What's On

Funfair, beach, and huge screens to watch sports and films coming to Trafford Centre this summer

Summer Daze will span an impressive 2.5 acres of land, and will be located outside the Great Hall.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 24th June 2022

An all-new water park, funfair, beach, and giant 15sq m outdoor screen showing classic films and some of the summers biggest sporting events are all arriving at the Trafford Centre next month.

After what was a successful run back in 2021, and with the summer season now officially here, the UK’s third largest shopping centre has announced that its “most significant outdoor event to date” will start to arrive later this month, and offer a full lineup of family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy throughout the day and into the night.

Summer Daze will span an impressive 2.5 acres of land, and will be located outside the Great Hall up until 4 September. 

One of the new events arriving for 2022 is the Trafford Centre’s summer of sport – which is set to go live from 27 June – and it will give sports-lovers the chance to gain free to access to a fan zone to watch some of the summer’s biggest sporting events such as Wimbledon, Tour De France, UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, and the Athletics World Championships, all on a 15sq m giant outdoor screen.

Then, from 22 July, a further two big screens will arrive to show more live sports and a full lineup of classic films throughout the summer. 

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The popular funfair will also return in all its glory from 22 July, with an exciting upgrade of rides – including one called ‘Sea Storm’, where you can ride the wave in individual cruisers – and complete with a 600sq m beach and brand-new 200sq m splash park, with multiple water jets for guaranteed family-friendly fun.

Summer Daze will span an impressive 2.5 acres of land, and will be located outside the Great Hall when it opens / Credit: Trafford Centre

Some former favourites from last year are also set to make a return too, including the log flume, bungee trampolines, wave swinger, water balls, pirate ship, and bumper boats. 

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The centre also promises that a new outdoor food and beverage zone will be a part of the summer celebrations this year, and has confirmed that a lineup of outdoor live music acts will be announced in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled.

Outdoor Screen Schedule

  • Wimbledon: 27 June – 10 July 
  • Tour De France: 1 – 24 July 
  • UEFA Women’s EURO 2022: 6 – 31 July 
  • Athletics World Championships: 15 – 24 July 
  • Commonwealth Games: 28 July – 8 August
  • European Championships Athletics: 11 – 21 August 
  • Vuelta a España Cycling: 12 – 31 August 
  • The Hundred: 1 – 3 September 
  • Tour of Britain: 4 – 11 September 
  • Rugby Sevens: 9 – 11 September 

Details of the lineup of classic films are soon to follow.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Trafford Centre, as our outdoor event sees a major refresh for summer 2022,” said Zoe Inman, Centre Director at Trafford Centre.

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“The giant experience offers a variety of activities and amusements for all ages to enjoy, the perfect opportunity for a family day out in the North West and we look forward to welcoming our existing loyal and new customers throughout the summer season for a new leisure experience”.

The Trafford Centre’s summer celebrations are returning after a successful run back in 2021 / Credit: Trafford Centre

Entry to Summer Daze is on a first come first served basis, and it will be open from 12pm daily.

Anyone with a fairground wristband will also have viewing access to one of the three big screens from the beach area, and the only element of the outdoor event which is available to pre-book is the fairground.

Find out more on the Trafford Centre website here.

Featured Image – Trafford Centre

What's On

Swinton’s FREE festival full of live music, food, and ‘family fun’ returns later this month

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A popular festival full of pop-up live music, performance, food, drink, and family fun is back in Swinton later this month.

Returning to the Salford town for the third year running at some of Swinton’s favourite venues and well-known locations, Swinton Sounds – which is a collaboration between Salford City Council and From The Other – is all about celebrating the local area and its vibrant community.

Throughout the weekend, local venues will welcome a lineup of Greater Manchester’s best musicians and DJs in a programme curated by the team behind the Sounds from the Other City festival.

Local venues including Swinton Grand Palais, The Swinton Hop House, and The Wobbly Stool, as well as Swinton Square, and the beautiful Victoria Park, are just some of the places residents can head to around town to catch all the action.

Swinton Sounds is back later this month / Credit: Salford City Council

Kicking off on Friday 30 May and running through to Sunday 1 June, Swinton Sounds will launch at the historic Grand Palais with a dancefloor-filling set from Untold Orchestra, with unique takes on dance songs from all the best decades, so expect disco, funk, soul, and lots of shuffle-inducing surprises.

