Selection of north west Christmas events for your diary | Manchester News

With just over three months to go until Christmas, there is already a flurry of family festive events being booked up.

Yes, we know we haven’t had Halloween yet but don’t be a bah humbug and miss out this Christmas.

From Santa steam train rides to winter wonderlands, light displays and Christmas pantos – find out what is on offer for the festive season across the north west of England.

Here is our selection of the some of the events that are planned across the region.

Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo returns this year on 14 November.

The zoo will transform after dark into a glowing world of light, colour and sound.

Gulliver’s World also has a mile-long lights spectacle with the Land of Lights 2025 featuring new lanterns covering 12 dream worlds.

The Magical Woodland in Sandiway, Northwich, is revealing its new lights on 28 November alongside the chance to see Mr & Mrs Claus, roast marshmallows and see The Grinch causing mischief.

Tatton Park in Knutsford is hosting a number of Christmas events including Once Upon A Christmas at the Mansion in which every room brings to life classic stories such as the Nutcracker and the Snow Queen.

Visitors can take a magical journey through the lavish state rooms on selected days from 22 November.

It is also running Yuletide on selected dates from 15 November. It is described as a “light trail meets winter festival” with a traditional storyteller, interactive performances and live music.

There are also two Christmas concerts on 12 December by the Northern Chamber Orchestra featuring the Choir of St Nicholas Catholic High School, Northwich.

Pantos include Beauty and The Beast at the StoryHouse in Chester, which runs from 5 December, Cinderella at The Brindley, Runcorn, from 11 December as well as the panto at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall on 13-24 December.

Alice in Winter Wonderland is being held at the Grange Theatre, Northwich, from 5 December.

Christmas at Dunham Massey in Altrincham offers a spectacular illuminated lights trail with new installations to transform the historic grounds of the Georgian house from 14 November.

Similarly, the RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford will be transformed into a botanical winter wonderland with RHS Glow illuminations.

The Weston Walled Garden will a glowing gallery of light and shadow with a dazzling new installation in the Paradise Garden with light shows by the Moonlight Gardener.

Cockfields Farm in Ashton-under-Lyne has added a magical virtual reality train ride to Santa’s North Pole grotto to its Christmas experience from 29 November.

East Lancashire Railway is staging Santa specials from 22 November with a steam train trip with a host of elves, a brass band and Father Christmas onboard.

There is a winter wonderland at Bury’s Bolton Street Station with Mrs Claus, a magical talking Christmas tree and singing polar bears before an 80-minute return trip to Rawtenstall station packed with festive fun.

Snow Storm returns with a new spectacular ice show Wish featuring world-class skaters, daring circus acts and a magical story at The Trafford Centre from 5 December.

Among the festive panto treats on offer in Greater Manchester are Robin Hood at Manchester Opera House starring comedian Jason Manford which runs from 6 December, The New Adventures of Peter Pan at the Albert Halls in Bolton from 29 November and Aladdin at Stockport Plaza from 5 December.

The Cirque Wicked Wizard of Oz is also on at AO Arena on 23 December.

Samlesbury Hall is presenting a new ghost story for this Christmas between 16 and 22 December.

The reportedly haunted hall will be the backdrop for Charles Dickens’ Haunted House which follows a group of friends who gather in a supposedly haunted house, each spending the night in different rooms and sharing their eerie encounters.

West Lancashire Light Railway at Hesketh Bank, Lancashire, is running Santa specials with a short steam train ride to Toyland to meet Father Christmas from 7-21 December.

Coronation Street actor Marc Baylis is leading the cast of Beauty and the Beast at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre.

The Opera House at the Winter Gardens Blackpool is staging Elf based on the film on 9-14 December.

Cinderella is on at Blackpool Beach Resort from 22 November.

The Dukes in Lancaster is staging the Snow Queen from 21 November while Lancaster Grand Theatre’s Christmas offering includes Snow White on selected days from 28 November.

Preston Playhouse Theatre is staging Peter Pan on 12-21 December while Blackburn Empire is offering a production of Snow White from 22 November until 4 January as is Chorley Theatre from 12-20 December.

If you want a cocktail of Christmas comedy and music Burnley Mechanics is staging The Crooners Christmas Special on 20 November.

Blackburn Cathedral will welcome The Christmas Orchestra on 28 December.

RSPB Leighton Moss is staging the Robin Robin adventure trail – in a nod to the Aardman film of the same name.

The nature reserve in Silverdale is inviting people to celebrate their “inner robin”.

The trail offers the chance to learn to sing like a robin, find your own superpower and use all your senses to connect with the robin.

The trail runs from 1-30 December except for Christmas Day.

Meanwhile, Holland Hall Hotel in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, is also offering festive fun for dogs and their owners.

It promises “paws, Claus & Christmas cheer” on 14 and 21 December with a “tail-wagging Christmas dinner, including a paw-approved sweet treat and a festive puppuccino” before meeting Santa Paws.

A selection of pantos on offer include Scouse Christmas Carol at Liverpool’s Royal Court from 7 November, Cinderella at Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot from 21 November and Matilda The Musical at the Liverpool Empire from 2 December until 4 January.

Liverpool Everyman is putting on Rock n Roll Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk from 15 November while the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool presents Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs from 12-28 December.

St Helens Theatre Royal is staging its first production of Dick Whittington starting from 28 November.

For something a little bit different there is The Totally Improvised Pantomime which opens at the Hot Water Comedy Club, Liverpool, on selected days from 22 November.

Light Before Christmas by the renowned Luxmuralis team is returning to Liverpool Cathedral with a new series of projection artworks with mesmerising soundscapes.

The Gift will transform Liverpool Cathedral with what Peter Walker, sculptor and creative director for Luxmuralis, describes as “one of the world’s largest immersive experiences” between 28 November and 6 December.

The Great Hall at St George’s is the stunning backdrop for Carols by Lantern Light to get you in the Christmas spirit on 3 and 10 December.

St George’s Hall is also holding Disco Kids: The Ultimate Family Disco – a high-energy silent disco for children and their grown-ups on 6 December.

Croxteth Hall in Liverpool is staging Santa Paws for dogs and their owners.

Between 13-21 December, owners can take their pooches to a specially-designed grotto where pets can meet Santa Paws and receive a treat.

On 7 December, it also has the West Lancs Dog Trust’s highly-trained dog display team to provide “paw-some” entertainment.