One of the best-loved Halloween films is being screened with a live orchestra playing its iconic soundtrack later this month.
It may have only been a couple of weeks since we waved goodbye to summer, but with the nights drawing in, the air starting to feel more autumnal by the day, and the spooky season right around the corner, it won’t be long before Disney fans get all cosy and sit down to watch the 1993 classic that is Hocus Pocus.
Directed by Kenny Ortega, and starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, the film is a brilliant mix of fantasy, comedy, and horror all in one, and follows a villainous comedic trio of witches who are inadvertently resurrected by a virgin teenage boy in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night.
When the film was first released, it actually received mixed reviews from film critics and wasn’t really a success at the box office either, but thanks to people popping it on to watch every October, it’s been rediscovered by audiences.
Halloween has helped make the film a cult classic – and quite rightly so, if you ask us.
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Such a cult classic, in fact, that a sequel, aptly titled Hocus Pocus 2, was finally released on Disney+ last year nearly two decades later, and saw much of the original cast return for the ride, alongside some new faces for a continuation of the story that started in the first movie.
So, if watching Hocus Pocus is already one of your Halloween traditions, then how do you fancy watching it live in concert as well? Well, that’s exactly what’s happening at The Bridgewater Hall here in Manchester in just a couple of weeks time.
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As part of a two-stop UK, Hocus Pocus In Concert is coming back to our city by popular demand, and this year, it’s on actual Halloween night.
Hocus Pocus In Concert will be at The Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday 31 October / Credit: Bridgwater Hall
Sounding set to be “the perfect Halloween treat” for the whole family, the one-off event will feature a screening of the complete 1993 film, with Emmy-winning composer John Debney’s musical score performed live to accompany the spooky classic.
Hocus Pocus In Concert will be at The Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday 31 October at 7:30pm, with tickets now on sale and setting you back anywhere from £34-£69.
Given how much of a success the event was when it was here last, and the fact it’s on the actual night of Halloween itself this year, tickets are already being snapped up fast, so you’ll need to be quick if you want to get your hands of them.
Grab your tickets on the Bridgewater Hall website here.
Featured Image – Disney
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Chester Zoo is staying open ‘after hours’ this summer so you can see the nocturnal animals
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is keeping its gates open late into the evening across two special weeks this summer.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo has, once again, announced the return of Afterglow for the summer, which is known and loved for offering visitors the rare opportunity to explore the zoo and its 30,000 animals after hours… but for the first time, daytime visitors can now enjoy the hugely popular event without needing a separate ticket.
Unlike previous years, visitors will no longer need to leave Chester Zoo‘s grounds and return with a separate event ticket.
Instead, guests can spend the entire day exploring the zoo before enjoying Afterglow‘s evening programme, all as part of a standard admission ticket.
Chester Zoo’s is opening ‘after hours’ again this summer so you can see all the animals at sunset / Credit: Chester Zoo
Afterglow offers you the unique chance to encounter some of the world’s most endangered species during golden hour – which, for many animals, is one of their most active periods.
From 3pm until 8pm each day, giant elephant, giraffe, and peacock puppets will welcome visitors into the zoo, while life-sized dinosaurs roam the site with theatrical performances and interactive encounters.
The programme also features giant bubble displays, comedy street theatre, fairground rides, and live music performances.
A number of special experiences designed just for adults are on the lineup this year too, including quizzes in Chester Zoo’s very own pub and an adults-only silent disco inside one of the zoo’s oldest animal habitats.
Chester Zoo’s Afterglow returns for 2026, running on exclusive dates between 31 July – 16 August from 3pm until 8pm, with tickets now on sale ranging in price depending on whether or not you buy a full-day ticket or just for the afternoon into evening slot.
And the best bit? Every ticket helps fund conservation projects protecting threatened species in more than 20 countries.
They’re already selling fast, so ook your tickets online in advance here.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
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Bewitching Christmas light trail Northern Lights will return to Heaton Park this year
Daisy Jackson
The festive light trail that proved to be a smash hit last winter will make a return to Manchester this year.
Northern Lights has just announced a major return to Heaton Park, with a brand-new Christmas Time Machine theme.
The dazzling mile-long light trail will transform the park into a wonderland with 14 different installations, plus selfie spots along the route.
And there’ll be a limited Kids Go Free offer on select dates, as well as inclusive evenings with reduced capacity and lower audio levels.
Northern Lights attracted more than 100,000 visitors when it made its Heaton Park debut last winter, and received rave reviews across the board.
This year, A Christmas Time Machine will take place from 19 November all the way through to the end of the year, inviting visitors to step back into their favourite festive memories with a nostalgic collection in installations.
Original soundscapes, spectacular new illuminations, and even a marshmallow zone will bring the fully accessible trail to life.
Northern Lights is returning to Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Visitors will walk along Candy Cane Lane, admire a giant neon slinky, and ogle at shimmering nutcrackers.
There’ll also be vintage fairground rides, cosy festive pit stops, and an expanded Christmas Village with artisan food and drink producers from across the region.
Demand is expected to be high for this year’s festivities, with Early Bird tickets just released to get you the best value prices of the year.
Emma St.Croix, Senior Marketing Manager at From The Fields, said: “The response to Northern Lights Manchester last year exceeded all of our expectations.
“The warmth and enthusiasm from visitors made it incredibly special for our team, and we’re delighted to be returning to Heaton Park with something completely new.
“Since January, we’ve been reimagining every part of the experience. A Christmas Time Machine takes visitors on a journey through the festive moments that stay with us long after the decorations come down. Nodding to the traditions we return to year after year, the nostalgia of Christmases gone by, and the excitement of creating new memories together.
“We can’t wait to welcome visitors back and share this next chapter of Northern Lights with families, friends and loved ones from across the region.”
Northern Lights will also host dedicated inclusive evenings on Wednesday 2 and Wednesday 9 December. Visitor numbers will be reduced by 75%, with lower audio levels throughout the trail to create a calmer environment that may be preferable for some neurodivergent visitors and those who benefit from a more relaxed experience.
Northern Lights Manchester tickets
Kids Go Free offer – available on selected Off-Peak Early Bird dates until 31 August (or until allocation is exhausted. Use code KIDSLIGHTS before selecting tickets to unlock.
Early Bird Pricing
Peak tickets – from £17.25 including transaction fee
Off-peak tickets – from £13.75 including transaction fee
Emily Sergeant -
3rd October 2023 
