You can now buy yourself a life-size light-up zebra, as seen at Manchester’s huge Lightopia lantern festival.
In what is undoubtedly the most unusual Facebook Marketplace listing we’ve seen in a hot minute, someone is selling off a flock of the animal-shaped lanterns.
These huge glowing beasts flocked the fields of Heaton Park for several years as part of the Lightopia festival, which created beautiful installations in a family-friendly light trail.
Probably the most popular of all the installations every year were the animal sections.
Because who doesn’t want to be walking in the dark through the woods and suddenly be faced with a life-size illuminated bull?
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Lightopia left Manchester for good in early 2023 (replaced last year by the Christmas at Heaton Park light trail, from the makers of Christmas at Kew), and we have actually been wondering what happened to all the massive lanterns that had filled the park.
Well, turns out they’ve ended up in what appears to be someone’s back garden in Bolton.
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And now they could be yours, if you have a couple of hundred quid in the bank and an urge to have a big fake lion in your garden.
The animal lanterns for sale include a massive bull, a zebra, and a lion, though the lion’s rear end looks like it’s seen better days.
It’s not cheap to adopt a light-up wild animal though – they’re asking £300 each, but £350 for the bull, but are open to offers for a bulk buy, if you fancy starting your own very stationary zoo.
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Someone is selling the huge animal lanterns from Manchester’s Lightopia festival. Credit: Facebook
The listing states: “These were part of Lightopia who ran lighting festivals throughout the year.
“All have internal lights (which will need checking).
“They will need some maintenance some the thin like plastic covering split or missing built on steal frames.
“Collection only you need big van I know a van man to.”
Brb, off to bring home a lion with a hole in its haunches.
Manchester City recreate Definitely Maybe album cover for launch of limited edition Oasis themed kit
Danny Jones
Football season is back underway and although clubs have already released their shirts for this season, the news of the Oasis reunion was simply too big for their club Manchester City not to mark the occasion with a long-awaited limited edition kit.
Man City already have three official match jerseys that they’ll be donning through the domestic season and in Europe, but given that the Burnage boys are back, both Noel and Liam Gallagher are massive Blues and it’s been 30 years since their debut album Definitely Maybe, they had to do something special.
We’d heard rumours of a potential kit collaboration between Noel and City for some time now, with reports dating back a couple of years now but it looks as though, much like the band’s comeback after 15 years, the stars have finally aligned and fans can now grab a sensational collector’s item.
Behold, we give you the limited edition ‘Definitely City’ fourth shirt:
30 years since Definitely Maybe, it’s Definitely City 🤘🩵 Introducing the 24/25 @pumafootball x @ManCity Definitely City Kit by Noel Gallagher
We’d seen several glimpses of the full collection over the past few weeks, with the jersey itself having been leaked multiple times and snaps of the older Gallagher brother in the trademark sky blue overshirt being used as a teaser most recently, but now it’s officially available to the public.
Co-designed by the legendary songwriter and guitarist himself (there seems to be no suggestion of Liam’s involvement at any point in the process), the kit itself is a striking combo of salmon pink into gradients of pale blue and off-white – certainly one to remember.
If you’re a fan of bold colourways like with the retro 1999-inspired third kit for this season, then this Oasis-themed fourth kit is probably right up your street too. It also features the already debuted cup printing with Noel’s own handwriting for the font.
The club and manufacturers Puma have also released a track jacket, bomber jacket, bucket and baseball caps, as well as a retro top that’s giving very 90s pre-match jersey/goalkeeper kit; a new polo shirt, a high neck drill top, limited edition ball, as well as a simple dark ‘Definitely City’ tee.
You can see samples down below and view the full collection HERE.
The new Oasis x City fourth kit is flanked by a whole roster of club fashion. (Credit: Manchester City/Puma)
We’ve already seen the success that nostalgic football and music collabs have produced with the likes of The Stone Roses x Manchester United collection released earlier this year, but it doesn’t get much bigger than one of the greatest rock bands of all-time and the best team in the land joining forces.
