What's On

Lightopia is returning to Heaton Park this winter – and general tickets are on sale now

The spectacular Lightopia will be back in Manchester for 2020 for a new, socially-distance edition of lights, lanterns, sculptures and shows.

The Manc The Manc - 14th August 2020

Heaton Park is preparing to host a spectacular festive celebration this winter – with Lightopia returning for a new, socially-distance edition of adventures, lights, lanterns, sculptures and shows.

The 2020 edition of Lightopia promises a feast for the senses, including dazzling sound and light displays and a socially-distanced magical illuminated trail.

The Grade I-listed Heaton Hall will serve as a backdrop to the new Christmas showcase – featuring Santa’s sleigh, glistening snowflakes and a giant interactive piano for guests to create their own winter soundtrack.

The festival will also be home to an immersive Astronomy display, Zodiac Sign installation, and Musical City that encourages visitors to dance their way through the lights.

General sale tickets are available right now online.

ADVERTISEMENT

The popular Animals attraction will return, and much-loved installations from 2019 can be re-visited in the Discovery space.

Kids can leap right into a fairytale of candy, flowers and characters at the Woodland Fairytale area, whilst the Lakeside water show promises a “visual masterpiece”.

ADVERTISEMENT

Shimmering walkways have been designed to create a safe environment with wider footpaths to maintain social distancing, with dragon sculptures dotted around Lightopia’s food stalls and licensed bars.

There will also be three entry points to reduce queuing and direct access to two car parks.

Ian Xiang, Creative Director of Lightopia, says: “We are excited to bring Lightopia back to Manchester, and have once again created a world in which light, sculpture and art combine with traditional, Chinese lantern-making techniques to create an immersive experience, full of light and stories.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We want our guests to become part of the Lightopia story, helping to create new forms of art as they interact and engage with the luminescent sculptures that trail through Heaton Park.”

Lightopia will be open to the public from Friday 20 November until Sunday 3 January.

Opening times are between 5pm to 10pm, and last entry is 8.30pm daily.

The event will remain closed on Mondays, Tuesdays (except during school holidays) Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

To get yourself a ticket, visit the festival website.

Keep up to date with announcements via following Lightopia on Instagram and Facebook @lightopiafestival and Twitter @lightopiafest #Lightopia

What's On

Festive pop-up cafe filled with hundreds of dogs in Christmas jumpers is coming to Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Are you a dog person? Love seeing lots of little pups in the same place? Looking for your dog to make some four-legged friends?

Well you’re in luck, as the Pup Up Cafe is heading back out on a tour of the UK next month, and if the concept of the popular event wasn’t already flipping cute enough as it is, this time around, it’s a Christmas-themed edition, and it’s sounding set to be the perfect festive day out in the city with your fur baby.

If you’re looking to get in the Christmas spirit early, then both the ‘Jingle Paws’ all-breeds and dedicated ‘Dashing Dachshund’ pop up cafes – or we should say ‘pup up cafe’ – are returning to Manchester in late November.

The adorable events will be filling a popular city centre venue with loads of dogs to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

A festive pop-up cafe filled with hundreds of dogs in Christmas jumpers is coming to Manchester / Credit: Supplied

Last year, hundreds of different dogs visited the cafe to join in on the festive fun, and this year is expected to be no different, as the event organisers have secured a large city centre space for all the dogs to roam free.

Whether you’re a dog owner yourself, or just a big fan, everyone’s free to attend to mingle with many furry little friends, take part in a range of seasonal activities, and stock up on canine-related goodies as early Christmas presents.

There’ll be ball pits, toys, and tunnels for all the zoomies, while the pups themselves can enjoy unlimited dog treats and free puppuccinos.

With up to 50 dogs allowed per session, and festive fancy dress very much encouraged, each pup will get a Christmas present on arrival at the party, and will even have the chance to win some extra prizes if they’re the best dressed.

A dedicated photographer will be getting snaps of each session and there’ll be loads of Christmas props to use in the pictures.

So, if you fancy joining The Pup Up Cafe when it arrives in Manchester for Christmas on Sunday 23 November, then tickets will set you back £12 if you’re a dog owner, and £15 if you’re just a dog person who’s keen to go along for the fun anyway.

Read more:

The party is happening from 10am-1:30pm, with different morning and afternoon sessions happening all throughout the day.

Grab tickets here.

Featured Image – Supplied

What's On

A local Manc content creator is looking to set a world record by running around Old Trafford

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man United fan runs laps around Old Trafford for charity in world record attempt

A local content creator, who specialises in running/hiking content (and sandwiches), is looking to raise money and potentially set a world record by jogging around Old Trafford.

Oh, and by jogging, we mean running – for a really, REALLY long time…

If you’ve never come across his channel before, let us introduce you to local influencer and videographer Sam Matthew, a.k.a. ‘Peaks and Pubs‘.

Boasting plenty of fans on both Instagram and TikTok within the world of trail running, the outdoors community and beyond, he’s set to toast reaching a very specific achievement by “turning a milestone into a mission” and doing laps around Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United Football Club.

As explained in the video, he’s now surpassed 74,310 followers, i.e. the same capacity of supporters you can fit inside the Theatre of Dreams itself.

We know, it’s distance running and feats of endurance aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they are a great way of raising money and awareness, not to mention possibly getting yourself in the official Guinness Book of World Records.

Explaining the challenge in the caption of the video, Sam writes: “There’s now enough of you lot following this daft account of mine on here to fill a stadium I’ve adored since I was a little boy. And that genuinely means so much to me.

“So why not celebrate the occasion by punishing my legs and raising money for good causes along the way? Donations are, of course, the aim, but I understand that not everybody is in the position to do that, so any engagement on this post is hugely appreciated.

“I mean it from the bottom of my heart that you lot genuinely make this all happen for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful that I get to do silly stuff like this on a random Wednesday [29 October]. Giving off pure ‘your unemployed friend on a Wednesday’ vibes, but I love it!”

Raising money for the club’s in-house Manchester United Foundation, which has already shown its support for the upcoming ultra-marathon distance event, they are also looking to generate crucial funds with the return of another annual charity event too.

Manchester United’s Stadium Sleep Out returns for 2025
The Foundation does some incredible work all year-round, if you’d rather swap running around Old Trafford for sleeping.

Once again, Sam will be kicking off the serious step-count from approximately 9am this Wednesday (28 Oct), he’s estimating it’ll take him around a whopping nine and a half hours, “with plenty of breaks for food and fluids”, thank god.

As the man behind most of the Bada Bing videos, we expect plenty of butties to fuel the running.

Furthermore, although he’s set to take on the distance solo for the morning, he’s invited as many people who fancy getting involved to come and join him for a lap or two from 12 noon onwards; hopefully, he’ll see the Guinness people popping along to see if he registers a world record while he’s at it, too.

We hope there are a few pints at the pub waiting for you at the end, as always, Sam.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Peaks and Pubs (supplied)/The Manc Group

More What's On

Shaun the Sheep live circus and stage show Manchester tickets

Art & Culture

A live Shaun the Sheep stage show and circus is coming to Manchester

Joe Talbot 10 Songs That Made Me podcast interview Manchester AO Arena tickets

Affiliate

IDLES frontman Joe Talbot set for ’10 Songs That Made Me’ interview at AO Arena

Manchester Women's Derby WSL Etihad Stadium tickets

Sponsored

Less than a month to go until a blockbuster Manchester derby in the WSL at the Etihad Stadium

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches