Christmas

Spectacular new Christmas light trail to take over Heaton Park

It’s from the makers of Christmas at Kew. (Contains affiliate links)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 14th November 2023

A brand new breathtaking light trail is heading to Heaton Park this Christmas, transforming the popular Manchester park into a twinkling winter wonderland. 

Visitors will walk through fields of colour-changing orbs of light, and amongst larger-than-life glowing flowers. 

Neon strings will reach high into the sky and a laser garden will light up its space with thousands of tiny beams of light. 

You can even wander through a giant twinkling tunnel as part of the all-new seasonal light display. 

As you explore the full Christmas at Heaton Park light trail, you can take a break and grab some food from one of the hand-picked street food vendors on site. 

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There’ll be spiced winter warmers, hot chocolates, and toasted marshmallows. 

There’s even a fairground village for added thrills at Christmas at Heaton Park. 

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The huge event has been created by the makers of the world-famous Christmas at Kew, delivered by Raymond Gubbay Ltd, a division of Sony Music UK. 

Matthew Findlay, head of UK Trails for Sony Music/Raymond Gubbay Ltd, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing this beautiful new trail to Manchester for 2023. 

“We’re collaborating with the team at Culture Creative, who have a wealth of expertise in designing and delivering light trails. 

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“Working sympathetically with the landscape and history of Heaton Park, we have created an unforgettable, immersive experience illuminating the special beauty of the location, suitable for all the family to enjoy this Christmas.”

Tickets are now on sale for the new Sony Music trail Christmas at Heaton Park, which will run between 1 and 31 December (apart for 4, 5, 11, 12 and 25 December). 

It will be open between 4.45pm and 10pm, with the last entry at 8pm. 

Advanced tickets are priced from £18 for adults, £14 for children (age 3-16), and £69 for families (two adults and two children). 

Off-peak advanced tickets are from £15 for adults, £10 for children, and £55 for families. 

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Christmas at Heaton Park is also one of the few light trails where dogs are welcome to join the magic… dog-owners rejoice! 

Book now at christmasatheatonpark.co.uk to secure the date and time of your choice. 

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Featured image: Richard Haughton © Sony Music

Christmas

The lyrics to Auld Lang Syne for New Year’s Eve, and what the song means

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The lyrics to New Year's Eve song Auld Lang Syne

The clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, the confetti is thrown, the kisses are exchanged, and then up starts Auld Lang Syne and you realise, once again, that you don’t know the lyrics to the iconic song.

This classic song is traditionally sung as we welcome in a new year, but you may (like us) find yourself singing the words as ‘dah daaah dah dah daaah dah dah, dah dah daaah dah Auld Lang Syne.”

Well it’s time to stop that behaviour and learn yourselves the Auld Lang Syne lyrics, quick time, before we hit 2024.

The text of the song is actually from a Robert Burns poem, penned way back in 1788 and based on an old Scottish folk song.

It was set to a tune a decade later, and since then has been recorded by dozens of different artists.

Auld Lang Syne can loosely translate as ‘old long since’, or ‘days gone by’ or ‘old times’.

So its meaning roughly is ‘for the sale of old times’.

There are longer versions of the song, but the lyrics to the most commonly-played version of Auld Lang Syne are below.

So hold hands with your loved ones, crack open the champers, and ring in a very happy new year.

What are the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne?

Fireworks on New Year's Eve, when the song Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung
Fireworks on New Year’s Eve, when the song Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And the days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

And surely you will buy your cup
And surely I’ll buy mine!
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

We two have paddled in the stream
From morning sun till night
The seas between us Lord and swell
Since the days of auld lang syne

For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
For the sake of auld lang syne?

For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
In the days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

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Featured image: Unsplash

Christmas

Manchester city centre road closures confirmed for New Year’s Eve fireworks display

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A number of road closures have been confirmed as Manchester city centre prepares for its first New Year’s Eve fireworks display in three years.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas has died down, Boxing Day has been and gone, nobody has a clue what day it is currently, and we’re all just waiting for New Year’s Eve to arrive, and for 2024 to bring new beginnings and a fresh start.

And case you missed it, Manchester City Council confirmed last week that Manchester will be celebrating the big occasion with a bang.

In what is the first time since 2019, and post the COVID-19 pandemic and several accompanying lockdowns, Manchester city centre is gearing up to host a “spectacular” fireworks display that will “say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new”.

Families from all across Greater Manchester are invited down to Castlefield Bowl in the heart of the city centre this Sunday 31 December for the “fun-filled event” that’s free to attend.

Manchester city centre road closures have been confirmed for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display / Credit: Unsplash

Hosted in partnership wit Hits Radio, and kicking off from 10pm and running until the clock strikes midnight and beyond, you can expect a live DJ set from Hits Radio DJ Jordan Lee, a traditional time-to-hug-all-your-friends countdown to midnight, followed by a huge firework display to celebrate the start of the new year.

Capacity for the event is 10,000, and is being operated on a first-come first-served basis, the Council has confirmed.

The event is also alcohol-free, standing only with no seating – except for disability access points and dedicated viewing areas – and anyone attending is asked to limit the bags they bring with them to no bigger than A4 in size, as bag searches will be in operation.

The Council says that, in order to ensure “a safe and celebratory event for all”, security staff will be keeping a close eye on revellers to minimise any disruption and allow everyone to see in the new year together, while being mindful that this part of the city centre has a large residential population by making sure the event arena is promptly cleared after the fireworks display is finished.

To best accommodate the event and everyone attending, the following road closures and parking suspensions have been confirmed ahead of time.

Road Closures

  • Duke Place (Duke Street – Arena): 8:30pm – 1am
  • Rice Street (Duke Street – Arena): 8:30pm – 12:45am (resident vehicles managed in and out of closure)
  • Liverpool Road (Potato Wharf – Lower Byrom Street): 8:30pm – 1am
  • Duke Street (Stone Street – Castle Street): 11pm – 12:45am
  • Beaufort Street (Collier Street – Duke Street): 11pm – 12:45am
  • Castle Street (Car Park – Canal Bridge): 11pm – 12:30am (restrictions out of car park between 11:30pm – 12:15am)

Parking Bays Suspended and ‘No Waiting’ Orders

  • Liverpool Road – 31 December, x4 bays (bays opposite Potato Wharf/Castlefield Hotel)
  • Duke Place – 31 December, x7 bays
  • Duke Street – 31 December, x4 bays
  • Beaufort Street – 31 December, x4 bays
It’s the first fireworks display in the city centre since 2019 / Credit: Alex Jones (via Unsplash)

“We think the time is now right to show how proud we are of our fantastic city, and to celebrate it as we close the door on 2023 and look ahead to 2024 and beyond,” explained Councillor Pat Karney, who is Manchester City Council’s Christmas and New Year spokesperson, as he confirmed the return of the annual new year tradition.

“Mancunians really are the best people in the world, and we can’t think of a better way of welcoming in a new year filled with new possibilities for all of us than spending it with those we love.”

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Customer access to all businesses within the closures will be maintained on the night of New Year’s Eve (31 December), Manchester City Council has confirmed.

More information about the event, and road closures planned can be found on the Council website.

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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