Can you believe this our final full week of August?
As cliche as it sounds, time really does fly when you’re having fun, and that’s been massively evident with the range of events and activities in Greater Manchester‘s social calendar over the past couple of weeks or so while schools have been out for summer… but one of the busiest August weeks yet still awaits us.
With August bank holiday weekend coming up, you can expect countless new, returning, and annual events across the region this week.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though, we’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Jurassic World: The Exhibition
Trafford Centre
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Monday 19 August – onwards
Jurassic World: The Exhibition / Credit: Supplied
A major Jurassic World exhibition that’s been mesmerising visitors all over the world has now arrived here in Greater Manchester for the summer.
Based on the beloved blockbuster film franchise, this official award-winning experience is one of the fastest-selling exhibitions in history.
Manc visitors will be able to walk through the iconic Jurassic World gates, explore some richly-themed environments, and encounter a life-sized Brachiosaurus, Velociraptors, and the most fearsome dinosaur of all, the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Did you know that the Science and Industry Museum is giving you chance to explore ‘ideas that chance the world’ this summer?
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 19 August – onwards
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Summer at Science and Industry Museum / Credit: Drew Forsyth (via Science Museum Group)
Keen to keep the kids both entertained and educated now that schools across Greater Manchester are out for summer?
With a couple of weeks of the school holidays still left to make the most of, and many parents, carers and guardians understandably starting to run out of ideas, the Science and Industry Museum is inviting locals down to experience the best of its jam-packed events lineup packed full of exciting exhibitions, hands-on activities, and so much more.
And the best part is, the majority of the programme is free to get involved with.
Manchester Summer Stadium Tour / Credit: The Manc Group
Fancy a tour around the Etihad? Summer couldn’t be a more ideal time to head on over there.
Voted not just in the top five stadium experiences in the UK but the 99th percentile of all reviewed Tripadvisor’s global experiences, Man City’s tours of their home ground and the wider Etihad Campus are literally some of the most highly-rated on the planet.
In fact, the club was actually awarded the Tripadvisor ‘Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best’ award in the category for the second time in three years.
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Find out what makes these tours so special and book on one here.
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Batman Unmasked
Depot Mayfield
Monday 19 – Monday 26 August
Batman Unmasked / Credit: DC (via Supplied)
Did you see that a huge Batman experience has now swooped into Manchester?
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Having taken over Depot Mayfield in the city centre, and offering fans a chance to see real jaw-dropping props and costumes from the actual Warner Bros. archives, this exclusive event brings the cinematic world of Batman to life.
Through a series of themed rooms, exhibitions, and a comic book and gaming area, Batman Unmasked is packed full of items from this iconic character’s film history.
Chester Zoo’s popular ‘after hours’ evenings are back once again this summer after they proved so popular in previous years.
Giving visitors the chance to explore the UK’s biggest charity zoo “in a whole new light”, the uniqueevent series offers unlimited access to animal habitats, indoor areas, and restaurants after the gates normally close to the public, and if you missed out in the past, there’s even some new “immersive” features for 2024 too.
You can discover the zoo as the sun goes down with spectacular live entertainment, exciting games and activities, and delicious food and drink.
Tickets are on sale at 50% cheaper than a standard day ticket, and you can get them here.
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The Great Summer Social
Cheshire Oaks
Monday 19 August – onwards
The Great Summer Social / Credit: Cheshire Oaks
Cheshire Oaks has brought its popular The Great Summer Social event back for another year, and there’s currently loads to get involved with while schools are out.
Not only is there a bunch of retail offers and promotions to make the most of, as well as free family-friendly interactive activities to get involved with too, but there’s also a big wheel, a mini golf course, a big screen showing sporting events, DJs blasting out tunes, and a wide variety of street food and drink vendors across the Designer Outlet.
Manchester Arndale’s Summer Scran Fest is back for 2024, and there’s loads of tasty food and drink offers to make the most of.
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Running for a whole month until Sunday 1 September, there’s discounts on over 40 of the city centre shopping hub’s fan-favourite food and drink restaurants, cafes, and kiosks – including Tortilla, Pizzaluxe, Millie’s Cookies, Lazy Sundae, Boost, and Krispy Kreme – and you can tuck into everything from burgers and bagels, to doughnuts, smoothies, and so much more.
