Christmas events usually need planning well in advance, but all is not lost.
There are still plenty of things to do across Greater Manchester this festive season, whether you've planned ahead or not.
Whether it's a grotto visit, an outdoor trail, or a drive-in cinema, or somewhere to go ice skating, there is something for children of all ages to enjoy.
Here's our round-up of things to do in and around Greater Manchester this festive season.
Read more: Children's TV and family films to watch this Christmas - our day-by-day guide
Lightopia, Heaton Park
Heaton Park's huge light sculpture displays is back this year, promising to take guests on a magical journey through the new Fantasy-themed light trail through the parklands.
Showcasing bright immersive installations, colourful lasers, and water shows, it is billed a festive wonderland for all ages.
The event is running until January 2, 2023. For tickets, priced at £14 for children (3-15) and £22.50 for adults (16+), visit the website.
Tinseltown at the Trafford Centre
Tinseltown has already made its return to The Trafford Centre, bringing ice skating, fairground rides and more.
The festive spectacular has once again transformed the space outside The Great Hall into a 'magical haven full of festive fun'.
There's a covered ice rink, Gandeys Snowstorm 2 show inside the Big Top, and a new Paddington Bear grotto.
The funfair features rides for kids of all ages, from Teacups and Flying Elephants to the Waveswinger and white-knuckle Rock Rage.
Anyone paying fairground entry will be able to see a number of festive films showing on the big screens on Saturday afternoons, including Frozen and How the Grinch stole Christmas.
And you can see all the glittering lights and sights from above, with the return of the big wheel, which takes you a staggering 55 metres high.
All attractions are open until January 2, except for the grotto which finishes on Christmas Eve.
Fair entry is from £2.50, with ride tickets on a token basis. Tickets for Snowstorm 2 start from £11.99 and skating from £10 off peak, which includes entry to the funfair after your skate session.
For more details and to book tickets, visit the website here.
Inflata Nation, Trafford
Inflatable theme park Inflata Nation Manchester is offering some extra festive treats throughout December. The popular attraction, in Trafford Park, boasts a range of state-of-the-art inflatables such as huge drop slides, assault courses, Gladiator-style duels and climbing walls.
Until Christmas you might catch a glimpse of Santa's elves around, plus there's free face painting, festive games and an inflatable seasonal treasure hunt.
Every bounce session will have a hidden present somewhere on the inflatable arena. If you find the present you win a prize and will also be automatically entered into a draw to win a lifetime bounce pass.
Guests can also enjoy a 15 percent discount on bounce sessions over the Christmas period by using the discount code XMASMANC.
Visit the website to book.
Cockfields Christmas Experience, Ashton
The popular Christmas Experience is back at Cockfields Farm this year.
The event sees the farm transformed into an 'winter wonderland', taking visitors on 'an amazing immersive experience'.
Visitors enjoy a host of activities, including a private Santa's Grotto visit, choosing their own toy from the toy shop, writing a letter to Santa, and meeting and feeding the various animals.
Children get to build their own teddy bear to take home, make magic reindeer dust to sprinkle on Christmas Eve, and learn to be an elf in Elf Academy.
They get to see real reindeer and enjoy story-time in the Reindeer Lodge and they also get unlimited rides on the fairground carousel.
The event is running on the last weekend in November, the first two weekends in December and then daily from December 17 to 24. Tickets, costing £40 for children, £20 for adults and under ones £10, can be booked online.
Christmas at TP Street, Trafford Palazzo
Across the bridge from The Trafford Centre, a 'jam-packed Christmas events bonanza' is promised at Trafford Palazzo - all inside a cosy tipi.
Inspired by the festive film Miracle on 34th Street, 'Christmas at TP Street' will launch on Saturday, November 26 and run for four weeks.
There'll be free events and activities including live music, children’s entertainment, Christmas crafts including ‘Letters to Santa’ workshops, visits from ‘The Cheeky Elves’ and popular sweet treat and drink vendors.
An Alpine-themed tipi, boasting furry furniture, tables for families, heaters and a stage for live musical performances, will host the festivities.
And there'll be a Reindeer Rescue Trail running throughout the event - with Rudolph at the tipi itself and his eight reindeer friends in different locations around the mall . Families will be able to work their way around each reindeer, reading the clues at each location to help them find the next one.
Once they reach the final reindeer, they can claim a Christmas treat from customer service as a special thank you from Rudolph and can scan a QR code to be entered into a competition to win prizes.
Lancashire Mining Museum, Wigan
Families can enjoy a trip on the Santa Specials at the mining museum in Astley, Wigan, this Christmas.
