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Lightopia Festival reveals Local Heroes’ area and discount tickets for key workers

Award-winning winter lantern and light festival Lightopia has revealed a brand new area for 2020 – a Local Heroes display dedicated to those on the frontline.

The Manc The Manc - 8th September 2020
Lightopia

Award-winning winter lantern and light festival Lightopia has revealed a brand new area for 2020: A Local Heroes display dedicated to those on the frontline.

The Local Heroes walkway will be magically lit to reveal a rainbow display – with the words ‘Thank You’ lit up in front of the well-regarded symbol of 2020.

As a further token of gratitude, the Heaton Park festival is offering a Key Workers Discount Ticket – entitling essential workers to 20% off tickets.

A close up of a christmas tree Description automatically generated

Lightopia 2020 is set to feature a variety of new installations alongside a socially-distanced route for guests to explore (with wider footpaths, three entry points and direct access to two car parks).

Each creation has been designed by critically-acclaimed, contemporary artist Ava Moradi.

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Commenting on the Local Heroes rainbow, Moradi said: “This area has a special focus on Key Workers. The NHS rainbow is an important symbol of 2020 and a strong reminder to people that the current situation has had an impact on people all around the world.

“This large-scale light installation is visually bright and stunning and will bring joy and happiness to those that visit it.

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“Lightopia is a world in which light, sculpture and art combine with new and traditional Chinese lantern-making techniques, to create an immersive experience. This year, the new route has a real festive family-friendly feeling and a magical journey through lantern trails awaits!”

The main centrepiece of the festival is Lightopia’s Christmas showcase, which will take place against the Grade I-listed Heaton Hall.

Also new for 2020 is the Astronomy display; illuminating the night sky with its beautiful moon installation, an area dedicated to the Manchester Skyline and an immersive Musical City encouraging visitors to dance their way through the lights. 

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The popular Animals attraction will return, along with installations in the Discovery space and Woodland Fairytale area.

Lightopia will be open to the public from Friday 20 November until Sunday 3 January.

For those looking to plan ahead with friends and family this festive season, there are a limited number of tickets available for key workers, with a 20% discount off the standard ticket price, when using code ‘KEY20’ here.

One essential worker ID is required for entry, per party.

Standard advance tickets are priced at £20.00 for adults (or £22.00 on the day), £13.00 for children (or £15.00 on the day), and £60.00 for families of two adults and two children (£68.00 on the day). Children under three can go free. Essential carers of disabled visitors can attend for free, the disabled visitor pays the normal admission fee.

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To book tickets, visit the Lightopia website. You can also follow the festival on Instagram and Facebook @lightopiafestival.

Key Workers included in the discounted ticket:

Health and social care

Frontline health and social care staff such as doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, as well as support and specialist staff in the health and social care sector. In addition, it includes those working in supply chains including producers and distributors of medicines and personal protective equipment.

Education and childcare

Nursery, teaching staff and social workers.

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Key public services

Those required to run the justice system, religious staff, as well as those responsible for managing the deceased, and journalists providing public service broadcasting.

Local and national government

Administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the Covid-19 response or delivering essential public services, including payment of benefits.

Food and other necessary goods

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Those involved in the production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery of food.

Public safety and national security

Police, support staff, Ministry of Defence civilian staff and armed forces personnel, fire and rescue staff, and those responsible for border security, prisons and probation.

Transport

Those who will keep air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the Covid-19 response.

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Utilities, communication and financial services

Staff required to keep oil, gas, electricity, water and sewerage operations running. Staff in the civil nuclear, chemical and telecommunications sectors. Those in postal services and those working to provide essential financial services.

What's On

Busted vs McFly’s Manchester arena shows – tickets, times, setlist and all you need to know

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

UK boybands Busted and McFly are going head-to-head for three whole nights of pop-rock bangers as they play out together at BOTH of the premier music arenas in Manchester.

It’s a real-life battle of the bands, as mainstream pop-punk boy bands Busted and McFly go up against each other to win over the crowds, not just AO Arena in Manchester, but at Co-op Live, too.

Known for smash singles like ‘Year 3000’ and ‘What I Go To School For’, pop-rock boyband Busted have amassed a cult following of fans since debuting in 2002.

Equally impressive noughties boyband McFly also have a fair few hits under their belt, dropping music since 2004 with the dreamy ‘Star Girl’ and serenade-twanged ‘All About You’.

