Nostalgic addition to Manchester’s festive calendar

THE Manchester Christmas Markets will welcome a new addition to their family-friendly zone with traditional fairground attractions.

A carousel, ferris wheel, helter skelter and tea cup ride will open on Thursday November 10 in Cathedral Gardens.

Alongside the festive fair, the week before on Friday November 4, a new ice rink will be set up for visitors to enjoy for the first time.

Families will be able to skate against the picturesque backdrop of the building with the newly-lit Christmas lights twinkling in the background.

Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesman, said: “Manchester’s world-famous Christmas markets are up there with the best in the world, and this year they are getting even better.
 
“Last year the family zone was added to the Christmas Markets for the first time. This year we’re bringing you a Manchester first – an ice rink in the iconic shadows of the Cathedral and National Football Museum.

“The Christmas Markets are something that the whole family can enjoy and we expect thousands of people to get their skates on and dive – hopefully not head first – into the festive season.”

The Cathedral Gardens location was chosen to offer a spacious and more open option for families and young people to enjoy their visit away from the main festival sites.

Refreshments will be served from inside the market landmark, Windmill House, including cookies, waffles, hot chocolate and mulled wine for the grown-ups.

The ice rink will be open until Sunday January 8 from 11am to 9pm each day.