Lightopia is officially returning to Heaton Park for a new, socially-distanced edition of adventures, lights, lanterns, sculptures and shows this December.
Following the UK government’s announcement that England’s national lockdown will end on 2nd December, Lightopia – which was originally due to open on 20th November – is now to open its award-winning and visually spectacular lantern and light festival at Heaton Park on Thursday 3rd December, and extend its run all the way through until Sunday 10th January.
The event will be also now be open every day, except Christmas Day.
With Christmas very much the theme for this year’s light and lantern festival, Lightopia will use the stunning Grade I-listed Heaton Hall as its sparkling backdrop for all its festive merriment, and will feature a 10-metre illuminated Christmas tree.
Ticket holders whose booking has already been affected by lockdown restrictions have been informed directly and advised on all their options – including moving their booking to another date in December, or being offered a refund – and Lightopia is currently working with local authorities in accordance with government guidelines to create its socially-distanced festive spectacular.
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This year’s event showcases unique interactive and immersive lights and lanterns, with new installations and a brand-new route for guests to explore for 2020.
The new route has been designed to create a safe environment where visitors are able to see the sights safely with friends and family, and there will be wider footpaths to maintain social distancing, a one-way system, three entry points to reduce queuing, and direct access to two car parks.
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Lightopia has also implemented a series of further measures to ensure all steps are taken to keep visitors safe, and these include:
NHS Test and Trace: QR codes will be displayed at multiple locations on the trail.
Social Distancing: This shall be mandatory at the event at all times.
One Way System: The Lightopia trail is one direction only.
Pre-booked Tickets Only: Trail tickets are only available to prebook online.
Contactless Ticket Scanning: All ticket scanning will be contactless on entry to the event.
Card Payments Only: Vendors and car parks will only accept card payments.
No Alcohol: Following latest government guidance no alcohol is permitted onsite.
Quick Food and Drink: All food & drink on the trail will be takeaway only.
Hand Hygiene: Hand sanitising stations will be located throughout the trail.
Increased Cleansing: All facilities, surfaces and touch points will be cleaned regularly.
Increased Stewards: Increased number of stewards on our route to manage social distancing and assist with any visitor queries onsite.
Lightopia
Lightopia will be open to the public from Thursday 3rd December – Sunday 10th January (except for Christmas Day) and opening times are between 5pm to 10pm, and last entry is 8.30pm daily.
Advance pre-booked tickets are priced at £20 for adults (or £22 on the day), £13 for children (or £15 on the day), and £60 for families of two adults and two children (£68 on the day).
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Children under three can go free.
Essential carers of disabled visitors can also attend the event for free, with the disabled visitor paying the normal admission fee.
There are also a limited number of tickets available for key workers – with a 20% discount off the standard ticket price when using code KEY20 – plus, the 20% discount is applied to all tickets in the online basket.
One essential worker ID is required for entry, per party.
The festival will also launch a Wheel of Light for Black Friday with special prizes to be won from Wednesday 25th November – Sunday 29th November, and you can head to the Lightopia website to spin the Wheel of Light and be in with a chance of winning 25% off tickets, a VIP tour for two, and many more prizes (T&Cs apply).
You can book your tickets and find more information via the Lightopia website here.
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A magical family-friendly winter adventure with a light trail and live entertainment is returning to Tatton Park Gardens
Daisy Jackson
One of winter’s top events will return to Tatton Park Gardens this year, with another season announced for Yuletide.
The magical winter adventure will once again bring a glittering light trail and theatrical, immersive performance to the famous beauty spot.
This unique fusion of Christmas light trail and winter family festival is now in its third year, and will debut brand-new features and performances for 2025.
As visitors wander the Yuletide event, you’ll be treated to everything from sparkling light installations to impressive fire juggling shows.
Audiences are invited to step into a world of winter folklore, filled with live music, cosy campfire stories, and plenty more.
New this year will be a troupe of leaping acrobats, plus a new live music stage in the woods, and brand-new enchanting characters to meet around every corner.
Another new element is the wild Wassail, inspired by a centuries-old Twelfth Night tradition of singing and banging pots and pans together to bring good fortune for the coming year.
