What’s on in December?
28 Nov 2025
Welcome to December’s edition of ‘What’s on?’. Here you will find everything you can get involved in for free each month, ranging from cultural, extracurricular and celebratory events and activities.
Events
Last Townhall of the year!
Join us for free festive treats and hot drinks with Professor Duncan Ivison to wrap up 2025.
- Book your place on Monday, 15 December 11am to 12pm (in person only)
Making a Difference Awards: Online briefing session
Our Making a Difference Awards are now open for entries and nominations, and we are holding an online briefing session for anyone who would like more information about how to complete an entry or nomination.
- Book your place on Monday, 1 December 2pm to 3pm online
Research Data Conversations
Join our online session part of a series to promote open and FAIR data practices and new and emerging ideas in research data management.
- Book your place on Thursday, 4 December 2pm to 3pm online
Our cultural institutions
Manchester Museum
From Tuesday, 2 December: The Artefacts of Prediction: Imagining Tomorrow
Tuesday, 2 to Sunday, 7 December: Stan’s Secret Santa
Wednesday, 10 December (6.30pm to 7.30pm): Olympias Music Foundation Winter Concert
Wednesday, 10 December (6.30pm to 8pm): Reflecting on Responses to Asru: an open discussion
Saturday, 13 December (12pm to 4pm): A Christmas with a Dino Difference
Saturday, 13 December: Threads of Connection
Whitworth Art Gallery
Saturday, 6 December (3.30pm to 4.30pm): Recoverist Curators: Curator Tour with Dom Pillai
Sunday, 7 December: Friends of the Whitworth Sunday Concerts
Thursday, 11 December (3pm to 4pm): Santiago Yahuarcani: The Beginning of Knowledge Curator Tour
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Thursday, 11 December (1pm to 2pm): Student Voices in the Archives
Our community
Religious celebrations and traditions
Advent Begins (Christianity) Monday, 1 December
Bodhi Day (Buddhism) Monday, 8 December
Hanukkah (Judaism) Sunday, 14 to Monday, 22 December
Christmas Eve (Christianity) Wednesday, 24 December
Christmas Day (Christianity) Thursday, 25 December
Awareness days
World AIDS Day – Monday, 1 December
International Day of People with Disabilities – Wednesday, 3 December
Groups and societies
Book club
This month’s book is The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods. We will also recap The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.
You don't even need to have finished the book (although there will be spoilers!).
Why not head over to our Viva Engage (yammer) group for more reading inspiration. Looking forward to a good discussion!
- Please contact Fiona.Lynch@manchester.ac.uk for the zoom link for Friday, 30 January 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Parents, Carers, & Guardians Network - Christmas Extravaganza
Wednesday 17 December, Nancy Rothwell Building Event Space.
Festive lunch, networking, and fun for ALL families Family games, carol singing, and more Santa visit with Presents!
Want to feature your event next month?
If your event is free and open to all colleagues at the University, you can advertise it here next month!
The deadline to feature in January’s edition of ‘What’s on?’ will be Friday, 19 December to account for the Christmas closure.
Please note that we unfortunately cannot guarantee your submission will feature, but we will do our best to feature as many as we can. Submit your suggestions to uninews@manchester.ac.uk for consideration.