It's running on the weekends of December 3-4 and 10-11, but tickets are expected to sell out quickly.
Visit during opening hours (Tuesday, Thursday and weekends 1pm to 4pm) to buy tickets, priced £5 per child and £3 per adult or a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) for £15.
Peter Rabbit's Winter Wonderland, Bury
The Rock in Bury is promising 'a traditional and magical' Christmas with its Peter Rabbit Christmas Garden.
There are free activities running daily, including storytime with Squirrel Nutkin four times a day and with Peter Rabbit himself daily at 1pm.
Face painting and plant pot making will also be available on selected dates and a festive magician will be making an appearance on Thursday December 8, 15 and 22.
Santa himself will be there on Saturday, December 10 and 17 and the Rock Express train will be running from December 12 to 23 between 10am and 4pm.
Peter Rabbit's Winter Wonderland will be open daily 11am to 3pm from December 5 to 23. See the website here for more details.
Lightwaves Festival, Salford Quays
A giant, glowing slinky toy will be among the illuminations lighting up Salford Quays this winter as the Lightwaves Festival returns.
The free, interactive light trail will take place this December and will showcase a series of mesmerising digital artworks from a variety of local, national and international artists.
Each spring of the the slinky sculpture, designed by Studio Vertigo, will be illuminated to create the familiar form of a slinky tumbling end over end into the shadows. It will be one of 13 free artworks to discover around the Quays and MediaCityUK during the festival.
This winter, MediaCity and Salford Quays will also play host to a number of attractions and markets. A new covered venue in the MediaCity Gardens will offer a one-off mix of street food, local beer, hot drinks, art workshops, live music, and festive events.
As well as art and food, every weekend from now until Sunday, December 18, local makers, bakers, and artisans, will curate a seasonal pick of festive food and drink, art and design, plus vintage and modern crafts.
Lightwaves Festival takes place from 1-4 December, 4-10pm. The event is free.
Winter Funland, BEC Arena, Trafford
Winter Funland is making its return to the BEC Arena in Trafford Park this December with an ice rink, funfair and more.
Tickets include a three-and-a-half-hour slot at the attraction with unlimited time on the rides, access to the skating rink and penguin aids, and the circus, featuring 'classic entertainment' from clowns and acrobats.
There are a range of daytime and early evening sessions available. Tickets cost £22.50 each or £85 for a family of four, plus a booking fee. Children under three and carers go free but still need tickets.
There is limited premium parking on site which costs £10 and is on a first come first serve basis or alternative parking can be found close to the BEC arena.
Returning from Sunday, December 18 to Monday, January 2, you can find out more information, or book tickets, via the website here.
Skate Manchester, Christmas Markets
Skate Manchester is back with its biggest ever ice rink in Manchester's Cathedral Gardens.
Covering 813 sqm, it's bigger than previous years and features a 'dazzling' seven-metre tall Christmas tree, which visitors can skate around on a custom made ice path.
Tickets for Skate Manchester start from £14.50 for adults and £12.50 for children, with discounted family, group bookings and season tickets also available. Skate aids cost an additional £5 each.
Students can receive 20% off with the code STUDENT and keyworkers can receive 30% off with code KEYWORKER. Both discount codes are available Monday to Thursday up to December 15.
It's open daily until January 2, except for Christmas Day. Visit the website here to book.
Santa Specials, East Lancashire Railway
Another sought-after festive event is the Santa train at East Lancashire Railway and some dates have already sold out.
The magical Santa Specials give families the chance to enjoy a steam train journey through Lancashire's very own winter wonderland.
The seasonal event attracts more than 40,000 people each year and features decorated stations, brass bands, carol singers, costumed characters and magicians.
Little ones get to meet Father Christmas as he gives a present to each child and a glass of Sherry and mince pie to the adults.
The event is running on the last weekend in November, the first two weekends in December and then daily from December 17 to 24.
Tickets, priced from £23, can be booked online.
Christmas Experience, Reddish Vale Farm
Another hugely popular event is the North Pole Christmas Experience at Reddish Vale Farm in Stockport.
The event starts with the children being taught in elf school, then it's on to Santa’s workshop to build a bear to take home, enjoy snow showers in the life size elf village, visit Holly Jolly gum sweet shop, write a letter to Santa at the Pole Office and post it in 'the magic post box'.
Mrs Clause's Kitchen is said to be 'a real show stopper' - with a fully built kitchen and fire with seating - where little ones can help Mrs Clause decorate some gingerbread she made, before settling for a Christmas tale.
