Chester Zoo has revealed plans for the much-anticipated return of its beloved wintertime celebration – The Lanterns.
If you’re unfamiliar with the event or have not been lucky enough to experience it before, now in its tenth year, visitors to The Lanturns are given the unique opportunity to experience the UK’s leading charity zoo after hours on a set trail in the dark.
Not only does the trail take you a collection of spectacular illuminations and colourful lanterns, but you’ll also get to meet some enchanting costumed characters along the way.
Among the many new elements at this year’s festivities will be brand new illuminated characters – including orangutans, butterflies, caterpillars and wolves – as well as a special light show dedicated to celebrating the zoo’s recent 90th birthday that will take visitors on a journey through time as they explore the zoo’s history.
Conservationists say that the event will support the zoo’s crucial work as a wildlife conservation charity.
It will also help with its recovery following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
✨ THE LANTERNS ✨
💖 Get your tickets for the most MAGICAL event of the year💖
❄ Explore spectacular illuminations, colourful lanterns and enchanting characters at our winter wonderland spectacular ❄
Speaking ahead of the event’s return, Gemma Bamford – Senior Admissions and Retail Manager at Chester Zoo – said: “We can’t wait to welcome visitors back to our very special Christmas event, The Lanterns [as] it’s become a firm favourite and something of a family tradition for so many people now, and this year will be more magnificent and magical than ever.
“The event will see the zoo transform into a spectacular winter wonderland, where guests will be welcomed into an exotic world of colour and movement, and where larger than life illuminations and animal characters await.
“This year’s theme is all about shining a light on species that face a fight for survival in the wild, where numbers of many of these incredible animals are plummeting to worryingly low levels.
Chester Zoo has revealed plans for the much-anticipated return of its beloved wintertime celebration / Credit: Chester Zoo
“Never-before-seen illuminations of orangutans, butterflies, caterpillars and wolves are just a few of the species that will feature as part of our ‘into the wild’ theme [and as] it’s the zoo’s 90th birthday year, another hugely exciting new area will celebrate our anniversary through a special light show [and] take visitors on a journey through time as they explore our history.”
She also confirmed that lots of firm family favourite laturns will be returning as well this year, like Father Christmas, the zebras, elephants, and lions.
Just like last year, the Christmas celebration will again have a restricted capacity due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 – however, the zoo will be offering more timed entry slots than ever before to provide more people with an opportunity to enjoy the festive fun.
Visitors to The Lanturns are given the unique opportunity to experience the zoo after hours / Credit: Chester ZooConservationists say that the event will support the zoo’s crucial work as a wildlife conservation charity / Credit: Chester Zoo
“It’s been another strange and challenging year for everyone, so we’re just thrilled to be able to provide our guests with some much needed Christmas cheer,” Gemma added.
“This event is an important step on the road to our recovery after all of the different challenges we’ve faced in recent times, and will help us raise valuable funds, supporting us to continue our mission of preventing extinction all around the world.”
The Lanterns has been created by the zoo in partnership with multi award-winning outdoor arts producers, Wild Rumpus.
Tickets are now on sale for selected dates from Friday 12 November – Thursday 23 December 2021, with slots available from 4pm – 8.15pm, and tickets for children starting from £11 and adult tickets from £13.
You can find more information and pre-book your tickets here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
What's On
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains are back again this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally only the second week of September, and we’ve technically still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of Halloween and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The heritage railway has announced that its popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam train rides are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
You can already grab tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides this Christmas / Credit: ELR
And in recent years, the much-loved event has been even bigger and better than ever before.
ELR’s ‘Santa Specials‘ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station.
You’ll first get to meet some old favourites and new characters, including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess, all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves, with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
The famous East Lancashire Railway ‘Santa Special’ steam train / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipple, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
East Lancashire Railway’s famous Santa Specials are running on weekends and selected weekdays from Saturday 22 November – Wednesday 24 December.
Tickets now on sale starting from £22.50 for kids and £23 for adults.
You can book your seats here before it’s too late.
Featured Image – ELR
What's On
Halloween in the City will return to Manchester with iconic inflatable monsters and loads more
Emily Sergeant
Halloween is soon set to return to the city, and dozens of huge inflatable monsters will be invading Manchester next month.
Yes, it’s that time of year yet again… the monsters are back.
After several years of looming over Manchester‘s most-notable rooftops and lurking around famous city centre sites, it’s been revealed that the iconic MCR Monsters will be returning for another year of spooky celebrations next month, along with loads of other terrifying tricks and treats – with something for the whole family to get involved with.
Organisers Manchester BID are set to turn the city centre into a ‘monstrous playground’ once the free two-day festival of frightful fun returns.
Halloween in the City will return to Manchester with iconic inflatable monsters and loads more / Credit: Manchester BID | CityCo
This year’s annual Halloween in the City celebrations will feature a week-long colourful invasion of the MCR Monsters, following the two-day family festival across the city’s popular shopping destinations.
For the first time ever, the epic MCR Monsters – which are created by talented local artists, Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas – will invade the city’s rooftops and buildings on the opening day of the Halloween in the City festival.
They’ll be taking over leading locations including Manchester Arndale, Selfridges, The Royal Exchange, KAMPUS, and AO Arena – with more terrifying takeovers yet to be announced.
A slimy creature will also be on the loose across the city centre, as ‘The Leech’ – a wriggling eight metre-long monster, created and produced by Walk the Plank – makes its anticipated return.
As for other spine-chilling activities over the weekend-long festival, you can expect family games, storytelling, and the bone-rattling Monster Party Procession, complete with giant puppet monsters, stilt walkers, and a live band.
Then as night falls, the city will glow ‘eerie green’ as iconic buildings light up in spooky style.
To finish things off, thousands of pumpkin lanterns will, once again, line the city’s shopping streets to add a ‘flicker of fun’ to the festival celebrations.
Halloween in the City festival will take over Manchester city centre on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, and MCR Monsters will be in town from Saturday 25 – Friday 31 October.
The pumpkins may potentially appear even earlier, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Emily Sergeant -
11th October 2021 
