One of the north west’s best – and most terrifying – horror events is returning this year, with Scare City launching brand new experiences.
The hugely popular event will once again take over Camelot, the abandoned theme park just outside Greater Manchester in Chorley, this September.
Running all the way through to Halloween, it’s promising everything from cannibal butchers to eerie cults, and more gore than ever before.
This year, Scare City will have four brand-new indoor mazes with a fright and surprises around every corner.
There’ll be 10 terrifying zones to explore, each one filled with live actors, realistic set design, and things going bump in the night.
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Zones will include derelict hospitals and a serial killer’s dumping ground.
Scare City horror experience returns to Camelot for 2023. Credit: SuppliedScare City horror experience returns to Camelot for 2023. Credit: Supplied, Jason Roberts Photographer
And those who have braved Scare City before will recognise some familiar faces, like the corrupt cast of The Moregrave Brother’s circus, with their gallery of the grim and grotesque.
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Now in its fourth year, Scare City is again sponsored by legendary confectionary brand Swizzels.
It all started back in 2020 as a drive-in cinema – but is now a walk-through horror attraction.
As well as all that scary stuff, the former Medieval-inspired theme park will host a feast of food and beverage vendors at the halfway mark, known as the Swizzel’s Resurrection Zone.
A completely free canal-side festival is coming back to Salford again
Thomas Melia
After a successful run last year, the Salford-based Middlewood Locks Fest is returning for a second time with the promise of an even bigger and better programme of entertainment, food and fun.
Taking place on Saturday 10 May from 2pm-10pm, the free festival returns to Middlewood Locks..
Whether you’re local or just looking for a great day out, the festival will have something for everyone. There’ll be plenty of activities and pop-up stalls for you to get involved with, including a daytime market as well as children’s interactive workshops.
Get Living is proud to support the festival for the second year, which celebrates local creativity, community spirit and culture. The event is set to take place on the doorstep of New Maker Yards, Get Living’s canal-side neighbourhood.
With a range of one-three bedroom homes available for rent, New Maker Yards blends spacious, stylish apartments with green open spaces, complete with an on-site cafe and a strong community feel – all at the heart of the vibrant Middlewood Locks neighbourhood, where the festival action is taking place.
For Middlewood Locks Fest, a Makers Market will be taking place throughout the day with items on offer from local makers, artisans, performers and creators, including plants, jewellery, artwork, clothes and produce.
The Canal & River Trust is organising explorer’s activities for kids and families alike, while St Philip’s CE Primary School has worked with artists to create bespoke decorations for the event too.
A completely free canal-side festival is coming back to Salford again. Credit: Karen Wright
If that wasn’t enough for you, how about a special appearance from a canal-side regular as a giant Canadian goose puppet will also be making an appearance to meet festival-goers.
Everything really is catered for here. On top of the makers market and masterclasses, there will also be live music courtesy of a brass band – that sounds like music to my ears.
There’s even the opportunity to go on the water yourself as a handful of rafted canoes will be in use for activities throughout the day.
And of course food is in safe hands too. Street food vendors including Taka Taka Mam will be bringing all the flavours of the Mediterranean and stuffing them into their famous hearty gyros, while city favourites Ginger’s Ice Cream Emporium is popping up from Afflecks to soak up the sun and provide dreamy desserts direct from the canal-side pop-up.
Middlewood Locks Fest, a canal-side festival in Salford. Credit: Karen Wright Photography
And when the sun’s out it would be rude not to treat yourself to a tipple, so good thing that the Adams & Rose Bar is making an appearance to fill up your glass with the finest gin and rum selection.
As the night comes to an end, you can dance the night away to some epic tunes thanks to a live DJ while being surrounded by a mesmerising fire and sound installation to close this spectacular celebration.
Kim Quickfall, Regional Director at Get Living, said: “Last year’s Middlewood Locks Fest was a huge success and we’re excited to be supporting the event again in 2025.
“Bringing people from across Salford and the wider area together, the day will celebrate the best of local culture, enterprise and creativity with activities and events for all.”
Middlewood Locks Fest is returning to Salford on Sunday 10 May from 2pm to 10pm and more information can be foundHERE.
For those that can’t make the festival fun, there are plenty of other things to see and do in the area. From the delicious treats at 97 Degrees Coffee to the landmark Aviva Studios cultural hub, there is plenty to discover in this buzzing neighbourhood.
Explore the 1-3 bedroom homes for rent at New Maker Yards and discover more atgetliving.com.
A theatre adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy film North By Northwest is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Alfred Hitchcock’s much-loved spy classic, North By NorthWest, is hitting the stage and visiting one of Manchester’s most celebrated theatres.
This new, riotously funny production will be visiting HOME theatre for a run of shows kicking off this week.
The show reworks Hitchcock’s film of the same name, following one man who accidentally lands himself in the middle of a Cold War conspiracy.
Now adapted for the stage by Emma Rice, North By Northwest follows an unfortunate mix-up where a mistimed phone call to his mother lands Roger Thornhill in a spot of bother.
Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy film North By Northwest is hitting the stage in Manchester / Credit: Steve Tanner (via Supplied)
Audiences will see this unlikely (and reluctant) hero head on the run, dodging spies, airplanes and a femme fatale.
For the theatre production at HOME, the classic spy film (that starred Cary Grant) has been turned on its head and stars just six shape-shifting performers.
There’s a fabulous 1950s soundtrack to go with it too – and, apparently, a lot of suitcases.
Tickets are now on sale, and it’s already being described as a must-see / Credit: Steve Tanner (via Supplied)
North By NorthWest promises ‘glamour, romance, jeopardy and a liberal sprinkling of tender truths’.
Artistic director Emma Rice has already adapted and directed products for Wise Children including The Buddha of Suburbia, Blue Beard, and Wuthering Heights, plus worked as artistic director for Shakespeare’s Globe.
The cast is made up of Mirabelle Gremaud as Anna; Patrycja Kujawska as Eve Kendall; Kary Owen as The Professor; Simon Oskarsson as Valerian; Karl Queensborough as Phillip Vandamm; and Ewan Wardrop as Roger Thornhill.
North by Northwest is a co-production with Wise Children, York Theatre Royal, HOME Manchester and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, and is currently on a UK tour.
Daisy Jackson -
27th July 2023 
