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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
Trafford Centre’s ‘unmissable’ summer fair is returning with a beach, fairground rides, and more
Emily Sergeant
A beach, splash park, fairground rides, and loads more family fun is returning to the Trafford Centre this summer.
After proving to be massively-popular over the past couple of years, with thousands of families travelling from across Greater Manchester and beyond to bask in the sunshine and make the most of all the fun and games, the Trafford Centre is getting ready to welcome back ‘the much-anticipated event of the summer’ in a couple of weeks time.
And this year, the beloved family event has got itself a new family activity zone, and it sounds set to be bigger and better than ever.
The best bit? Tickets will only set you back just £3 each.
A huge fairground, splash park, and beach are returning to Trafford Centre for the summer / Credit: Trafford Centre
Set to open from Saturday 19 July, and run right the way through until the end of August, the family-friendly event will see a massive beach ready for sunbathing and sandcastles pop up outside the shopping centre, alongside a splash park with lots of water jets perfect for cooling you off.
From building sandcastles at the giant beach, to cooling off at the children’s splash park, there’s something for everyone.
Adrenaline junkies both young and old will also get to enjoy retro fairground rides, including ‘Star Flyer’, ‘Sea Storm’, while the event’s in town, as well a giant inflatable area, and loads more.
New for 2025 is the Summer Activity Zone – an undercover tent area complete with free, hands-on crafting activities designed especially for kids.
Each week brings a new theme packed with imagination, colour, and fun, no matter whether it’s rain or shine, so if your little Mancs love painting, baking, building, or experimenting, then you’ll want to take them here to inspire their young minds.
There’s also a wide range of tasty treats available too, including burgers and hotdogs, and for those with a sweet tooth, Cheshire ice cream, Belgian waffles, chocolate covered fruit and marshmallows, and churros.
Trafford Centre’s Summer Fair is popping up outside The Orient, opposite The Great Hall entrance, from Saturday 19 July right through until 31 August, and will be open every day from 12-8pm.
Tickets are now on sale – with pre-booking ‘recommended to avoid disappointment’ – and will set you back just £3 per person if booked in advance (includes booking fee) and £3.50 on the gate, while ride tokens must be purchased separately for £1.
Featured Image – Trafford Centre
What's On
Stage times confirmed for Oasis Live ’25 at Heaton Park in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Oasis will finally return to Manchester for five massive hometown gigs this week – and stage times for their Heaton Park show have been confirmed.
The Gallagher brothers have already reunited for two gigs in Cardiff ahead of their Manchester shows.
Oasis will be performing in Heaton Park on 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20 of July, with support from long-time friends Richard Ashcroft and Cast.
With about 80,000 people expected to flock to the fields for the Oasis Live ’25 shows, there’s a lot of planning going on behind the scenes.
And the stage times for the Oasis Manchester gigs have just been confirmed by the band.
Oasis will be taking to the stage at 8.15pm, and with a 10.30pm curfew, that’s around two hours of glorious Gallagher hits.
Gates to Heaton Park open at 3pm and organisers are expecting large crowds – they’re encouraging fans to allow plenty of time for travel and arrive early.
As a reminder, there are shuttle buses running directly from Lever Street to Heaton Park from 1.30pm, but these are almost sold out.
You can also get tickets for Big Green Coach here, or use trams from Victoria Station up to the venue.
Confirmed stage times for Oasis at Heaton Park, Manchester
Harry Quick -
17th January 2024 
