In case you hadn’t realised, this upcoming Friday falls on 13 May, and a little cinema in Manchester city centre is marking it in probably the most appropriate way possible.
We all know by now that as part of Western superstition going all the way back to the early 19th century, Friday 13th is considered to be the unluckiest days – with the unfortunate event happening at least once, but can unfortunately sometimes occur up to three times within the same calendar year.
The superstition of the day is so engrained in our culture, in fact, that it gave way to the classic Friday the 13th film franchise, which so far includes 12 horrifying flicks, as well as several TV series, novels, comic books, and video games.
Unfamiliar with Friday the 13th? The franchise mainly focuses on the fictional character Jason Voorhees, who was thought to have drowned as a boy at Camp Crystal Lake due to the negligence of the camp staff, and then decades later, the lake is rumoured to be “cursed” and is the setting for a series of mass murders.
Jason is featured in all of the films, as either the killer or the motivation for the killings.
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The original Friday the 13th film completely shocked audiences to their core when it was first released back in 1980, before the series went on to be one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time and make over $468 million at the box-office worldwide – and it sounds it’s set to scare audiences all over again this week.
For those brave enough to head on down to Ducie Street Warehouse’s much-loved ‘Mini Cini’ in the heart of Manchester city centre, you can catch a Friday the 13th double billing this Friday 13 May.
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Hosted by Manchester’s dedicated horror film festival, GRIMMFEST, the Friday the 13th Double Bill will kick off with Friday the 13th Part II at around 6:30pm, before Friday 13th May Part 3 is screened in 3D at 8.30pm.
Special 3D glasses handed out to everyone before the showing starts.
A Friday the 13th double billing is happening this Friday 13 May / Credit: Paramount Pictures
The ‘Mini Cini’ is a retro cinema screen tucked away inside the popular Ducie Street Warehouse / Credit: Ducie Street Warehouse
Ducie Street Warehouse’s ‘Mini Cini’ is a retro cinema screen tucked away inside the popular city centre entertainment and social hub, with only a very limited number of seats.
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The little exclusive cinema benefits from having an eclectic food offering of small plates, light bites, pizzas, salads, and more, as well as a bar directly outside the screen that serves up a wide selection of beers, cocktails, spirits.
Each seat in the cinema even has a QR code for moviegoers to scan to order food and drinks directly to your seat before and during the films.
Fancy it then? You can find out more and grab tickets here.
Featured Image – Paramount Pictures
What's On
Manc icons to be turned into trail of stunning floral installations lining city centre streets
Emily Sergeant
Caroline Aherne and Emmeline Pankhurst are among the ‘Manchester Icons’ set to turned into floral installations for a new trail that’ll line the city centre streets.
In case you missed it, it was announced back in January that Manchester is all set to become one of the most picturesque places in the UK once again this summer, and that’s because the city will be getting dressed up in celebration of the annual Flower Festival – which is back by popular demand for its seventh year.
The four-day festival – which is organised annually by Manchester BID and CityCo, and is often dubbed the “most Instagramable event of the year” – always sees Manchester bloom to life, with plants and flowers covering landmark buildings, shop windows, doorways, balconies, statues, fountains, and more right across the city centre.
This year’s Festival will take place over the late May bank holiday weekend from Friday 24 – Monday 27 May 2024.
And now, the theme for this year’s floral trail has now been revealed by the Festival’s organisers.
‘Manchester Icons’ is the name and theme of this year’s trail – which is always one of the most popular events at the Festival each year – and visitors are being told they can expect to see 10 glorious displays inspired by Manchester-born figures, music icons, and even legendary buildings.
All the installations in the trail are created by local artists, gardeners, and flower enthusiasts.
The late Manc actress Caroline Aherne, Manchester suffragette icon Emmeline Pankhurst, Girls Aloud and Stockport-raised band member, the late Sarah Harding, and local singing legend Rowetta are among the ‘icons’ who will be turned into floral art pieces, alongside other famous sites such as Gnome Island, the Hacienda, and Boddington’s brewery.
