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Magical Christmas light trail at Dunham Massey adds more dates due to popular demand

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Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 23rd November 2022

Dunham Massey’s magical festive light trail is back this Christmas, and more dates have just been added due to popular demand.

Having returned to the grounds of the Altrincham-based National Trust property for the sixth year running now, Christmas at Dunham Massey is back for 2022 with what’s already being described as a “must-see magical festive trail”.

It’s bringing the garden to life with “a million twinkling lights” and “seasonal sounds”.

By making your way around the picturesque park, you can expect to discover sparkling tunnels, giant baubles, and glistening trees drenched in colour.

If you’ve ever been to the beloved trail before, then you may recognise some of the returning light sculptures, including the larger-than-life illuminated reindeers which are made up of countless festive fairy lights, as well as the fan-favourite walkthrough Tunnel of Light, which is a spellbinding experience all on its own.

Dunham Massey’s magical festive light trail is back this Christmas / 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.

There’s also some new additions to the trail this year too, including the Gladioli Tunnel – which is a new installation by UK-based arts collective Jigantics that features “lit arches of multicoloured flowers bathe visitors in a myriad of different lights”.

As well as the light trail, the grounds are also home to a whole host of talented independent street food vendors who are serving up plenty of delicious dishes like burgers, hot dogs, pizzas, and Greek souvlaki and gyros, as well as tempting sweet treats and drinks like spiced winter warmers, hot chocolates, toasted marshmallows, and so much more to complete your walk under the stars.

More ticket dates have just been added due to popular demand / Credit: Dunham Massey

Designed for all ages to enjoy, and with sessions starting as soon as the sun goes down from 4:30pm, the 90-minute Christmas at Dunham Massey trail is running right through to the new year on 2 January, and tickets are now available.

Each timed entry to the trail has a limited capacity, and the early evening and weekend slots are likely to sell out quickly.

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Tickets to Christmas at Dunham Massey will set you back just £22.50 for adults, £14.50 for children (free for under 3s), or from £50 for a family.

You can grab yours here.

Featured Image – Dunham Massey

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Iconic musical Annie is returning to the stage in Manchester next summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

One of the most iconic musical productions of the 21st century will be heading out on a tour of the UK and Ireland next year.

And of course, an iconic musical will be taking to an iconic Manchester stage.

Renowned theatre producers Michael Harrison and David Ian are ‘delighted’ to announce that their smash-hit production of the musical Annie is being revived for 2026 and 2027, and will be embarking on a huge UK-wide tour, stopping off at some major cities in the process.

Unfamiliar with the musical Annie? Yet to see it on stage? Or haven’t been able to watch the beloved 1982 film of the same name? Let us fill you in.

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage – but her luck soon changes when she’s chosen to spend a fairytale Christmas with famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks.

Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family.

Based on the 1924 comic strip, Little Orphan Annie by Harold Grey – which, in turn, was inspired from the poem, Little Orphant Annie by James Whitcomb Riley – Annie the musical originally debuted on Broadway in 1977 where it ran for nearly six years, before eventually spawning numerous productions in countless other countries, as well as national tours.

Over the last four decades, Annie the musical has won seven Tony Awards, including for Best Musical, and a wide variety of other accolades.

The songs ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life’ are among its most popular and well-known musical numbers.

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Annie the musical will be taking to the Manchester Palace Theatre stage from Tuesday 9 – Saturday 20 June 2026, with the tour continuing right through to mid-March 2027, and even more locations yet to be announced.

Tickets for the show are officially now on sale, and you can get your hands on them here.

Featured Image – Matt Crockett (Supplied)

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A huge Hot Wheels monster truck event is coming to Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Hot Wheels Monster Trucks live show Manchester

A massive Hot Wheels-themed monster truck event is coming to Manchester city centre as part of a brand new UK tour.

You can file this under one for the kids and for the big kids.

Following the success of the brand’s award-winning ‘Glow-N-Fire’ event earlier this year, Hot Wheels is hitting the road once again and bringing the explosive show to yet more domestic audiences.

Whether you’re a monster truck enthusiast, part of the wider motorhead masses, or simply looking for something fun to do with the little ones, you should be all over this.

hot wheels events manchester
hot wheels ao arena
Credit: Pres shots (supplied)

What is Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire?

Produced by Family Entertainment Live, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ sees versions of the genuine collectable toys brought to life on the biggest scale possible.

Remember that old miniature car you had that looked like a shark? Yep, they’ve even got that.

But there’s much more than just colossally large vehicles; as well as the debut of an all-new truck called the ‘Rhinomite’ – the dynamite Rhino-themed truck which charges horn-first into challenges and looks to destroy the competition – the new and improved experience will feature never-before-seen stunts.

Performed not only by the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks drivers, but also by a talented roster of FMX (freestyle motocross), you can expect the likes of no-handed front flips and much more by these impressive professionals.

Returning not only to the capital but now Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Leeds too, more and more Brits are going to be able to see the action for themselves.

hot wheels monster trucks manchester tickets
Credit: Supplied

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live – UK tour dates

  • Saturday to Sunday, 3-4 January 2026: AO Arena, Manchester
  • Sat-Sun, 10-11 January: The O2 Arena, London
  • Sat-Sun, 28-29 March: First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds
  • Sat-Sun, 4-5 April: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
  • Sat-Sun, 11-12 April: Utilita Arena, Birmingham 

With special children’s pricing, VIP packages and even the chance to participate in the official pre-show party, held two and a half hours prior to every performance, there really is so much value-for-money to be soaked up from this high-octane piece of live entertainment at the AO Arena.

The pre-show party, specifically, gives fans a unique opportunity to access the arena floor where they can get up close and personal with the outrageous Hot Wheels designs and the truly epic size of a minster struck, as well as grab autographs and selfies with their favourites.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks – Manchester tickets

Glow-N-Fire won the most recent Pollstar ‘Family Show of the Year’ award and has sold thousands of tickets this year alone, so it goes without saying that you have every reason to give this one a go.

Tickets for next year’s Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live show at the AO Arena in Manchester go on sale this Friday, 5 September at 10am.

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)

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