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From drone shows to free ice lollies – what went down at Parklife 2025

Dare we say, coolest Parklife yet…

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 20th June 2025

It’s been a few days since Parklife 2025 wrapped up, and now that we’ve all caught up on sleep we’re looking back on some of the highlights you might’ve missed. 

With such a stacked line-up of live music, it would be impossible to have seen everything – from that sizzling final set from Charli XCX to Morgan Seatree’s emotional hometown show, plus viral sensation Interplanetary Criminal filling Matinee and D.O.D. getting the whole Big Top dancing. 

One moment that you couldn’t possibly have missed if you were on the ground at Parklife festival was a surprise drone show which dazzled overhead on Saturday night. 

As rap legend 50 Cent wrapped up his huge headline set on The Valley stage, and The Hangar came alive to the sound of Pawsa, fans got an extra special treat way up in the skies. 

Hundreds of drones came together in an impressive, illuminated aerial display, starting with a 10-second countdown that stopped festival-goers in their tracks. 

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The drones then flew in formation to create iconic shapes like a yellow JD Sports duffle bag, an adidas shoebox, and the shape of a slowly-rotating Climacool trainer – and what a trainer it is. 

The adidas drone show on Saturday night
The adidas drone show on Saturday night
adidas handed out Climacool-branded lollies and slushies
adidas handed out Climacool-branded lollies and slushies
50 Cent on The Valley stage
50 Cent on The Valley stage
adidas handed out Climacool-branded lollies and slushies
adidas handed out Climacool-branded lollies and slushies

That wasn’t the only bit of attention the Climacool footwear got at Parklife either – thankful fans were treated to free Climacool branded ice lollies and slushies on their way into the festival on Saturday. 

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As the sun beat down on Heaton Park (bar the odd brief downpour, classic Manchester), adidas and JD Sports arrived in an ice cream truck with the coolest drop at the festival. 

There was a helping hand from social media sensation Yombo to hype up the crowd before the festival had even got started. 

The Climacool has a textile lining and upper work, with a perforated midsole to allow airflow and keep your feet fresh – perfect for any city adventure (and pretty perfect for a day at Parklife, we discovered). 

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If the Climacool trainers have caught your eye – either in the sky, at the Climacool ice cream truck, or on social media – then the good news is you can now shop them for yourselves.

They’re now live to shop at JD Sports HERE.

Read more: Every bit of live entertainment coming to Haydock Park Racecourse this season

Featured image: The Manc Group

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Major up-and-coming Manchester neighbourhood to debut Shared Ownership apartments

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson L&Q at Victoria Riverside in Redbank

A brand-new development that’s part of Manchester’s ground-breaking Redbank regeneration is welcoming guests to discover more about the new neighbourhood. 

L&Q at Victoria Riverside, who have just launched a collection of Shared Ownership apartments, will be hosting a special day of tours so that Mancs can find out more about this major new development for the city. 

Once complete, L&Q Victoria Riverside will be home to an 18-storey building with 128 Shared Ownership homes, at the heart of the up-and-coming Redbank neighbourhood. 

Over the next decade, Redbank – just a short walk from Manchester Victoria station – will become a bustling corner of the city home to new schools, healthcare facilities, restaurants, and bars. 

And all just a stone’s throw from public transport links, Manchester Arndale shopping centre, and the iconic Northern Quarter. 

L&Q at Victoria Riverside marks the first phase of Victoria North, which is the biggest urban regeneration project in the North of England. 

Within the development, residents will have access to an on-site co-working space, podium gardens, gym and concierge service.

L&Q at Victoria Riverside in Redbank
L&Q at Victoria Riverside in Redbank
L&Q at Victoria Riverside in Redbank
L&Q at Victoria Riverside in Redbank. Credit: Supplied

Mancs will be able to get a glimpse of everything that’s to come with an exclusive preview day of tours and conversations with the L&Q sales team on 25 October.

The event will welcome customers who have registered interest to chat about their property search, and take tours of the brand new show home. 

Shared Ownership is a government-backed scheme that helps first-time buyers afford to get on the property ladder. Through part-buy/part-rent, buyers purchase shares in a Shared Ownership property that would otherwise be unaffordable to them. 

The sales team will be available to provide more information about Shared Ownership on the day.

