For a truly unique Christmas destination, you’ll not find a more interesting, unspoilt, and charming place to visit than the Isle of Man. Combining gorgeous winter scenery, fascinating local traditions, seasonal markets and a love of a good time, it’s the perfect place for a festive getaway this year.
Whether you’re looking for a cosy cottage for two with peaceful walks on your doorstep and gorgeous local produce to spoil your loved one with, or a welcoming family pad with places to explore and festivals to experience, there’s something for everyone on the Isle of Man.
Here are just a few of the events happening on the island over the festive season to get your Isle of Man Christmas started.
Find out more:
Christmas markets
Christmas events
Christmas lights
Christmas food
Christmas walks
Christmas markets
Oh, how we love a Christmas market. There’s just something about stalls laden with beautiful things and sweet-smelling aromas filling the winter-kissed air that stirs the soul. These Isle of Man Christmas markets are sure to evoke the festive spirit from the moment you arrive…
Milntown Christmas Market, Ramsey
Saturday the 8th to Sunday the 9th of November
An annual affair that sees the Isle of Man’s only historic house bedecked in festive finery, the Milntown Christmas Market is a merry excuse to get your Christmas shopping done nice and early. Stalls laden with homemade ornaments, beautiful jewellery, and even some toothsome treats for the dogs ensure stockings will be fit to burst come the big day. You’ll also find festive baps and hot drinks courtesy of the fabulous Milntown Kitchen that are sure to fuel your shopping nicely.
Love Manx Festival Christmas Market, Ramsey
Saturday the 15th of November
This fantastic Christmas market in Ramsey runs from 10am to 4pm and takes place at Babbages Bistro. Grab yourself a mulled wine or a creamy hot chocolate and take a wander around the glittering stalls of local crafts, unique gifts (perfect for presents), and delicious local food, with live music as your soundtrack. Of course, Santa Claus will be in residence to meet and greet young ones.
Laxey Village Christmas Market
Saturday the 22nd to Sunday the 23rd of November
Celebrating their 14th annual Christmas market, expect the lights of Laxey to be extra twinkly this year. Combining community spirit and seasonal cheer, this event has gone from strength to strength after starting out as a fundraising event. This year, the bustling market of Christmassy stalls, hot food, and home-made goodies can be found throughout Laxey, including in the village square, as well as Father Christmas in his grotto, live music, a huge raffle and festive steam train rides.
ManxSPCA Christmas Fair, Onchan
Saturday the 6th of December
If you happen to be in Onchan on the 6th of December, pop to The Hub, the local community centre, for their annual ManxSPCA Christmas Fair, where you’ll find a host of handmade treasures to take home with you, delicious spiced goods to sample, and the glitter of fairy lights to add a touch of magic to your visit. Mingle with the makers and meet an array of artisans as you soak up the Christmassy glow of this fantastic market, which is all for a great cause.
Christmas events
The Isle of Man has a surprising array of events to get your teeth into this festive season. From baking to tractor runs, here are just a few of the varied happenings taking place…
Bake your own Christmas Cake
Sunday the 9th of November
Always fancied making your own Christmas cake from scratch, but don’t know where to start? Embrace your inner Mary Berry and head to Juliette’s in Peel, where you’ll be provided with all the ingredients and equipment, and get friendly guidance on how to bake the showpiece of your Christmas table – and they’ll even deliver it to your door once it’s cooked!
Peel Yuletide Festival
Saturday the 15th to Sunday the 16th of November
Peel is celebrating its first Yuletide Festival, a weekend event for all the family, including traditional Christmas carol performances, Manx craft markets, and a chance to meet Santa Claus himself. At the same time, take the opportunity to wander around Peel’s fantastic shops, bars, and restaurants, where the festive cheer will be in full force.
Manannan’s Winterfest
Thursday the 4th and Friday the 5th of December
Taking place in Douglas at the Gaiety Theatre, this delightful family-friendly event is a fabulous concert that celebrates the best of Manx Christmas traditions, and is a wonderfully musical way to ease into the festive season. With classical, folk, brass and choral music, the sea-god Manannan brings tradition to life through a wonderful evening studded with humour and dramatics.
