Things To Do

Lightopia is slashing ticket prices for the rest of its lantern festival in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 27th December 2021

Lightopia has announced a big discount on tickets for the rest of its season here in Manchester.

The massive light and lantern festival will be offering 25% off event tickets for everyone.

The deal is running until the end of the festival, which is due to wrap up on Monday January 3.

Lightopia returned to Heaton Park for its third year back in November.

Lightopia Festival in Manchester’s Heaton Park. Credit: Supplied

The popular event once again saw the park filled with enchanting lanterns, installations and light shows in an interactive trail.

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This year’s ‘Christmas Fantasy’ at Lightopia includes brand new installations, like the Magic Circus display and the Field of Love, with 50,000 hearts covering the ground.

The Field of Love at Lightopia, which is offering a discount until January. Credit: Supplied

Other zones include the Time Travel section, where there are holographic time portals; the Fantasy Forest, where mythical creatures hide in the woodland; and Dragon’s Land, filled with 40-metre dragons and fabled fairies.

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There’s also street food stalls and a massive fairground to explore at Heaton Park.

Read more: 22 things to look forward to in Greater Manchester in 2022

The much-loved lakeside water show, where magical projections are cast over Heaton Park’s boating lake, has also made a return in 2021.

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Lightopia has shared its Christmas gift over the festive weekend, offering a 25% discount right through to the end of the festival on January 3.

Just use the code XMAS25 at the checkout at lightopiafestival.com.

Featured image: Supplied

Things To Do

AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.

It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.

In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.  

Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.

The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.

Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.

More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.

The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.

Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.

Wait until you hear where he’s playing too…

AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intitmate gig in Manchester this month.
Credit: @AJTracey on Instagram

This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.

This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.

It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.

AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

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Featured Images — John Lubbock (via Wikimedia Commons)/Audio North

Things To Do

Greater Manchester cinemas to screen family-favourite films for just £2.50 this spring

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant People in the cinema

Greater Manchester cinemas will be screening family-favourite films, and some new releases, all throughout this upcoming spring holidays.

The best bit? Prices start from a massively-affordable £2.50 a ticket.

With Easter right around the corner, and schools across Greater Manchester set to be on their spring holidays in a couple of weeks time, parents and carers will likely be looking for ways to keep the kids entertained while schools are out.

A Peter Rabbit-themed festival with retro steam train rides, and the chance to learn what life is like for animals at the Science and Industry Museum are just a couple of the already-announced spring events happening across the region.

But now it’s time to take care of those film lovers… and also those keen to plan budget-friendly events that also take into account the classic Manchester April showers.

Cinema chain Vue has announced its lineup of family blockbusters showing at venues across Greater Manchester this spring – including Printworks, Lowry, Bolton, Altrincham, and Bury.

Arriving in time for the school holidays, A Minecraft Movie welcomes fans to their favourite cubic wonderland, while the whole family can instead transport themselves into Disney’s reimagining of the 1937 classic Snow White if they’d prefer.

Also returning to the big screen are childhood classics like Wallace & Gromit: Curse of The Were-Rabbit, 20 years after its original release, and the beloved Babe, to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary.

Greater Manchester cinemas will be screening family-favourite films for just £2.50 this spring / Credit: Disney | Aardman Animations

And as part of Vue’s ‘Mighty Mornings’ offering, film fans can enjoy pre-releases of family-friendly flicks like Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Moana 2 every day throughout half term, all from just £2.49 per ticket when booked online.

“A trip to Vue this Easter break is the perfect opportunity for families to immerse themselves in the magic of their favourite big screen characters,” commented Rob Lea, who is the Head of Screen Content at Vue UK & Ireland.

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“More than just entertainment, it’s a chance for children and parents to switch off, connect, and create lasting memories together.”

Featured Image – Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)

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