Find out more about L&Q at Victoria Riverside HERE.

The L&Q at Victoria Riverside event will take place between 11am and 4pm on Saturday 25 October at Dantzic Street, M4 4DN – you can sign up for free tickets HERE.

And you can find out more about L&Q Shared Ownership via Instagram HERE. 

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Featured image: Supplied

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Manchester’s iconic Bridgewater Hall to host FIVE Christmas events this year

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Bridgewater Hall has five Christmas events on this year

The Bridgewater Hall, one of Manchester’s finest music venues and concert halls, has announced a busy programme of Christmas events this year. 

The beloved landmark has a schedule that includes something for all ages, from family-friendly shows and carol singing to epic orchestral evenings. 

Over the course of the festive season, the Bridgewater Hall will host the music of the world’s greatest composers, travel back in time with nostalgic swing nights, and welcome in fans of all ages to get into the festive spirit. 

This year’s schedule includes appearances from Sir Karl Jenkins, Horrible Histories, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and loads more. 

Have a read below for the five big Christmas events at Bridgewater Hall this year. 

Christmas with Sir Karl Jenkins

Christmas with Sir Karl Jenkins
Christmas with Sir Karl Jenkins

The Bridgewater Hall will welcome a musical icon this Christmas, with a very special evening with Sir Karl Jenkins. 

He’ll be conducting a spell-binding night of carols and festive classics, brought to life by the Manchester Concert Orchestra and presented by John Suchet. 

Expect choirs, a full orchestra and a timeless evening of live music to get you into the Christmas spirit. 

There’ll be music from Sir Karl’s hit festive albums Joy To The World and Stella Natalis, including Silent Night, Dulci Jubilo, Healing Light and plenty more. 

22 December at 3pm  | Tickets HERE

Christmas Carol Singalong

Christmas Carol Singalong
Christmas Carol Singalong

Can you think of a more magical way to ring in Christmas than with traditional carol singing on Christmas Eve? Because we can’t. 

The ultimate night of carolling will hit the Bridgewater Hall this winter, led by the inimitable Jonathan Cohen and featuring West End star Louise Dearman.

Belt your heart out to the likes of The Twelve Days of Chrismtas, Winter Wonderland, Frosty The Snowman, and plenty more beloved carols. 

24 December at 3pm | Tickets HERE

The Music of Zimmer vs Williams

The Music of Zimmer vs Williams returns to Bridgewater Hall this Christmas
The Music of Zimmer vs Williams returns to Bridgewater Hall this Christmas

Composers don’t get much more iconic than Hans Zimmer and John Williams, who between them have crafted the most legendary movie music soundtracks of all time. 

The 70-piece Manchester Concert Orchestra will be performing a selection of these in an almighty concert, where you’ll hear live renditions of soundtracks including Star Wars, Interstellar, Harry Potter, The Holiday, Pirates of the Caribbean, E.T., and loads more. 

This night will be an epic head-to-head battle between two of the film industry’s composing greats. 

27 December at 7.30pm | Tickets HERE

Horrible (Histories) Christmas

Horrible Histories
Horrible Histories

The legendary Horrible Histories team will bring Horrible Christmas to the Bridgewater Hall in December, taking audiences on a festive romp through British history. 

From Victorian villains to medieval monks, partying Puritans to terrible Tudors, and even a visit from St Nicholas himself.

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The show will follow a Christmas that’s under threat from a jolly man in red (clue – it’s Santa), and one brave child’s mission to save the day.  

It’ll be a night packed with family-friendly laughs, villains, and seasonal cheer.

28 December at 2pm and 4.30pm | Tickets HERE

The Glen Miller Orchestra

The Glen Miller Orchestra
The Glen Miller Orchestra

Wrapping up the seasonal programme at the Bridgewater Hall is The Glen Miller Orchestra, stepping back in time to relive the music that defined an era. 

The UK’s most celebrated big band will perform war-time chart-toppers from the 1940s, harking Manchester back to the golden age of swing. 

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Special guest Ray McVay will join the orchestra on stage, adding to the concert’s vintage charm. 

And for the second half of the show, the band will don the iconic US Army Air Force uniforms of the Second World War for a truly immersive experience. 

29 December at 3pm | Tickets HERE

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Featured image: Supplied

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