Heaton Park is preparing to host a spectacular festive celebration this winter – with Lightopia returning for a new, socially-distance edition of adventures, lights, lanterns, sculptures and shows.
The 2020 edition of Lightopia promises a feast for the senses, including dazzling sound and light displays and a socially-distanced magical illuminated trail.
The Grade I-listed Heaton Hall will serve as a backdrop to the new Christmas showcase – featuring Santa’s sleigh, glistening snowflakes and a giant interactive piano for guests to create their own winter soundtrack.
The festival will also be home to an immersive Astronomy display, Zodiac Sign installation, and Musical City that encourages visitors to dance their way through the lights.
The popular Animals attraction will return, and much-loved installations from 2019 can be re-visited in the Discovery space.
Kids can leap right into a fairytale of candy, flowers and characters at the Woodland Fairytale area, whilst the Lakeside water show promises a “visual masterpiece”.
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Shimmering walkways have been designed to create a safe environment with wider footpaths to maintain social distancing, with dragon sculptures dotted around Lightopia’s food stalls and licensed bars.
There will also be three entry points to reduce queuing and direct access to two car parks.
Ian Xiang, Creative Director of Lightopia, says: “We are excited to bring Lightopia back to Manchester, and have once again created a world in which light, sculpture and art combine with traditional, Chinese lantern-making techniques to create an immersive experience, full of light and stories.
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“We want our guests to become part of the Lightopia story, helping to create new forms of art as they interact and engage with the luminescent sculptures that trail through Heaton Park.”
Lightopia will be open to the public from Friday 20 November until Sunday 3 January.
Opening times are between 5pm to 10pm, and last entry is 8.30pm daily.
The event will remain closed on Mondays, Tuesdays (except during school holidays) Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Keep up to date with announcements via following Lightopia on Instagram and Facebook @lightopiafestival and Twitter @lightopiafest #Lightopia
What's On
Oasis announce extra 2027 tour dates – including TWO MORE Knebworth shows
Emily Sergeant
Oasis have announced a run of additional tour dates for 2027, including two more Knebworth shows.
In case you need bringing up to speed a little, it was announced last week, following the unprecedented success of the reunion tour, Oasis Live ’25, last year – including five nostalgia-drenched gigs at Manchester’s Heaton Park – Oasis would be hitting the road once again in 2027, and this time around, they’re going BIG.
We’re talking 11 nights at the Etihad Stadium and a return to the iconic grounds of Knebworth for four special shows there too, kind of ‘big’.
The iconic Manchester band will also be taking to a range of other world-famous stages across the globe, including five nights at Glasgow’s Celtic Park, and major cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, and Las Vegas.
And now they’ve added some extra dates into the mix due to popular demand.
While there’s no additional Manchester dates on the lineup this time (11 is quite a lot to begin with, after all), they have doubled up on Knebworth instead.
That’s right – the Gallagher brothers and co have now announced two further Knebworth shows on 25 and 26 September, on top of the already-announced dates of 11, 12, 18 and 19 September.
Tickets are being sold through a strict fan registration process this year, with no general onsale and only successful registrants even invited to try and buy them.
Prices will be fixed, however, meaning fans will be able to snap up a ticket for as little as £74.60 for seated tickets, with seats then costing up to £266.60, including fees.
Standing tickets will be priced at either £173.60 or £206.60, and there are also hotel packages, coach packages, and VIP packages available.
Everything you need to know about buying tickets for Oasis Live ’27 is here.
Featured Image – Joshua Halling (Press Image – Supplied)
What's On
Strictly Come Dancing Live to return to Manchester as part of 2027 UK tour
Emily Sergeant
Strictly Come Dancing Live is set to return in 2027 for a spectacular new UK arena tour.
Hot on the heels of last weekend’s dazzling launch show for the 2026 BBC series, audiences are invited to get their dancing shoes on and their ’10’ paddles at the ready, as a new lineup of celebrities and professionals will be taking to the dancefloor for 29 shows across the country – including three shows in Manchester.
Head judge Shirley Ballas will be hitting the road, alongside fellow judges Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood, with Janette Manrara also presenting.
Directed by Craig Revel Horwood himself, Strictly Come Dancing Live takes the magic of the BBC TV show and turns it up to another level.
Expect jaw-dropping group dances, breathtaking routines, stunning costumes, and live music from the legendary Strictly band and singers, all brought together in a first-class arena production.
As always with the Strictly Live Tour, there is one very important decision to be made at every show – which couple will lift the Glitterball Trophy?
And that decision is not in the hands of the judges. The judges are there to critique and provide their invaluable opinions on each dance routine, but they do not hold the power, as this lies with the audience instead, who can vote using their mobile phones to decide who is the winner.
Strictly Come Dancing Live is returning to Manchester as part of its 2027 UK tour / Credit: Supplied
The tour kicks off at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on 22 January for the first of five shows, and will then cha-cha-cha its way across the UK, visiting other major northern cities like Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Leeds, before arriving in Manchester at the start of February.
Strictly Come Dancing Live will take to the AO Arena stage on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February 2027, with two shows happening on the Saturday.
Tickets officially go on sale this week, with venue pre-sales beginning at 10am on Thursday 24 September, before general sale starts on Friday (25 September), also at 10am.
The Manc -
14th August 2020 