Did you see that Manchester’s LEGOLAND Discovery Centre has launched half-price kids tickets over the summer holidays?
As the rising cost of living crisis unfortunately continues to make its impact felt across the UK, the popular Trafford Palazzo attraction wants local families to “say yes to real fun”, and is on a mission to help parents, carers, and guardians entertain their little ones as schools are out, all while keeping pennies in their pockets.
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In a bid to make “money go further” and “memories last longer”, the family-friendly venue has slashed the price of a children’s general admission ticket from the usual £21.50 right down to just £10.75.
The Trafford Centre’s massively-popular summer celebration is back, and tickets are only £2.50 each.
Back by popular demand for plenty of family fun, only this time with a new name, Bright Lights, Big Fun has seen a retro fairground and a massive 600sqm beach perfect for sunbathing and sandcastles pop up outside the Greater Manchester shopping centre, alongside a splash park with loads of water jets, and so much more.
There’s also a yummy selection of food and drink traders on site to take your pick from if you’re feeling peckish after getting stuck into some fun and games.
Find out more and get yourself some £2.50 tickets here.
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Summer of Play
Great Northern
Wednesday 21 August
Summer of Play / Credit: Supplied
Have you noticed an outdoor sandpit has popped up in Manchester city centre?
That’s right, Manchester finally has a beach – and families are invited down to Great Northern this Wednesday to make the most of it from 12pm-4pm for some child-led play, all facilitated by an onsite Play Specialist.
With 50-tonnes of sand, wooden logs, and plenty of buckets and spades, it’s the perfect spot for kids to have fun, and there’s no booking needed either, so you can just drop in.
Manchester’s favourite waterside cocktail bar, Finders Keepers, is celebrating its first birthday in style by bringing an authentic taste of Madrid to New Islington Marina through a fiesta of takeovers from two of Spain’s most famous drink brands and venues.
From Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 August, the bar will first become a haven for the most popular beer in Spain, Mahou, and then on Sunday 25 August, world-class mixologists from Salmon Guru Madrid will take over for one day only, giving guests the opportunity to try drinks, mixes, and creations from bartenders who are officially at the top of their game.
It’ll be walk-ins only for the Mahou takeover, but you can find out more and book your table for the Salmon Guru event here.
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Did you see that the UK’s biggest social dog walking club has now launched in Manchester?
Dedicated to “bringing the UK’s dog lovers together”, Walkie Dogs has officially launched nationwide, and is already turning the popular Park Run concept into its very-own series of its very-own “bark runs”, with group walks will taking place up and down the country each week.
The first events in Manchester are happening over at Alexandra Park.
As part of the scheme, Walkie Dogs members will not only be able to embrace the outdoors and immerse themselves into the dog walking community, but they’ll also gain access to a variety of dog-friendly perks – including the ability to book onto weekly dog walks, and bespoke discounts on a range of products like dog staycations.
Manchester Pride Festival 2024 / Credit: Manchester Pride
It’s finally Pride weekend.
Undoubtedly one of the most colourful, energetic, accepting, and highly-anticipated events in the Manchester social calendar every year, Manchester Pride Festival is back with a bang this August bank holiday weekend, and has been co-created in collaboration with the North West’s diverse queer communities to create a lineup that champions “representation, inclusivity, and community celebration” over the four-day extravaganza.
This year’s edition of the beloved Festival features an impressive lineup of famous names, the iconic Pride Parade, and so much more, as well as countless other fringe events and themed celebrations to get stuck into too.
Find out more about Manchester Pride Festival 2024 here, and learn about this year’s Pride theme and what it means here.
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Moovin Festival 2024
Stockport
Friday 23 – Sunday 25 August
Moovin Festival 2024 / Credit: Moovin
Moovin Festival is back in the fields of Whitebottom Farm.
Widely-considered one of the region’s best music events, Moovin has gone from being “Manchester’s best kept secret”, to a staple in the calendar every year, and the boutique festival is set to take over the beautiful countryside in Etherow Country Park in Stockport once again this August bank holiday weekend.
This year’s lineup features returning favourites and some hotly-tipped newcomers, with headline performances from Leftfield, and legendary DJ Laurent Garnier, plus Sampa the Great, Erol Alkan, Crazy P, David Rodigan, and so many more.
