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New family festival full of FREE activities announced in Manchester for early next year

Lots of interactive fun for all ages.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 9th December 2024

A brand new festival full of free activities for all the family to get involved with is coming to Manchester early next year.

Fresh off-the-back of the success of Manchester’s massively popular annual Christmas Parade – which was held this past weekend and saw tens of thousands of people flock to the city centre’s main shopping streets especially for the occasion – another exciting new event has now been announced for February half term next year.

The four-day festival in the early new year is being hosted by the city’s hoteliers, Manchester Accommodation BID.

A new family festival full of free activities has been announced in Manchester for early next year / Credit: Manchester BID

The new event, which is called The Super Duper Family Festival, will feature a series of pop-up play zones at a variety of outdoor spaces and popular venues across the city centre, all of which will be free to use and ready to explore.

Taking place from Saturday 15 February through to the following Tuesday (18 February), there will be six play zones providing unique experiences for all ages.

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According to event organisers, the six play zones will be named The Playground, The Party, The Garden, The Sports Hall, The Carnival, and The Arcade, and they’ll each feature everything from gaming and crafts, to roaming performances, fun children’s activities, and so much more.

There’s interactive fun for all ages to get involved with / Credit: Lizzie Coombes (via Supplied)

There’ll also be the chance to take part in a range of immersive activities for yourself too.

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As well as the four days of free Half Term fun already announced, even more events are set to be revealed in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled.

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City locations for the festival will also be announced in due course too.

Featured Image – Supplied

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There’s a non-alocholic pairing dinner coming to Manchester this Dry Jan

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

A one-night-only pairing of two dining out staples from the food and drink world is coming to Manchester next month, and it also happens to be non-alcoholic for anyone doing Dry January.

Taking place at the wonderful Maray over on Lincoln Square, each dish served throughout the night will be expertly paired with a non-alcoholic drink from zero-per cent experts, Lucky Saint.

This Middle Eastern eatery is always surprising its diners, last September they made their infamous roasts free for one day only, and this upcoming event is sure to be as exciting with its unique tastings.

Lucky Saint came to fruition after partnering with a historical brewery in Bavaria who’ve produced beer for over 400 years, creating a non alcoholic alternative which greeted UK drinkers in 2020.

Lucky Saint will be readily available and paired with every meal.
Diners can expect some sensational food as always from Maray.
Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)

Titled ‘The Official Beer Of Dry January’, supplying IPAs and lagers to a host of stockists, not only are their products fully non-alcoholic but they’re also entirely plant-based – meaning they’re the perfect tie-in with Veganuary.

If their website is anything to go by, diners are set to enjoy refreshments such as their unfiltered lager and a 0.5% ‘Hazy’ IPA which contains juicy tropical notes. Don’t mind if we do.

Although it’s hard to say what the food offerings may be, it’s guaranteed that anyone who attends is in for a treat as this site has even served famous faces like Dua Lipa back in 2022 while she was on tour.

Their vegan menu features some meat free feasts like a falafel sharer and a delicious oyster mushroom shwarma, it’s a well-loved restaurant.

This dine-in spot is also known for their roasts which are served with the usuals like potatoes, carrots, Yorkshire puddings and gravy.

Whether they bring out menu highlights or brand-new food creations, diners will definitely get to taste some trusty and dependable plates.

In fact, we’re going to go out on a limb and state that it’s one of the best restaurants for vegetarian food in all of Manchester.

Vegans are certainly catered for at this event as it’s not only the free-flowing drinks that contain no animal products, there will also be an entirely vegan menu on hand.

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Maray have multiple locations but anyone who couldn’t get enough of the flavours the first time in Manchester can attend their Liverpool pairing dinner which is happening the very next day.

The Maray x Lucky Saint Dry January Pairing Dinner is coming to Manchester on Wednesday, 15 January from 7-9:30pm with tickets live HERE.

And if you’re looking for other places to enjoy a guilt-free drink in the city centre this month, we’ve got a few suggestions for you:

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

Featured Images — Publicity Picture (Supplied)

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Hundreds more FREE tickets released for Big Night of Musicals in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Hundreds more FREE tickets released for Big Night of Musicals in Manchester

Hundreds more free tickets for Big Night of Musicals will be released this morning ahead of its return to the AO Arena in Manchester.

New shows have also been announced for the dazzling spectacle, which brings some of theatre’s biggest West End and touring shows to our city.

Just announced on the line-up are Cabaret, Chicago, Mary Poppins and Titanique, joining a show-stopping billing that already included Disney’s Hercules, Mean Girls, Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell The Musical, Here & Now – The Official Steps Musical, Calamity Jane and Dear Evan Hansen.

Presented by Jason Manford, The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals saw its first release of tickets sell out within just 24 hours.

So now hundreds more are being released to National Lottery players from 10am today, Friday 10 January, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The show on Monday 27 January, now in its fourth year, serves as a special thank you to National Lottery players who have helped support more than 20,000 theatre-related projects to the tune of £1.3b.

As well as all those dazzling musicals, the evening’s line-up will feature some unique performances, including musical theatre star Michael Ball, as well as a preview of some of the exciting new shows coming to the West End and on tour this year.

Hundreds more FREE tickets released for Big Night of Musicals in Manchester which now includes Chicago. Credit: Tristam Kenton
Hundreds more FREE tickets released for Big Night of Musicals in Manchester which now includes Chicago. Credit: Tristam Kenton

Jason Manford said: “It’s an honour to be back hosting The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals for the fourth time!

“It’s always a pleasure to host in Manchester to give a northern audience the chance to see some spectacular performances and appearances from the stars of the West End – and this year’s line-up is stronger than ever.

“Once again, one of the best aspects of the show is that tickets are free as a thank you to National Lottery players who help ensure the performing arts industry thrives by playing each week.”

The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will also be broadcast by the BBC later this spring.

The National Lottery’s Big Night of Musicals will be at the AO Arena in Manchester on Monday 27 January – final release free tickets are available from 10am HERE.

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Featured image: Publicity picture

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