They then visit the reindeer stable to have a sing-along with the reindeer and farmyard friends, before seeing Santa and receiving a gift.
The event is running from December 10. Tickets, costing £35.50 for kids, £15.50 for adults and £10 for under ones, can be booked online.
Lancaster Park and Animal Farm, Oldham
The Christmas on the Farm event is returning to Oldham's Lancaster Park and Animal Farm.
Families are invited to journey through the 'magical Christmas grotto', join Mrs Clause for a story in her cosy cottage and write a letter to Santa inside his log cabin.
There'll be elves greeting you along the way and of course you'll get to Santa himself too and take a seat inside Santa's life-size sleigh.
There's all the usual fun of the farm too, including the caterpillar barrel ride, mini quads, digger corner, swings, slides, ziplines and more.
It's running on the first two weekends in December and then daily from December 16 to 24.
Tickets cost £9.50 for adults, £12.50 for children and £6.50 for babies under 12 months. Book on the website here.
Escape to Freight Island, Manchester
Manchester's Escape to Freight Island has once again been transformed into Winter Island for the festive season.
The 'UK's largest heated outdoor and indoor winter festival' features a Santa's grotto, Christmas tree forest and lots more.
The venue is hosting a series of free and ticketed Christmas events from the likes of Our Kids Social, Born To Be Wild Child, Santa’s Grotto and more.
There's also seasonal food and drink to enjoy from Freight Island’s regular traders.
Backyard Cinema, which is also at Mayfield Depot, will be showing a range of festive favourites, from Elf and Home Alone, to The Grinch and The Muppets Christmas Carol, with visitors able to watch from giant bean bags.
Booking in advance is recommended. See the website here.
The Lanterns at Chester Zoo
Animals of a different kind come out to play at Chester Zoo at Christmas time - glowing ones.
The Lanterns is a festive family event featuring animal-inspired illuminations, magical lanterns, twinkly costumed characters and Father Christmas himself.
The event promises to 'transform the zoo into a spectacular wonderland, full of sparkle, illumination and a sprinkling of snow'.
Expect colourful animal lanterns, spectacular Christmas scenes and festive characters delighting guests young and old.
The event is running on selected dates from now until to December 23. Tickets are available online.
Christmas at Dunham Massey
One of the most popular festive events for families is Christmas at Dunham Massey, a spectacular magical lights trail.
Returning for a sixth year, the winter trail has quickly established itself as a family tradition.
If you’ve been before, you’ll recognise some of the favourites, including the larger-than-life glittering deer and the towering walk-through Tunnel of Light twinkling with thousands of pea-lights.
There are dancing waterside reflections, trees drenched in jewel-like colour and much more, including the chance to glimpse Father Christmas along the way.
The event is running from November 18 to January 2 and tickets, costing £22.50 for adults, £14.50 for children (under threes free), or from £50 for a family, can be booked online.
Christmas at Dino Falls Adventure Golf, Trafford
Visitors can join in a free Christmas hunt as part of their visit to Dino Falls Adventure Golf this festive season.
Anyone playing between December 3 and January 1 can join in the fun, searching for the clues during their Jurassic round to win a chocolate treat.
And between December 17 and 24, once children are off school for the holidays, kids go free for rounds booked before 10.30am.
The attraction is open daily from 7am to 10.30pm. Visitors can book online or turn up and play, however online booking is advised for weekends and during school holidays.
Visit the website for more details.
Glow at RHS Garden Bridgewater, Salford
A twinkling lights trail is once again illuminating RHS Garden Bridgewater this Christmas.
The Glow trail transformed all five gardens of the site, in Worsley, Salford, last year with 'spectacular illuminations' lighting up the night.
Visitors were able to see a selection of the garden’s best-loved locations, including the Weston Walled Garden, Chinese Streamside Garden and Ellesmere Lake, as they'd never seen before, and be 'wowed by the sight of sparkling trees, shrubs and water features basking in the glow'.
New for 2022 guests can weave their way through yew domes festooned with fairy lights, explore a magical family discovery trail inspired by local folklore and take a selfie with giant, colour-changing stars.
The event will run Wednesday to Saturday from now until December 17.
To book tickets, costing from £13 for adults (£6 members) and £6.50 for children (£3.50 members), visit the website here.
Candy Cane Central, Manchester Arndale
There's lots happening at Manchester Arndale where it's hosting Candy Cane Central this Christmas.
A number of free festive events are planned including a pop-up cinema, festive craft classes, storytelling with Santa and dance lessons with Eli the Elf.
