Christmas market prices are being hit hard by the same surging price rises that are fuelling the cost of living crisis.
This year's Manchester Christmas Market promises to be a big return to festive form after two miserable years of pandemic social distancing.
Unfortunately the state of the economy - with inflation riding above 10%, and far more for some basic goods - has made the seasonal extravaganza a lot more pricey, the Manchester Evening News reports.
There are big increases year-on-year for hot sausages and gluhwein at the festive event.
Hot German sausages are up from £5 last year to £6.50 - with onions coming in at 50p extra.
Another Bavarian favourite - the currywurst - is now £7, up from £6 at The Witch House on New Cathedral Street and the German XL sausage swing grill on Exchange Square.
There are also big increases at the popular Pig and Barrell and Clowbecks Farmhouse Kitchen on Piccadilly Gardens - with hot roast pork rolls priced at £8 this year - up from £6.50 last year.
Lancashire cheese potatoes are now priced at £6.50, up from £5.50 last year and Cumberland sausage up by £1 to £6.50.
Drinks are also on the rise here, with gluhwein and lager now costing 50p more each, to bring the total costs to £5 and £6 respectively.
The manager of the Pig and Barrell and Clowbecks has defended the price increases, saying it's the first time they have increased prices at the Manchester Christmas Markets since 2019.
She said it was inevitable that the inflationary price increases across the board for fuel, food and services this year would have an impact for stallholders across the markets.
Una Le Roux said: "All prices have gone up everywhere - whether it be fuel prices, staffing prices, food prices, everything has gone up. We've not really put prices up since before the pandemic in 2019.
"No one even looks at the prices really, and I've only had one complaint so far. The city is really busy, everywhere we try to book for dinner is full, there are no reservations, so people at the moment, they seem to want to be out and spending money.
"Maybe in January people will think again, but for now people want to go out and enjoy their Christmas."
It's not just the meaty items that are more expensive this year.
Panc vegan stall was a big hit at Piccadilly Gardens last year and has returned for 2022, albeit with big price increases.
The popular Panc Bratwurst was priced at £5 last year and is now £7.
Owner Hannah Jobe said: "Vegan food in general is quite expensive, and in the past year literally all our suppliers have gone up in price.
"But when you go to any type of market, it might not be the cheapest, but it’s hand-crafted - we cook everything from fresh and there’s so many things in the background people might not think about that has to go into setting prices."
Owner Eddie Osman said it was inevitable given the huge increases in fuel costs.
He pointed to his gas supply for the huge stall on Exchange Square increasing from £18 a bottle to £32 a bottle - and they use around five a day.
Eddie said: "We've kept our drinks prices the same and tried to keep increases as low as we possibly can with 50p on the famous wrap."
One of the most popular stalls at the Christmas Markets, Manchester's own Porky Pig Carvery, has seen price increases on its famous Yorkshire pudding wraps, up 50p on last year.
Market stalls will now open daily from 10am to 8pm, while food and drink stalls open from 11am to 9pm across the city centre.
