A dazzling display of fireworks will once again be lighting up the sky over Manchester’s newest park this Bonfire Night.
Merely weeks after it was announced that all Council-organised Bonfire Night events in Manchester have officially been cancelled yet again this year, with no plans for them to return in the future, Escape to Freight Island has come through with its own plans to celebrate the occasion, and it’s all sounding set to be a “mesmerising” weekend.
Returning by popular demand, after proving to be a smash-hit success during its inaugural year in 2022, Freight Island’s Fireworks & Fire Garden is back, and it’s giving Mancs the chance to immerse themselves in an “other-wordly landscape”.
Organised in collaboration with award-winning local arts organisation Walk The Plank, Mayfield Park – which is Manchester’s newest park, and the first one in the city centre in 100 years – will be transformed into a “realm like no other” for one weekend only.
Huge firework display to light the sky over Manchester’s newest park this Bonfire Night / Credit: Escape to Freight Island
The two-night Bonfire weekend event is taking place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November, with early and late sessions on both days.
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Audiences are invited down to immerse themselves in and explore the ‘Fire Garden’ – which is set to feature flame-lined paths through copper flowers that breathe fire, intricately-carved flaming flower boxes, and scorching sculptural trees.
Then, as the night draws in and darkness falls, spectators should “prepare to be mesmerised” by a spectacular fireworks display that illuminates the sky above Mayfield Park.
Frieght Island and Mayfield Park’s unveiling of its Bonfire Night celebrations comes after Manchester City Council officially confirmed that it “will not be reinstating bonfire events” in its parks throughout the city due to “escalating costs”.
No large Council-run Bonfire Night events have been held in the city since 2019, when the impacts of the pandemic initially caused them not to go ahead.
The Council said its “position remains the same” following a post-COVID review.
The Fireworks & Fire Garden Event is happening down at Escape to Freight Island at Depot Mayfield on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November, with early sessions starting at 5:30pm and late sessions running from 7:30-9pm.
Tickets start from £8, and you can grab yours here.
Featured Image – Escape to Freight Island
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Tickets go on sale for massively popular pumpkin festival near Greater Manchester this autumn
Emily Sergeant
Tickets for one of the North West’s most popular pumpkin festivals with thousands of pumpkins to pick have now officially gone on sale.
We know it’s still technically summer and the sun is still shining, but in just over a month’s time, Kenyon Hall Farm’s popular Pumpkin Festival will be back up and running for 2026.
This is an ideal autumnal activity for when the leaves start turning golden, and is always popular with families every year.
Think fields full of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, where you can grab yourself a wheelbarrow and get searching for your perfect gourd – whether it’s a classic round orange one, or a weird and wonderful wonky one.
Kenyon Hall Farm’s popular Pumpkin Festival will be back from next month / Credit: The Manc Group | Concetta Huffa (via Unsplash)
As well as the pumpkin picking itself, Kenyon Hall Farm also has loads of photo opportunities dotted around, like a house built of pumpkins, a giant throne, a vintage tractor, a love heart frame, and even a Hollywood sign-style sign screaming ‘PUMPKINS’ as you enter.
This year, the owners are also teasing some brand-new displays for 2026, so stay tuned for what’s in store.
While you’re at the farm, you can also browse a pop-up market packed with autumnal treats, including more pumpkins, novelty homewares, and seasonal goodies, and then head on into the gorgeous on-site cafe for some pumpkin-inspired specials like spiced lattes, scones, and soup.
What could be more a perfect autumn activity than rummaging around in a field picking your perfect pumpkin with your pals?
Kenyon Hall Farm’s Pumpkin Festival officially returns from Saturday 26 September, and tickets are now on sale at £3.95 each, so make sure to book yours soon as they’re already selling fast.
Tame Impala announces another HUGE Manchester gig after chart-topping success
Emily Sergeant
Tame Impala has announced another UK and EU tour in 2027 to celebrate recent chart-topping success.
Following sold-out runs across the globe in 2025 and 2026 – including here in Manchester – and currently in the midst of a North American arena tour, Tame Impala has announced a new run of dates for next year – with a mix of headline and festival appearances.
The announcement arrives as Kevin Parker – better known by his project name, Tame Impala – continues an extraordinary run with his latest studio album Deadbeat, released last year.
On Deadbeat, Parker aimed to sculpt a collection of ‘wickedly potent’ club-psych explorations as a vehicle for some of his most direct, ear-wormy songwriting to date.
Tame Impala has announced another huge Manchester gig after chart-topping success / Credit: Julian Klincewicz (Supplied)
After recently being featured in the new Marvel film, Spiderman: Brand New Day, the lead single from the album, ‘Loser’, has just hit number one on the Global Spotify chart.
Not only that, but the remix of the hit song ‘Dracula’, featuring JENNIE, also remains in the top 10 on various global charts, and the original version has also nominated for Best Alternative at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.
Critics described this most recent run of gigs as ‘one of the best live shows of the year’, so it only makes sense that he’d be back for more.
Kicking off on 28 May 2027 in here in Manchester, Tame Impala will be taking to the Co-op Live stage once again, before heading down to the capital for two nights at The O2 on 1 and 2 June, and then popping over to Paris, Rotterdam, and Cologne to.
Wet Leg will open all headlining dates next year, including here in Manchester.
Tickets go on sale this week, with Co-op Member Presale kicking off at 9am on Wednesday (26 August), followed by General Sale also at 9am on Friday (28 August).
Emily Sergeant -
17th October 2023 
