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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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.
The stunning new Bolton homes built on a former golf course, with amazing rooftop gardens
Daisy Jackson
A new development of beautiful homes has taken shape over in Bolton – and these are some seriously good-looking properties.
Cynefin by Northstone is a collection of 177 energy-efficient homes that are so well-designed they wouldn’t look out of place in LA.
With Scandi-style interiors, roof gardens with beautiful views, and a green setting thoughtfully designed along the original fairways of the former Horwich Gold Club, they’ve got a lot going for them.
There’s a variety of home designs and sizes at Cynefin by Northstone, each with premium interiors, smart technology and a well-connected setting.
Residents here will be just a stone’s throw from Horwich Parkway Station, with direct services into Manchester, Bolton, Preston and beyond, as well as the Middlebrook Retail Park and the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
You’ll also find yourself close to the M61 motorway, loads of bus services, and just 40 minutes’ drive from Manchester Airport too.
The dining room at Cynefin in BoltonA modern kitchenAnother view of the kitchen/dinerSouth-west-facing gardensA sizeable utility roomThe sunny Cynefin living room
But despite being so well-connected, the development has a rural air to it thanks to its proximity to Rivington Pike and Winter Hill (there are great cycle routes and footpaths to get you there).
The neighbourhood itself is a quiet, elevated area surrounded by established trees, but has urban convenience right on the doorstep.
Back to the houses themselves, and the four-bedroom, three-storey villa we’re showing you today.
As you enter this style of home, you’ll notice several things straight away – first up, they’re beautifully presented, with a simple design executed really, really well.
High ceilings, flexible spaces, and an open-plan Scandi design are all key features of a Cynefin by Northstone home.
There’s also masses of storage (which you don’t see every day in new builds).
Master bedroomA bedroom turned into a master suiteThird bedroomFourth bedroomCynefin has a roof garden overlooking BoltonBook a viewing at Cynefin by Northstone in Bolton
In the kitchen, all appliances included as standard include a double oven with a built-in airfryer, an induction hob, a fridge/freezer and a dishwasher.
There are sunny, south west-facing gardens, turfed and fenced when residents move in, and loads of parking space outside too.
Throughout the home you’ll find triple-glazed full-length windows, letting in lots of light and keeping the home as energy efficient as possible (helped along by extra insulation and solar panels).
And then, the piece de resistance – the rooftop terrace. Perfect for BBQs, romantic dinners, family breakfasts, or just relaxing with a good book after a long day, these little sun traps have gorgeous views and feel a million miles away from Greater Manchester.
Interested? Book a viewing of Cynefin by Northstone in Bolton HERE.
adidas announces in-store trivia night and meet & greet to celebrate ADIDAS Z.N.E. x MAN UTD collection
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester adidas store will once again be welcoming in shoppers this week for way more than your regular shopping experience, announcing an in-store trivia night, rewards and entertainment this week.
To celebrate the ADIDAS Z.N.E. x MAN UTD collection, there’ll be a foosball table in store all week, a fast-paced sport-themed quiz night, and the chance to snag a free adidas x Man Utd football scarf as a gift with purchase.
There’ll even be an unmissable player meet and greet with Manchester United players.
The collection itself embraces an athletic silhouette, premium materials, and a head-to-toe colour block, with a range of joggers, hoodies and t-shirts all featuring a modern blackout crest and the iconic three-stripe logo.
Each piece in the collection also has a graphic line detail that represents the markings on the football pitches and sports grounds we all know and love.
The ADIDAS Z.N.E. x MAN UTD collection is crafted with a unique 3D material construction, incorporating Primeknit fabric as well as cotton yams.
They’re soft to the touch, and perfect for throwing on after your workout or going out in the warmer weather.
There’s something for men and women in the collection.
It’s all rooted in the sense of belonging that being part of sport creates, and that means adidas are once again putting on a series of events in store to bring Mancs together.
The ADIDAS Z.N.E. x MAN UTD collection in ManchesterThe ADIDAS Z.N.E. x MAN UTD collection in Manchester
All week you’ll see the collection taking over the windows of the Market Street store – and if you head inside, you can challenge your mates to a casual or competitive foosball match.
There’ll also be an ADIDAS Z.N.E. X MAN UTD Football Scarf available as a gift with purchase from 29 September until 5 October.
And on 1 October, adidas will be hosting an ADIDAS Z.N.E. X MAN UTD Trivia night – blending the camaraderie of a classic pub quiz with the drama and stakes of a classic game show.
Teams will go head-to-head across a variety of themed quiz rounds, with a dramatic finale at the end, hosted by content creator and presenter Joe Thomlinson.
The store will also host an unmissable player meet and greet with Manchester United players.
The news of these events comes hot on the heels of the recent adidas Superstar relaunch activation, which has seen Mancs claiming free welded bracelets and ear piercings in-store over the weekend.
Head into the adidas Market Street store any day this week to claim your adidas x Man UTD football scarf gift-with-purchase, or if you want to attend the ADIDAS Z.N.E. X MAN UTD Trivia event on 1 October, sign up to attend via the adidas confirmed app HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
18th October 2024 
