A giant outdoor funfair full of vintage fairground rides and a circus is heading back to the Trafford Centre by popular demand next month.
After several hugely successful runs in both 2021 and 2022, the UK’s third largest shopping centre has announced that its outdoor space is “springing to life” once again at the start of next month, and will be back with a whole host of thrilling rides, a glittering circus, and lots of delicious treats for the whole family to enjoy.
Spring Escape is returning to the Trafford Centre just in time for the school Easter holidays on 1 April, and as usual, will be popping up outside the Great Hall.
Here all spring and open right through until 4 June, people can head on down to the shopping centre to make the most of “all the fun of the fair”, which is full of vintage fairground rides and attractions suitable for all ages.
Some of the rides this year include the fan-favourite Starflyer, Rock Rage, Waterballs, Waveswinger, Funhouse, and even a giant inflatable clown.
Spring Escape takes over the Trafford Centre’s outdoor space from 1 April / Credit: Trafford Centre
One of the stand-out events has to be the return of Gandeys Circus, who’ll be bringing their new GLITTERATI show to the Trafford Centre from 31 March – 16 April.
The sparkling show stars 30 artists, and combines new special effects, new productions, and even a new Big Top with stunning costumes and “lots of surprise features”, which are all gearing up to make GLITTERATI an unmissable date in your 2023 calendar.
If all the fairground fun has you feeling hungry, then there’ll also be a wide range of pop-up street food traders at the event serving up everything thing from sweet treats like donuts, crepes, and ice cream, to more hearty meals like burgers and hot dogs, as well as lots of coffees, and hot and soft drinks to wash it all down with.
There’s a giant outdoor funfair, a circus, and so much more for all the family / Credit: Trafford Centre
Speaking ahead of return of the popular event, Zoe Inman – Centre Director at the Trafford Centre – said: “It’s time to come out of hibernation and escape the ordinary at Trafford Centre, as Spring Escape promises to be a fun-filled event, with something for the whole family to enjoy.”
Tickets for entry to the Spring Escape will set you back just £2.80 per person, if you’re booking in advance (including a booking fee) or £3 on the door, while tickets to watch GLITTERATI are currently on sale from £9.99 at every show.
Find out more and grab tickets to Spring Escape on the Trafford Centre website here.
Featured Image – Trafford Centre
What's On
Aussie punk rockers and cult favourites Amyl and the Sniffers announced biggest Manchester gig yet
Danny Jones
Australian pub rockers and punk outfit Amyl and the Sniffers have announced their biggest Manchester headline show to date, and we CANNOT wait.
In case you hadn’t guessed, we’re pretty big fans here at The Manc Group.
The cult favourites have made a big splash on the music scene over the past couple of years, playing big festival slots at the likes of Glastonbury and R&L Fest 2025, winning over new fans in the process. We had a feeling they were bringing some big to our shores…
I mean, you could argue they made it fairly obvious where it was going to be held, but it was still a cool little teaser campaign, nevertheless.
That’s right, Amyl and the Sniffers have booked the O2 Victoria Warehouse – an ideal venue for any heavy gig – later this year, following the big poster going up outside the venue in Trafford Park last week.
Fronted by frenetic frontwoman Amy Taylor, they’ve grown a strong following outside of their home country of late, not only winning multiple Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards but picking up gongs from the NME, Kerrang and more since 2022.
They received plenty of accolades for their sophomore record, Comfort To Me, and collected even more for their latest album, Cartoon Darkness, which they’ve been touring pretty much ever since.
It’s that same project that they’re bringing to Victoria Warehouse this autumn, with the punchy ‘U Should Not Be Doing That’ performers almost nailed on to sell out the 3,500 capacity venue.
Tipped as a ‘one-night only’ experience, with support from Floodlights and The Menstrual Cramps, this should be a tasty one.
Aussie rock and indie really is having a moment right now, with the likes of Spacey Jane and Royel Otis both set for big Manc gigs this year too.
The early access window opens from 10am this Wednesday, 3 September, with general admission tickets live from the same time the following Friday (5 Sep). Besides the sold-out Ally Pall show, this is their very LAST headline gig of the year, don’t miss it.
You can get ready to grab yours for 22 October right HERE.
In the meantime, why not watch the moment Amy joined Fred Again in the flesh for a live set over in Sheffield last month?
Featured Images — Press shots/Audio North/Jamie Nelson via Paradis Agency (supplied)
What's On
Def Leppard announce HUGE arena gig in Manchester next year
Thomas Melia
English Glam Rock band Def Leppard have announced a brand new UK tour which features a stop in one of Manchester’s big arenas next year.
Known for hits like ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’, ‘Animal’, ‘Love Bites’ and more, Def Leppard are back on the road and they’re heading out on a UK tour.
The band has achieved worldwide acclaim since entering the rock scene with their first-ever single, ‘Wasted’, back in 1979, and their success resulted in getting inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
In 2023, Def Leppard teamed up with fellow metalheads Motley Crüe for the ultimate ‘Rock of Ages’, playing a spell-bounding gig at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 people.
The rock legends are continuing their career-highlight streak as now they’re about to play one of Manchester’s largest arenas, Co-op Live, sending 23,500 fans into ‘Hysteria’.
This upcoming Def Leppard UK tour sees the band making their way to Glasgow, Sheffield, London and Birmingham before visiting the music capital of the North.
The love for these rockers isn’t slowing down either, as their latest album ‘Drastic Symphonies’, a collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, scored Def Leppard their highest charting record in 32 years, debuting at number 4.
Fans will be over the moon to know that the five-piece visiting Co-op Live next year includes the same band lineup since 1992, with Joe Elliot, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell playing out on the night.
The Rock Brigade will always make sure to remember Steve Clark, founding member and adorned- ‘Riffmaster’, and although the guitarist won’t be playing this innovative live music venue, fans will still give it their all for the current ‘Gods of War’.
These Sheffield-formed musicians have sold more than 110 million albums worldwide, so there will be no ‘Foolin’ around when it comes to screaming their lyrics at the top of your lungs next summer.
Def Leppard are coming to Co-op Live in Manchester on Monday 5 July, with tickets going on sale from 10am on Friday 5 September
Emily Sergeant -
14th March 2023 