Some of the other stand-out musical performances across the weekend come from the likes of Soul artist Yemi Bolatiwa, Ghana-born, Manchester-raised contemporary guitarist and composer Rory A. Green, and R&B, Gospel, and Neo Soul fusing singer-songwriter Kiké.

Away from the music, festivalgoers will also be able to catch a visually-striking performance piece from the UK’s leading makers and creators of outdoor arts, theatre, and spectacle in the public realm, Walk the Plank – inspired by the nesting birds found around the waterways of Salford.

Throughout the weekend, local venues will welcome a lineup of Greater Manchester’s best musicians / Credit: Supplied

Craft-based family fun will also be provided by Manchester’s Little Artists, while Swinton’s-own Arts Let Loose will be inviting kids to dance and create to music under UV lights.

Clay and craft workshops for the all the family will come courtesy of Clay Life, and Salford Mad Pride will be in town to promote creativity, arts, nature, and community connection for wellbeing, all while celebrating the unique talents of those who struggle with mental health.

If you’re feeling a bit peckish, Fratellis will be providing the pizza, and local bars, The Wobbly Stool and The Swinton Hop House will be running pop-up bars. 

Further refreshments will be served from The Hive community hub.

There’ll also be lots of food and family-friendly entertainment over the three days / Credit: Supplied

“Swinton has plenty to celebrate, and has the potential to be one of the best places to live in Greater Manchester,” commented Councillor Jack Youd, who is the Deputy City Mayor at Salford City Council.

“Local people have told us they want to see a more vibrant Swinton, with more going on and more reasons for people to visit and spend their leisure time in the area, so this exciting weekend of activities is part of a programme of events developed in response to that community ambition, and it’s a great opportunity for people to explore the town and experience something new.”

Read more:

Swinton Sounds will take over Swinton for three days at the end of this month from Friday 30 May – Sunday 1 June, and all events are free to take part in.

Find out more here.

Featured Image – Supplied

What's On

The Liquor Store is putting together the perfect package for Oasis fans heading to Heaton Park

Danny Jones Danny Jones The Liquor Store Manchester Oasis gig pre and post party

Manchester bar The Liquor Store is putting together the ultimate pre and post-gig package ahead of the Live ’25 Oasis reunion shows, perfect for anyone heading to Heaton Park for the momentous series of shows.

The brilliant Manc boozer, which borders Blackfriars Street and the edge of Deansgate, has been a popular spot both before and after nearby concerts for years, so it’s no surprise that they’re getting involved with the shows of the century.

With Oasis set to play a whopping five nights at Heaton Park this summer, people are already trying to figure out their plans for the big day(s), with fans flocking from all over the country to see them wherever they could manage to get tickets, especially at this massive outdoor show.

Good job the Liquor lads and ladies have you sorted.

Set to run ‘The Masterplan’ service (very good) for each of Oasis‘ huge hometown shows throughout July, The Liquor Store are making sure gig-goers get to the venue without any trouble and get plenty of time to get in the mood beforehand.

As well as a good old party afterwards, of course.

Offering a comprehensive concert package, complete with coach travel to Heaton Park, not to mention bottomless beer and pizza from 2-3pm when you’re in the bar itself, this music-obsessed bar is set to be the perfect place to fuel and carry on the Britpop party afterwards.

Littered with music memorabilia and images of local bands like the Burnage boys themselves, plus an absolutely unreal playlist of Oasis classics all day and all night, it’s the ideal setting to get you in the mood for the day.

There’ll also be a DJ set from much-loved local Jon Lowe from midday onwards. Oh yeah, and complimentary bucket hats and tambourines for wristband holders should help the good vibes along too.

Better still, even for those not buying ‘The Masterplan’ ticket – which includes the bus to the location and as much suds and scran as you can muster – entry to the venue for the before and after-parties is completely free. After all, it’s still a popular city centre watering hole whether Oasis are in town or not.

Credit: Audio North

As for the coach, the service will depart at 4:30pm and is set to leave Heaton Park around 11:15pm, heading straight back to The Liquor Store, of course.

Ticket holders will be issued with a wristband that will allow them entry onto the coach and access to the bottomless scran and bevs. If you’re not on that bus 10 minutes before they set off, you will be left behind, unfortunately.

With that in mind, tickets are very limited, with less than 50 spots to secure, so if you want to be a part of the ultimate pre-drinks and post-gig party, you’d better act fast.

You can grab yours and find out the full terms and conditions HERE.

Read more:

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

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