What do they sell?
| • Gifts • Crafts • Art • Toys • Jewellery • Cosmetics |
• Mulled Wine • International Foods • Sweets • Christmas Trees • Plants • Fashion |
DON your Santa hat, dust off the mulled wine glass, and get into the festive spirit - it’s time to head down to Manchester’s world famous Christmas Markets.
No Mancunian winter is complete without a quick wander through the chalet-lined streets of the markets, a quick slurp of beer, and a scrumptious bratwurst sausage.
The perfect place to get your evening started, while away an afternoon, or relax after a hard day’s Christmas shopping, the markets really have become a very firm fixture of everybody’s yuletide countdown.
The array of stalls is mind-boggling, with mouthwatering delicacies from all over Europe. Stuff yourself with sweet and savory treats, from Dutch mini pancakes, to Hungarian goulash to Spanish paella to French profiteroles. Relax with a hot chocolate, German or Spanish beer to French wine. Soak up the atmosphere of a truly international event with a uniquely Mancunian flavour.
European and local producers offer everything from fine amber jewellery, handcrafted leather bags, and top quality bonsais trees, to Dutch cheeses, French breads, and Spanish chorizo. Perfect for alternative gift ideas, enjoy the banter and advice of stallholders from all over the continent.
In 2007, the Albert Square market saw an average of 43,000 visitors every day. And in the five weeks they were open, the markets generated a whopping £42.6 million for the city’s economy.
The Christmas markets first arrived in the city in 1998, when the council of Frankfurt hosted a small traditional German market of just 17 stalls in St Ann’s Square.
The original traders are still there, but have now been joined by hundreds of other local and European traders. There are now 200 stalls sprawling across six different sites in the city centre - Albert Square, St Ann's Square, Brazennose Street, New Cathedral Street, and Exchange Street, with Exchange Square and the Triangle added last year.
And with all glasses and mugs now returnable as part of an environmentally friendly deposit scheme, your Christmas markets are greener than ever.
Manchester's Christmas Markets open on Wednesday, 18 November 2009 and run until Tuesday, 21 December 2009
For individual locations, times and dates, go to the Christmas Trail section.
Do you want to sell in Manchester’s Christmas Market?
Manchester City Council is always keen to hear from people who wish to trade at the Christmas Market. For more information, click here
