Christmas events for kids in North West England 2026
188 Christmas events across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside: grottos, Santa visits, light trails, pantos, festive crafts and Christmas markets with things for children. Dates, prices and booking links checked by Spark Hub.
Christmas in Manchester
Manchester Christmas MarketsMon, 9 Nov 2026 +43 · Albert Square & city centre · Free
Skate Manchester ice rinkMon, 9 Nov 2026 +54 · Cathedral Gardens · From £5 (community slots)
Northern Lights Manchester: Christmas light trail at Heaton ParkThu, 19 Nov 2026 +42 · Heaton Park · Peak and off-peak ticket tiers - see booking page
Candlelight Concert at Trafford Palazzo: Christmas MoviesThu, 19 Nov 2026 +1 · Trafford Palazzo · £10 per person (all proceeds to Destination Florida)HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto at the Trafford CentreFri, 20 Nov 2026 +34 · The Trafford Centre · Child £20 off-peak / £25 standard; adult £8 / £10
- Candlelight Concert at Trafford Palazzo: Christmas ClassicsFri, 20 Nov 2026 · Trafford Palazzo · £10 per person (all proceeds to Destination Florida)
The Magic of Christmas at Freight IslandSat, 21 Nov 2026 +14 · Freight Island (Depot Mayfield) · Adults from £14.50, children from £29 (includes a gift) + booking feeRHS Glow at RHS Garden BridgewaterThu, 26 Nov 2026 +27 · RHS Garden Bridgewater · From £9.25 (super off-peak); all tickets under £20; under-5s free but need a ticket
Christmas in Stockport
The Elf Trail at Bramall Hall 2026Wed, 11 Nov 2026 +35 · Bramall Hall · £3.00Bramhall Festive MarketSat, 14 Nov 2026 · Bramhall Village Square · Free
What Santa Sees: Christmas Dome Show at Jodrell BankSat, 14 Nov 2026 +19 · Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement · £5 per person on top of general admission (adult ~£14.50, child 4–18 ~£11.90, 12-month return)A Christmas Carol (Operation Moonlight)Sat, 21 Nov 2026 · Pavilion Arts Centre (Buxton Opera House) · From £25; child £19.50; family (2+2) £72; family (1+3) £66.50
Buxton by Lamp Light: Christmas Lights Switch-onSat, 21 Nov 2026 · Pavilion GardensDickensian Christmas Market 2026Sun, 22 Nov 2026 · Pavilion Gardens · Free
The World at Christmas at LymeFri, 27 Nov 2026 +27 · Lyme (National Trust) · Free
Christmas in Warrington
The Nutcracker (Crown Ballet)Wed, 11 Nov 2026 · Parr Hall · From £24 (exc. booking fee & restoration levy)
Yuletide: A Glittering Winter Adventure at Tatton ParkSat, 14 Nov 2026 +13 · Tatton Park Gardens · Child £11.50 off-peak / £14 peak (book online)
Santa Express at High Legh Miniature RailwaySat, 14 Nov 2026 +15 · High Legh Miniature Railway · Train ride £3; Santa grotto £5 per child (small treat included)
Christmas at Gulliver's (Santa's Grotto & North Pole Express)Sat, 14 Nov 2026 +7 · Gulliver's World Theme Park · Packages from £28 (Smasher); off-peak North Pole Express from £12The Magic Lamp: Winter Light Trail at BentsFri, 20 Nov 2026 +39 · Bents Garden & Home (The Hidden Garden) · Adults £18.95–£23.95, children (2–16) £12.95–£17.95 (book online)
Christmas at Dunham Massey light trailFri, 20 Nov 2026 +42 · Dunham Massey (National Trust) · Child (3–16) £13–£19, under-3s free; family tickets from £44. Parking £8 (free for NT members who reserve)
A Trail of Tails: Christmas in the House at Dunham MasseyFri, 20 Nov 2026 +34 · Dunham Massey (National Trust) · Included with whole-property admission (adult £20, child 5-17 £10, family 2+2 £50); NT members freeKnutsford Christmas Lights Switch On & Lantern ParadeSat, 21 Nov 2026 · Knutsford Town Centre · Free
Christmas in Chester & Wirral
Lanterns & Light at Chester ZooFri, 13 Nov 2026 +47 · Chester Zoo · Adults from £27.50, children 3–15 from £19.50 (flash sales from £12); under-1s freeFestive Fun with Peppa — cinema experienceSat, 14 Nov 2026 +8 · Theatr Clwyd (cinema) · £6 incl. fee (members £5)
Chester Christmas MarketWed, 18 Nov 2026 +34 · Town Hall Square, Chester · Free
12 Days of Christmas Parade, ChesterThu, 19 Nov 2026 · Chester city centre · FreePinocchio — Theatr Clwyd pantoSat, 21 Nov 2026 +55 · Theatr Clwyd · From £21.50 incl. fee (members from £20); child discounts on many non-peak shows
Christmas wreath making workshops with Florist Kate Jordan, The Craft Shed FlowersWed, 25 Nov 2026 · Grosvenor Museum · £45
Meet Victorian Father Christmas!Sat, 28 Nov 2026 +1 · Grosvenor Museum · £10
CBeebies Panto: Treasure Island (cinema screening)Sat, 28 Nov 2026 +8 · Theatr Clwyd (cinema) · £6 incl. fee (members £5)
Christmas in Wigan & Leigh
FREE Festive Family Crafts Day!Sat, 14 Nov 2026 · Civic Square · FreeHo Ho Haigh: Christmas Light Switch-On at Haigh Woodland ParkSun, 15 Nov 2026 · Haigh Woodland Park · Free
Ho Ho Haigh on Ice - outdoor ice rink at Haigh Woodland ParkSun, 15 Nov 2026 +48 · Haigh Woodland Park · See booking site
Light Night Wigan 2026 – Mesnes Park TrailFri, 20 Nov 2026 +2 · Mesnes Park · Free- Light Night Wigan 2026 – Relaxed Hour (SEND & autistic families)Fri, 20 Nov 2026 +2 · Mesnes Park · Free
- Light Night Wigan 2026 – Town Centre TrailFri, 20 Nov 2026 +2 · Wigan town centre (The Old Courts, Wigan Museum, Sir Billy Boston Square and more) · Free
Haigh Little Explorers - Elf Edition - Family Walk & Story TimeSun, 22 Nov 2026 · Haigh Woodland Park · £3.50
Mother Goose – Family PantomimeWed, 25 Nov 2026 +15 · Wigan Little Theatre · £14 adult, £12 child (up to 16)/60+; online booking fee 7.8%
Christmas in Liverpool
Huyton Christmas Lights Switch OnFri, 13 Nov 2026 · Huyton town centre · Free
The Rock 'n' Roll Panto 2026: Beauty and the BeastSat, 14 Nov 2026 +44 · Liverpool Everyman Theatre · £20-£47 per ticketLiverpool ONE Christmas Toy ParadeSat, 14 Nov 2026 · Liverpool ONE · Free
Prescot Christmas Lights Switch OnSat, 14 Nov 2026 · Prescot town centre · Free
ICEBOX ice rink at BOXPARK LiverpoolMon, 16 Nov 2026 +55 · BOXPARK Liverpool · Child (3-12) £8, adult/junior from £10, adult & child from £16
Formby Christmas Lights Switch OnThu, 19 Nov 2026 · Formby village (Chapel Lane) · FreeElf The Musical (BOST Musicals)Thu, 19 Nov 2026 +3 · Liverpool Empire Theatre · Paid tickets via ATG (prices on booking page)
Enchanted at Knowsley SafariFri, 20 Nov 2026 +33 · Knowsley Safari · From £9.95 per person (varies by date); under-1s free. Grotto from £21.50 per child
Christmas in Blackpool & Fylde
Christmas By The Sea - free ice rink and festive villageFri, 20 Nov 2026 +43 · Tower Festival Headland · Free
