What's On

There’s a massive Hot Wheels monster truck ‘glow party’ coming to Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 6th September 2022

The iconic Hot Wheels Monster Trucks are returning to Manchester early next year, and this time around, they’ll be bringing a high-energy glow party.

Fresh off the back of what has been a hugely-successful debut in the US, popular family entertainment tour Hot Wheels Monster Trucks is bringing its rip-roaring ‘Glow Party’ experience right across Europe, and fans of all ages are being told to prepare to be “dazzled” as the huge trucks roll into AO Arena on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January 2023.

The all-new “thrilling” experience is set to give audiences the chance to watch their favourite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks like Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Boneshaker, Bigfoot, and the all-new Gunkster light up the floor.

They’ll all take part in a series of “outrageous” competitions and battles.

The new event is also set to feature spectacular laser light shows, exhilarating dance parties, performances from Freestyle Motocross, and Hot Wheels toy giveaways too, as well as a special appearance from the car-eating, fire-breathing transforming robot MEGASAURUS.

An exciting Crash Zone Pre-Show Party will be held before every performance, giving fans access to the competition floor to not only see just how big the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks are, but also the chance to grab an autograph from their favourite drivers and performers.

“We are thrilled to be embarking on our third UK tour of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live,” explained Tim McWilliams – Senior Vice President of Touring and International Music at Live Nation.

“As the world’s largest live-entertainment company, we are part of many incredible shows, but Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live provides a new dimension in family entertainment that never fails to impress.

“We can’t wait for these shows so we can all join the Glow Party.”

The iconic Hot Wheels Monster Trucks are returning to Manchester with a high-energy glow party early next year / Credit: Sarah Rhodes (via Hot Wheels)

Ahead of the event’s arrival next year, Ken Hudgens – CEO of Family Entertainment Live – added: “With the success of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party thus far, we’re excited to continue the amazing experience into 2023 internationally.”

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Glow Party is stopping off at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 January 2023, with tickets set to go on sale at 10am this Friday 9 September and each ticket including an autograph card, a souvenir pass, and lanyard exclusive to Crash Zone attendees.

You can find out more and grab tickets here.

Featured Image – Sarah Rhodes (via Hot Wheels)

What's On

Manchester’s newest bowling venue Wynwood Lanes is giving away 100 FREE sessions on opening week

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

An exciting new bowling venue is opening in Manchester this week, and they’re giving away 100 free bowling sessions to celebrate.

Manchester get ready, as Wynwood Lanes is taking over the legendary Dog Bowl site and giving it a full Miami makeover.

Think five upgraded bowling lanes, pool tables, basketball hoops, sun drenched tunes, poolside cocktails, smoke machines, and a brunch menu from Kong’s NQ that’ll have you salivating before you’ve even sat down.

Wynwood Lanes will be running on a ‘unique’ day-mode and night-mode model.

This means that by day, guests can expect fresh brunch dishes and low-fi tunes, with children welcome until 7pm, and then when it’s in night mode, the Miami heat is turned up with party beats, celebratory smoke machines, late night snacks, and bar games.

Manchester’s newest bowling venue Wynwood Lanes is giving away 100 free sessions on its opening week / Credit: PICRYL | Supplied

As mentioned, fuel for the fun comes from Manchester legends Kong’s NQ, but this time with a Miami twist, so expect Cuban sandwiches, lime chicken avo arepas, tacos galore, and Miami-style brunch plates.

A boozy bottomless brunch will also take every Saturday and Sunday from next Saturday 30 August, with 90 minutes of Miami plates and free-flowing cocktails from £39.50 per person – with the option to upgrade to bowling for just a tenner

With the grand opening date just days away now, Wynwood Lanes wants to start things off with a bang… or you know, a strike.

In a bid to do this, they’ll be giving away free bowling sessions to the first 100 people through the doors on bank holiday Monday (25 August) from midday through to 11pm – with up to six players allowed per group.

Wynwood Lanes is open from 4pm tomorrow (Friday 22 August).

Read more:

Bowling prices will start at £9 (or totally free if you’re one of the first 100 to book for opening weekend), so follow this link to grab access to bowling booking slots when they’re released, and secure your lane before they’re gone.

Featured Image – Pexels

What's On

Manchester Mardi Gras lineup and stage times in full – the ultimate guide to Pride 2025’s new event

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester Pride Mardi Gras stage times 2025

This year’s Manchester Pride festival is nearly here, and with the organisers introducing an all-new addition to the celebrations in the form of Mardi Gras, 2025 is going to be unforgettable.

Promising to be bigger, better and bolder than ever, this new entire sub-section/spin-off/side-event (whatever you want to call it) is designed to up the party atmosphere even further over the long August bank holiday weekend.

For anyone as yet unaware, Manchester Pride 2025 will not just boast the usual parade, Gay Village Party and numerous other specific events in and around Canal Street, but an entirely new series; this year, Mardi Gras is taking over Depot Mayfield and Freight Island too, promising a whole host of shows.

So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into what’s on where and when, shall we?

@the.manc

♬ original sound – The Manc

The Mardi Gras lineup for Manchester Pride 2025

Now, for starters, you can see the full lineup down below, including the likes of blockbuster headliner Nelly Furtado, who was announced as the final act for the closing night of Mardi Gras 2025 last week.

The are plenty of other big names playing Pride this year – take a look for yourselves.

Credit: MCR Pride

It’s also worth noting that wristbands for Mardi Gras still grant you entry to all of this year’s Gay Village Party events, too.

Mardi Gras stage times for MCR Pride 2025

Next up are the stage times, and while we can certainly lay everything out for you, as with any festival, having to painstakingly check all of the clashes is up to you.