Festa Italiana is returning for its seventh year this August bank holiday weekend.
The UK’s biggest Italian food festival – which is the brainchild of Maurizio Cecco, who is the Neapolitan chef behind the beloved family-run Manchester restaurant group Salvi’s – is hosted annually in city centre, and is known and loved for bringing together some of the best food traders from all across Greater Manchester to Cathedral Gardens for a celebration of Italian food, drink, culture.
This year at the three-day free-to-attend event, you can expect a jam-packed lineup of delicious street food, artisan markets, cookery demonstrations, masterclasses, and more.
Find out everything you need to know about Festa Italiana 2024 here.
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Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2024
Bolton
Friday 23 – Monday 26 August
Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2024 / Credit: BFDF
Bolton Food and Drink Festival returns this August bank holiday weekend.
The award-winning festival is the biggest of its kind in the North West, bringing together celebrity and regional chefs, cooking demos, live music, street entertainment, special events, and over 200 market traders.
Hosted right across the town centre, foodies can roam freely as they explore food stalls, bars, dedicated music stages, and plenty more at the free-to-attend festival.
Find out everything you need to know about Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2024 here.
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ManiFest
The Oast House
Sunday 25 August
ManiFest / Credit: The Oast House
Just as it always is, ManiFest is back for the August bank holiday weekend.
In case you haven’t heard, popular Spinningfields suntrap venue The Oast House hosts its very-own music festival every bank holiday throughout the year – with this weekend brining a lineup of live music from talented artists spanning the genres of rock, pop, soul, R&B, funk, disco, and blues.
There’ll be live DJ intervals, flowing drinks, and a feast of absolutely delicious street food to tuck into all night long.
Featured Image – Festa Italiana | Manchester Pride | Chester Zoo
What's On
Paul McCartney at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist, and more for tour
Thomas Melia
Paul McCartney is making Christmas come early for Manchester this weekend, bringing his two night tour to Co-op Live this weekend.
The 82-year-old The Beatles hitmaker and overall music icon is gracing the 23,500 capacity live music venue and hoping to impress the crowds of Manchester for what is set to be two of the most remarkable nights of the year.
This incredible Got Back tour will be one to remember, especially when the rocker hasn’t visited our booming city since 2011 – those 14 years without the musical legend are finally coming to an end.
Paul McCartney, The Beatles legend, Wings frontman and songwriting veteran is one of the most important musicians in history with a wealth of solo material to his name.
His most recent release was a collaborative album with Wings titled ‘One Hand Clapping’ which dropped in June this year, but the songs on it all date back to 1974.
The living legend is performing at the biggest indoor entertainment venue right here in Manchester this weekend – here’s everything you need to know.
Paul McCartney UK tour dates
Sat 15 December – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Sat 16 December – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Wed 18 December – London, UK – The O2
Thu 19 December – London, UK – The O2
Paul McCartney tickets for Co-op Live gig
Paul McCartney will play in Manchester this weekend. Credit: MPL Communications – photographer MJ Kim
Tickets for both shows are still available on Ticketmaster, who are the official ticket seller for the Saturday and Sunday Manchester shows.
Prices are varied due to most tickets now being resell or VIP packages, seats at the Sunday concert start at £182.95.
There’s also the opportunity to find some quick-fix tickets on fan reselling sites like Twickets but if you’re after for some last minute tickets you can try on Ticketmaster HERE.
Paul McCartney setlist
Paul McCartney is known for packing lots of songs from throughout his discography into his tours around the world, so it’s no surprise that Manchester will be hearing all the bangers.
The UK music pioneer has shaken up his playlist a few times but the below is from his most recent show.
A Hard Day’s Night Junior’s Farm Letting Go Drive My Car Got to Get You Into My Life Come On to Me Let Me Roll It Getting Better Let ‘Em In My Valentine Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five Maybe I’m Amazed I’ve Just Seen a Face In Spite of All the Danger Love Me Do Dance Tonight Blackbird Here Today Now and Then Lady Madonna Jet Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! Something Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Band on the Run Get Back Let It Be Live and Let Die Hey Jude Encore: I’ve Got a Feeling Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) Helter Skelter Golden Slumbers Carry That Weight The End
What are the stage times for Paul McCartney in Manchester?
