Dunham Massey’s legendary light trail is back once again this Christmas, and it’s bringing even more festive magic to Greater Manchester.
Set to return to the grounds of the massively-popular Altrincham-based National Trust property for what is the seventh year running now, Christmas at Dunham Massey is back next month, and it’s already being described as a “must-see magical festive trail”.
It’s definitely going to be one to stick on your family-friendly Christmas bucket list, that’s for sure.
Just as it does every year, the trail will bringing the garden to life with “a million twinkling lights” and “seasonal sounds”.
Dunham Massey’s magical festive light trail is back this Christmas / Credit: Dunham Massey
Officially opening on 17 November and running right through until the end of December, you can expect to discover sparkling tunnels, giant baubles, and glistening trees drenched in colour as you make your way around the picturesque park.
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If you’ve been to the beloved trail before, then you’ll know just how special it is.
You can expect to see some of the popular light sculptures returning this year, including the larger-than-life illuminated reindeers, the fan-favourite walkthrough Tunnel of Light – which is a spellbinding experience all on its own.
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Tickets to the festive family-favourite are now on sale / Credit: Dunham Massey
You can also be mesmerised by flickering flames in the fire garden, stand in awe of the dancing waterside reflections, and keep an eye out for Father Christmas along the way too.
Colour-changing batons of light stretching out into the distance, a huge silver star shrouded in mist as if it’s just fallen from the sky, and star-shaped arches are just some of the new displays to see this year.
As well as the light trail, the grounds are also home to a whole host of talented food vendors who will be serving up a wide range of winter-warming delicious dishes and drinks to complete your walk under the stars.
Designed for all ages to enjoy, with timed-entry sessions starting as soon as the sun goes down from 4:30pm, Christmas at Dunham Massey opens on 17 November and runs right through to 31 December – with tickets now available, and the early evening and weekend slots already being snapped up fast and likely to sell out quickly.
Tickets will set you back just £24.50 for adults, £17 for children (free for under 3s), and you can grab yours here.
Featured Image – Raymond Gubbay (via National Trust)
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James Arthur to play massive Manchester show on UK arena tour next year
Emily Sergeant
James Arthur is the latest act to announce a massive UK arena tour, and he’ll be paying a visit to Manchester next year.
On the day that Manchester’s newest live entertainment arena,Co-op Live, is set to welcome one of the world’s current biggest pop star, Sabrina Carpenter, another major pop act is set to take to that very same stage around this time next year, as James Arthur has today announced a huge arena tour.
The former X Factor winner is heading out on an 11-date tour of the UK in early 2026, and that includes a visit to our city in mid February.
After performing in some of the UK’s biggest cities in the days prior – including London’s O2, the bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, and shows in other northern cities such as Sheffield and Liverpool – the will 37-year-old singer-songwriter will stop off Manchester to close out his impressive tour.
He’ll be performing at Co-op Live on Saturday 21 February 2026.
The announcement of next year’s UK tour next year’s coincides with the upcoming release of Arthur’s highly-anticipated next studio album, PISCES.
In recent years, Arthur has cemented himself as one of the biggest names in contemporary pop and soul, amassing 11 Platinum hit singles, more 38 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and two UK number one albums along the way – including his most recent release, Bitter Sweet Love, which was celebrated with a sold-out UK and Europe arena tour, culminating in a historic performance in his hometown of Middlesbrough to an audience of 25,000 fans.
James Arthur UK arena tour dates 2025
3 February – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
4 February – Glasgow OVO Hydro
6 February – Newcastle Utilita Arena
7 February – Aberdeen P&J Live
10 February – Birmingham bp pulse LIVE
11 February – Bournemouth International Centre
13 February – Sheffield Utilita Arena
14 February – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
16 February – Cardiff Utilita Arena
18 February – London The O2
21 February – Manchester Co-op Live
James Arthur is playing a massive Manchester show on his UK arena tour next year / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
With the upcoming release of PISCES on 25 April, Arthur is said to be ‘diving deeper into his personal struggles’ to create a collection of songs that is ‘as introspective as it is sonically adventurous’.
Tickets to James Arthur’s 2026 UK arena tour, including the Manchester Co-op Live gig on Saturday 21 February, go on pre-sale next Wednesday 19 March at 9am, and then on general sale on Friday 21 February at 9am.
Find out more and get tickets when they go on sale here.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Popular Manchester comedy festival returns with impressive lineup of local talent and ‘cult sensations’
Emily Sergeant
A popular comedy festival is returning to our city with yet another impressive lineup of local talent and ‘cult sensations’.
That’s right… some of the UK’s best comedy names are coming to Manchester.
Following the success of events held the last two years, renowned production company, A Lovely Time, has once again put together an absolutely jam-packed lineup of television names, internet sensations, hotly-tipped newcomers, and even critically-acclaimed comedians for a weekend full of comedy shows in the heart of the city centre.
Taking place at Fairfield Social Club – which is tucked away down at the Green Quarter – the weekend-long festival, aptly called A Lovely Weekend, will kick off on Friday 6 June.
You can expect three full days of laughter at the hands of an expertly-curated lineup, who’ll mostly be staging ‘work in progress’ shows and sets.
Popular comedy festival A Lovely Weekend is returning to Manchester this summer / Credit: Kristyna Baczyna | Caro Ferretti
This year’s festival is bringing 19 new shows to the mix, including the likes of Edinburgh Comedy Award winners John Kearns and Jordan Brookes, and local talent done-good Rachel Fairburn and Josh Jones, as well rising stars Sharon Wanjohi, Ayoade Bamgboye, and Molly McGuinness.
Plus, you can also catch cult sensations like Mark Silcox and the formidable Frankie Monroe, making for a truly unmissable weekend of comedy.
“It’s such an honour to bring this amazing lineup of comedians to Manchester, which is quickly becoming the most exciting city for comedy in the UK,” commented festival organiser John Stansfield ahead of this summer’s event.
Co-organiser Chris Cantrill, who is also a comedian himself, added: “As a comedy fan I have to say I cannot wait for this year’s festival. It feels positively decadent.”
A Lovely Weekend 2025 will take over Fairfield Social Club from Friday 6 – Sunday 8 June, and tickets are on sale now – with tickets to individual shows, and specific day and weekend-long passes all available to get your hands on.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd October 2023 
