Award-winning illuminations event Lightopia is returning to Manchester for a third successive year in 2021 with a new Christmas Fantasy adventure at Heaton Park.
Featuring an illuminated trail with multi-sensory interactive lights, lanterns and installations, Lightopia is described as a “fantasy festive world for family and friends filled with mythical creatures”.
The Grade I-listed Heaton Hall will play host to a Christmas Spectacular – with a 9ft bauble-inspired Christmas tree and immersive stand-alone giant bauble which visitors can walk inside.
Lightopia 2021 will also feature a fantastical Magic Circus display, complete with illusional installations and interactive entertainment as clowns, animals and magicians take charge of the night.
A giant Earth Flower will also be on display, surrounded by 10 musical drums and powering a Field of Love with 50,000 hearts filling the floor.
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A fantastical Magic Circus display is coming to Lightopia this year
A Time Travel zone will contain holographic time portals and a colourful time tunnel complete with digital interactions, whilst an enchanted Fantasy Forest will introduce visitors to mythical creatures hidden in the woodland, including a nine tailed fox and unicorns.
Lightopia 2021 will also be home Dragon’s Land featuring two huge 40m dragons and fabled fairies; Candy Land – a sweet-inspired illuminated dreamland; Fantasy Bees – where iconic insects are brought to life in a fantasy world; and a Wonders of the World display with giant mirrored, glistening crystals and gems.
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There will also be a Lakeside Water Show – a new fantasy production created especially for 2021.
Ian Xiang, Creative Director of Lightopia, says: “We are excited to bring a brand new Lightopia concept to Manchester this winter, a fantasy world that has never been seen before.
“Lightopia 2021 will be a dream world adventure, for families and friends to escape to this Christmas.
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“We want our guests to become part of this new fantasy Lightopia experience, as they interact and engage with the luminescent sculptures that trail through Heaton Park.”
Lightopia 2021 will also be home Dragon’s Land featuring two huge 40m dragons and fabled fairies
Creative Designer for Lightopia, Ava Moradi added: “This year, Lightopia will bring new artistic illuminated displays with unique fantasy themed installations and light shows.
“My main focus as an artist is for this immersive light experience to bring happiness and joy; making this festive day out a go-to place for friends and family to celebrate together through the magical trail.”
Lightopia will be open to the public from Friday 19 November until Monday 3 January.
The event is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, except during school holidays. It will also close on Christmas Day.
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Opening times are between 5pm to 10pm, and last entry is 8.30pm daily.
For those looking to plan ahead with friends and family this Christmas, you can sign-up for Lightopia’s pre-sale now with your email online for 20% off the ticket price.
General ticket sales will be available on Wednesday 28 July.
Lightopia is promising a ‘state-of-the-art’ lakeside water show for 2021
Advance tickets are priced at £20.00 for adults (or £22.00 on the day), £13.00 for children (or £15.00 on the day), and £60.00 for families of two adults and two children (£68.00 on the day). Children under three can go free.
Essential carers of disabled visitors can attend for free, the disabled visitor pays the normal admission fee.
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Follow on Instagram and Facebook @lightopiafestival #Lightopia.
A beloved Manc gig venue is hosting a special afterparty following Manichester tribute festival
Danny Jones
A much-loved live music institution in Manchester is set to host a dedicated afterparty for the inaugural ‘Manichester’: the live tribute festival in memory of Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.
Seeing the grassroots music scene gathering together in moments like this is the kind of stuff that would make the man himself SO proud.
With Manichester 2026 announced this past March and set to take place later this month in honour of the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist, tickets for the main event sold out very quickly.
This came as no surprise, of course, but now other Manc venues are joining in toasting the life and career of Mani for one very special evening.
Shared by Madchester.com, who are helping organise the Manichester ’26 along with surviving members of the Mounfield family, as well as Mani’s friends and peers such as his brother Greg and Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene, gig space Gorilla are hosting it.
The small-cap live music room, bar and restaurant has hosted many a special night over the past decade or so – hosting multiple War Child charity shows in the past few years, for instance – and even when they’re not hosting a set themselves, they’re always more than happy to join in the celebrations.
With that in mind, there always likely to pay their respects to the late, great and iconic local musician in some way, but now they’re teaming up with Madchester directly.
Positioned as the official ‘aftershow’ following the mini tribute festival, as you can see, there will be just 600 tickets available, with general admission for the main event already gone as mentioned.
At one point, it looked like the kind-spirited and well-meaning idea might be scrapped altogether after some confusion between the organising partners.
Thankfully, that all looks to have been put to bed, and all those involved can focus on what’s important: honouring Mani in the best way possible – with a load of live tunes and a good time.
In terms of those who will be playing on the night ahead of the aftershow, the likes of the equally legendary Peter Hook, Rowetta, The Kowloons, Jon McClure from Reverend and the Makers, plus many more, have been announced as part of the lineup.
There is also still a ‘AAA’ headliner still yet to be confirmed, so watch this space.
As for the Manichester afterparty at Gorilla, keep an eye out on socials for the ticket link to drop and, hopefully, we’ll see you there for a night to remember.
Pretty Woman The Musical will be returning to the stage in Manchester next year
Emily Sergeant
“Big night out. Big. HUGE.”
This is your chance to experience one of Hollywood’s best-loved romcoms of all time, as following a record-breaking run in the West End and a sell-out first UK tour in 2023, Pretty Woman The Musical is heading back out the road again next year, and it’ll be taking to one of Manchester‘s most iconic stages.
With direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, it’s no wonder Pretty Woman The Musical is one of the most popular productions of the 21st century.
Just like the 1990 film of the same name, Pretty Woman The Musical tells the story of Vivian and Edward, two unlikely soulmates who overcome all odds to find each other… and themselves.
Pretty Woman The Musical will be returning to the stage in Manchester next year / Credit: Supplied
The musical – which is described as being a ‘dazzlingly joyous love story for the ages’ – lets you experience all the moments you know and love from the movie, all while getting to know these iconic characters in a whole new way.
Stopping off at Manchester Palace Theatre next spring, the show will be in our city from Tuesday 23 March through to Saturday 3 April 2027, before visiting other northern cities like Leeds, York, Sunderland, Hull, and Liverpool, as well as major locations like Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.
Tickets officially go on sale this week – with the pre-sale for ATG members beginning this Wednesday (13 May), before general sale starts on Friday 15 May at 10am.
The Manc -
16th July 2021 