Cinderella
Friday the 19th to Tuesday the 31st of December
Is Christmas really Christmas without a pantomime? Taking place at the Gaiety Theatre, young and old alike will adore this production of Cinderella, the rags-to-riches tale of a scullery girl turned princess, all with the help of a kindly fairy godmother, with the usual crew of an evil stepmother, ugly stepsisters, best pal Buttons and, of course, a lineup of fantastic songs and lots of dancing.
Isle of Man Young Farmers Christmas Tractor Run
Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of December
This fantastic event is much loved by islanders, where the young farmers of the island get together for a festive charity tractor run. Last year, 75 tractors were bedecked in lights and decorations, with the convoy heading around the island’s towns and villages to spread a little festive cheer to those who might not be able to get out and about. A charity event (which last year raised over £15,000), it’s well worth a watch.
Boxing Day Orienteering Event
Friday the 26th of December
This fab family-friendly event takes place in Archallagan Forest near Foxdale on Boxing Day, where the aim of the game is to find as many white and orange flags (known as controls) as you can in one hour! Whether you choose to walk, jog, or run, you’ll be equipped with an orienteering map to help you. Registration starts at 9.30am, and the mass start is at 10.30am from the southern car park.
Hunt the Wren
Friday the 26th of December
One of the most unique Manx traditions to take place on St Stephen’s Day, or Boxing Day, is the tradition of Hunt the Wren. Once common across the British Isles, it’s all but died out except in Ireland and the Isle of Man. Dating back to pre-Christian times, when the wren was considered the king of all birds, this celebration is marked with singing and dancing all over the island. Bird lovers need not fear, however – an artificial wren is popped on top of a wren pole and ‘hunted’ through the streets in a tradition that dates back to at least the 1720s.
Christmas railways
Famous for its electric and steam railways, it’s no surprise that the Isle of Man goes all out with its Christmassy rides over the festive season. If you’re intending to head to the Laxey Village Christmas Market, you can catch the Manx Electric Railway from Derby Castle in Douglas and any of the stops in between, and it’s free entry to the fayre with a valid ticket. As a special offer, one child (5-15 years) travels free with each standard adult.
Little ones will love Zen at the Glen, where a winter wonderland ride will take you from Laxey Station to meet Zenta Clause at Dhoon Glen in his grotto, accompanied by his elves. Each child receives a gift, and included in the ticket are hot dogs for children, homemade soup for adults, hot drinks, marshmallow toasting and, on selected dates, live music. Dates run for the weekends of the 6th and 7th, 13th and 14th and 20th and 21st of December.
Meanwhile, you could also alight one of Santa’s Party Trains, run by the Isle of Man Steam Railway, for a one-hour trip leaving from Douglas station, where you can join in on a Christmas singalong, face painting with the elves, fun with a balloon artist and meeting Santa Claus himself. Little ones and grown-ups alike will receive a gift, hot chocolate, sweet things to nibble on and guaranteed fun. Taking place on the 13th, 14th and 20th December.
If you’re a foodie, you might love to partake in a Christmas Cracker Lunch, taken on board a festive Pullman steam train, departing from Douglas to Castletown and back. Enjoy a delicious three-course Christmas meal while the glorious countryside slowly passes you by. The events run on various dates throughout December and depart at 12.10 on the dot.
Christmas lights
The magic of Christmas doesn’t get much better than towns and villages bedecked in glittering lights. From big and beautiful displays to carefully curated spectacles that will have your jaw dropping from the moment you arrive, these Isle of Man Christmas lights are not to be missed.
Douglas
Thursday the 20th of November
Start the beginning of the festive season with an illuminated display at the Isle of Man’s capital, Douglas. While details remain hush-hush, every year thousands of islanders flock to Douglas to celebrate, with a visit from Santa, lots of activities to take part in, and plenty of stalls to explore.
