My family and I enjoyed the perfect start to our week on Monday, with a trip to Silcock's Winter Wonderland at EventCity Manchester for their VIP Launch Night. This marvellous event has returned even bigger and better than before and we were so excited to visit this fabulous festive extravaganza once again. Featuring over 50 family rides and attractions all under one roof, as well as some wonderful shows to enjoy, it is a fantastic way to spend some fun family time together and we couldn't wait to have a look around and explore.
Our evening began with some launch night entertainment from some talented local dance groups, along with a young vocalist performing a small selection of songs. This performance ended with a fabulous rendition of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas" which seemed to get everyone in the mood and excited to enter the Winter Wonderland doors as the crowd began a ten second countdown. As the curtains opened, snow began to fall as we made our way into the event.
We intended to head towards the back of venue to begin with, however we were stopped in our tracks by my youngest son deciding that he wanted to go on every single ride that we tried to walk past. The last time Winter Wonderland was in EventCity in 2017, he was only 4, so he couldn't really remember much about the event, or just how many rides there were to choose from. He was therefore delighted to find such a great choice and he began to have so much fun right from the start.
Photo Credit: Prakash Bhalsod
As well as classic favourites such as the Dodgems and the Waltzers, there were mini rollercoasters, a flying elephant ride and a mini carousel to name just a few. My son absolutely loved the Caterpillar rollercoaster and went on this several times with both myself and his big brother. When he decided he wanted a rest, we utilised that time by having a sit down and watching a show on the main stage. There were a few to choose from which included an Ice Princess Show as well as some entertainment featuring TV stars Daisy and Ollie. I really liked the fact that the main stage was central to so many rides, as this meant that I could let my teens go off and enjoy some of the larger and faster rides, knowing that it would be very easy for them to find us again when they were finished.
There was also the chance to visit Father Christmas, however we decided not to queue for this and spent our time on the rides and shows instead. However, this seemed really popular with other guests and there is also the option of purchasing a toy and photo from the Father Christmas Toy Workshop. He is available for meet and greet sessions every day, up to and including Christmas Eve.
We hadn't eaten prior to arriving at the event, so it wasn't long before my children were hungry. There were a range of food vendors to choose from and although they were a little on the expensive side, it was on par with prices that we are used to at these kind of events. We purchased four burgers which set us back £24 and five drinks cost us a further £12.50 later in the evening. The food was really good quality though and tasty too, which made up for paying the slightly higher prices.
Photo Credit: Prakash Bhalsod
Another additional cost at the event is the games stalls, which varied in price. With having three children these stalls can get expensive if they each want a go, so I usually try to avoid these, but there was a ring toss game which was only £1, so I was quite happy to pay that and we each tried our luck. My eldest son got lucky and managed to win himself some candy floss as well as some sweets so he was really pleased with himself.
Overall we had a fantastic time at Silcock's Winter Wonderland Manchester and we are hoping to return with other family members in the coming weeks. There is plenty of free parking outside the venue and I feel that the ticket prices offer excellent value for money. We loved how many rides there were to choose from that catered for a range of different ages, which ensured that there was something for the whole family to enjoy. I also really liked the addition of the short shows on the main stage and the Circus which was also available to watch. I would absolutely recommend this event to others and we cannot wait to return again in the near future.
To find out more or to book tickets please visit www.winterwonderlandmanchester.com or alternatively you can visit the following social media channels:
Facebook - facebook.com/winterwonderlandmanchester
Twitter - @wwmanchester
Instagram - @wwmanchester
Listing Details
Event - Silcock's Winter Wonderland Manchester
Venue - EventCity (next to Intu Trafford Centre), Phoenix Way, Off Barton Dock Road, Urmston, Manchester, M41 7TB
Dates - 4th December 2021 to 2nd January 2022
Parking - Free parking available
Ticket Information
Off-Peak Tickets
Adult: £29.50 (plus booking fee)
Child: (3-16) £29.50 (plus booking fee)
OAP: £20.00 (plus booking fee)
Child (Under 3): Free (Ticket Required)
Family Ticket of 4 (must include at least 1 Adult) discount of £10 (plus booking fee).
Peak
Adult: £35.00 (plus booking fee)
Child: (3-16) £35.00 (plus booking fee)
OAP: £27.50 (plus booking fee)
Child (Under 3): Free (Ticket Required)
Family Ticket of 4 (must include at least 1 Adult) discount of £10 (plus booking fee).
Carers tickets go free with full paying adults.
Groups: 1 in 10 goes free (no booking fee)
School and nursery bookings: From 7-10 December and 13-17 December, tickets £15 each including booking fee.
Payment plans are available this year - see website for details.
Reduced £22.00 (plus booking fee) tickets are available for NHS and Armed Forces on certain dates, see website for details.
All rides and attractions are included in the price (excluding games and food stalls) and each session lasts for 4 hours.
Bookings can be made online at www.winterwonderlandmanchester.com or by ringing 0344 815 7131 for both individual and group bookings.
Photo Credit: Prakash Bhalsod
*Disclaimer - We were invited as guests to the VIP Launch Night for the purpose of writing an honest review of our experience. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Details provided are believed to be correct at the time of writing but are subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the venues own site in order to view the most up to date information.