Rhyme times, toddler sessions, stay and play and everything else that genuinely works with a pre-schooler in and around Manchester.
Take part in a joyful day of stories, theatre, music, dancing, crafts and family fun.
Half term on two wheels: balance bike and trybike sessions for 2 to 6s at £6, track cycling on the velodrome for 9 and over at £16.30, a 9 to 2 BMX camp for 7 plus at £37, and £8.20 Learn to Ride sessions for Manchester residents. Bikes and helmets provided.
More than 210 stalls across the city centre, with the big wheel and a helter-skelter in Albert Square, Skate MCR's covered rink in Cathedral Gardens and a new site at Lincoln Square. Saturday evenings are shoulder to shoulder, which is a lot with a pushchair.
Manchester's free council fireworks are back for the first time since 2019, with a reduced-noise, low-impact show at 5pm for young children and SEND families, then a lantern parade and the main display at 8pm. Go early if you have a toddler and be home for bath time.
The Fallowfield one of the council's three free displays, with the same two-show format: quieter and earlier at 5pm, loud at 8pm with a lantern parade in between. Wilmslow Road will be busy, so the bus beats the car.
One of three free council displays returning to Manchester parks this year. The 5pm show is deliberately quieter for little ones and children with SEND; the full-volume display follows at 8pm after a lantern parade. The park is huge, so agree a meeting point before it gets dark.
A mile-long light trail through Heaton Park with a new 'Christmas Time Machine' theme this year, plus a Christmas village with food, drink and fairground rides. Tickets are now just peak or off-peak, and you can move your date for free up to a day before.
A 30-minute walk through themed rooms and elf missions, ending in Santa's cabin with a gift for every child. It has moved to the Corn Exchange this year, in the main atrium next to Mowgli, and the queue is indoors. Every child needs a ticket, babies included, and the professional photo with Santa is sold on the day.
Manchester's big city-centre panto, with Jason Manford and Ben Nickless back on the Opera House stage. Early December weekdays have 1pm shows as well as 7pm ones. Under 18 months can sit on your lap free with a babes-in-arms voucher.
The city's Christmas parade is booked in for Sunday 6 December. The council has not published the route or start time yet, so check nearer the day before you promise anyone a front-row spot.