20 New Years Eve Events In Manchester for Families and Kids
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the kids with our list of fun New Year’s Events in Manchester for Families for 2025.
Like with lots of other festive traditions, once you start a family, how you celebrate the New Year is likely to change. If you want to get the kids involved in the festivities it is not always to find something fun.
This year New Year’s Eve – the 31st of January 2024, falls on a Tuesday and to help you celebrate with the kids we have been on the lookout for family-friendly New Year events throughout Manchester.
From New Year’s Eve Parties in the day and evening, to days, shows and lots more we are sure you will find the perfect choice for your family.
We will be updating dating these events as the information is released and they are confirmed for 2024.
What’s On New Year’s Eve For Families
- Our Kids Social New Year’s Eve Party – Kargo Media City , Salford
- Our Kids Social New Year’s Eve Party – Stretford Hall
- New Year’s Eve Party – LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester, Trafford
- New Year’s Eve Fireworks Manchester City Centre
- Smokies New Year’s Eve Family Party – Oldham
- The Ashcroft’s New Year’s Eve Family Party
- Walkden’s Cricket Club New Year’s Eve Party, Salford
- Cotton’s New Year’s Eve Family Party, Knutsford To Be Confirmed
- Tinsel Town Fun Fair, Trafford Centre
- Christmas Fun Fair, Heaton Park
- Skate Manchester Ice Rink, Manchester City Centre
- Trafford Centre Ice Rink, Trafford Centre
- Manchester On Ice Rink Manchester City Centre
- Dunham Massey Light Trail, Trafford
- Heaton Park Light Trail, Manchester
- The Christmas Trail, Trafford Centre
- The Twilight Trail, Mayfield Park / Freight Island, Manchester City Centre
- Broad Oak Heart Christmas Trail, Didsbury
- The Squirrels Trail, Dunham Massey
- Snowy’s Conservation Crew, SEA LIFE Manchester, Trafford Centre
- Cinderella Panto, Manchester Opera House
- Gandey’s Snow Storm Ice Show, The Trafford Centre
- Sleeping Beauty Panto, Stockport Plaza
- Aladdin Panto, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham
- Aladdin Pantomime Victoria Hall Bolton
- Miracle On 34th Street The Musical, Home, Manchester City Centre
- The Stick Man, Lowry Theatre,
- Little Penguin’s First Christmas, Lowry Theatre
Our Kids Social New Year’s Eve Party, Kargo, Media City
Head to Media City for 2 hours of New Year’s Eve Party fun with Our Kids Social at Kargo.
The event will include their legendary silent disco, hula-hula fun with circus tricks and activities, arts and crafts, a glitter bar with chill out zone, snow bubbles and lots more.
Tickets cost £10.00 for children, £10.00 for adults and pre-walkers are free.
The party will run from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm.
To book >>> Our Kids Social New Year’s Eve Party Media City
Our Kids’ Social New Year’s Eve Party, Stretford Hall
Our Kids Social will also be throwing a second New Year’s Eve Party in Manchester City Centre at Stretford Hall.
Again, the event will include their legendary silent disco, hula-hula fun with circus tricks and activities, arts and crafts, a glitter bar with chill out zone and lots more.
Kids tickets include a giant slice of margarita and the bar will be open serving drinks.
The party will run from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm – SOLD OUT
To book >>> Our Kids Social New Year’s Eve Manchester
New Year’s Eve Party at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Manchester
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester is offering you the chance to celebrate moving into 2024 with some great LEGO fun.
The Party will include:
- Mocktails, crowns and blowers on arrival
- DJ
- Balloon modelling
- Face painting
- Magic show
- Midnight Style countdown with a balloon drop
- LEGO mascots meet and greets
Plus all the usual fun of LEGOLAND Discovery with rides, 4D cinema and more.
There are two sessions to choose from: 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm.
Tickets cost £25 per ticket and booking is required.
More information and to book >>> LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Manchester City Centre
The New Year’s Eve Fireworks will be returning to Manchester City Centre.
There will be a hits radio DJ, a big countdown and a huge 12-minute firework display.
The event is free and on a first-come basis.
Read More >>> New Year’s Eve Fireworks Manchester City Centre
New Year’s Eve Family Party, Smokies Park Hotel, Oldham
If you are looking to bring in the New Year with the kids and dance the night away, check out the Smokies Park Hotel family party.
Running from 7.00 pm on 31st December 2025 to 1.00 am 1st January 2025, the party will include a fun show for kids with firm favourite songs.
There will be a 2-course family hot fork buffet at 8.00 pm, and a mix of party hits to see you all through the night.
Tickets to the New Year’s Eve Family Party cost £57.00 for adults, £32.00 for children.
More >>> New Year’s Eve Family Party at Smokies Park Hotel, Oldham
New Year’s Eve Family Party Mercure Bolton Georgian House
Enjoy a fun New Year’s Eve Party in Bolton to celebrate the coming of 2026.
There will be a children’s entertainer, a street food buffet, and a DJ on until 1.00 pm.
Tickets cost £29.95 for adults, £19.95 for children and free for under 3’s, all plus booking fees
More >>> New Year’s Eve Family Party Mercure Bolton Georgian House
Tinsel Town FunFair, Trafford Centre
Open from 12.00 noon to 7.00 pm, the Tinsel Town Fun Fair At The Trafford Centre makes a great New Year’s Eve day out for the whole family.
They have a mix of adrenaline, family and kids rides so that is something for all ages, plus they have great festive food on offer – from sweet treats to bratwurst.
You could also combine the fun fair with a spin around the Trafford Centre Ice Rink or Gandey’s Ice Show – see below.
Discover More >>> Tinsel Town Fun Fair At The Trafford Centre
Read >>> Review of Tinsel Town Fun Fair, Trafford Centre
Winter Wonderland FunFair, Irish World Heritage Centre, Chorlton
Enjoy a fun winter funfair with a range of rides, food court, indoor bar and entertainment.
It will be open:
- 12.00 am to 2.30 pm
- 2.30 pm to 5.00 pm
- 5.00 pm to 7.30 pm
Unlimited wristbands will cost £10.99 per person.
More >>> Winter Wonderland Fun Fair, Irish World Heritage Centre
Skate Manchester Ice Rink
What better way to celebrate the New Year than a skate around an ice rink.
Located in Manchester City Centre, Skate Manchester will be open from 11.00 am to 8.45 pm on New Years Eve with the last session at 8.00 pm.
Along with the ice rink, you will also find food and drink stalls.
Read More and how to book >>> Skate Manchester Ice Rink
Trafford Centre Ice Rink
Along with the Tinsel Town Funfair, Trafford Centre is also home to a fun ice rink which will make a great New Year’s Eve day out.
The undercover rink will be open from 12.00 noon to 7.00 pm with the last skating session at 6.00 pm.
Read More >>> Trafford Centre Ice Rink
Dunham Massey Christmas Light Trail
The Dunham Massey Christmas Light Trail is always a popular choice for New Year’s Eve.
The trail is open from 4.30 pm to 7.00 pm and families can expect sparkling tunnels of light, colour-changing buttons, larger-than-life flower installations and lots more.
Tickets always sell out quickly to this event and we recommend booking as soon as you can.
Read more and how to book >>> Dunham Massey Christmas Light Trail
Dunham Massey — Winter Family Trail With Speechly the Pineapple (Indoors)
Enjoy a daytime, family-friendly trail aimed at younger children that mixes simple storytelling with nature exploration.
Families follow a map or trail sheet to meet Speechly (a friendly character), collect stamps and discover seasonal surprises dotted around the parkland and gardens.
More >>> Winter Family Trail With Speechly the Pineapple, Dunham Massey
Snowy’s Conservation Crew, SEA LIFE Manchester
This New Year’s Eve head to SEA LIFE Manchester and join Snowy is on a mission to try and help the animals of the North Pole.
You will be tasked to take on the challenges, find the answers, learn about the oceans and have loads of fun at SEA LIFE
Take part in an arctic-themed trail, you might even win a prize! Plus lots more.
Tickets start at £16.00 for adults and £16.00 for children. Under 3’s are free.
More >>> Snowy’s Conservation Crew, SEA LIFE Manchester
More >>> Snowy’s Conservation Crew, SEA LIFE Manchester
Gandey’s Snow Storm Ice Show, Trafford Centre
Enjoy an amazing Christmas circus show with Gandeys Snowstorm at the Trafford Centre.
Expect ice skaters, circus performers and a magical story in a show that offers both an ice show and a circus extravaganza.
On New Year’s Eve, the shows will run at 12.00 pm, 3.00 pm and 6.00 pm.
Book tickets and more details >>> Gandeys Snowstorm
Beauty and the Beast – Victoria Hall, Bolton
A sparkling take on the classic fairy tale, this pantomime brings Beauty and her Beast to life with dazzling sets, colourful costumes and plenty of audience interaction.
Expect slapstick humour, toe-tapping songs, comic sidekicks and heartfelt moments celebrating courage and friendship — perfect for families and younger children.
Aladdin – Stockport Plaza
Follow Aladdin’s magical adventures through Agrabah with flying carpets, mischievous villains and lots of laughs.
A traditional panto experience with catchy songs, colourful visuals and full audience participation — boo the baddies and cheer the heroes!
Robin Hood – Manchester Opera House
Join Robin Hood and his Merry Men in a festive take on the legendary outlaw’s escapades, packed with action, comedy and seasonal fun.
With Jason Manford and a full ensemble cast, expect lively songs, colourful costumes and plenty of family-friendly humour.
Rumpelstiltskin – Contact Theatre, Manchester
This inventive pantomime tells the story of Rumpelstiltskin in the Bavarian town of Lieblingsberg, where Cupid returns to help Prince Dierdrick restore love to the land.
The show bursts with vibrant sets, fabulous costumes and lots of panto mayhem, plus audience participation. Accessible and relaxed performances make it enjoyable for all ages.
Beauty and the Beast – Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham
Another traditional staging of this beloved story, complete with sparkling costumes, comic moments and plenty of music. A great option for families who want classic panto style and festive fun.
Discover more about all the shows above >>> Christmas Shows Manchester
