Christmas 2026 with kids

Grottos, pantos, light trails and festive days out for families around Trafford, South Manchester and Cheshire.

288 events coming up, 62 free and 57 within 20 minutes of Timperley. Nearest: RSPCA Altrincham branch Christmas Fair at The Larkhill Centre, 13 Thorley Lane (10 min, Sat 14 Nov). Next up: The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail (Thu 22 Oct).

19–25 Oct
2–8 Nov
Walkabout Father Christmas in store Bents Garden & Home, Glazebury · 25 min Daily from 5 Nov: weekdays 2-6pm, weekends 12-4pm (check the page for later December times)Free
The Elf Trail at Bramall Hall Bramall Hall, Bramhall, Stockport · 25 min Runs on hall opening days from Thu 5 Nov to Sun 3 Jan (11am-4.30pm, last admission 3.45pm); no trail on 5-6 Dec, bank holidays or Christmas closureUnder £10
Manchester Christmas Markets Albert Square and city centre, Manchester · 30 min 6 Nov - 22 Dec; Albert Square and Cathedral Gardens to 3 JanFree
Chatsworth Christmas Market Chatsworth House, Bakewell · 75 min Mon-Thu 10am-5.30pm, Fri-Sun 10am-6pm; included with Christmas at Chatsworth tickets for visits 7 Nov-13 Dec only£25+
9–15 Nov
Trentham Christmas Street Party Trentham Shopping Village, Stoke-on-Trent · 60 min Thu 12 Nov, entertainment 4pm-8.30pm, shops open until 9pmFree
The Piece Hall Christmas Market The Piece Hall, Halifax · 60 min Fri-Sun weekends only, 10am-4pm: 13-15, 20-22, 27-29 Nov, 4-6 Dec and two further December weekendsFree
What Santa Sees (Space Dome show) Jodrell Bank, Lower Withington · 35 min Weekends 14 Nov-20 Dec at 10.30 & 14.00 (plus 12.00 from 5 Dec); Mon 21-Wed 23 Dec at 10.30, 12.00, 14.00Under £10
Festive Fun at Jodrell Bank Jodrell Bank, Lower Withington · 35 min Tue-Sun 10am-5pm (last entry 3.30pm); Goofus Theatre puppet show Stars and Stones Sat 19 & Sun 20 Dec (£6)£10–25
16–22 Nov
Festive Fayre Evening at Summerseat Garden Centre Summerseat Garden Centre, Bury · 45 min Tue 17 and Wed 18 Nov, 5pm-8pm; also Supper with Santa Thu 17 Dec 5.30-7.30pm and an Enchanted Elevator & Grotto (dates not yet listed)Under £10
Chester Christmas Market Town Hall Square, Chester · 55 min 18 Nov - 22 Dec; Grotto on the Square 20 Nov - 24 DecFree
Light Night Wigan Wigan town centre and Mesnes Park · 45 min Fri 20-Sun 22 NovFree
Magical Woodland at Christmas Magical Woodland, Sandiway, Northwich · 50 min Fri 20 Nov-Thu 24 Dec; timed evening entry, allow 1.5-2 hours; live Christmas characters and light-and-sound trail£10–25
Aladdin: The Pantomime Blackpool Pleasure Beach · 70 min 21 Nov to 24 Dec; performance times on site£10–25
Christmas Grotto Wonderland Blackpool Pleasure Beach · 70 min 21 Nov to 24 Dec; 30-minute timed slots, book by midnight the day before£10–25
Cockfields Christmas Experience (Cockfields Express to the North Pole) Cockfields Farm Park, Ashton-under-Lyne · 40 min Selected dates from 21 Nov (28-29 Nov, 5-6, 12-13, 19-24 Dec listed); train to the North Pole, post office, private grotto, enchanted forest, Mrs Claus biscuit decorating, elf show, Build-a-Bear; SEN sessions also from 21 Nov; up to 45% off early datesSEN session Sat 21 Nov£25+
Cruise with Father Christmas (floating grotto on the Ship Canal) Manchester River Cruises, Salford Quays · 18 min Date unconfirmed · Selected dates from 21 Nov; one-hour sailings at 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, 4.30pm and 6pm; sensory-adapted sailings 19 and 22 Dec at 10am; ages 2-10; end date assumedQuiet session Sat 19 Dec£10–25
Skate St George's St George's Hall, Liverpool · 55 min 21 Nov - 3 Jan£10–25
23–29 Nov
Elf The Musical (Big Top Arena) Trentham Shopping Village, Stoke-on-Trent · 60 min Performance times vary by date (11am, 1pm, 2pm, 5pm, 7pm)£10–25
RHS Glow at RHS Garden Bridgewater RHS Garden Bridgewater, Worsley, Salford · 25 min Selected dates 26 Nov - 30 Dec; Super Off Peak tickets on some datesQuiet session Tue 8 Dec£10–25
Christmas Gift Market at Hoghton Tower Hoghton Tower, Hoghton, Preston · 55 min Sat 28 & Sun 29 Nov 10am-3pm (last entry 2.30pm); Christmas Through the Ages guided tours same weekendUnder £10
Breakfast and Brunch with Santa Stockport Plaza Cafe · 30 min Sat 28 Nov, 5 Dec, 12 Dec and 19 Dec, 9.30/10am breakfasts and 12pm brunchesSold out£10–25
Santa Specials at East Lancashire Railway East Lancashire Railway, Bury · 35 min 28-29 Nov, 5-6, 12-13, 19-24 Dec; departures from Bury roughly 9.30am to 3.20pm; 80-min steam tripSEN session Sat 28 Nov£25+
Sale Santa Dash Sale Water Park · 15 min Date unconfirmed · Sun; time and booking via the organiser link in the Life in Sale guideSelling fastUnder £10
30 Nov – 6 Dec
Festively Floral: Movie Magic Arley Hall & Gardens, Great Budworth, Cheshire · 25 min Fri 4 to Tue 8 Dec; hall 10am-3.30pm, choir at 11am and 2pm£10–25
Misrule at Yule Little Moreton Hall, Congleton · 50 min 4-6, 11-13, 18-20 Dec, 10.30am-4pm; live music and jesters on weekends only£10–25
Cinderella - Southport's Pantomime The Atkinson, Southport · 65 min Sat/Sun 1pm & 5.30pm; Christmas week 2.30pm & 7pm; relaxed shows Sat 12 Dec 1pm and Sun 27 Dec 1pm; approx 2 hrs£25+
Enchanted Winter Walk at Quarry Bank Quarry Bank, Styal, Wilmslow · 15 min 4, 5, 11, 12, 18-23 and 28-31 Dec; 10-min entry slots 5pm–7pm; walk takes about 30 minQuiet sessionUnder £10
Rapunzel (Storyhouse Originals pantomime) Storyhouse, Chester · 55 min Matinees 12pm/2pm and evenings 5pm–7pm; relaxed Sun 27 Dec 12pm; BSL Sat 2 Jan 2pm; audio-described Sun 20 Dec 12pmRelaxed Sun 27 Dec£10–25
Celebration of Colour Lantern Parade Stanley Square, Sale · 15 min Sat 5 Dec; music from 4.30pm at Waterside Plaza, parade sets off 5pm; free lantern-making workshop tickets available on the dayFree
Knutsford Christmas Market Knutsford town centre · 20 min Two-day market with 120+ traders, Santa's grotto and funfair (per council's earlier-year description)Free
Santa's Steam Train Adventure Ribble Steam Railway & Museum, Preston · 60 min 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21 & 22 Dec 2026; 75 mins incl. 55 mins on the train£25+
Santa Specials at Peak Rail Peak Rail, Matlock · 65 min 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24 Dec; Mince Pie Specials from 26 Dec£10–25
The Pied Piper of Hamelin Millgate Arts Centre, Delph, Saddleworth · 50 min Sat 5 Dec-Sat 2 Jan; first show Sat 5 Dec 1pm; shows through Christmas and New Year, prices vary by date£10–25
Manchester Christmas Parade Manchester city centre retail district · 30 min Date unconfirmed · Sunday 6 Dec reported; time and route to be announced by CityCoFree
