Tinseltown: Trafford Centre Christmas activities including festive fairground, ice rink and grotto announced

The Trafford Centre has well and truly started on the countdown to Christmas after the announcement of Tinseltown, its bumper programme of festive activities for families.

The massive retail and leisure hub is pulling out all the stops from mid-November to help get Greater Manchester residents into the festive spirit. The Trafford Centre will be transformed with activities including a new grotto, a festive fairground, spectacular shows, an ice rink and more.

The popular ferris wheel is back as well and there will be a number of activities and events going on to help everyone get ready for Christmas. Here’s your guide to how the Trafford Centre is being turned into Tinseltown.

When is Tinseltown at the Trafford Centre and what is on?

Trafford Centre’s Tinseltown turns the retail centre into the perfect place to get in the mood for Christmas. There will be a festive fairground, the SNOWSTORM 2 ice show, a winter ice rink, and a new grotto as well as the return of the big wheel offering visitors the chance to enjoy all the glittering lights and sights from a staggering 55 metres high.

The grotto will see Santa joined by a new friend in the shape of everyone’s favourite bear from Peru, Paddington. This festive experience for all the family runs between 16 November and 2 December and tickets are already available for you to book on the Trafford Centre’s website.

Skaters have the chance to take to the ice on the Trafford Centre’s 25m x 20m covered rink for a 45-minute skating session to celebrate the winter season. Visitors are transported to a whimsical, festive haven as they glide around under a sky full of twinkling lights to a soundtrack of festive music.

Those not taking to the ice can also enjoy a warming hot chocolate or mulled wine from the centre’s festive bar which is complete with towering Christmas tree. The skating rink is open from 18 November to 2 January and you can book skating sessions between 4pm and 8pm Monday to Friday and noon until 8pm on weekends. The times will vary for Christmas week and the new year. Find out more or book here.

The funfair is also back for 2022, with white-knuckle thrill-seekers able to soar in the skies with the Waveswinger and brave the Rock Rage while youngsters have a host of fun rides like the mini chairs and Jumping Frog. Other rides include teacups, Bumper Carz, a runaway train, and the Flying Elephants. Prices are £2.50 plus booking fee per person in advance or £3.50 on the door, while under twos go free.

Between 25 November and 2 January Gandeys is also returning with SNOWSTORM 2, a show performed on real ice. Taking place in a heated theatre big top, international ice-skaters, aerial artistes and circus performers will transport audiences to the magical Ice Kingdom. Tickets start at £11.99 and you can book here.

The Trafford Centre is also putting on a series of well-loved Christmas films in the run-up to 25 December on Saturday afternoons, starting at 12pm. The festive flicks are The Nightmare before Christmas on 19 November, Frozen on 26 November, How the Grinch Stole Christmas on 3 December, Arthur Christmas on 10 December and Home Alone on 17 December. You will need to buy a fairground ticket to get into the area where the big screen is.

There will also be plenty of entertainment in Tinseltown with costume characters roaming around, face painting and music ranging from traditional carols to acoustic Christmas covers.

What has been said about Tinseltown?

Bruce Gardner, brand experience director at the Trafford Centre, said: “This Christmas we will create a unique, festive, and magical offering for visitors in the North West and beyond.

“Introducing the new Christmas with Paddington Grotto and welcoming back our iconic Skate at Tinseltown in association with Hits Radio, Christmas at Trafford Centre has never been so exciting. Tinseltown will be the talk of the town as we provide memorable experiences for the whole family.”