Lightopia is all set to make another return to Heaton Park with a new Christmas-themed immersive experience this year.
Getting ready to once again light up Manchester and captivate audiences for the fourth year in a row, award-winning illuminations event Lightopia is promising to bring the magic of Christmas back to the grounds of Heaton Park from this November – with a brand-new immersive experience set to take over the park until January.
Through brand-new and unseen audiovisual displays, this year’s festival is promising to be a “once-in-a-lifetime adventure” for the all the family to enjoy.
This year’s trail follows the story of new beginnings and the circle of life.
Beginning at the ‘Guardian Gate’, you will be transported into a winter wonderland decorated by a blanket of shooting stars with the ‘Essence of Light’ display, before following the winding mystical path to the ‘Mythical Forrest’ – a Christmas realm that suitably celebrates the festive season with giant baubles, trees, and presents.
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Lightopia is returning with a new Christmas-themed ‘immersive experience’ this year / Credit: Lightopia
The ‘Secret Flower Garden’ lights up the natural greenery of the park with a collection of glowing fauna wrapped around the branches above and the grass below, and then, in a display that festival organisers say is curated especially for younger guests called the ‘Book of Rebirth’, little Mancs can unlock their imagination with friendly animated animals.
The kid’s zone will also feature interactive musical tiles for everyone to interact and play with.
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The vibrant ‘Ying Yang’ display and ‘Tranquility Arch’ – which is home to colourful swans and butterflies – are some of the other displays to catch this year.
The Lightopia team say guests should then “prepare your senses” for the ‘Phoenix’ – which is this year’s main event that is new for 2022, and invites you to experience the heart of the festival through sound and light with a five-minute A/V show that will “push the boundaries” of music through the captivating display.
The award-winning illuminations event will bring the magic of Christmas back to the grounds of Heaton Park / Credit: Lightopia
The immersive adventure ends with the grand finale ‘Lakeside Water Show’ – a spectacle of moving creatures and patterns projected across the lake and fountain.
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Speaking ahead of Lightopia’s return to Manchester for the fifth year, Ian Xiang – Creative Director of Lightopia – said: “We are delighted to share the magic of Lightopia 2022 with families in Manchester and beyond and we hope this immersive experience will bring together friends and loved ones through the power of light and sound.
“Not only have we created a fantastical world, full of happiness, illumination, and charm, we hope by offering families a more affordable experience, they can escape for an evening filled with festive magic at Christmas.”
Lightopia 2022 is promising to be a “once-in-a-lifetime adventure” for the all the family to enjoy / Credit: Lightopia
Lightopia returns from Thursday 24 November 2022 – Monday 2 January 2023.
With tickets set to go on general sale at 9am on Friday 16 September, the public will be able to visit the festival every day – except for when it’s closed on Christmas Day – between 5pm to 10pm, with last entry being 8:30pm.
New for 2022, Lightopia has announced a new ticketing system to help families with rising living costs, with an off-peak option on selected weekdays.
This year’s trail follows the story of new beginnings and the circle of life / Credit: Lightopia
Advance tickets are priced at £17.50 for adults off-peak and £22.50 at peak times, from £11 – £14.50 for children – with those under three going free – and £49 for families of two adults and two children off-peak and £69 for peak times. Essential carers of disabled visitors can also attend for free when the disabled visitor pays the normal admission fee.
For a limited time, you can also get an exclusive 20% off tickets by registering here.
Flashback Festival adds massive new headliner to throwback 90s and 00s festival in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Flashback Festival, the huge music event celebrating all things 90s and 00s, has just added a major headliner to this summer’s bill.
The festival is set to take over Platt Fields Park in May for a day of serious nostalgia, featuring some of the biggest names in dance music history.
Flashback Festival’s first wave of artists was announced last month, featuring legends like Fatman Scoop, Artful Dodger, D:Ream with a special 30 live showcase years set, and Sweet Female Attitude on the line-up.
And now the huge event has announced that Katy B will be headlining the main stage.
The British singer was behind massive singles including Katy on a Mission and Lights On back in the early 2010s.
This year’s festival follows 2022’s sold-out event, and will once again feature a huge outdoor main stage as well as a festival village, VIP area and after parties.
Elsewhere on the festival site, the Clubland Big Top stage will be back celebrating the golden age of dance music – artists announced there are Alice Deejay, Ultrabeat, Flip n Fill, Milk Inc Live (Linda Mertens).
On the Back By Dope Demand stage will be superstar DJs and artists like Livin’ Joy, N-Trance, Shades of Rhythm and K-Klass.
Flashback Festival will be bringing Golden back to Manchester – the brand responsible for countless dance culture moments – with The Golden Stage, which will feature an all-star cast of trance and big room DJs.
The Golden Stage line-up includes Lisa Lashes, Dave Pearce, Nalin & Kane and Yomanda.
Radio 1’s Adele Roberts to perform DJ set on Ladies Day at this year’s Grand National
Emily Sergeant
BBC Radio 1’s Adele Roberts has been confirmed to perform a DJ set after racing finishes on Ladies Day at this year’s Grand National.
The Southport-born DJ has worked for a number of Northern radio stations throughout her career, including Rock FM, Galaxy, and Hits Radio Manchester, before she moving to national radio and becoming a regular presenter of Radio 1’s Early Breakfast Weekend show since January 2021.
The 43-year-old first found fame in Channel 4’s Big Brother in 2002, and has appeared on ITV reality competition series I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2019, and won the sixth series of Celebrity Coach Trip in 2020 too.
Adele is also a bowel cancer survivor, announcing back in June 2022 that she’s now cancer free, and a passionate supporter of LGBT rights, having been named as role model of the year at British LGBT Awards last year.
But away from all of that, she is also a massive sports fan.
Ladies Day at the Randox Grand National 2023 is taking place on Friday 14 April / Credit: The Jockey Club
Also throughout her revered career, Adele has impressively competed in the London Marathon, and has formed part of BBC Sport’s coverage of the event – which is why getting to combine her love of sport and her love of music by performing a DJ set after racing finishes on Ladies Day at this year’s Grand National is something she “can’t wait” to do.
“I can’t wait to be at Aintree on Ladies Day to celebrate with everyone,” Adele said.
“I know how much the people of Liverpool turn out for that day, I’m excited to perform my DJ set and get everyone dancing, and as a Southport girl it’s a real thrill for me to be involved with the Randox Grand National Festival.”
Radio 1’s Adele Roberts will be performing a DJ set on Ladies Day at this year’s Grand National / Credit: The Jockey Club
Dickon White, Regional Director at The Jockey Club North West, says the Festival is “thrilled” to have Adele performing.
“Ladies Day is very much the day at the Randox Grand National Festival that attracts the strongest local crowd, and with Adele hailing from Southport it is the perfect match, so we look set for what should be a party to remember.”
The three-day 2023 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse runs from Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 April inclusive, with Ladies Day taking place on Friday 14 April.
Joining House of Cavani as The Jockey Club’s men’s competitions style partner, popular fashion retailer QUIZ has been announced as the Official Style Partner for Ladies Day this year, and is hoping to “inspire all women to look fabulous and feel confident on any occasion” by offering a constantly-updated choice of affordable fashion, both casual and formal, all with a touch of glam.
Ladies Day Style Awards prizes 2023 🚨
🥇 prize is ALL of this…
🏝 £5,000 holiday & £1,500 spends 🏇 2 Garden Club Tickets to Ladies Day 2024 🤝 £1,000 donation to your chosen charity 💆♀️ @RandoxHealth full-body Everyman/woman package
Of course, a huge part of Ladies Day every year is the style competition, which gives the best-dressed attendees at the Festival the chance to take home some incredible prizes.
Some of the prizes lined-up for first, second, and third place in this year’s style competition include a holiday worth £5,000 along with £1,500 spending money, £1,000 donation to your chosen charity, ticket bundles to next year’s Grand National, and a £500 QUIZ voucher, to name just a few.
Emily Sergeant -
14th September 2022 