Dates have yet to be confirmed but sessions will be walk-in and on a first-come first-served basis.
Also at Candy Cane Central, which will be on the upper mall near The Works, there'll be Santa's virtual magic sleigh ride, along with the talking Santa's Postbox.
For £3.50 (£12 for a family) you can jump aboard the sleigh, and put on your HD VR headset for 'a fully immersive 4D experience' as it transports you across the globe - and 'even into space'.
Tilting forwards, backwards and side to side, the sleigh’s movements have been specially designed take you on a real journey.
It's open from November 22 to December 24 and can be booked online here.
After a magical sleigh ride, little ones can write their Christmas wish list whilst chatting to the magic postbox, before sending their letter to the main man.
Letters posted up until December 16 will receive a reply via post. Letters posted between December 17 and 24 will receive a reply via email. Find out more and book your VR sleigh ride on the website here.
Christmas Bricktacular, Legoland Discovery Centre, Trafford
Legoland's festive event is back this Christmas and promising more fun than ever.
Youngsters can take part in a scavenger hunt in the winter wonderland-themed Miniland, build a cool Lego decoration and rock around the Lego Christmas tree at the pop-up dance parties with the centre's mascots.
You can also upgrade tickets to meet Lego Santa in his grotto while you're there.
For an extra £5 per person on selected dates, you can head into his grotto to have a souvenir photo taken with the brick man himself and get an 'awesome gift'.
Christmas Bricktacular is running on weekends and in school holidays from December 3 to 30. Tickets, from £15, can be booked online. Party sessions are also running on New Year's Eve, with time slots available from 9.30am to 12.30pm and then 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
Octonauts at Sea Life, Trafford
Visitors are invited to join the Octonauts at Sea Life in Trafford this Christmas.
Children and their families can take part in a scavenger hunt and answer the Christmas conundrums hidden around the aquarium.
In addition to the Octonauts special Christmas mission, you'll get to enjoy meet and greets with Peso and take part in Octonauts themed crafts.
The event is on from December 3 to 31. Tickets, from £15, can be booked online.
Christmas magic at Merseyway, Stockport
There's all kinds of fun to get little ones in the Christmas spirit at Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport.
From storytime with Mrs Claus and the chance to send a letter to Santa in the giant postbox, there's something for kids of all ages.
And Merseyway's elves will be making an appearance at weekend causing some mischief.
There's also festive huts, late night shopping and more. Visit the website for details.
Enchanted at Knowsley Safari
The 'magical' light trail returns to Knowsley this Christmas.
Having become a festive tradition for many, it promises that visitors will 'be swept away by the magical atmosphere created by illuminated deer, giraffes, zebra, penguins, flamingos and many more, as seasonal music plays'.
This year there's a brand-new Christmas Carnival area, where games like the coconut shy can be played - all included in the ticket price.
There's also marshmallow toasting and hot chocolate, as well as amusements and rides for little ones to enjoy.
Families have the option to book on a grotto visit too as part of the experience.
Enchanted tickets are £11 for children and adults (£9 for members) and under threes and carers are free. Sessions run between 4.30pm and 7.15pm on selected dates in November and daily throughout December, except for 24 to 26 and 31.
To book, visit the website here.
The Hive at Moss Bank Park, Bolton
There's lots of festive fun happening at The Hive this Christmas.
From cookie decorating with Mrs Claus to craft activities and a festive trail for preschoolers, there's something for children of different ages to enjoy.
Find out more and get details on how to book on the Facebook page here.
Christmas at Tatton Park
Tatton Park is always a favourite with families at Christmas time.
This year it's hosting Once Upon a Pantomime: The Christmas Mansion.
The 'magical' mansion is themed with 'all of your favourite pantomimes' and decorated with 'special lighting and stunning decorations'.
Families are invited to 'let the music and magic whisk you through enchanted woodlands and into magical fairy tale forests, from the grandeur of the state rooms through to the servants' quarters'.
You can look out for sleeping beauty and fly away to Neverland before looking up to Jack’s show-stopper beanstalk, which has taken over the Cupola Hall.
The event is running on selected dates from November 22 to January 1. Tickets, costing £12 for adults and £9 for children (two and under go free) can be booked online.
Winter Garden, Mill Gate, Bury
A festive wonderland has been created at the shopping centre for families to visit.
Running until January at Schorndorf Square, there are trees, gifts, face-painting and festive themed benches, plus lots of opportunities for festive photos.
Children can write their letters to Santa and post them in the special North Pole Post Box.
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