Giant pieces of neon art, a fire garden and a glittering love heart will all appear on Oxford Road this month as the corridor prepares to host its own version of the Blackpool illuminations.
A new Corridor of Light installation will see buildings, parks and other venues lit up along the busy stretch for three days this month, showcasing a range of works by renowned artists both local to Manchester and further afield.
Some impressive illuminations are set to go on display, including a fire garden with flickering sculptures, a neon work on a bridge, a giant comic strip, and a massive heart-shaped glitter ball – with twinkling lights stretching out one square mile south of Manchester Central Library.
Down at First Street, fire sculptures by Walk The Plank will bring the former Homeground site with the introduction of a new, glowing landscape.
ADVERTISEMENT
Elsewhere, the ‘tin can’ structure of University Place will feature the projection of a new video, whilst the windows of the newly-reopened Contact Theatre will be filled with images of Manchester artist Chanje Kunda, and a huge light and sound installation will move into the Holy Name Church in honour of the building’s 150th anniversary.
That’s not all that’s in store, either, with a mixture of live entertainment also set to take place alongside the visual arts commissions and light installations at the free-to-attend event.
Image: Mikal Ludlow
Artists, writers, students, poets, and performers will all gather to tell their stories, whilst venues along the route will stay open late between 21 – 32 October from 6 to 10 pm.
ADVERTISEMENT
The unveiling of a three-metre tall poem Recovery Poems at Manchester Central Library will open the event, with the occasion marked by choral singing in the library’s stunning Reading Room from LGBTQ+ baritone choir The Sunday Boys.
And outside, beneath the library’s benches, another illuminated collection of poems by light artist Elisa Artesero will also be on display.
On top of all this, there will be a performance of two specially commissioned new stanzas for community poem Made in Manchester, which features 65 different languages in a nod to Manchester’s title of the UK’s language capital.
ADVERTISEMENT
Designed to be a celebration of the people who live, study and work in the area, the Corridor of Light hopes to champion the transformative and powerful role arts and culture can play in supporting communities when given the chance.
Feature image – Studio Vertigo
What's On
Clubbing brand Don’t Let Daddy Know to make massive comeback in Manchester this weekend
Daisy Jackson
World-renowned clubbing brand Don’t Let Daddy Know is set to make a massive return this weekend, with a huge line-up at O2 Victoria Warehouse.
The international line-up will include Timmy Trumpet, Blasterjaxx, Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman, Third Party, and Ummet Ozcan.
Don’t Let Daddy Know is famed for its huge production, with walls of LEDs, pyrotechnics and lasers creating an almighty clubbing experience – not to mention plenty of surprises along the way.
It has grown into a global phenomenon, hosting tens of thousands of clubbers in venues around the world.
The 18+ dance event will be back after a two-year hiatus and returning to the O2 Victoria Warehouse, the site of previous sell-out shows.
The line-up is packed with EDM and HardStyle artists, including Australian DJ/producer Timmy Trumpet, who has 1.2 billion streams and first broke through with Freaks, which dominated the charts in more than 10 countries.
He said: “Manchester knows how to party!! I can’t wait to rage with you guys, this is gonna be absolutely MENTAL!!
“Don’t Let Daddy Know always brings the best production. This is gonna be one for the history books!”
Blasterjaxx is a fixture in the EDM scene, along with Swedish DJ and producer duo Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman.
Don’t Let Daddy Know will be at the O2 Victoria Warehouse on Saturday 1 October, with last entry at 11pm.
There are VIP tickets available, with the best views in the house from the venue’s mezzanine level, as well as fast-track entry and a private bar and toilets.
General admission tickets are priced at £25 plus fees, while VIP tickets start from £37.50 – you can get yours here.
Featured image: Don’t Let Daddy Know
What's On
You can meet tarantulas, komodo dragons, and more on Chester Zoo’s new interactive Halloween trail
Emily Sergeant
Tarantulas, komodo dragons, and poisonous dart frogs are just some of the creatures you can meet on Chester Zoo‘s newest trail next month.
With the spooky season right around the corner, Luna’s Lost Spell Halloween Trail is set to take over the UK’s biggest charity zoo for the whole of next month from Saturday 1 – Monday 31 October, and it looks set to be an ideal day out for families during the half term.
You’ll get to see komodo dragons, a Gaboon Viper, some poison dart frogs, a blue komodo viper, a tarantula, and even the upside-down Jellyfish as you make your way along the indoor trail.
If meeting the animals wasn’t exciting enough as it is, this is also an interactive trail too.
So for those feeling brave enough, visitors are encouraged to visit the six different animal stations to learn some spellbinding facts about each hair-raising species, all while collecting letters to form a magic word using augmented reality.
You can meet tarantulas, komodo dragons, and more on Chester Zoo’s new interactive Halloween trail / Credit: Chester Zoo
All you’ll need to do is scan a QR code with your phone to reveal each letter of the word with a fun interactive experience, and then stamp the letters onto a postcard.
You’ll be rewarded with a sweet treat at the end of the trail if you manage to work out the word.
Of course, as Chester Zoo as place that’s as much about educating people on conservation as it is somewhere to head to for a fun day out, the theme of Luna’s Lost Spell Halloween Trail is linked to the zoo’s BIAZA Vital Venom and Practical Poisons campaign.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of all the “creepy but crucial creatures” at the zoo that are venomous and poisonous.
Luna’s Lost Spell Halloween Trail is set to take over the UK’s biggest charity zoo for the whole of next month / Credit: Chester Zoo
“We’re so excited to launch our very own Halloween themed trail around the zoo this October,” said Gemma Bamford – Admissions & Membership Manager at Chester Zoo.
“Halloween is the perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the unknown species Chester Zoo is home too, inspiring visitors to care for our cause of preventing extinction of not only the renowned species like elephants, giraffes and rhinos, but the more unusual and extraordinary animals that may just shock, surprise or spook you.”
Georgina Pellant -
1st October 2021 