The lineup of one of these UK bands may look a little different, as singer and guitarist James Bourne of Busted has had to pull out of this 2025 tour due to health issues, as revealed in a recent Instagram post.

Now, Matt and Charlie of Busted, as well as Danny, Dougie, Tom and Harry of McFly are laying all their cards on the table for a face-to-face music battle like no other.

Air guitars at the ready…

Busted vs McFly in Manchester – gig guide

Busted vs McFly are taking over AO Arena in Manchester for two nights of head to head music / Credit: Supplied
Busted vs McFly are taking over AO Arena in Manchester for two nights of head to head music / Credit: Supplied
Busted vs McFly is taking over the AO Arena in Manchester for two nights of head-to-head music (Credit: Supplied)

Busted vs McFly UK tour dates

  • Fri 10 October – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Sat 11 October – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Sun 11 October – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Tue 14 October – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
  • Wed 15 October – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
  • Fri 17 October – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
  • Sat 18 October – Manchester, UK – AO Arena
  • Mon 20 October – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
  • Tue 21 October – Belfast, UK – SSE Arena
  • Wed 22 October – Belfast, UK – SSE Arena
  • Sun 26 October – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
  • Tue 28 October – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Thu 30 October – London, UK – The O2
  • Fri 31 October – London, UK – The O2
  • Sat 1 November – London, UK – The O2
  • Mon 3 November – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Wed 5 November – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Thu 6 November – Sheffield, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Sat 8 November – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena

Are there tickets left for Busted vs McFly in Manchester?

If you want a dose of this boyband rivalry, there are two shows for you to choose from, and luckily for you, there are a handful of tickets left for both dates at the AO and the Co-op.

Anyone looking to ‘Shine a Light’ on day one of the Busted vs McFly tour can catch them live in action on Friday 17 October HERE.

Fancy reliving the early 2000s alongside two of the biggest British bands from that very decade? You’re ‘Not Alone’ and you can do so on Saturday, 18 October HERE.

Busted last visited AO Arena in 2023 to commemorate their 20th anniversary / Credit: Supplied
Busted last visited AO Arena in 2023 to commemorate their 20th anniversary / Credit: Supplied
Busted last visited the AO Arena in 2023 to commemorate their 20th anniversary (Credit: Supplied)

Busted vs McFly setlist 2025

McFly tracks

  • Where Did All the Guitars Go? (McFly)
  • Star Girl (McFly)
  • That Girl (McFly)
  • One for the Radio (McFly)
  • I’ll Be Ok (Mcly)
  • Obviously (McFly)
  • Room on the 3rd Floor (McFly)
  • All About You (McFly)
  • Twist and Shout (McFly cover)
  • Transylvania / Lies (McFly)
  • Red (McFly)
  • The Heart Never Lies (McFly)

Busted songs

  • Crashed the Wedding (Busted)
  • You Said No (Busted)
  • Meet You There (Busted)
  • Dawson’s Geek / Britney / Nerdy / Why (Busted)
  • Loser Kid (Busted)
  • Who’s David (Busted)
  • Sleeping With the Light On (Busted)
  • Everything I Knew (Busted)
  • Thunderbirds Are Go (Busted)
  • What I Go to School For (Busted)

Back and forth…

  • Hate Your Guts (McBusted)
  • 3am (Busted)
  • Not Alone (McFly)
  • Air Hostess (Busted)
  • 5 Colours in Her Hair (McFly)
  • What Happened to Your Band (McBusted)
  • Shine a Light (McFly)
  • Year 3000 (Busted)
It feels mad to think it’s been a decade since we first got this crossover.

What are the stage times for Busted vs McFly in Manchester?

Both AO Arena and Co-op Live have curfews of 11pm, meaning you can time-travel to the ‘Year 3000’ and not have to worry about getting home during the early hours.

There is no confirmed support act as of yet; however, it looks like this will remain as they have fronted this tour independently across the UK.

Doors for this event are opening from 6pm, and both bands are expected to take the stage from around 7:30pm onwards before combining into a supergroup in time for close.

Getting to AO Arena

@the.manc When are you next heading to the @AO Arena? 😱 #themanc #manchester #aoarena #preshow #entertainment #gigs #music #liveshow ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show

Tram

For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station, and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.

Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Train

Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.

Bus

A variety of buses cover AO Arena and Victoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.

A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.