Meet Santa in his Grotto at Coral IslandFri, 20 Nov 2026 +14 · Coral Island · £11.50 per child (£9.50 age 3 and under)
Christmas Grotto at Pleasure Beach ResortSat, 21 Nov 2026 +33 · Pleasure Beach Resort Arena (grotto entrance, Watson Road) · From £19.99 per child (includes 2 adults); extra adults £5
Beauty & The Beast - Lowther Pavilion Christmas PantoMon, 30 Nov 2026 +29 · Lowther Pavilion
Snowtots: Christmas Special (ages 0-4)Thu, 3 Dec 2026 · Showtown Blackpool · Free
Jack and the Beanstalk - Blackpool Grand Theatre PantomimeFri, 4 Dec 2026 +25 · Blackpool Grand Theatre · From £18 per ticket; relaxed performance £28Fleetwood Christmas Lights Switch On and Winter WonderlandFri, 4 Dec 2026 +2 · Fleetwood town centre (venue TBC)
Santa's Grotto at Lytham HallSat, 5 Dec 2026 +8 · Lytham Hall · £17.50 per person
Christmas in Preston
Santa's Grotto Experience at Ribby Hall VillageSun, 15 Nov 2026 +36 · Ribby Hall Village · From £29.95 per child
Christmas at Astley - Father Christmas weekendsSat, 21 Nov 2026 +9 · Astley Hall
Preston Christmas Lights Switch On 2026Sat, 21 Nov 2026 · Flag Market · Free
Chorley Christmas Lights Switch On and Christmas MarketSun, 22 Nov 2026 · Chorley town centre · Free
Leyland Christmas Light Switch OnSat, 28 Nov 2026 · Hough Lane, LeylandCinderella - The Atkinson Christmas PantomimeFri, 4 Dec 2026 +20 · The Atkinson · Adult £28-£30, under-16 £26-£28, family of 4 £98-£110 (+£1.50 fee)
Preston On IceFri, 4 Dec 2026 +30 · Flag Market
Northpole Takeover - Chorley town centreSat, 5 Dec 2026 · Chorley town centre · Free
Christmas in Bolton & Bury
Christmas in Blackburn & Burnley
Burnley Believes 2026 - Christmas Light Switch-On DaySat, 14 Nov 2026 · Burnley Town Centre (St James's Street)Darwen Christmas Lights Switch-On 2026Sat, 14 Nov 2026 · Darwen Town Centre Square · Free
Christmas Markets at Gatty Park and Elmfield HallSat, 21 Nov 2026 · Gatty Park / Elmfield Hall · Free
Aladdin - Blackburn Christmas PantomimeSat, 21 Nov 2026 +17 · Blackburn Empire Theatre · £14 child, £20 adult, £58 family
Victorian Christmas Weekend at Gawthorpe HallSat, 28 Nov 2026 +1 · Gawthorpe Hall · Adults £7, children freeGreat Harwood Winter ExtravaganzaSat, 12 Dec 2026 · Great Harwood town centre · Free
The Nice List - A Magical Family SantamimeFri, 18 Dec 2026 · Blackburn Empire Theatre · £16.50 per person
Festive Family Fun PartySat, 19 Dec 2026 · Burnley Mechanics Theatre · £18 child, £30 adult
Christmas in Oldham & Rochdale
Christmas in Crewe & Cheshire East
The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at Arley HallMon, 9 Nov 2026 +48 · Arley Hall & Gardens · Adult (14+) £38, child 4+ / 65+ / disabled £29, family bundle (2+2) £32.30 per ticket, under-3s free; plus booking fee
Magical Woodland Christmas at BlakemereFri, 20 Nov 2026 +34 · Magical Woodland, Blakemere Village · £18–£27.73 per person; under-2s free. Parking £5 pre-booked (£15 on the night)Cultures of Christmas TrailTue, 1 Dec 2026 · Lion Salt Works · Free
Self-Led Crafts: Craft a SnowmanSat, 5 Dec 2026 +2 · Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse · Free
Christmas at The WorksSun, 13 Dec 2026 · Lion Salt Works · Free