Manchester Christmas lights switch-on cancelled again

The familiar giant Father Christmas display will return

Manchester's Christmas lights switch-on show will not go ahead again this year, the city council has said.

Ongoing development in the city centre and the absence of a suitable safe location for the event have been blamed - the same reasons given in 2022.

The switch-on has not taken place since 2019 when it was halted due to Covid.

Councillor Pat Karney said celebrations, which include a Christmas Parade, giant Father Christmas and light trail "will be no less magical".

"We know how special the Christmas Lights Switch-on events are to Manchester families," he said.

"The event always marked the official start of Christmas in our city and although we have been unable to stage them for a few years, we will see them again in the future.

"Unfortunately, because of the ongoing development in the city centre, we remain without a suitable location to put on an event of that size - which attracts around 20,000 people. Without a venue to do this safely we simply couldn't justify putting on that type of event."

Mr Karney said the council was focusing "all energy" into a range of other family-friendly events, including another parade.

"Last year saw the first one and we were blown away by the positive festive feedback," he said.

"A different type of event to the switch-on but one that is really family-friendly and we know already that this year it'll be bigger and better than the first.

"Christmas in Manchester has felt a little different in recent years, but we promise this year will be no less magical."