What's On

Stockport to host ‘captivating’ Christmas festival with 50 FREE shows and hundreds of performers

Events will take place right across the town centre.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 21st October 2024

More than 50 free shows and hundreds of performers are set to descend on Stockport town centre this festive season.

Back by popular demand to kick off Christmas in style, especially after last year’s event resulted in the busiest Sunday for the Greater Manchester town’s centre since 2019, Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday will be returning next month for a one-day festival packed with magical street theatre, banging brass bands, carnival fun, and loads more.

Hundreds of captivating performers will take over Stockport for the day, with a brand-new lineup for 2024 promising something for the whole family.

Think giant rollerskating presents, a living snow globe, roaming Christmas dolls, gigantic balloon men, and a water show that turns members of the audience into human fountains – with enjoy more than 50 free shows and activities to enjoy all day long.

Produced by renowned carnival arts organisation, Global Grooves, and organised by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport, Merseyway, and Stockport Market, the town centre will be buzzing with Christmas excitement from 11am right through to 5pm, as performers take over iconic Stockport locations.

ADVERTISEMENT

Head to Market Place, the Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock, and Suffragette Square to make the most of all the festive fun.

In what is surely set to be one of the stand-out events, the festival will close out with a grand finale that brings together the brass bands of Stockport with an unforgettable flash mob and stirring rendition of ‘All You Need Is Love’.

ADVERTISEMENT
Stockport is hosting a ‘captivating’ Christmas festival with 50 FREE shows / Credit: Supplied

“Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday is all about starting the holiday season in style,” explained Cllr Singleton, who is the Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture, and Sport at Stockport Council.

“We’re so excited to bring this event back after last year’s amazing success. It’s such a fun way to get everyone in the festive spirit, and really shows off what makes Stockport special – our sense of community and joy.”

Read more:

Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday returns to the streets of Stockport town centre on Sunday 17 November from 11am-5pm, and it’s free for all to attend.

Featured Image – Supplied

What's On

Stretford’s popular festival with dozens of FREE events and activities to return next spring

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A popular festival for all the family is set to return and take over a buzzing Greater Manchester town next spring.

After a successful first run last summer, where thousands attended as a diverse array of music, art, dance, and interactive workshops descended on the streets of Stretford, The StretFest is back again for 2025, and will be taking over the whole Trafford neighbourhood with loads of free events and activities to get involved with.

This new spring edition of the neighbourhood festival will spread across Stretford’s favourite venues and public spaces to celebrate ‘new beginnings’.

Organised by Stretford Town Centre Forum – which is a new collaboration of local businesses and community groups, with support from Trafford Council and Bruntwood – the theme of next year’s festival has been chosen as a nod to the development work that’s now well underway across Stretford town centre.

The StretFest returns in 2025 / Credit: Supplied

Free events will be at venues such as Stretford Public Hall, the Mall, Victoria Park, St Matthew’s Church, and Stretford Library, alongside loads of local independent businesses.

The festival also coincides with the 10th anniversary of Stretford Public Hall’s transfer into community ownership, so you can celebrations at the Hall all throughout the day. 

One of the main events on the day of the festival will be the popular ‘Stretford Socials’ from midday through to 4pm, where you’ll find an array of stalls featuring talented local makers, bakers, and community groups.

It’s here where you’ll also an also enjoy a variety of free family-friendly activities that organisers say “promises fun for all ages”.

Read more:

More information is set to be announced in the new year, so keep your eyes peeled.

The StretFest returns on Saturday 1 March 2025, and you can find out more and apply to be a part of it by submitting an application here.

Featured Image – Adrian Michael (via Supplied)

What's On

National Portrait Gallery to debut ground-breaking digital exhibition in Salford

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The National Portrait Gallery has announced a ground-breaking new experience that’s set to make its debut at MediaCity in Salford.

Some of the world’s most famous paintings will be brought to life in an immersive digital exhibition, called Stories – Brought to Life, that will tell the stories behind iconic portraits.

FRAMELESS Creative has partnered with the National Portrait Gallery on the project, which will be the first major touring art experience by any UK art institution and makes up a long-term partnership called National Portrait Gallery Unframed.

Those who attended the hugely popular and acclaimed Van Gogh Alive experience will already know a little of what to expect – famous paintings reimagined with digital projections, visual effects, and audio technology.

FRAMELESS has been granted access to the National Portrait Gallery’s collection to create Stories – Brought to Life, which will tell the tales of people who have shaped history, from the Tudors to the present day, in an innovative new way.

While the exhibition will premiere here in Greater Manchester next year, there’s a planned national and international tour to follow.

The National Portrait Gallery will be debuting a ground-breaking digital exhibition in Salford / Credit: MediaCity

Rich Storton, general manager at FRAMELESS Creative said: “We are delighted to announce this new long-term partnership with the National Portrait Gallery. We hope that by unleashing the power of digital storytelling we can help the Gallery to bring art to a whole new audience.

“We’re living in a changing world and there is a real need for new experiences that help open up art and culture to new audiences and crucially help ensure that national institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery and their incredible collections continue to be accessible and have cultural significance for the next generation.

“MediaCity is a vibrant cultural hub attracting a hugely diverse audience. This combined with its proximity to major transport links and focus on technology made it an obvious choice for premiering our first experience.”

Rosie Wilson, Director of Programmes, Partnerships and Collections at the National Portrait Gallery said: “The National Portrait Gallery aims to share our unique collection of portraits with as wide an audience as possible and explore the human stories that shape our history and culture.

“This exciting new partnership with FRAMELESS, inspired by our Collection, will enable us to take these stories outside of the Gallery walls and bring them to life in new, innovative ways.”

Caroline Aikman, Director of Marketing, Brand and Place at MediaCity said: “We are honoured that the National Portrait Gallery and FRAMELESS have chosen MediaCity as the first stop on the tour of this unique immersive experience.

Read more

“We’ve hosted many arts and culture events, experiences, festivals and exhibitions over the last few years and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to Salford when the experience opens its doors in May next year.”

For more information head HERE.

Featured image: FRAMELESS (via Supplied)

More What's On

Art & Culture

There’s some FREE festive craft workshops taking place at MediaCity this Christmas

Step inside the incredible immersive David Hockney experience that's opened in Manchester

Art & Culture

Step inside the incredible immersive David Hockney experience that’s opened in Manchester

City Centre

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

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches