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Manchester’s popular ‘Flight Academy’ for kids is returning over the summer holidays

The sky's the limit for our little Mancs.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 25th June 2024

Little Mancs can try their hand at becoming a pilot this summer, as the popular Flight Academy returns to Manchester Airport.

After proving popular with families during plenty of school holidays in recent years, the Flight Academy programme is back at Runway Visitor Park over the next couple of months, especially for the summer break.

Curious kids the chance to learn all about the different job roles that help keep Manchester‘s airport in action throughout the year during 90-minute sessions.

The first part of the session takes place aboard a retired DC10 airliner, so kids can sit in the cockpit and find out about everything from the cabin crew’s role, to what the the ground operators get up to, and so much more.

Manchester’s popular ‘Flight Academy’ for kids is returning over the summer holidays / Credit: Runway Visitor Park

They’ll even get to dress the part, and “take control” of the flight deck too by sitting up front in the captain’s coveted seat.

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And if all of that wan’t fun enough as it is, they’ll then get to head outside to have a look at Manchester Airport‘s runways, watch the planes taking off and landing, and get to see some of the various jobs they’ve just learnt about in action.

After the session, families will then be free to make the most of all the rest of the impressive facilities on offer at Runway Visitor Park.

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Tickets are now on sale for £14 on selected dates in July and August / Credit: Runway Visitor Park

With stunning views over the nearby airfield, some of the unique activities on offer at the popular Greater Manchester-based tourist attraction include watching aircraft, such as the giant A380, coming and going at close quarters, taking in a tour of the Park’s retired airliners – including the iconic Concorde – and stopping off at the giant play area and on-site café.

Flight Academy – Airport Life at Runway Visitor Park will be running on selected weekday and weekend dates throughout the summer holidays in late July and August, with sessions split into two age groups – one for children aged 4-7 years, and another for those aged 8-12.

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Tickets cost just £14 for one child with an accompanying adult, and you can find out more and book your place here.

Featured Image –

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An over-30s club night with an early bedtime returns to Manchester this week

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Credit: Day Fever

Sod your 18-30 holidays – we’re all about the new 30+ club night that’s taking the UK by storm, and returns to Manchester in July.

Day Fever will be bringing its hugely popular daytime disco back to New Century on 6 July for a big old knees-up (even if your knees are a bit creaky).

The events usually sell out way in advance, but at the time of writing there are still a handful of tickets available for this next event.

There’s overwhelming demand for Day Fever events here in Manchester, the city where our over-30s were the ones at the forefront the Hacienda heyday – aka, people who know how to party.

Created by Line of Duty and This Is England star Vicky McClure, Day Fever comes with a strict age limit and promises to have you in bed by your normal time.

It’s also co-founded by Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure (no relation), who you’ll often spot behind the DJ decks.

It’s described as ‘the daytime disco that doesn’t ruin your Sunday.’

Unlike most club nights, where you’re not even walking in until 10pm and bracing yourself to throw your usual sleep routine out the window, this one kicks off at 3pm. How civilised!

It also wraps up by 8pm, so you have a plethora of post-clubbing meals on your doorstep instead of being lumped with a late-night kebab.

Since its launch, Day Fever has been selling out in cities across the UK, including here in Manchester over the past weekend.

There are nostalgic TV shows, films and adverts shown on a big screen during the events.

Tickets for Day Fever’s Manchester event on 6 July are on sale now priced at £12.06 – you can get yours through Dice.

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Featured image: Day Fever

What's On

Liberty X, Chesney Hawkes, and more to play ‘throwback’ festival in Stockport this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Liberty X, Chesney Hawkes, and D:Rream are just a few of the famous names set to play at a “throwback” festival over in Stockport this summer.

Fancy a bit of a blast from the past? One of Greater Manchester‘s favourite retro music festivals, Hits On The Pitch, is back in a couple of weeks time, and organisers are promising it’ll be “bigger and better than ever” this year.

The epic one-day throwback festival will be happening at Stockport Rugby Club, in the Stockport suburb of Bramhall, on Saturday 13 July.

Music lovers from across the region can expect a “celebration” of the “golden age” of music. 

hits on the pitch music festival
throwback music festival stockport
Hits On The Pitch is back in Stockport with a “blast from the past” this summer (Credit: Supplied/Hits On The Pitch via Facebook)

Hits On The Pitch’s star-studded lineup is tipped to be a stand-out in the North’s 2024 summer festival season – with massive chart-topping icons such as D:Ream (yeah, the one Brian Cox was in), Damage, The Fizz, and Toyah taking to the stage.

The legendary Leroy Lurve will be bursting back onto the pitch to get the crowd pumped up for performances from the 80s, 90s and 2000s, and will be introducing the likes of Liberty X, Sweet Female Attitude, and Baby D, as well as the much-anticipated return of Haircut One Hundred, who’ll be performing for the first time in over 40 years, after their UK arena tour sold out in under 20 minutes.

Festivalgoers can take a breather from the music and make the most of the multiple on-site bars and street food traders across the venue – with something to satisfy every craving on offer.

Plus, for those looking to add an extra touch of luxury to their day, there are two indulgent VIP packages available this year that come complete with fast-track entry and indulgent extras to give you the ultimate premium festival experience.

Speaking ahead of the festival’s return next month, Simon Taylor from Strawberry Radio, who is one of the organisers of Hits On The Pitch, commented: “It’s time to dust off your neon leg warmers, flannel shirts, and low-rise jeans because Hits On The Pitch is back for another throwback summer party to transport all back to the good old glory days.

“We have an epic musical lineup of guilty pleased and forgotten treasures spanning across three unforgettable decades.”

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Hits On The Pitch will be at Stockport Rugby Club on Saturday 13 July, and there’s still time to get yourself some tickets from just £34.50 each.

Grab tickets HERE.

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

Featured Images – Hits On The Pitch (via Facebook)

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