Onchan
Wednesday the 26th of November
Onchan’s Night of Light is set to return with its famous lights being switched on at 6pm. Little ones can meet Father Christmas in his grotto and have their faces painted, while there’s the chance to sail on the lake by moonlight. In addition, there’s an outdoor cinema playing beloved Christmas films, and music from the Onchan Silver Band.
Peel
Sunday the 30th of November
Taking place from 2pm to 5pm, Peel’s Christmas light switch-on celebrations include carol singing and, of course, a visit from Father Christmas before the lights are switched on at the market square around 4.15pm.
Ramsey
Saturday the 29th of November
The lovely town of Ramsey enjoys its Light Up festival with events running from 2pm through to 7pm. With food traders, pop-up activities, and lots of hustle and bustle, there’s also a fantastic bazaar, where you’ll discover Christmassy stalls, handmade gifts, tasty treats and lots of fun activities for the whole family.
Christmas food
Whether you want to celebrate Christmas in the comfort of your holiday cottage or want to head out to eat, there are plenty of choices to make your Christmas on the Isle of Man oh-so-special.
Cooking at home from home
Want to cook, but make it feel authentically Manx? One of the island’s most famous delicacies, Manx queen scallops (locally known as ‘Queenies’), are a must for a decadent treat and would make an ideal starter. Or if you fancy a change from the usual turkey, Loaghtan lamb – an unusual horned sheep brought over by the Vikings – is a rich and toothsome delicacy on the Island.
And to drink? Well, whether your tipple of choice is whiskey, ale or even vodka, there’s a host of breweries and distilleries to explore to find a bottle for your table, and you can even book yourself onto a tour exploring pubs, breweries, and distilleries – perfect for the connoisseur! Ramsey has its own farmers’ market every Saturday at The Courthouse, where you’ll be able to pick up delicious locally-grown Manx fare.
Eating out at Christmas
Of course, if the idea of cooking is the last thing you want to be thinking about, you can always get someone else to do it for you. The Isle of Man has a host of amazing places to eat out, whether you dream of luxurious afternoon teas with a festive twist - Aaron House does an excellent one - or a slap-up Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
At The Fig & Olive, Christmas might come but once a year, but boy, does it deliver the goodies. Choose between a two or three-course menu, with festive favourites from slow-cooked Manx lamb and turkey ballotine to coffee and Baileys creme brulee - not to mention some seriously lip-smacking seasonal cocktails.
The Boatyard in Peel follows in the footsteps of Manx tradition and offers a smorgasbord of menu options from the land and sea, including succulent turkey, fresh-from-ocean-queenies, and pan-seared Manx scallops - all washed down with a festive cocktail (or two).
Christmas walks
At Christmas, nothing feels better than slipping on your walking boots and heading into the great outdoors for a brisk walk or a gentle amble. And as they say, there’s no such thing as bad weather for walking, just bad clothing, so make sure you pack sturdy shoes, warm clothing, and waterproofs!
Head to Ramsey Nature Reserve, the island’s first marine nature reserve, where you’ll meander through Mooragh Park and Lake before strolling along the sandy beaches that run along the north coast. This is a great walk for rock pooling, where you can keep an eye out for starfish and crabs.
Make for Glen Mooar and Glen Wyllin to discover one of the island’s tallest waterfalls, a beautiful riverside walk and a disused railway line.
Pretty Summerhill Glen, situated at the northern end of Douglas Promenade, is well worth a visit with its lovely pathways and streams, and after dark, it comes alive with a magical array of twinkling lights to bewitch you as you meander your way through.
For true adventurers, ascend North Barrule, the island’s second-highest peak at 1842 feet above sea level – definitely to be rewarded with a hot toddy at the end of this 2-hour hike!
A quick note…..
The Isle of Man is a wonderful destination for Christmas, truly a unique spot away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As such, some things do close over the festive season, so it's worthwhile checking ahead to ensure things are open.
Feeling festive? Take a look at our stunningly beautiful Christmas holiday cottages on the Isle of Man and start planning your yuletide escape today.