Getting there by car and parking

The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces, including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.

Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.

Walk/cycle

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.

How to get to Co-op Live

Busted vs McFly are doing a clean sweep of Manchester arenas. (Credit: Audio North)

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bus

You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.

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Car and parking info

If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.

The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.

Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day, though estimates will obviously vary:

  • Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
  • Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
  • Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

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  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
  • Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces

Walk/cycle

Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.

Once again, the Beryl app is available for those looking to bike over to the venue; there are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Shots (via Supplied)

What's On

Five fantastic freebies and offers for the 2025 Manchester Half marathon

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester Half marathon freebies finisher's medal

It’s nearly time: not just for the Manchester Half but, more importantly, the freebies and offers you can get for running it.

Let’s be honest, not everyone loves running for literal miles just for the sake of it; a lot of people need motivation, and besides an inspiring cause, you’d be surprised how many people will get out of bed for something as simple as free stuff.

You might be one of them – you are here reading this, after all.

There’s no long-winded preamble or intro needed to set this up, so let’s just crack on. Here are five brilliant freebies you can get with a 2025 Manchester Half Marathon medal.

What freebies you can get with a Manchester Half finisher’s medal

Now, you’ll be glad to know that most of these are completely gratis, but we thought we’d mention some others that stuck out to us as well.

1. Free fizz on The Refuge

First up, how about some free fizz? Well, that’s exactly what you can get this Sunday, 12 October, if you’ve just run the 2025 Manchester Half-marathon.

Participants can head to The Refuge inside the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel after the race to claim a well-earned glass of prosecco – available to the first 100 finishers on a first-come, first-served basis. 

free prosecco manchester half marathon
refuge kimpton clocktower hotel

2. Complimentary food and drink at Circolo Popolare

Next up, it doesn’t get much better than a free pizza and a cold one; that’s what Circolo Popolare in Gary Neville’s stunning St. Michael’s building are offering.

Just show your medal and enjoy a free margherita pizza plus your choice of either an ice-cold beer or a refreshing virgin cocktail. Prego!

3. You’ve got to be quick to get House of Social’s freebie

Speaking of free drinks, the first 50 runners who use the last of their energy to dash over to House of Social this Sunday and enjoy a pint on the house.

All you have to do is present your medal when ordering to snap up a beer at absolutely no cost. So we’ll see you there, basically.

4. Free pints at The Grosvenor

Self-explanatory, really. The student favourite that used to be the old Footage pub on Oxford Road is offering up a limited amount of free pints to runners, just make sure you show your medal at the bar.

To be honest, even if it wasn’t free, we’d still probably spend a good few hours here sinking affordable pints because it is absolute VIBES at this gaff.

@the.manc Live sport at The Grosvenor is BACK ⚽️ Round up your mates, and book one of their drinks tables to watch your team on their super screen. #themanc #thegrosvenor #championsleague #derby ♬ act slowed – kyra

5. Starter on the house at Italiana Fifty Five

Last but not least, if you’re looking for a lovely carby reward in the city centre, you’re obviously spoilt for choice, but Italiana Fifty Five are offering a free starter when booking and presenting your 2025 finisher’s medal upon arrival.

Available at all Greater Manchester locations, the Italian eatery formerly known as Cibo always delivers good offers, and race day for the MCR Half is no different.

Honourable mention…

Bonus breakfast butties at The Wharf

Oh yeah, it might not be a freebie per se, but as one of the busiest post-marathon celebration spots anywhere in Greater Manchester, The Wharf is obviously getting involved beforehand as well.

This year, the canalside Castlefield favourite is serving up sausage and bacon butties from 10-11:30am before the usual Sunday roast service kicks in as normal from 12pm. Now we’ve just got to pray for good beer garden weather.

the wharf mcr half marathon finishers model
manchester half marathon offers

We hope you get to make the most of these freebies and others Manchester Half offers after your race is run, because let’s be honest, running 13.1 miles (21 and a bit kilometres for you metric heads) is a fair bit of effort, so you deserve a treat.

It goes without saying that there’s probably plenty more SWAG to be snapped up in and around the city that we’ve missed, so make sure to let your fellow runners know about them down in the comments.

Finally, if you’re still feeling uncertain about anything to do with the race itself, you can find our full Manchester Half Marathon guide down below.

Manchester Half 2025 guide – route, waves, start times and everything you need to know

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group/press shot (supplied)

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