Grab your skates for Manchester Ice – The Rink at Cathedral Gardens – that will top your Christmas list this year

The Rink at Cathedral Gardens open from 4 November 2016 until 8 January 2017 – 11am until 9pm (same day at the Christmas Lights Switch-on party)

Grab your skates for Manchester Ice – The Rink at Cathedral Gardens – that will top your Christmas list this year

•  The Rink at Cathedral Gardens open from 4 November 2016 until 8 January 2017 – 11am until 9pm (same day at the Christmas Lights Switch-on party)
• Fairground to open with the award-winning Christmas Markets on Thursday, 10 November

This year, Manchester’s world-famous Christmas markets will be adding a new addition to the hugely popular family friendly zone. 

For the first ever time, alongside the traditional fairground, Festive Cathedral Gardens will be home to a glittering ice rink.

To get into the festive mood, families will be able to skate against the beautiful backdrop of this historic site which will be transformed into a winter wonderland.

The location offers a spacious and more open option for families and young people to enjoy the Christmas Markets away from the hubbub of the main market sites.

The rink at Cathedral Gardens will open on 3 pm on 4 November, the same night as the Christmas Lights Switch-on part in Albert Square.

Alongside the ice rink families will be able to enjoy a traditional funfair which includes a Ferris wheel, a traditional carousel, a Helter Skelter, and a tea cup ride – open from Thursday, 10 November, the same day that Manchester’s world-famous markets open.

There will also be a range of refreshments available from hand-crafted Windmill House including cookies, waffles, bratwurst, hot chocolate and of course mulled wine for the grown-ups.

Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester’s Christmas spokesman, said: “Manchester’s world-famous Christmas markets are up there with the best in the world, and this year they are getting even better.

“Last year the family zone was added to the Christmas Markets for the first time. This year we’re bringing you a Manchester first – and ice rink in the iconic shadows of the Cathedral and National Football Museum.

“The Christmas Markets are something that the whole family can enjoy and we expect thousands of people to get their skates on and dive – hopefully not head first – into the festive season.”

www.manchester.gov.uk/christmasmarkets

www.visitmanchester.com/christmas

 MEDIA CONTACT

Simon Walker, Manchester City Council press office

s.walker2@manchester.gov.uk

0161 234 1010