Forget stars and snowflakes and Santas – you could hang an army of festive dildo baubles off your tree this Christmas…
An event taking place in Manchester this weekend will allow ticket-holders to bedazzle their own phallic Christmas ornament with everything from glitter to diamantés to neon paints.
The Xmas Dildo Decorating Workshop is taking place at Grub, and demand has been so great they’ve had to add a second event.
The 18+ event comes from artist and tattoo artist Ben Saunders, who promises the festive workshop will be ‘prioritising queer joy, creativity, body positivity and s3x positivity’.
Every ticket includes your own handmade dildo decoration to jazz up however you want, then you can take it home to hang on your tree.
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Plenty of art supplies, including paint, brushes, glue and loads of glitter, will be provided at each of the two workshops, but ticket-holders are welcome to bring their own supplies along too.
You could turn your willy-shaped decoration into a pop-art style ornament, a mirror ball penis, or a shimmering glitter phallus – the options are endless.
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The Xmas Dildo Decorating event will be held in a private room at the street food village in the Green Quarter on the outskirts of Manchester city centre, and will be soundtracked by Christmas music.
An Xmas Dildo Decorating Workshop event is taking place in Manchester this Christmas. Credit: Instagram, @bensaunders.art
You can grab drinks from the Grub bar or a bite to eat from any of the food vendors stationed there while you get into the ‘Christmas (k1nky) spirit’.
Sharing the news on Instagram, Ben wrote: “No art experience is necessary – suitable for all levels and types of artists! This is a festive workshop prioritising queer joy, creativity, body positivity and s3x positivity!
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“At the end of the workshop, you will be able to take home your decorated d1ldo ornaments to display for all your guests to see!”
There are discounted tickets available to those on a low income, and you can pay-it-forward towards the price of a low income ticket for someone else too.
Full-price tickets for this Manchester Christmas event are £35 each, with the afternoon session running from 2pm until 5pm.
One person commented on Grub’s event post: “F*ck the wreath have you seen this?!”
Another joked: “Is that a ding dong merrily on high?”
First look inside Gulliver’s World Land of Lights as magical lantern trail returns
Daisy Jackson
One of the North West’s most popular festive events is officially back open for a third year, with the return of Gulliver’s World Land of Lights.
The huge lantern festival transforms part of Gulliver’s World in Warrington into a twinkling wonderland, filled with glowing ‘dreamworlds’.
Visitors can wander the trail meeting all manner of lanterns inspired by the natural world.
This year there are brand-new collections to discover along the trail, including a new dinosaur dreamworld.
You’ll come face-to-face with beasts like zebras, giraffes and a flock of flamingos, plus mythical creatures and loads more.
The woodland comes to life (and light) through lit-up giant flower lanterns, surrounding adorable woodland creatures like hedgehogs, foxes and squirrels.
And you can take a trip under the sea to meet a giant octopus, turtles and sharks.
Land of Lights is back at Gulliver’s World for 2025
There are lanterns perfect for spooky season too, like a giant spider suspended on an illuminated web and cackling pumpkins.
All the way along the breathtaking trail you’ll pass plenty of beautiful photo opportunities, before warming up with cosy street food.
You’ll even be able to take your four legged friends along to enjoy the event, with select dates dog-friendly.
Land of Lights in Warrington was officially opened last weekend by Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Mo Hussain.
Ross Partridge, Land of Lights festival manager, said: “What a wonderful opening weekend we have had!
“We’d like to thank Mayor Hussain for taking the time to visit our event and officially open it for us.
“It was lovely to see him and all the wonderful people who came along to get a first look at this incredible lantern festival.
“It’s back for its third year and is a wonderful boost to the local economy over the winter period and provides guests with an enjoyable, family friendly activity that is suitable for all so make sure you don’t miss out.”
Find out more about Land of Lights and book tickets HERE.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Christmas
Stockport’s ‘captivating’ Christmas festival is back with 50 FREE shows and hundreds of performers
Emily Sergeant
Things are getting all festive in Stockport as more than 50 free shows and hundreds of performers prepare to descend the town centre.
Back by popular demand to kick off Christmas in style, especially after the inaugural event resulted in the busiest Sunday for the Greater Manchester town’s centre since 2019, Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday will be returning next month for a one-day festival packed with magical street theatre, banging brass bands, carnival fun, and loads more.
Hundreds of captivating performers will take over Stockport for the day, with another new lineup for 2025 promising something for the whole family.
Stockport’s ‘captivating’ Christmas festival is back with 50 free shows and hundreds of performers / Credit: Supplied
Think a giant carnival bee, stilt-walking Christmas Belles, comedy chefs, bouncing snowmen, cocky robins, roaming bands, and so much more – with more than 50 free shows and activities to enjoy all day long.
Produced by renowned carnival arts organisation, Global Grooves, and organised by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport, Merseyway, and Stockport Market, the town centre will be buzzing with Christmas excitement from midday right through to 5pm, as performers take over iconic Stockport locations.
Head to Market Place, the Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock, and Suffragette Square to make the most of all the festive fun.
Spectacular Sunday always marks the start of Stockport’s festive season, and 2025 is no different.
“Stockport likes to do Christmas in its own way, and our Spectacular Sunday event is about filling the town with energy, music and performance and giving visitors something unexpected at every turn,” explained Totally Stockport CEO, Mark Ross.
“It’s a celebration of creativity, community and the independent spirit that makes Stockport what it is.
Daisy Jackson -
21st November 2023 