Paul McCartney will play in Manchester this weekend. Credit: MPL Communications – photographer MJ Kim
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm meaning concertgoers can be safe knowing they won’t be pulling an all nighter to hear all the legend’s biggest tunes.
Doors will open at 6.30pm, and although the venue hasn’t yet confirmed stage times it’s expected that Paul McCartney will take to the stage in Manchester around 8.30pm.
The Manchester Derby
On the same night at Paul McCartney’s second gig, there’s also a Manchester derby – United and City will face off just across the road from Co-op Live at the Etihad Stadium.
There’ll be a lot of footfall to the campus and increased demand on local roads and public transport.
Man City vs Man United will kick off at 4.30pm, doors to the Co-op Live will open at 6.30pm, and the football will end around 6.35pm.
The venue has advised: “For the best experience, we advise to use public transport and arrive between 17:30 and 18:30.
“Co-op Live is located on the Etihad Campus in East Manchester and you can take multiple different modes of transport to the arena. Check out our dedicated page for all your travel questions.”
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, luckily it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
If you want to take another new and improved arm of Manchester’s public transport system, not only is there a whole host of routes that drop you off close to the venue but there’ll also be a free shuttle bus from the city centre to and from events between 20 April-30 June 2024.
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event ticket.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue but this must be pre-booked ahead of time and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide come event day – though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the boke all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Featured image: MPL Communications – photographer MJ Kim
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 16 – 22 December 2024
Emily Sergeant
December is flying by.
No but seriously, where has the time gone? The festive season is properly in full swing across Greater Manchester now, but we have to admit, we’re absolutely here for it as that means there’s loads of Christmas-themed events and activities for the whole family to be getting up to across the region this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide to help you out.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2024
Manchester City Centre
Monday 16 – Sunday 22 December
Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 / Credit: Manchester City Council
This is your last week to experience Manchester Christmas Markets for 2024.
The iconic annual event is an absolute staple in Manchester’s festive events calendar, and always draws in thousands of visitors from all across the globe – with hundreds of stalls across several sites now all lining the streets of our city centre.
Visitors are able to tuck into a wide range of festive foods and drinks, and shop for Christmas gifts from countless independent traders.
Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 here.
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Wicked The Musical
Palace Theatre Manchester
Monday 16 December 2024 – Sunday 12 January 2025
Wicked The Musical / Credit: Jennifer DiNoia / Limited Engagement
Wicked The Musical has landed in Manchester and has taken over the iconic Palace Theatre stage for the festive season.
Sure, there may be a major motion picture adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande currently on in the cinema right now, but if you’re keen to see the beloved musical production on stage in the way it was originally intended, then you can head on down to the Palace Theatre to see the story of Elphaba and Galinda live.
Of course, this has been one of the hottest tickets in town for quite a while now, but there’ll still some last-minute seats left to get your hands on, so keep your eyes peeled.
David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)
Aviva Studios
Monday 16 December 2024 – Saturday 25 January 2025
David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) / Credit: The Manc Group
One of the most influential British artists of the 21st century, David Hockney, is taking you on a personal journey through 60 years of his art in the revolutionary Aviva Studios, and it’s now open for everyone to pay a visit.
This is a real sensory encompassing experience, from the grand and vibrant projections on the walls, to the sound system which will be playing throughout the exhibition.
Hockney opened this installation in London, and this is the first time these pieces of art have left the country’s capital to be viewed by even more spectators.
Monday 16 December 2024 – Wednesday 1 January 2025
Skate Manchester 2024 / Credit: Matt Eachus (via Supplied)
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
Back once again for 2024, Skate Manchester is festive staple, and this year, skaters can glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink.
Families, friends, and festive fun seekers will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas whatever the weather has in store for our city this year too, as although the rink will be outdoors in the heart of Cathedral Gardens, the ice is fully covered.
East Lancashire Railway’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas.
Running right through until Christmas Eve, ELR’s ‘Santa Specials’ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make “enchanted memories” that last a lifetime.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West, and there’s still some tickets left available.
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are back in Manchester once again.
Bringing Alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks to two city centre locations from this Thursday onwards, dozens of cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under twinkling lights are now open down at both Kampus and Great Northern Square.
There’s also a handful of other events on the lineup throughout the festive season, including live music and DJs, wreath making workshops, and movie nights.