Marple Santa Dash Marple Sports Club · 30 min Sun 6 Dec, 9.30am-1pmUnder £10
Brunch with Santa in the Refectory Chester Cathedral Refectory · 55 min Sun 6, 13 and 20 Dec, sittings 9am-11.30am; also Thu 24 Dec from 8.30am; ages 1-10; Afternoon Tea with Santa on 6 and 20 Dec 1.30-3pm£10–25
7–13 Dec
Baby's First Santa Visit at The Dunham Barn The Dunham Barn, Altrincham · 15 min Short 10-minute visits for babies and very young children, from 2.30pm; check Eventbrite for all slots. Bring your own camera.£10–25
Santa's Grotto at The Ice Cream Farm The Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall · 55 min Date unconfirmed · Ticket includes all-day entry and two scoops of ice cream in a collectible Christmas mugSEN session£10–25
Santa & Steam Specials Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Rudyard, near Leek · 45 min Sat/Sun 12, 13, 19 & 20 Dec 2026; experience lasts 60-90 mins, train leaves 10 mins after ticket time£10–25
14–20 Dec
Scratch Nativity with carols St Mary Magdalene Church, Ashton on Mersey, Ashton upon Mersey · 15 min Sunday 20 December, 9.30am (about an hour)Free
Breakfast with Scuba Santa Blue Planet Aquarium, Ellesmere Port · 45 min Date unconfirmed · 20–24 DecNot on sale yet£10–25
21–27 Dec
Breakfast with Santa at The Dunham Barn The Dunham Barn, Altrincham · 15 min 8.30–9.30am (dates shown include Mon 21 and Wed 23 December; check Eventbrite). Full English, songs with Santa and Mrs Claus, small gift per child.£10–25
Christingle making afternoon St Mary Magdalene Church, Ashton on Mersey, Ashton upon Mersey · 15 min Wednesday 23 December, 3–5pmFree
A Very Messy Christmas The Lowry, Salford Quays · 18 min Wed 23 Dec - Sun 3 Jan; matinee performances£10–25
Christmas Eve Christingle services (three sittings) St Mary Magdalene Church, Ashton on Mersey, Ashton upon Mersey · 15 min Thursday 24 December at 3pm (doors 2.30pm, no booking), 4.15pm and 5.30pm (seats bookable from 4 December); each about 45 minutesFree
28 Dec – 3 Jan
Aladdin (Parr Hall family pantomime) Parr Hall, Warrington · 30 min Wed 30 Dec - Sun 10 Jan; morning, afternoon and evening shows (9.45am, 11am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 6.30pm, 7pm)Relaxed Sat 9 Jan£10–25
4–10 Jan
Robin Hood and His Merry Men Waterside Arts, Sale · 10 min Fri 8 - Sun 17 Jan 2027. Family matinees Sat 9 Jan 2pm, Sun 10 Jan 12pm & 4pm, Sat 16 Jan 2pm, Sun 17 Jan 12pmUnder £10
29 Mar – 4 Apr

Popular grottos and Santa experiences often sell out weeks ahead, especially weekend slots in December, so it's worth booking as soon as tickets go on sale. Book ahead tracks what's selling fast.

Panto season runs from late November into January at theatres across the area, from big city-centre shows to smaller local productions. Light trails run on winter evenings with timed tickets; see light trails.

For things to do once school breaks up, see the Christmas holidays day by day.

Questions parents ask

When should we book Santa's grotto?

As early as you can: the best weekend slots in December go first. Events selling fast are flagged on each listing.

Is there anything free at Christmas?

Light switch-ons, some markets and church Christingle and carol services are free. See free things to do.