A brand-new festive light trail is heading to Greater Manchester this winter, transforming the hidden Wilderspool Woods at the Trafford Centre into a twinkling wonderland.
The 4.5-acre event will fill paths and treetops with festive magic, from giant overhead shooting stars to huge illuminated presents.
There’ll be an impressive selection of festive street food on offer curated by Freight Island, too.
The Christmas Trail comes from the same team behind The Twilight Trail, which took over Mayfield Park last winter.
And it follows in the footsteps of the upcoming The Halloween Trail, which promises to mesmerise rather than terrify its visitors with dazzling light installations.
Back to the festive version though – The Christmas Trail will be bringing dozens of jaw-dropping light and interactive illuminations to the woods from November all the way through to the new year.
These will include The Moon, a giant glowing sculpture suspended between the trees and surrounded by stars and beams of light, and Father Christmas’s hidden treasures of giant glowing presents hidden among the trees.
Shooting Stars will see a twinkling four-metre-high star shine up in the treetops, sending dozens of smaller stars shooting across the canopy.
Giant Orbs will glow and pulse with colour, while delicate origami boats float on the water’s edge.
Fallen Stars will cascade down from the branches overhead, with LED stars sparkling in mesmerising patterns and falling snowflakes tumbling down.
As visitors weave their way around the light trail they’ll be treated to a sound track of holiday classics and upbeat tunes.
The Freight Island-curated food pop-up will feature Flock, serving Southern-fried buttermilk chicken; Mega Gyros with authentic Greek wraps, loaded fries and kids’ meals; Cabin Chocolat (hot chocolate creations and signature boozy hot chocolates); Winter Warmers (mulled wine and other festive beverages); and Soft Boi (donuts and crepes with festive flavours).
Plus, special guest trader Heard, the new burger venture from two Michelin-starred chef Jordan Bailey, will return with mouth-watering seasonal smash burgers made using the finest ingredients from eco-friendly farms.
Dan Morris, co-founder of Trafford Trails, said: “We’re thrilled to transform Wilderspool Woods into a Christmas wonderland this year. It promises to be a magical experience filled with incredible light displays, interactive moments, and delicious food.”
Simon Layton, Centre Director at Trafford Centre, added: “We’re delighted to bring a new festive experience to Trafford this Christmas.
“Collaborating once again with Freight Island and other fantastic partners, we’ve created an unforgettable celebration of light, joy, and seasonal magic. We can’t wait to see Wilderspool Woods sparkle this Christmas.”
The Christmas Trail will launch on Friday 8 November and will run every day from 4pm until Thursday 2 January 2025.
Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting from £8 for children, £10 for adults, and family tickets from £32.
Free parking is available for all ticket holders, with convenient transport links also available via tram and bus.
For more information and to book tickets, head HERE.
Nike and go-to online running shoe suppliers confirmed as new sponsors for Altrincham 10k
Danny Jones
The annual Altrincham 10k just got a whole lot bigger and better ahead of this year’s run, as the annual race has just notched Nike as one of their new lead sponsors – and that’s not all.
Alty’s annual race is also being backed by SportsShoes.com, a.k.a. the go-to trainers supplier for so many runners, who will be presenting the 2025 edition in partnership with RunThroughUK.
Now part of RunThrough North‘s regular programme, Altrincham 10k continues to grow in size with each passing year, as demonstrated by getting such prestigious sponsors on board.
Taking place this weekend, the 2025 Alty 10k could just be the biggest yet.
We are thrilled to announce that we are teaming up with @Nike & @sportsshoes_com to bring the town an unforgettable race day 🤝
📅 Sunday 7th September 🏃 3,500 runners 👟 Closed roads ⚡️ Electric atmosphere
Set to welcome approximately 3,500 runners to the Trafford market town’s central streets, the Altrincham 10k is one of the final large-scale running events on the local calendar.
Aligning both famous brands with the heart of Altrincham’s running community and, indeed, giving Greater Manchester’s wider sports culture, it’s yet more prestige for 0161.
The 2025 race will also see Nike showcase its latest road running line-up, including the newest max cushioning shoe: the ‘Vomero Plus’; the responsive ‘Pegasus’ everyday trainer, as well as supportive ‘Structure’ model, meaning runners will get a chance to sample their latest styles.
As well as support from SportsShoes.com and official Nike ambassadors, North West native and GB triathlete Katie Halligan, Hits Radio presenter and ultra runner Hattie Pearson, as well as local Manc artist Emma Evans will all be there too.
These equally inspiring women have also been chosen to help represent Nike and RunThrough’s shared mission of attracting more female runners, as shown with events such asthe recent 2025 Women’s Run Series back in April.
Co-Founder of RunThrough, Matt Wood, said of the new partnership: “Welcoming Nike as title sponsor of the Altrincham 10K, alongside our long-standing partner SportsShoes.com, is a huge milestone for the event.
“This partnership highlights the growth of our community and the strength of our brand. We can’t wait to support the thousands of runners taking part in the Nike Altrincham 10K, Presented by SportsShoes.com.”
As for SportShoes, brand manager Gavin Bannister added: “The energy around this year’s 10K will be electric, and we can’t wait to see everyone out there chasing their goals and celebrating the power of running.
“From our own athletes to first-time runners, this event is all about showing up, pushing limits, and being part of something truly special, and that is what Nike and Sportsshoes.com are all about.”
Entries are still open for any of those interested in a last-minute place in the race on Sunday, 7 September – you can sign up HERE.
Manchester’s largest outdoor ice rink is returning to the city centre this festive season
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s massive outdoor ice rink has been confirmed for a return to Cathedral Gardens once again this festive season.
Skate Manchester has always been a festive staple of our city centre, and there’s also a flurry of other frozen events and activities planned for 2025 too – including the return of the Scare Skate for Halloween.
Following success in previous years, Scare Skate returns this spooky season, and families, friends, and festive fun seekers visiting the rink this season can expect Halloween-themed music, lighting, and themed props to ignite the fright factor.
After Halloween, the magic continues as the rink transforms into a festive wonderland.
Manchester’s largest outdoor ice rink is returning to the city centre this festive season / Credit: Supplied
Skaters can expect to glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink.
You’ll be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas whatever the weather has in store for our city this year too, as although the rink will be outdoors in the heart of Cathedral Gardens, the ice is fully covered.
The rink will also offer a variety of skate sessions tailored to meet the needs of all visitors, which includes dedicated quiet and toddler sessions designed for a more relaxed environment, along with discounted tickets and weekly events for students.
New this year is the Skate on and Skate off ‘Pit Lane’ available during skating for those needing a break and a hot chocolate or mulled wine, plus a VIP ticket option allowing for a fast-track entry into the rink.
Super early bird tickets are now available to buy / Credit: Supplied
Skate Manchester is also one of the most sustainable events in the UK, thanks to being partially powered by the grid.
“We’re proud to bring one of the top five largest ice rinks in the UK to Manchester once more, as part of our mission to create magical and sustainable winter events that will set the standard for winter attractions globally,” commented Rob Derry, who is the Director at Tamarisk Events, the company that coordinates the event.
“By being partially powered by the grid, Skate Manchester is one of the more environmentally responsible attractions of its kind, allowing visitors to enjoy the magic of skating with a lighter footprint.”
Skate Manchester will be returning to the city on Saturday 25 October and running right up until Sunday 4 January 2026, with super early bird tickets now available to get your hands on, and discounted family tickets and student night tickets also available.
You can find more information and to book tickets here.
Daisy Jackson -
18th October 2024 
