The Night of Neon family-friendly charity walk is making its return to light up Salford Quays this February to raise money for The Christienext month.
Always a popular event in the calendar, over 600 enthusiastic participants are set to take to the Quays to have fun whilst raising money for The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, supporting the thousands of patients who are treated for cancer at The Christie Hospital in Withington.
Perfect for all ages and abilities to get down and support a great cause, the only requirement (this is a big one) is you have to be glowing! That means flaunting your brightest attire, accessories, and neon costumes – from legwarmers to tutus – make them fluorescent.
This luminescent fundraiser is set to transform MediaCityUK once again on Saturday, 3 February. The event will also feature pre-walk entertainment, including a six-piece roaming band, face painting, glitter artists and more.
Credit: Lindsey Farthing (via The Christie)
The festivities kick off at 6.30pm and will be hosted by XS Manchester radio presenter, Jim Salveson.
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Those taking part will head over to The Lowry Plaza outside The Lowry Theatre and the newly revamped Quayside shopping centre and will have an hour to prepare before the walk commences at 7.30pm.
Once you cross the finish line, each walker will receive a free neon t-shirt, glow wristband, and a Night of Neon finishers medal.
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One of those taking part this year is 48-year-old Lynsey Fraser Jones from Prestwich, who is supporting a cause that has affected her and her family so greatly.
Young Lysney and Iain.Best mates.Iain holding nephew Nico.Credit: Supplied
Her husband Antony Jones and their two sons Nico (11) and Leo (14) will also be walking in aid of Lynsey’s older brother Iain Fraser who died in 2010 aged 36, following an aggressive brain tumour.
“On 4 February 2024, Iain would have been 50 years old – which is also World Cancer Day – so it seems fitting to take part in a fundraising event for the Christie Charity on that same weekend,” explained Lynsey.
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“The Night of Neon seems the right place to celebrate what he meant and continues to mean to me. I can’t tell you how much I miss him.
“A sibling sits in a completely different space in your life to anyone else, they’ve known you forever, from a totally different perspective to your parents, they are the only person who knows exactly where you’ve come from.”
Lysney, Antony and their kids will be proudly walking this year.
A little bit of help goes a long way towards the incredible work The Christie Charity continues to do, providing enhanced services over and above what the NHS can fund.
Fundraisers like The Night of Neon are vital to support existing and new projects such as a new cancer centre in Macclesfield which opened in 2021 and a new world-class transformational research facility which opened in 2023.
In the last year, The Christie helped raise £23 million through over 50,000 supporters with 88p in every pound raised going directly to the patients, ensuring the money donated is spent where patients need it most.
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You can find out how you can take part in The Night of Neon on 3 February HERE; or to simply donate directly to a cause close to all of our hearts here in Greater Manchester, you can do your bit HERE.
Various photos of The Christie charity’s night of neon event. Photographs and consent arranged by Lindsey Farthing in the charity.Various photos of The Christie charity’s night of neon event. Photographs and consent arranged by Lindsey Farthing in the charity.
You can watch Twilight with a live orchestra surrounded by candlelight in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
One of the most iconic literary and film sagas of the 21st century is celebrating 20 years since the first book was published next year.
And to celebrate this milestone moment, you’ll be able to watch the first film live in dozens of cities across the UK surrounded by the beauty of more than a thousand candles while a live orchestra plays the soundtrack to accompany.
That’s right, Twilight in Concert is coming to Manchester.
Undeniably one of the most successful young adult film franchises of all time, with five films (Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 & 2) to its name, The Twilight Saga has impressively grossed more than $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office.
You can watch Twilight with a live orchestra surrounded by candlelight in Manchester / Credit: Supplied
The films were adapted from author Stephenie Meyer’s acclaimed literary series that won multiple awards over its time, sold more than 160 million copies worldwide, and was translated into 49 different languages.
But no matter whether you’re Team Edward or Team Jacob, Twilight In Concert promises to be an unforgettable event for fans of the belovedfranchise, two decades on.
Set in an enchanting candlelit setting, TwilightIn Concert offers fans a unique opportunity to re-live the film that started it all, while musicians take the stage to perform the beloved score in perfect synchronisation with the original movie presented in its entirety on a cinema-size screen.
You can expect a 12-piece ensemble of rock and orchestral musicians / Credit: Supplied
You can expect a 12-piece ensemble of rock and orchestral musicians to transport you on a journey deep into the heart of Forks.
Twilight in Concert will be stopping off at 12 other major UK cities on its tour, including other northern hubs such as Sheffield, York, and Liverpool, as well as arriving at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on Friday 6 February 2026.
Tickets are now on sale, and you can find out more and get your hands on them here.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
A brand new grunge and hard rock festival is kicking off in Manchester
Danny Jones
Manchester grungers, hardcore heads, and fans of all things rock, pay attention because there is a brand new festival coming to the city centre – and it has possibly the best name for a live music event we’ve heard in some time.
Ahem… let us introduce you to Broken Knees Fest.
Yes, donning a name that feels increasingly more relatable the closer we get to the wrong side of 30, Broken Knees Festival 2025 marks the inaugural edition of Manchester’s newest series of rock and grunge gigs, helping spotlight rising artists across the genres from within two crucial grassroots venues.
Very loud music inside tightly-packed, small-capacity rooms? It’s a winning formula that never fails. It’s about time we broke a sweat – here’s hoping the knees just about hold out.
Hosted in the heart of the Northern Quarter, which continues to thrive as a creative hub for new music and art of all forms, the festival will be debuting at small-cap favourites Gullivers and Castle Hotel just across the road.
As you can see, the lineup is full of up-and-coming talent within the guitar-driven space, but you can bank on more than a few bringing their die-hard fans to fill the place out to the rafters.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer punk, hardcore, grunge or another specific sub-genre found somewhere in between the ever-sprawling rock spectrum, there’s something to suit all alternative tastes at this one.
With the likes of Bohmen, Mavis, One Dimensional Creatures and Smother headlining the first-ever iteration of the festival across four stages, you can expect plenty of energy and even more noise.
Set up by the events group of the same name, Broken Knees Promotions, who help platform rock and alt acts across Greater Manchester and beyond year-round, this is more than just a festival: it’s a grassroots celebration through and through.
Best of all, if you’re interested, you don’t have to wait long because it’s kicking off next month.
Gigs go off in here. If you know, you know… (Credit: Audio North)
Broken Knees Fest 2025 is happening on the weekend of 21-22 June, and you’ll be glad to hear that, as a brand new event, prices have been kept nice and low.
The early bird window had prices starting from just £12, and although this tier has now sold out, day tickets are still only £15 while a full weekend pass will set you back £25.
Until then, why not dive into another load of new Manchester music? We round up artists from all genres each month; we’ll also confess to leaning slightly more towards the heavier stuff from time to time.
Harry Quick -
17th January 2024 
