December

It’s finally here – the season of good cheer, fluffy snow (fingers crossed), and endless family entertainment. Whether you are looking for Santa in a grotto, on the steam train or at the farm, whether skating takes your fancy or crafty sessions when you create your own Christmas decorations, whether you like carols by candlelight or sparkling lights of a firework – it’s all in our listings, just read on. And have fun!

Until 24 December 2023
Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Take part in a scavenger hunt in the winter wonderland themed MINILAND®, build a cool LEGO decoration and display it for others to see, rock around the LEGO Christmas tree at the pop-up dance parties with the LEGO mascots and you can even spin the advent wheel and see what number it lands on to win a treat!
On selected dates (2-3, 9-10, 16-24 December) there is also the option to visit LEGO Santa in his grotto – this costs an additional £5 and includes the opportunity have a souvenir photo taken with the brick man himself and receive a gift.
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Manchester
Trafford Palazzo, The Trafford Centre,
Manchester, M17 8AS
www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com

Until 2 January 2024 11am – 9pm (last skate 8pm), excluding Christmas Day
Skate under the sun, moon, and stars
Whatever the weather, enjoy the festive season and skate at the new clear roofed ice rink at the enchanting Cathedral Gardens, offering an atmosphere of festivity and fairy tale for couples, families, and groups looking for some fun this winter.
Skating sessions last up to 45 minutes
The Cathedral Gardens,
Manchester, M4 3BG
www.skatemanchester.com

1-3, 8-10 December
Visit Santa Claus in his Grotto at Eureka!..
Father Christmas is coming to Eureka! this December, his sleigh with gifts a-plenty, and he wants to meet a lot of children!
Come along to see the big man himself and an elf helper or two, for a discussion about how naughty / nice you’ve been this year, pressie requests, snap a festive (s)elfie and receive a gift, all in the comfort of the snuggliest grotto in town!
Tickets: £6 per child, which includes a gift, standard admission aplies.
Eureka! The National Children’s Museum
Discovery Road,
Halifax HX1 2NE
Tel: 01422 330069
play.eureka.org.uk/event/santas-grotto

1, 8, 15, December, 10am for 0–1, 11am for 1–2
Babies Playtime
These classes are led by a professional early years practitioner and are an opportunity to have fun, sing, dance and make new friends. Classes last 45 minutes and are free for all. All attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 0 to 1 and 1 to 2.
Free, booking required
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

1 – 4, 8 – 11, 15 – 18, 22 December 2023, 10am – 2.30pm, 30 min sessions
Seasonal Stories: Jolly Robin’s Christmas Party
Join in the fun this Christmas with a very merry, interactive storytelling adventure! Celebrate with Jolly Robin and their woodland friends at their festive party.
Enjoy 30 minutes of storytelling and fun! Each child will receive a party bag including festive shaped crayons, colouring sheet, set of Jolly Robin stickers, and a hanging ornament to decorate at home.
Tickets: Child £8
Dunham Massey
Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 4SJ
Tel: 0161 941 1025
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/dunham-massey/events/eb23541e-eb79-4307-843c-b87f55b97d26

2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 December, 10:15, 11:15 and 12:15
Mini Movers
This Makaton-friendly adventure will have your little ones whirring like cogs and turning like cranks to find out how our bodies work like machines. Makaton is a visual way to develop communication skills, which helps stimulate sounds and words. Bring your sense of wonder and let your kids to get silly as they join the Explainers on a fun and creative journey.
Suitable for ages 5 and under.
Textiles Gallery, Level 0, New Warehouse, Science and Industry Museum
Liverpool Road, Manchester M3 4FP
tel: 033 0058 0058
www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk

2, 9, 16, 23, 30 December, 11am – 11.45am, 12noon – 12.45pm
Crafty Families
An exciting and engaging art class for families and under 11’s. With a different theme each week you’ll leave the session having created their own pieces of art. All attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 2-11.
Free, booking required
The Lowry,
Pier 8, Salford Quays, Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

6, 13 December, 10am – 10.45am, 11am – 11.45am
Little Creatives
A weekly creative session for toddlers and their adults! Includes music making, storytelling, dance and creative play. Sessions are 45 mins, are free for all and all attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 2-5.
Free, booking required
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

8 December 2023 10.30am – 2.30pm
PLAY days at Whitworth
A space for under 5s and their grown-ups to come together to play, be curious and be creative with simple, open-ended play resources. Whitworth’s School of Creativity space will be packed full of huge tubes and pipes, big boxes, crates, large reels, tyres, and lots more, creating a world of endless possibilities to explore and create.
The Whitworth,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER
Tel: 0161 275 7450
www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/getinvolved/families/playdays/

11 December, 10am, 11am for toddlers, 13.45pm, 14.45pm for babies
Music Makers – Musical Christmas
Monthly music and sensory play sessions for babies and toddlers. Celebrate the magic of Christmas with your little one!
For parents with both baby and toddler, babies may attend toddler sessions. The same does not apply in reverse, as toddlers tend to be more boisterous and we want to keep the baby sessions more relaxed.
Tickets: £4.00, 1 ticket admits 1 child plus accompanying adult
Barbirolli Room,
The Bridgewater Hall,
Lower Mosley Street,
Manchester M2 3WS
Tel: 0161 907 9000
www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk

15 December
Toddler Days at Eureka!
Bring your pre-schoolers along for one of toddler days designed just for pre-schoolers. There won’t be any school bookings, so all spaces (and staff) will be focused on the youngest visitors.
Eureka! The National Children’s Museum
Discovery Road,
Halifax HX1 2NE
Tel: 01422 330069
play.eureka.org.uk

15, 16 December, 5pm – 9pm (last entry 8pm)
After-hours with the Mermaids
Come and meet the magical SEA LIFE mermaids at SEA LIFE Manchester!
Tickets: £25 adult, £21.50 child, £5 passholders
Pre-booking is essential
SEA LIFE Manchester,
Trafford Palazzo, Trafford, Manchester M17 8AS
Tel: 0161 749 2875
www.visitsealife.com/manchester/explore/events/after-hours-with-the-mermaids

17 December 2023 – 1 January 2024
Winter Funland
Winter Funland is magical indoor winter wonderland experience for children.
Winterfunland tickets are all inclusive and include access to the following great attractions, all undercover at BEC Arena:
Manchester’s largest real ice ice-skating rink, a magical festival circus, a gigantic indoor funfair, Spectacular Christmas panto, Santa’s Grotto
Sessions last 4 hours
BEC Manchester
Longbridge Rd,
Trafford Park, Stretford,
Manchester M17 1SN
www.winterfunland.com

22 December
No School Days at Eureka!
Come to Eureka for one of the quieter days in the museum, perfect for little ones to takeover!
It’s not the same as Toddler Days, on these dates there will be no school bookings so you can plan ahead to visit the museum at quieter times.
Eureka! The National Children’s Museum
Discovery Road,
Halifax HX1 2NE
Tel: 01422 330069
play.eureka.org.uk