A brand new market is set to launch in Manchester this weekend, promising to inject life into the city centre’s Chinatown district.
The Market’s Dragon Market will be taking over the Faulkner Street car park with a range of street food traders, plus loads of local artists and makers.
The market has been created in partnership with Manchester City Council to ‘bring a new lease of life to Chinatown‘.
The mastermind behind Dragon Market is April Kennedy, founder of Vanoffee (and creator of those viral coffee-filled doughnuts), who says it will remind people that ‘Chinatown isn’t to be forgotten about’.
It’s hoped that the project will rejuvenate the area and increase footfall, with an attractive line-up of food and drink stalls as well as other local businesses.
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Already lined up for the launch event this weekend will be Birchwood Pizza, Vanoffee, Sunrise Patisserie (with mountains of pastel de natas), The Vakery vegan bakes, and a street food stall specialising in Thai food.
There’ll also be local brands like Wreaths by Florals by Ayla, Erica Pham Art, Double T’s Rum, MellowApricotStudio, and loads more.
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There’ll even be a mobile barbershop on site thanks to JiGGi.
A new market is launching in Chinatown in Manchester this weekA new market is launching in Chinatown in Manchester this week. Credit: Supplied
And the Dragon Market will be fully licensed, with boozy hot chocolates and mulled wines aplenty.
Announcing the news, they wrote: “We’re bringing a new lease of life to Chinatown with the Dragon Market! Get ready for exclusive traders serving up delicious food ranging from wood-fired pizzas to Thai, with plenty more to get your taste buds going.
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“The Dragon Market also features local artists, candlemakers, brewers, distillers, barbers and baristas!
“Set up by April Kennedy, founder of Vanoffee and Manchester City Council, this market is here to remind you Chinatown isn’t to be forgotten about.”
An Interstellar Live in Concert show is coming to Manchester, with a live orchestra
Daisy Jackson
Arguably the most epic film of all time – with the most epic of soundtracks – is coming to Manchester as a live concert experience.
Interstellar Live will see the Manchester Camerata performing Hans Zimmer’s iconic score on stage, while Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning film plays out behind them.
Demand has been so high for the show in London that there’ll be TWO performances at the Co-op Live in Manchester.
The sci-fi epic Interstellar will be presented on the big screen at the arena, accompanied by a live orchestral performance of the score.
Interstellar Live will have both a matinee and an evening performance on 9 May 2027.
The concert will bring together Manchester Camerata, acclaimed conductor Martin Gellner, as well as Roger Sayer, the organist personally selected by Zimmer to perform the original Interstellar soundtrack.
It’s set to be an arena-scale celebration of one of the most acclaimed films and film scores of the 21st century.
Interstellar Live. Credit: Supplied, Suzy Red
The plot follows Academy Award-winner Matthew McConaughey as ex-pilot-turned-farmer Cooper, as he leaves his family and planet Earth to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars.
The film also stars Anne Hathaway, Sir Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain and Casey Affleck.
Interstellar was named one of the top ten movies of 2014 and received five Academy Award nominations including Best Visual Effects, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Score.
Interstellar Live will be at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Sunday 9 May 2027, with a matinee performance from 12.30pm and an evening performance from 6pm.
Tickets go on general sale this Friday 23 October HERE.
Manchester parks are hosting loads of FREE Halloween-themed activities this month
Emily Sergeant
Parks across Manchester are set to host loads of Halloween-themed activities this month.
With October half term right around the corner and Halloween not far off either, it won’t be long before parents and carers are looking for ways to keep little Mancs occupied… luckily, Manchester City Council has unveiled a programme of free ‘spooktacular’ activities that’ll be happening at parks across the borough this month.
Manchester’s parks will ‘come alive’ this October half-term with a packed programme community-focussed free activities for children – including a range of lantern making workshops delivered by the parks’ teams.
There will also be pumpkin carving throughout the week, with everything provided to create a suitably scary masterpiece to take home, as well ‘Hidden Horror’ trails across 13 parks with lots of spooky characters to be discovered.
Other highlights included guided walks, cycling along the Yellow Brick Road in Debdale Park, helping to create a giant haunted house using recycled materials at Alexandra Park, and a Halloween Party at Grounded Cafe in Cringle Park.
Manchester parks are hosting loads of free Halloween-themed activities this October half term/ Credit: Max Burchill | Pierre Bouyer (via Unsplash)
And fireworks won’t be the only attraction on Bonfire Night either.
Activities on the day begin from 3pm with the chance for little ones to enjoy magical storytelling experiences from Z Arts, with hands-on crafting inspired by the story.
Dazzling fire performers will light up the event with a mesmerising display of flames, fiery choreography, and captivating skills, and the Lantern Parade prior to the main fireworks display is not to be missed.
Daisy Jackson -
5th December 2023 