What do you make of the crossover then and, more importantly, if you’re a Man City fan, is it the fourth shirt or another part of the Definitely City collection that most takes your fancy?
To be honest, whether you’re a Blue or not, you can’t deny recreating that iconic album cover might be one of the coolest ways we’ve seen a kit reveal in years.
Church Street Markets prepare for final few days of service ahead of closure this weekend
Danny Jones
After more than a year of uncertainty, or rather seemingly preparing for the inevitable, Manchester’s long-standing Church Street Markets are finally set to shut up shop for good this weekend.
A stalwart of the local community as a whole, the Church Street stalls were some of the last remaining vestiges from Manchester’s original market scene and have sat steadily on the edge of the Northern Quarter for over half a century.
Unfortunately, however, with the city centre skyline ever-changing and new developments popping up all the time, the much-loved market stalls are set to make way for a new apartment complex, with an official closure notice being handed down this week.
For the majority of the four remaining traders – Afro Caribbean Asian, McCall’s Greengrocers, McCall’s Organics and Manchester Bookbuyers – this weekend will sadly mark their final weekend in Manchester, at least on this particular corner, anyway.
Church Street Markets will close after more than 50 years on Saturday, 14 September (Credit: The Manc Group)
Although not all of the vendors were willing to talk ahead of the undoubtedly emotional final few days on Church Street, with many simply settling to call it “a shame”, we did speak with one of the longest-standing stall operators, Edward Hopkinson, owner of the much-loved Manchester Bookbuyers stall.
While most of the cult-favourite albeit increasingly quiet traders will be vacating the promises this Saturday, Edward explained how he will be here until at least 14 September and hopefully “another two months” at least until he sells up all of his stock.
Having been here for over 54 years, he told The Manc: “At my age, I don’t have time to buy a long-playing record”, so the chances of finding a new home at least in his case look unlikely.
Explaining that he’d be given little information beyond the building behind the market stalls being pulled down to make way for new flats, he added that Manchester City Council had been unable to find them a new location once vacating Church Street.
Speaking in an official statement, a Council spokesperson said: “Church Street has been a popular market in the heart of the Northern Quarter for some years, and we have worked with those traders in an attempt to relocate their businesses since it was first announced in 2022 that the market would eventually close after planning permission was granted for a comprehensive development by the owner of the adjacent properties to regenerate the wider site.
“Unfortunately, after extensive efforts we were unable to find an alternative market site that suited all parties, and we have since agreed a settlement with the businesses as part of the closure process. We’d like to thank the traders for their service to our city.”
Edward went on to say, simply, “What can you do? These are apartments [pointing], those are apartments, and them – as if we need any more.”
Plans to buy the plot actually began way back in 2018, with planning permission being granted in 2020 and McAleer & Rushe’s investment eventually purchasing the site alongside development firm MRP in January 2022; it’s merely been a torrid waiting game for the vendors ever since.
Writing in a recent post on social media, Caz of McCall’s Organics (who supply many local businesses like Holy Grain, Magpie Bakery and more) said: “This too shall pass. Our site is to be developed and with no suitable premises to go to, we will be closing the shutters for the final time on 14th of September…
“I’m gonna be pretty fairly busy in the lead up so if I don’t get to your messages, just know that I love ya!”
Church Street Markets was also formerly home to Dust Dogs & Dive food stall, which took the place of the original Northern Soul location in the fifth unit that has been closed for some time now.
The Manchester foodie icons ultimately opened a new venue on nearby Tib Street back in 2019, but that expansion could have never happened without their days as one of the popular street food vendors over on Church Street.
It goes without saying that were gutted to hear of any local business closing, especially when it involves small independents like these, but Church St Markets closing is a huge loss for so many reasons – not least because of what it meant to those who have been patrons for many years and decades, even.
There has been an outpouring of love and support for the stalls following this news online and we strongly urge Mancs to pay these hard-working community assets one final visit. Thank you for everything and we wish you all the best.
Daisy Jackson -
28th March 2024 
