and run until Wednesday 22nd December.
Markets will be set up on nine different sites across the city, the ice rink will be back on Cathedral Gardens in late October, and a new Winter Wonderland is being created in Piccadilly Gardens with the fountain covered over.
We can also reveal that the infamous giant Father Christmas will be moving back to St Peter's Square.
The council tell us all Christmas events are having to meet stringent public health tests which will be kept under review.
The markets are one of Manchester's biggest events in the calendar and in 2019 attracted just under 50,000 visitors.
Councillor Pat Karney is Manchester City Council's Christmas spokesperson, he tells us the countdown is on: "I'm really really excited. It's incredibly important that Manchester's Christmas economy has this boost because tens of thousands of jobs are dependent on Manchester having a great Christmas.
"People will just want to get together in a safe way. We'll make sure that it's safe - and just enjoy being human again and enjoying Christmas.
"It's very important for all the young people in the city that they have a Christmas to remember.
"The pictures that we've had of Albert Square over the years where people have been standing on top of each other - that's a million miles from what we'll be doing this year.
"Each site will have very very clear entry and exit arrangements so that we don't take any public health issues with crowds."
Plans for a Christmas light switch-on are still under review as council teams check with government advice on crowd numbers and Covid passes.
"The government keeps changing it's mind on Covid passports and crowds, and we haven't come to a separate decision on a big switch-on and a New Year celebration - but we'll come back to that in a couple of weeks."
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