Coca Cola has cancelled its annual Christmas truck tour due to the ongoing coronavirus restrictions.
The truck will not be spreading festive cheer in the UK this year for the first time in 10 years, the company has announced.
Huge crowds gather every years, with parents bringing out their children, to greet the famous Christmas truck which has been marking the beginning of the festive season since anyone can remember.
A spokeswoman for the company said: “In light of further Covid-19 restrictions announced around the country and in line with Government guidelines, unfortunately, we can’t go ahead with our annual Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour this year.”
“We know this will be disappointing for many people, but our priority is the safety of our consumers and employees.
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“We really look forward to welcoming people back next year when the Truck Tour returns.”
Breaking news story. More to follow.
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A new rom-com set in Manchester has started filming in the city centre
Danny Jones
A brand-new rom-com set in Manchester has begun filming in the heart of the city centre and there are some recognisable names attached to it.
Manchester is no stranger to a movie set or bit of filming, with the Castlefield canals and viaduct having featured in Peaky Blinders and numerous ad campaigns, not to mention Northern Quarter doubling as New York on numerous occasions, but the latest project looks set to be based all over the city.
Film crews have been spotted along those very same canals we just mentioned, outside the likes of Evuna tapas restaurant in NQ, staging queues outside Band on the Wall, walking down Canal Street in the Gay Village and more.
Seemingly set and filmed almost entirely within the heart of various Manchester districts, the film is called CC: Emily and stars young duo Angourie Rice and Spike Fearn.
📹 | Spike Fearn and Angourie Rice filming scenes for “CC: Emily” in Manchester Gay Village, England — via Celeb Media on TikTok. pic.twitter.com/bBvmzYP7wz
Principal photography is said to have started back in August but more and more shoots have been spotted popping up at various different recognisable locations.
Rice, 23, is an Australian actor who is best known for roles in the Mean Girls remake, action comedy The Nice Guys and the new Spider-Man movies, whereas English talent Fearn (24) has most recently appeared in the Amy Winehouse biopic, Aftersun with Paul Mescal and the latest Alien film, Romulus.
As for the plot itself, the IMDb listing explains that a “lovesick musician teams up with a psychology student to find his dream girl, sparking a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their hearts and ambitions.”
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The conceit comes from Fearn’s character – all character names are still unknown – being given the wrong number and, as we’re sure any regular cinephile can guess already, the love story takes an unintended even if albeit predictable turn.
Not everyone is exactly happy about the space the Manchester-based rom-com is taking up though.
CC: Emily is being directed by Alicia MacDonald, the woman behind recent TV favourites like Stephen Merchant’s The Outlaws and will be distributed by Focus and Universal – two studios behind the likes of Shaun of the Dead and the Bridget Jones films – though there’s still no release date as yet.
This being her feature film debut after and only one of a few movie outings by writer Rachel Hirons, the equally young and still relatively unproven cast makes this an exciting original that we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on – especially since it’s filming around our way.
Along with the 90s aesthetic, the rom-com era looks to be back in full effect as another iconic franchise is also returning very soon.
If you haven’t heard (or your friends haven’t tormented you enough about going) by now, you should know Scare City is back!
Taking place at the abandoned Camelot theme park site in Chorley, there are 10 zones of live actors, set design and SFX like nowhere else.
Voted the ‘Best Scare Attraction Halloween 2023’ by ScareTrack, this immersive horror experience is set to shiver your timbers, literally.
Get your hands on tickets via the Scare City websitehere.
Halloween In The City
Last year’s inflatable monsters in the Halloween in the City trail in Manchester.Halloween in the City celebrations. Credit: Supplied
Manchester city centre will be hosting a two-day family festival across popular shopping destinations this October.
There will be dozens of inflatable monsters popping up around the Manchester skyline and even an art trail running from Friday 25 October to Thursday 31 October, meaning there’s a wide range of activities for families to get involved with.
‘Halloween in the City’ officially returns to Manchester on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October 2024 with several Manchester landmarks turning ‘ghoulish green’ on Thursday 31 October.
Time to Die at Diecast
Only an eight minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station, this next spine-chilling destination is easily accessible no matter where you are in the city.
The Wilderspool Woods will be decorated with lasers, a light trail and Skeleton Village display illuminated by 100,000 lights as part of ‘Spookfest 2024’.
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After a walk in the 4.5 acre woods, visitors can get their hands on some well-deserved grub from a food line-up curated by Freight Island.
This includes 22” New York-style Pizzas and the sweetest hot chocolates with marshmallows, caramel and sweets from Cabin Chocolat.
Tickets are on sale now and you can grab yours here.
Halloween Ghost Train at East Lancashire Railway
Departing from the station in Bury from 24 October to 31 October, the Halloween Ghost Train has several time slots to step onboard the steam railway and join the Monster Squad.
All events are allocated time slots from between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, and guests are invited to help Zombie Bob, Veronica the Witch and Count Brian the Vampire to take down the Pumpkin King and his pesky crows.
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There will be singing and dancing from the infamous King and company who will be waiting on the platform to greet every guest.
This Ancoats bar is providing guests the chance to decorate their own foam pumpkin that can become the pride and joy of your mantlepiece or shelf for Halloweens to come.
The beerhouse is providing all the equipment necessary to make your newest piece of autumn decor.
Dressing up is not mandatory but the best-dressed will win a free ticket to a future painting class.
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Taking place on 27 October, there’s limited spaces due to the classes being small (No Under 18’s) – Tickets are available here.
Silence of the Baths at Victoria Baths
People on the dance floor inside Victoria Baths People on the dance floor inside Victoria Baths Inside Victoria Baths, decorated for Halloween Silence of the Baths is taking over Victoria Baths in Manchester for Halloween 2024. Credit: Supplied
The legendary Grade II listed building will be ‘possessed’ by DJ’s of the past as Victoria Baths is hosting a special Halloween club night ‘The Silence of the Baths: Back from the Dead’.
In tribute to the clubs that once dominated Manchester’s bustling nightlife scene, South, Jilly’s Rockworld, and The Tiger Lounge are joining forces to put on a night of dancefloor fillers and dead-good bangers.
This event takes place on Saturday 26 October and tickets are on sale here.
Halloween SFX Makeup Masterclass at GRUB
Manchester’s biggest street food venue is hosting a terrific and terrifying makeup masterclass for over 18’s.
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You’ll be able to learn how to create realistic scars, ghostly face painting, injuries and wounds, taught by UCEN Manchester.
There will be experts on hand to help you perfect your techniques and answer any of your makeup queries.
The street food vendors will be open still but attendees are asked to arrive earlier if they’d like to order any of the tasty treats.
Taking place on 30 October, guests have a great opportunity to practice before the big day, tickets can be found here.
‘So Fetch’ 2000s Halloween Party at Deaf Institute
Everyone’s favourite intimate concert venue is hosting a y2k inspired Halloween party playing nothing but 2000’s anthems.
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The night will feature music from Rihanna, Avril Lavigne, Justin Timberlake and all your favourite 2000’s musical icons.
Fancy dress is encouraged and if your birthday falls between 20 October to 5 November, you can get in for free!
Deaf Institute aren’t trying to make fetch happen, they ARE making fetch happen on Friday 1 November (No Under 18’s) – Tickets are on sale here.
Manchester is bursting with many different and interesting events to get involved with and we couldn’t list every single place in this Halloween guide.
These fantastic highlights should help you find some new activities and there will definitely be a selection of local things-to-do on offer wherever you choose to make the most of your Autumn holiday.
The Manc -
9th November 2020 