Wild Rumpus launch of Yuletide at Tatton ParkYultide returns to Tatton Park. Credit: Cat DineleyYultide returns to Tatton Park. Credit: Emma Croman
As night falls, Tatton Park Gardens will be transformed into a family-friendly winter escape.
Magical memories to be made include the chance to sip hot chocolates and toast marshmallows over a campfire, as a traditional storyteller weaves tales for the whole family.
And the glittering light trail includes interactive installations, glowing puppets, and characters inspired by festive tales.
There’ll also be food vendors serving up tasty festive treats and mulled wine.
Yuletide comes from Cheshire-based event producers Wild Rumpus, who’ll be unlocking new parts of the grounds this year.
Credit: Emma CromanCredit: Anna Hornby
Wild Rumpus’ Director Rowan Cannon said: “This year is a fresh and enchanting adventure for the whole family, with a twist of wild creativity.
“There’s loads of never-before-seen elements, including spellbinding acrobats performing as people arrive, a music stage in the woodland with performances from amazing live bands, and a dreamy Shadow Forest where you can cast shadows against beautiful backdrops.
“The trail is taking a new route through Tatton Park Gardens this year, so people can explore parts of the grounds they’ve never seen at night before.”
Yuletide will run at Tatton Park Gardens on selected evenings between Saturday 15 November and Tuesday 23 December 2026.
Tickets start from £19 for adults and £11 for children, but under 2s go free, with selected dates offering off-peak tickets.
Map and full lineup revealed for Heaton Park’s dazzling NEW immersive light trail opening this month
Emily Sergeant
Heaton Park will be transformed into a glowing world of wonder as one of the UK’s most celebrated festive light trails makes its Manchester debut this month.
And now, just weeks away from the grand opening date, organisers have given visitors all the information they need to know – including sharing a full map of the site.
In case you missed the announcement earlier this summer, visitors will soon be able step into an immersive world of light and sound as Northern Lights – the acclaimed light trail from the team behind established music festivals Kendal Calling and Bluedot – descends on our city’s largest park this winter.
Already a hit in other major northern cities such as Leeds and Newcastle, Northern Lights has captured national attention with its cinematic visuals, choreographed soundscapes, and festive atmosphere.
The mile-long route will feature 16 large-scale installations, each synchronised to bespoke soundtracks creating a 90-minute experience like no other.
Heaton Park’s dazzling NEW immersive light trail is opening this month / Credit: Supplied
Winding through Heaton Park’s iconic grounds, visitors will encounter glowing tunnels, enchanted glades, and a stunning illuminated lake scene, all promising to deliver an incredible experience for visitors of all ages.
Organisers say the new trail is designed to ‘spark wonder’ as the magical festive season arrives.
Alongside the trail, there’ll also be a ‘Christmas Village’ serving up mulled wine, hot chocolate, toasted marshmallows, and street food from Manchester’s finest independent traders, alongside vintage fairground rides, and open fire pits to complete the winter vibes.
“We’re beyond excited to be bringing the Northern Lights magic to Manchester’s Heaton Park, and can’t wait for everyone to see all the work and creativity that has gone into the installations,” commented Emma St. Croix, who is the Senior Marketing Manager at Northern Lights Manchester.
“Bringing this festive experience to Manchester and working alongside amazing local communities and talented artists has been a true privilege, allowing us to create something uniquely magical that brings the whole family together.”
Northern Lights is not only one of the UK’s most successful festive light events, but it’s also one of the most accessible, as the Manchester trail will be fully accessible for wheelchair users and prams once it arrives this winter, following hard paths, ramps, and matted areas, with no steps in sight.
On top of this, there’ll also be dedicated quiet sessions for neurodivergent visitors, and the chance to get wristbands allowing queue-jumping for those with additional needs.
Northern Lights will arrive at Heaton Park on 20 November and run up until New Year’s Eve (31 December 2025), with timed entry slots every 15 minutes from 4:15pm up until 8:15pm (times may vary during off-peak days), and tickets are on sale now.
Prices starting at £15 for adults, £5 for children aged three and up, and under threes going free – and you can also use the code LIGHTS20 at the checkout to enjoy 20% off.
Emily Sergeant -
24th November 2020 