Winter Holiday Programme / Credit: Science Museum Group
One of Manchester’s most popular museums has been transformed into an immersive ‘Light Lab’ for the festive season.
This is your chance to escape the cold and brighten up the winter holidays with an adventure though light and colour, as the Science and Industry Museum is currently running its full festive events programme and there’s loads to get involved with.
You can also explore a gaming extravaganza, and be engrossed by festive-themed science shows at the city centre-based museum this December.
The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park have been transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ for the festive season.
Families will be whisked away into a world of folklore, enchantment, and enthralling performances as they enter the gardens of the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire for an immersive, festival-like experience known as Yuletide.
Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a “truly magical experience” where folklore stories come to life through storytelling and live music.
Spectrum: A World of Illumination / Credit: Supplied
A brand-new Christmas attraction to get us all in the festive spirit has now opened.
Just outside of Manchester, titled ‘Spectrum: A World of Illumination’, this spectacular never-seen-before trail is lighting up Cheshire with a month-long residency in Knutsford, and will be running every day in December besides Christmas Day, plus a few extra dates in November.
The immersive maze features moving giant candy canes, overhead Christmas-inspired installations like a laser show, and tunnels of light.
Not enough light trails on this list for your liking?
As the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, light trails are pretty much a given every time the festive season rolls around, and luckily, there’s plenty of them dotted across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and across the North West this year.
If deciding which immersive experience to head on down to over these next couple of weeks is a tricky task for you though,
A brand-new festive hub has arrived in Spinningfields, and you’ll be able to visit a new ice rink, drink cocktails in a snow globe-like rooftop dome, and get merry in a yurt.
Winter Assembly at Courts Club is home to the city’s newest, fully-independent ice rink, On Ice, as well as lots of different food traders serving up winter gyros from Lucky Gyros, festive grilled cheeses, boozy hot chocolate, German BBQ specials, and so much more.
A major Jurassic World exhibition that’s been mesmerising visitors all over the world has now arrived here in Greater Manchester, and it’s recently been announced that it’ll be sticking around until the new year.
Based on the beloved blockbuster film franchise, this official award-winning experience is one of the fastest-selling exhibitions in history.
Manc visitors will be able to walk through the iconic Jurassic World gates, explore some richly-themed environments, and encounter a life-sized Brachiosaurus, Velociraptors, and the most fearsome dinosaur of all, the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Christmas Screenings at King Street Townhouse / Credit: KSTH
Elf, Love Actually, and Home Alone are just some of the classic Christmas films hitting the big screen at a hidden cinema in Manchester.
Film fans looking for some wholesome festive fun are being invited to get themselves down to one of Manchester’s most popular hotels, King Street Townhouse, in the run-up to the big day itself, as it’s very-own exclusive cinema will be screening a jam-packed lineup of fan-favourite festive films over the next couple of weeks.
Cheshire Oaks’ beloved grotto is back for 2024, and the big man in red and his trusty elves are taking to the skies once again this year.
Running on the Designer Outlet’s Big Wheel every Thursday to Sunday throughout December, the ‘Santa in the Sky’ experience is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas as a family this winter, and make memories to last a lifetime.
Looking for something else to do at Cheshire Oaks this month? There’s plenty of other festive events happening in the run-up to Christmas.
With alpine lodges, festive drinks, Yorkshire pudding wraps, and of course, a helter skelter, The Winter Village is now open at Cheshire Oaks.
Christmas films like Home Alone, The Grinch, and The Polar Express will also be screened in the lodge, and plus, did you know that Cheshire Oaks is home to the UK’s largest Christmas tree, that you can actually go inside?
Find out more and grab tickets to any events here.
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Hot House Winter Workshops
MediaCity
Wednesday 18 & Thursday 14 December
Hot House Winter Workshops/ Credit: | Ksenia Ya | Jonathan Borba (via Unsplash & Pexels)
A handful Christmas-inspired workshops are happening down at MediaCity this week, and lots of them are free to take part in.
This series of engaging and creative workshops at Hot House is ideal for all ages, so no matter if you’re looking to personalise your Christmas decorations, craft a beautiful wreath, or design some unique Christmas cards, then there’s something for everyone – and no prior experience is needed either.
Emily Sergeant -
15th August 2024 