However, if you download the official Manchester Pride app for 2025, they have a helpful feature to do that for you as well.

You can see a full map of where to find the main Mardi Gras hub down below.

How about those set times then, eh?

Depot Mayfield

Saturday, 23 AugustSunday, 24 August
DJ Mother – 3-30pm
The Ivy Groove – 3:30-3:35pm
Tysie Blaque – 3:35-15:40pm
Black Betty – 3:40-4:30pm
Jsky – 4:30-4:50pm
Rikki Beadle-Blair – 4:50-4:55pm
Booty Luv – 4:55-5:25pm
DJ Sequinella – 5:25-5:55pm
Sonique – 5:55-6:20pm
Andi – 6:20-6:25pm
Jaii Andrews – 6:25-6:30pm
Coco Cannell – 7-7:10pm
Jaii Andrews (second set) – 7:10-7:15pm
Gok Wan – 7:15-8:45pm
Slapped Peach 8:45-8:50pm
Harry Kieta – 8:50-8:55pm
Cadbury Parfait – 8:55-9pm
Mr Blaque – 9-9:05pm
Billy Porter – 9:05-9:55pm
Ghetto Fabulous Dance Party – 9:55-10:25pm
Leigh-Anne – 10:45-11:30pm		Anna Phylactic – 2:45-2:50pm
N-Trance – 2:50-3:20pm
Louis III – 3:30-4pm
K-Klass – 4:10-7:10pm
Louisa Johnson – 5-5:40pm
Banksie – 5:20-5:35pm
Tayce – 5:45-18:00
Big Freedia – 6:30-7pm
Tulisa – 7:20-7:50pm
Olly Alexander – 9:40-10:40pm
Nelly Furtado – 11:30pm-12:30am
The former Little Mix star is headlines the night of Mardi Gras.
Gok Wan sets always go off.
Credit: Press Shots (supplied)

Freight Island

Sat, 23 AugustSun, 24 August
Bongo’s Bingo – 4-5pm
Red Bull ‘Dance Your Style’ – 5:15-35pm
Yshee Black – 5:35-5:50pm
Shanika Sunrise – 5:55-6:10pm
Bailey J Mills – 6:15-6:30pm
Red Bull ‘Dance Your Style’ (second set) – 7-7:20pm
Charity Shop Sue – 7:20-8:05pm
Queenz: ‘Drag Me To The Disco’ – 8:15-9pm
Dean McCullough’s Pop Machine – 9:15-10:15pm
The Danny Beard Show – 11:33pm-12:28am		Bongo’s Bingo – 3:45-4:45pm
Lucky Roy Singh – 5:20-5:25pm
Tequila Thirst – 5:25-5:30pm
Fortune – 5:35-5:40pm
Minara el Waters – 5:40-5:45pm
Lady Imelda – 5:45-5:55pm
DJ – Club Zindagi – 6-6:30pm
Singh/Raj/Fortune/Kaan/Awas – 6:30-6:35pm
Sitara Malik – 6:35-6:40pm
Awais – 6:40-6:45pm
Saki Yew – 6:45-6:50pm
Raj – 6:50-6:55pm
Duniya Dhoom – 6:55-7pm
Khaan – 7-7:05pm
Buffer – 7:05-7:15pm
Zahirah Zapanta – 7:15-7:20pm
Amirck Channa – 7:20-7:25pm
DJ – Club Zindagi (second set) – 7:25-7:55pm
House of MCR ‘Pride Edition’ – 9pm-12:04am

Concourse

Sat, 23 AugustSun, 24 August
DJ Loz Newy – 2-3pm
Choke On My Pronouns – 3-4pm
Stnly – 4-5pm
Fly Gir$$ – 5-6pm
Runaway x Banksie – 7-10pm
Monopoly Phonic – 10-10:30pm
Bestley – 10:20-midnight		Kris Herbert – 2:45-3:45pm
Chris Blackmore – 3:45-4:45pm
Kate Meyher – 4:45-5:45pm
Stephani B – 5:45-6:45pm
Yvette Lindquest – 6:45-7:45pm
Oxy Danger – 7:45-8:45pm
Dave Cooper b2b Forbid – 8:45-9:45pm
DJ Paulette – 9:45-10:45pm
ALTÉGO – 10:45-midnight

Freight Island (Garden Stage)

Sat, 23 Aug

  • Jamie John Warren – 3-4pm
  • Swagga – 6:30-8:30pm
  • Styli – 8:30-930pm
  • DJ Jess Rose – 9:30-11pm

Sun, 24 Aug

  • Michael Maddison – 7-8pm
  • Mix-Stress Presents ‘Kaleidoscope’ – 8-11pm

The Garden Stage is often the quieter, more laid-back part of Freight Island, but there’ll still be plenty of entertainment to be found there this bank holiday…

That’s just about everything you need to know ahead of the inaugural edition of Mardi Gras as part of the annual Manchester Pride celebrations.

We hope you all have a wonderful time this weekend – look out for one another, be happy, unapologetically yourselves, and show this city in its best light like you every year.

And last but not least, you can find out everything else you need to know from our complete MCR Pride 2025 guide right here.

Everything you need to know about Manchester Pride 2025 – parade route, lineup, tickets, and more
We wish you peace, love and non-stop partying.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)/The Manc Group

More What's On

Affiliate

A big Taylor Swift listening party is coming to Manchester to celebrate her new album

City Centre

Festa Italiana returns to Manchester city centre for three days of feasting this bank holiday weekend

Art & Culture

Drag Race UK winner Kyran Thrax plans PERFECT Manchester day out ahead of hosting all-new racing event

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches