A brand-new ‘Twilight Trail’ comes to Mayfield Park this Christmas as Freight Island makes festive transformation
Winter Island isn't just getting a major makeover, Mayfield Park in transforming into a giant glittering light trail. (this article contains affiliate links)
It’s all about to get very merry over in Mayfield as not only is Manchester’s newest city centre park set to transform into a festive ‘Twilight Trail’ for the first time ever but Escape to Freight will once again become ‘Winter Island’ for the holiday season.
While Depoy Mayfield’s Winter Island has quickly become a Yuletide staple of late, since the pretty park next door is celebrating just its second Christmas since opening to the public in September last year, the people behind one of Manchester’s most resurgent districts are expanding their festive plans for 2023.
Debuting the brand-new Twilight Trail on Friday, 17 November, Mayfield Park is being treated not only to a proper Crimbo makeover but will also be playing host to some of their neighbour’s most popular food and drink traders to provide a family-friendly night out to get in the seasonal spirit.
With affordable tickets and located just a short walk from the city centre’s numerous transport links, Mayfield is providing an accessible and budget-friendly activity for all ages this Christmas.
Credit: Supplied
Freight Island favourites like Cocoa Cabana, Parmogeddon, Lazy Tony’s and more will join a Bavarian smoking coal BBQ as well as classic Paulaner tap takeover fitting of Manchester’s legendary Christmas Markets themselves, only this one offers an immersive winter light show.
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There’ll be several unique light installations as you make your way around the pristine new park, with each circuit estimated to take around half an hour — though we obviously urge you to take your time and soak in the dazzling displays — before finishing your loop back at the adjacent Winter Island.
Speaking of the Depot‘s festive alter-ego, all the independent food and drink spots will still be serving up their usual suspects: Burgerism, Voodoo Ray’s, Patel’s Pies, Payal; Mia’s Arepas, FUKU Mega Gyros, Oh My Cheesecake and Fry-By, just to name a few.
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But beyond stuffing your face, Freight Island’s Plant Room will also be transformed into Santa’s grotto, where the kids can meet the man himself from just £22.50 per child, but The Mezz will also once again become cosy Alpine Lodge in collaboration with Grey Goose, complete with a Santa Paws dog show, wreath making workshop with Northern Lights, DJs, live performances and more.
Mayfield Park’s Twilight Trail will be open all through Christmas from 17 November and right up until New Year’s Eve. You can grab your individual tickets for just £8 and family packages from £28 HERE.
As for Winter Island, the festive food, drink and events hall will be open from Thursday, 9 November until Christmas Eve, with opening times from 4-11pm on Thursdays, 4pm until midnight on Fridays; noon until midnight on Saturdays and 12pm-10pm on Sundays. Walk-ins are available or you can book HERE.
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You know what? We’re feeling all nice and festive now — see you on the trail and back at Freight for a bev or two. Merry Christmas!
Influential indie veterans The Wedding Present to embark on 40th anniversary tour
Danny Jones
Influential indie band The Wedding Present are about to begin a big live tour across the UK for their 40th anniversary, and one stop is right here in Manchester.
As boundary-pushing veterans of the genre for the best part of four decades, The Wedding Present have always been one of the most pioneering auteurs of the Northern music scene, and nothing has changed even after all this time.
The Leeds-formed icons are a favourite not only of ours but even more so among our friends over at The Hoot, and with an artistic legacy as strong as Yorkshire’s, that’s saying something.
David Lewis Gedge’s long-standing project rather quietly announced its major retrospective series of live shows back in June – so quiet, in fact, that we missed it until now – but as they gear up for a handful of very special dates, we’d urge Manc gig-goers to give themselves a Wedding Present.
Gedge and co. will be coming to the O2 Ritz in Manchester for just the second show of merely half a dozen confirmed for The Wedding Present 40th Anniversary Tour, having played the venue many times.
In fact, even after visits featuring live configurations over the years, the current lineup played the Ritz as recently as May 2023; the show was met with strong reviews pretty much across the board, and it seemed to signal somewhat of a falling back in love with the crowds of the North.
For anyone unaware of the self-styled ‘semi-legendary band’ (their PR’s words, not ours), The Wedding Present are probably in similar territory to fellow underdogs and Manc natives, James, when it comes to the amount of music they’ve put out over the years, inspiring generations of those who came after.
You might assume we’d name one of their most famous tracks, ‘George Best’, as our favourite, for rather obvious reasons – but you’d be wrong: it doesn’t get much better than ‘Dreamworld’, if you ask us.
Their rich back catalogue encompasses not only so many different eras but also sounds, styles and various other eccentricities; so much so that their multi-genre-spanning music has even produced its own musical.
But before we dive any deeper down into the rabbit hole, let’s get back on track.
Set to play Manchester on Friday, 10 October, The Wedding Present will be kicking off the tour in Bristol at the start of next month.
There are other dates in the likes of Sheffield, Liverpool, Chester, Holmfirth, Buxton, Newcastle and more, but only a few are officially part of the anniversary tour.
Tickets are live as we speak, so if you fancy going along to see them, you can grab yours HERE.
A unique Manchester attraction is offering FREE entry to anyone who shares its ‘birthday’ month
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most unique attractions is offering free entry for two weeks to celebrate its first birthday.
But there’s a catch… free entry is only granted to people born in one specific month.
Museum of Illusions – which is is one of the largest and fastest-growing private museum chains – is celebrating the first birthday of its debut UK attraction in Manchester this September by giving away free tickets to anyone who shares its birthday month.
Since opening on Market Street in 2024, Museum of Illusions has welcomed more than 200,000 visitors through its doors to experience the dozens of mind-bending illusions and interactive exhibits inside, and has quickly established itself as one of the city’s top attractions in what is a very competitive market.
Manchester’s Museum of Illusions is celebrating its first birthday / Credit: Supplied
Loved by locals and tourists alike, the museum blends fun and education for visitors of all ages, and is fully-accessible too, ensuring everyone can enjoy the fun.
Manchester‘s Museum of Illusions is not only the first in the UK, but it’s also the second-largest in Europe, just behind Copenhagen – so yes, it’s a pretty big deal.
To mark the milestone and celebrate its first anniversary, visitors born in September can enjoy free entry to the museum from Monday 22 September through to Friday 3rd October (excluding weekends).
All they need to do to access this offer is show a valid ID when they arrive.
The museum will also be dressed for the occasion too, adding a birthday touch to its already-captivating mix of optical illusions and immersive exhibits.
“Manchester has truly embraced the Museum of Illusions, and we’re so grateful for all the support we’ve had in our first year,” commented Steve Buchan, who is the General Manager at the Museum of Illusions in Manchester.
The unique attraction is offering free entry to anyone who shares its birthday month / Credit: Supplied
“Welcoming over 200,000 visitors in just 12 months has been incredible.
“Free tickets to anyone celebrating their birthday in September feels like the perfect way to give something back. It’s our way of saying thank you for the incredible support, and of course, to invite even more people to experience the fun, curiosity, and wonder the museum brings.”
Is your birthday in September? You can visit the Museum of Illusions in Manchester anytime from Monday 22 September – Friday 3rd October (excluding weekends).
Danny Jones -
3rd November 2023 
