Fancy taking a freezing cold dip all in the name of raising funds for a worthy cause next year?
With the new year fast approaching, and the international day of love now only 12 weeks away, one of Manchester‘s most iconic and longest-standing charities, We Love MCR Charity, is hoping to get hearts racing with an exhilarating cold water immersion dip in Sale Water Park near Valentine’s Day next year – and you can now stick your name down to give it a go.
Daredevils Mancs taking part will be raising funds for the 25-year-old charity’s work supporting ambitious communities and young people across our region.
This isn’t the first time We Love MCR Charity has turned heads and raised eyebrows with its fundraising missions as of late, as over the last 18 months, the charity has hosted a firewalk in St. Peter’s Square, and persuaded 104 brave souls to complete Manchester’s longest-ever abseil off a 22-storey tower block.
Next up in the series of ‘mind-over-matter’ challenges, those brave enough to take part will plunge themselves into the water at Sale Water Park – wearing anything but a wetsuit, during the time of year when freshwater is at its coldest at around 4°C.
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The We Love MCR Charity Valentine’s Dip is taking place on Saturday 18 February 2023 / Credit: We Love MCR Charity
Don’t worry though, you won’t be left alone, as the challenge will be delivered by Jane McCormick of Open Swim UK – who is accredited in cold-water immersion training by world-renowned expert Wim Hof, whose name you may have heard of quite a lot recently thanks to his popularisation of ice water swimming and the benefits it can provide.
Full training in breathwork and controlling the body’s response to cold water will be provided by Jane for all participants at the lake side ahead of the challenge.
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While the daring dip will undoubtedly be the main event on the big day – which is sponsored by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, with all event costs covered – there’ll also be entertainment and refreshments will also be available for dippers plus their friends and family who come to cheer them on.
Music will be provided by DJs and Manchester-based artist Ceeow.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Our latest fundraising challenge for daredevil Mancs is the We Love MCR Valentine's Dip!
💧 Sale Water Park, Sat. Feb 18th 2023 🥶 Brave near-freezing water with Wim-Hof trained experts ❄️ Wearing anything BUT a wetsuit!
Speaking ahead of the challenge next year on the day sign-ups launch, Ged Carter – Head of We Love MCR Charity – explained: “We’re asking hardy Mancs to get their heart racing this Valentine’s as this is a real mind-over-matter challenge for a great cause, so join me and the courageous Lord Mayor of Manchester for your coldest dip ever.”
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The We Love MCR Charity Valentine’s Dip is taking place on Saturday 18 February 2023.
Limited to just 150 places, the event fee is just £10, and dippers are asked to raise a minimum of £150 in sponsorship, so if you fancy it, you can head on over to the We Love MCR Charity website to find more on the event and to learn about the positive work the charity undertakes across Manchester.
The best light trails around Greater Manchester to explore this winter
Daisy Jackson
Well done Manchester, we’ve finally done it – with the amount of light trails illuminating our skyline this winter, you might be able to see us from space.
Who doesn’t love a light trail? The incredible views that brighten up the dreary winter nights, the synchronised wows as we gaze at the statues and figures along the way, or the hot chocolate waiting for you at the end that greets you like a warm hug.
That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best light trails around Greater Manchester for you to explore this winter.
The 10 best Christmas light trails in and around Manchester 2024
1. Yuletide – Tatton Park
A festive event with a difference is taking over Tatton Park this winter, bringing folklore stories to life with illuminated puppets, live music and storytelling.
The latest seasonal event from Wild Rumpus, ‘Yuletide’ will captivate families as they explore the stunning illuminated landscape.
Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a ‘truly magical experience’.
We’ve found a light trail with a difference for you to explore this winter – a magical world of glowing lanterns has taken over Gulliver’s World, and it’s a brand-new installation for 2024.
‘Land of Lights’ is a one-mile trail that showcases a huge array of lanterns and displays, with loads of nature-inspired enchanting realms to explore from Fantasy Forest, Ice Kingdom and Winged Wonders.
Plus you can treat yourself to a hot chocolate or toast some marshmallows on your way round, and then fill yourself up with Yorkshire pudding wraps and crumble at the end.
The Trafford Centre‘s hidden woodland has been transformed into a festive wonderland, with stunning light displays, Santa’s sleigh and, of course, mulled wine at the ready for the adults.
There are even free marshmallow toasting and letter-writing stations for the kids to get their Christmas lists ready.
Then there’s food from Freight Island’s traders, including premium smashed burgers from a Michelin chef, southern fried buttermilk chicken, cheese toasties and more. Plus, kids eat free for ticket holders when buying an adult meal.
Dates: On now until 2 January
Tickets: £8 for children, £10 for adults, £32 for families
Ignite Fire Festival is back in Rochdale this month. (Credit: Supplied)
Goblets of fire, a daisy chain of flaming flowers, a firebird with blazing eyes and even fire eaters – it could only be the return of ‘Ignite Fire Festival’.
Rochdale will be looking extra glowy next week when the free event by Walk the Plank arts group fills the gardens opposite @rochdaletownhall with dazzling pyrotechnic displays.
There’ll be three nights of fiery displays, culminating in the annual Christmas lights switch-on.
A new festive light maze is heading to Cheshire for the first time this December. (Credit: Supplied)
There’s a brand-new festive light maze heading to Cheshire this Christmas, and it sounds absolutely a-maze-ing (so, so sorry).
‘A World of Illumination’ will feature giant candy canes, tunnels of light, and an overhead laser show all hidden inside a festive maze. There’s much more than meets the eye with this light trail and
And the eagle-eyed amongst you can look out for hidden handles and buttons which lead to secret rooms and festive treasures.
Arguably the toast of Cheshire’s light trail offerings. (Credit: Supplied)
This National Trust site is one of the founding godfathers when it comes to light trails and has been consistent ever since they first lit up the iconic house and its gardens.
Whether your favourite part is the lit-up moat, the array of bright figures and statues, or toasting a marshmallow, Dunham Massey has got you covered.
Being an important hub for wildlife, each ticket sold helps with the conservation and care of this UK historical landmark.
Running for four nights only in December, the festival aptly named after what your Mum shouts five times a day is back in Bolton town centre.
This festival prides itself on bringing experiences to all and this year visitors get to admire ‘Gaia’.
This six-metre-wide illuminated Earth replica will be on display throughout the festival’s duration, and is a direct detail comparison of the imagery NASA utilises. Wow!
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Dates: 5-8 December
Tickets: Free
Bookings: No tickets required
10. Lightwaves Salford – MediaCityUK
This Salford special has stood as one of the most beloved light trails in Manchester for some time now.
Spread across two kilometres and branded as ‘MediaCity‘s winter season highlight’, this experience features 14 different art installations that are set to be awe-inspiring.
One of the most engaging pieces, ‘I Caught a…’, will change throughout the night with a varying display of animals pictured in a cage.
Originally commissioned in 2021, ‘Through No 4’ will receive a glow-up with some innovative lights helping to really enhance this pretty little project located along Salford Quays.
Chatsworth House – The Peak District stately home that’s been transformed into a Christmas wonderland
Daisy Jackson
Chatsworth House is one of the great gems of the UK, and now that winter is rolling around this stately home in the Peak District has been made even more magical.
For this year’s festive transformation, the grand manor house has been filled with twinkling lights, enormous Christmas trees, and light projections.
Around every corner you’ll find another magnificent hall or corridor dressed up to the nines for the season.
There are more than 20 different rooms that you can explore at Chatsworth House this Christmas, and you’ll feel a million miles away from the city.
The house even SMELLS like Christmas, with Chatsworth collaborating with fragrance experts creating scents like chocolate, gingerbread, and the smells of a kitchen on Christmas Day.
There’s even a Christmas Market in the grounds, with more than 100 exhibitors offering themed gifts, food and drink – you can even toast marshmallows or grab a bratwurst.
Chatsworth House at Christmas. Credit: The SheffThe banquet at Chatsworth House. Credit: The SheffEvery corner is magical. Credit: The Sheff
This year, the Christmas event has been themed around an original new story written exclusively for Chatsworth House by former children’s laureate, Joseph Coelho OBE.
Henry and the Lion’s Christmas Feast is inspired by the house itself and the life of Henry Cavendish, and follows young Henry and his accomplice, a little lion (inspired by the statues in the Sculpture Gallery).
You’ll spot the book’s illustrations in the scenery and decorations all around Chatsworth House, and see a banquet laid out in the Great Dining Room.
Other events this season will include pop-up theatres, and an illuminated light trail embracing its best-loved garden landmarks.
Chatsworth House at Christmas. Credit: The SheffChatsworth House Christmas Markets. Credit: The SheffChatsworth House at Christmas. Credit: The Sheff
Joseph Coelho, author of ‘Henry and the Lion’s Christmas Feast’ said: “It was such a wonderful challenge to be invited to write a new book that would inspire the Christmas decorations at Chatsworth this year.
“I was really captivated by the life of Henry Cavendish and his amazing scientific experiments, and I got great ideas from visiting the house and grounds, especially going through the Sculpture Gallery when I saw the two great lions. I thought how interesting it would be to put the Chatsworth lion and Henry Cavendish face to face and give them a little adventure together.
“I hope that visitors come to Chatsworth and, seeing the decorations, are inspired by all the Christmassy mischief that Henry and the lion get up to and leave with that excited bubbly feeling you get when you know that Christmas is around the corner.”
If anything is going to get you in the festive spirit, it’s a wander around Chatsworth House.
Emily Sergeant -
25th November 2022 
