Manchester’s well-known outdoor venue, Freight Island, is taking New Year’s Eve into their own hands and kicking 2025 off with a bang, hosting a big fireworks display to remember.
The already impressive Twilight Trail, which gained a cult following online thanks to how fascinating it looks, is now becoming the home for Freight Island’s ‘Fireworks Extravaganza’.
Taking place in Mayfield Park, as soon as dusk hits, this 6.5-acre greenland site turns into a twinkling paradise fit for anyone who
At this highly anticipated event, marking the close of the illuminated trail for this year, kids even get free sparklers and marshmallow roasting to enjoy during their time at the park.
Sparklers at the ‘Firework Extravaganza’ at Mayfield Park.Watching the firework show at Mayfield Park.Soaking up the fun with lots of activities on this light trail.Mayfield Park gets super magical at this time of year. (Credit: Supplied)
There’s even music soundtracking your walk around the incredible environment courtesy of a Coronation Street star and Manchester-based collective, La Discothèque.
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Not only will you be visually treated, but you’ll also have a soulful soundtrack that sits easy on the ears too. Craig Charles is providing his ‘Trunk Of Funk, Volume 3’ compilation to send your eyes and ears on an unforgettable journey.
After immersing yourself in all that culture and exploration, taking yourself on a culinary experience is definitely overdue and Freight Island have made sure food is in large supply.
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All of the usual vendors currently in situ at Freight Island have come to check out the lights too with names like Burgerism, Voodoo Ray’s, Lazy Tony’s Lasagnaria and Oh My Cheesecake.
The firework show is taking place for 10 minutes at 8pm with a party event lined up straight after for those who want to enrich themselves in even more New Year celebrations.
Titled ‘The Little Disco’ and achieving a headline slot from Girls Of The Internet, the atmosphere is set to be electric at Freight‘s mainstay location just next door.
When purchasing your tickets for the initial firework show you automatically guarantee yourself an invite to the afterparty for free!
Tickets for Freight Island’s ‘New Year’s Eve Fireworks Extravaganza’ are already live and you can find them HERE.
Until then, if you’re looking to make the most of the festivities this holiday season, we’ve also put together a round-up of the best light trails in and around Greater Manchester. Enjoy!
There’s some FREE festive craft workshops taking place at MediaCity this Christmas
Thomas Melia
A handful Christmas-inspired workshops are happening down at MediaCity, and lots of them are free to take part in.
Starting tomorrow (11 December), anyone who’s looking to get artsy in the run up to the big day can try their hand at three different Christmas activities, and have a go at making and creating items to keep and treasure forever.
There’s a free ‘Bauble Bar’ where you can learn how to make those brilliant hanging ornaments that make your tree gorgeous.
This workshop is suitable for all skill sets, which means you don’t have to be the next Da Vinci to design one of these little trinkets, as a friendly host will be walking round the class to help everyone make a beautiful creation to take home with them.
The second free event is a Christmas card making workshop, where there will be stationery provided for you to create some cute and snazzy designs, so get ready to freestyle your own drawings if you’re confident, or hone your craft by following the range of patterns and templates that will be on-hand for you to trial.
This final crafty class gives visitors the opportunity to create a two-layer wreath that’s sure to become part of your annual festive decor.
The ‘Christmas Wreath Making’ class provides all the materials you could need, but due to the cost of this, this isn’t a free event and tickets are a reasonable £10 instead.
/ Credit: | Ksenia Ya | Jonathan Borba (via Unsplash & Pexels)
All of these fun Christmas activities are happening at innovative event space, Hot House, which is designed to host creative workshops like these festive-themed crafts.
Although the ‘Bauble Bar’ and the ‘Christmas Card Making Workshop’ are both free, booking a ticket to secure your space is still required.
Step inside the incredible immersive David Hockney experience that’s opened in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Mancs can now step inside the work of one of the world’s greatest artists, with a new immersive David Hockney experience in Manchester.
The magnificent warehouse space at Aviva Studios has been taken over by the legendary artist,
David Hockney’s Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) has opened in Manchester today, with huge projections bringing his life’s work to life.
Running all the way through to 25 January, this dazzling digital exhibition cycles through six themed chapters and features some of his most iconic images.
Spanning six decades, there’ll be lesser-seen images and new work, plus a running commentary from the artist himself and an original score by Nico Muhly.
His most famous artworks, including A Bigger Splash and plenty of his Photographic Collages, are animated and drift across Aviva Studios’ huge walls and floor.
Visitors can view the spectacle from up on the balcony or take to amphitheatre seating and benches to see it up close.
David Hockney Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) is now open in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
In part of the rotating exhibition, you can even see the work of David Hockney taking shape before your eyes, as he paints on an iPad.
From the hills of LA to the Grand Canyon to Yorkshire to Normandy, the work follows Hockney around the world and back here to his homeland in the UK.
Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) affords unparalleled access to the mind of one of Britain’s most loved artists.
David Hockney said: “I’m very happy that my exhibition is going to Factory International in Manchester and that more people in the UK will be able to see my pictures bigger & closer than before. LOVE LIFE DH.”
Standard tickets are on sale from £20, with affordable options available from factoryinternational.org.
Thomas Melia -
28th November 2024 