Manchester will be filled with fresh blooms as annual the Flower Festival returns this summer / Credit: Carl Sukonik & Fabio De Paola | The Manc Group
King Street, New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square, the Corn Exchange, and Manchester Arndale are just a few of the sites the installations will call home in a couple of weeks time.
The names and locations of the 10 installations are:
‘What first attracted you to the comedian Caroline Aherne?’ – New Cathedral Street
‘The Girls Aloud Tribute Garden’ – St Ann’s Square
‘Emmeline’s Town Hall’ – On the corner of King Street and Cross Street
‘Queen Bee Rowetta’ – The Royal Exchange
‘Gnome Island’ – King Street
‘The Second Summer of Love’ – Manchester Arndale
‘Boddingtons Blooms’ – Corn Exchange
‘The Iconic Hive’ – New Cathedral Street
‘This is Manchester’ – St Ann’s Square
‘The Hacienda Gardens’ – On the corner of King Street and Deansgate
Alongside the headline floral trail, organisers say this year’a Manchester Flower Festival is also set to bring “fun and frivolity” to the city’s streets – with a cocktail trail, al-fresco dining, live music, lots of family entertainment, floral workshops, arts and crafts markets, and so much more.
Manchester Flower Festival 2024 is free for all to attend from Friday 24 – Monday 27 May, and you can find out more about the floral trail and everything else happening across the four days here.
Featured Image – Carl Sudonik (via Manchester BID)
What's On
An ‘immersive’ 1940s-themed weekend is taking over Greater Manchester’s heritage railway this month
Emily Sergeant
An ‘immersive’ 1940s-themed weekend is all set to take over Greater Manchester’s heritage railway later this month.
Fancy stepping back in time?
After delighting little Mancs and families throughout the region during countless successful events over the past couple of years, the Greater Manchester public is now being invited to “dig out your gladrags” and head on down to East Lancashire Railway (ELR) this late May bank holiday, as the Vintage 1940s Weekend is returning by popular demand.
The Vintage 1940s Weekend been an absolute hit in previous years, and has been one of the heritage railway’s most popular events, so it’s no surprise that it’s making a return in a couple of weeks time.
Tickets are now on sale, and there’s still plenty of time to grab some for yourself.
This year, the event will “focus on the musical backdrop of 1940s Britain”, which means there’s an exciting collection of live music performances lined up across the three-day weekend – including vintage vocal harmony trio ‘Blue Bird Belles’, and vintage DJ ‘A Train Swing’ too, so you’ll want to make sure to “bring your dancing shoes”.
An ‘immersive’ 1940s-themed weekend is taking over Greater Manchester’s heritage railway this month / Credit: ELR
But the music scene won’t be the only highlight of the weekend, as food, fashion, and memorabilia of the 1940s will also be brought to life too.
ELR says it’s hoping to recreate “an atmosphere of hope and celebration” for all the family to enjoy, as well as “capturing the most positive aspects of this unique period in British history”.
To keep spirits soaring, the famous Avro Lancaster 1 is also scheduled to fly over Rawtenstall on Saturday (25 May) and Monday (27 May).
When the Vintage 1940s Weekend takes over ELR later this month from Saturday 24 – Monday 27 May, all attendees are encouraged to “get stuck in and dress up in period costume” to make the whole event feel like you’re really stepping back in time, and the uniform policy is now available to view on the ELR website here.
Speaking ahead of the event later this month, Mike Kelly – who is the Chairman of East Lancashire Railway – commented: “The 1940s Weekend is one of our best attended days out in the annual calendar, and we’re delighted to see its return in 2024, as it’s great to see the community, both young and old, come together to celebrate this incredible time period, and to remember those who sacrificed so much for the country.
“This weekend is one you won’t want to miss, so make sure to book a ticket while you still can.”
Tickets are now on sale from as little as £25 for adults and £16.50 for children, but there’s also three-day rover tickets and a range of discounts and family ticket packages available too.
And, if all of that wasn’t exciting enough as it is, the ticket price also includes a ride across the Irwell Valley on a genuine steam-powered train too.
Find out more, and grab tickets to the popular event here.