Christmas

Bongo’s Bingo Tropical Christmas party at Albert Hall Manchester will star Dene Michael from Black Lace

Aga-do-do-do!

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 26th November 2021

Bongo’s Bingo – the wild travelling promotion famed for turning sleepy gaming halls into floor-stomping parties – is returning to Manchester in December, and it’s bringing along a UK novelty icon. 

Dene Michael from Black Lace is headlining a series of special Christmas shows at the Albert Hall next month, as Bongo’s Bingo borrows the magnificent venue for a seven-night tropical winter shindig. 

Black Lace are the band behind the singalong pop tracks destined to soundtrack UK discos and weddings for eternity – with notable hits including Agadoo, Hokey Cokey, Do the Conga and I Am the Music Man. 

Group member Michael will be leading rowdy renditions of these karaoke classics, which will be followed by trance belters, chart-toppers and indie rock songs – from N Trance to S Club to Gerry Cinnamon.

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Bongo’s Bingo

The special events are set to feature all the usual weird and wonderful antics you’d expect from a Bongo’s show including conga lines, dance-offs, prizes and, of course, a few good old-fashioned games of bingo. 

A Very Tropical Christmas will take over the Albert Hall across seven dates next month: Sunday 19, Monday 20, Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22, Thursday 23, Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 December. 

Eponymous founder of the riotous gaming promotion Jonny Bongo said: “Christmas is my favourite time of the year and we are gearing up for a brilliant season of festive shows in Manchester. 

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“Having Dene Michael from Black Lace back for a run of dates is going to be class – he is amazing fun and always has the venue going wild. We can’t wait!” 

Rich Furness, Bongo’s Bingo’s Manchester host, added: “Christmas is always huge for us in Manchester. It’s my fifth year hosting Xmas shows in Manchester and I cannot wait to get stuck into this run of shows.

“A couple of years ago we had Dene Michael from Black Lace and it went off that much we had to get him back.

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“It’s been a weird and strange couple of years for us emotional and not having any Xmas shows last years felt really strange, so these Manchester shows feel a bit more special to me this year.

“The crowd here is always well up for it and I can’t wait to hear the Xmas Manchester roars and ear piercing singalongs.”

Bongo’s Bingo is an immersive night out that has dominated the party scene for years.

Blending bingo, dance-offs, rave intervals, bonkers prizes (like Henry Hoovers and giant pink unicorns) and loads of audience participation, it’s a phenomenon that now takes place in almost 50 locations worldwide.

Tickets for A Very Tropical Christmas are on sale now at: www.bongosbingo.co.uk 

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Follow @bongosbingo on Twitter and Instagram to stay up-to-date with the latest news and parties. 

You can also keep up with Bongo’s Bingo via the promotion’s Facebook channel. 

Christmas

How to get rid of your Christmas tree in Greater Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The festive season is, sadly, beginning to wind down, and over the coming days we’ll all be stripping the decorations off our Christmas trees.

For those of us who went for a real tree this year, there’s always the concern of how to actually get rid of the thing once the celebrations are done.

You can take your tree to a local recycling centre, but if you don’t fancy a boot full of pine needles, local councils are also offering collections.

Just remember to use all traces of tinsel, baubles, fairy lights and whatever else you’ve used to decorate.

Here’s what you need to know for each Greater Manchester borough.

Manchester

It’s dead easy to recycle your real Christmas tree if you live in Manchester.

Just leave it next to your green bin on any of the green bin collection days in January and they’ll take it away for you.

Salford

Christmas tree collections are running across Greater Manchester. Credit: Unsplash

Real Salford Christmas trees need to go in the garden waste bin, which is the one with the pink lid.

As with all the boroughs, it needs to be chopped up so the lid shuts, with no branches thicker than your wrist.

Wigan

You can stick your Christmas tree in the green bin in Wigan, chopping it down into pieces if you need to.

Wigan Council will accept any branches smaller than 15cm in diameter, so if your tree is bigger than that, you’ll need to dispose of it another way.

Bolton

Bolton Council will come and collect, and recycle, your real tree – but for a fee.

For £16, they’ll collect your tree. Just call 01024 336632 before Friday January 7 to arrange.

Bury

Credit: Unsplash

Bury locals – you’re going to need to get your Christmas tree into your brown bin, unless you fancy a trip to a recycling centre.

It needs to fit inside with the lid fully closed before the council will collect it.

Rochdale

In Rochdale, you can put the base of your tree in your dark green bin, then chop up the rest and put it in the brown bin (as long as the lid can close).

The trunk needs to be thinner than your wrist, as a guideline – if it’s bigger than that, you’ll have to take it to a recycling point, which are listed here.

Oldham

If you live in Oldham, you’re another one who can recycle your tree just in the same way you would your normal garden waste.

Just chop it up and stick it in your green recycling bin ready for collection as normal.

Tameside

In Tameside, real trees can just be left out with your brown bins ready for recycling – with collections set to take place on January 10.

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The council will also collect your additional recyclable waste (and we’ve all got tonnes of that after Christmas), as long as it’s left out with your black or blue bins in a clear or labelled bag.

Stockport

Stockport is another council that’s happy to take away and recycle your real Christmas tree as they would all your garden waste.

Chop it up to compost in your green bin.

Trafford

Trafford Council will no longer take your tree away if it’s left beside your bin, so you’re going to have to chop it up and stick it in your green bin.

The lid needs to close and all decorations and bases need to be removed (they can go in your grey bin if you don’t want to reuse them next year).

Featured image: Flickr

Christmas

Lightopia is slashing ticket prices for the rest of its lantern festival in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Lightopia has announced a big discount on tickets for the rest of its season here in Manchester.

The massive light and lantern festival will be offering 25% off event tickets for everyone.

The deal is running until the end of the festival, which is due to wrap up on Monday January 3.

Lightopia returned to Heaton Park for its third year back in November.

Lightopia Festival in Manchester’s Heaton Park. Credit: Supplied

The popular event once again saw the park filled with enchanting lanterns, installations and light shows in an interactive trail.

This year’s ‘Christmas Fantasy’ at Lightopia includes brand new installations, like the Magic Circus display and the Field of Love, with 50,000 hearts covering the ground.

The Field of Love at Lightopia, which is offering a discount until January. Credit: Supplied

Other zones include the Time Travel section, where there are holographic time portals; the Fantasy Forest, where mythical creatures hide in the woodland; and Dragon’s Land, filled with 40-metre dragons and fabled fairies.

There’s also street food stalls and a massive fairground to explore at Heaton Park.

Read more: 22 things to look forward to in Greater Manchester in 2022

The much-loved lakeside water show, where magical projections are cast over Heaton Park’s boating lake, has also made a return in 2021.

Lightopia has shared its Christmas gift over the festive weekend, offering a 25% discount right through to the end of the festival on January 3.

Just use the code XMAS25 at the checkout at lightopiafestival.com.

Featured image: Supplied

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