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Lightopia is returning to Heaton Park this winter – and general tickets are on sale now

The spectacular Lightopia will be back in Manchester for 2020 for a new, socially-distance edition of lights, lanterns, sculptures and shows.

The Manc The Manc - 14th August 2020

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.

General sale tickets are available right now online.

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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.

To get yourself a ticket, visit the festival website.

Keep up to date with announcements via following Lightopia on Instagram and Facebook @lightopiafestival and Twitter @lightopiafest #Lightopia

What's On

Louis Tomlinson at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist, and more for UK tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson is heading out on a UK tour, visiting Co-op Live for his biggest Manchester solo show to date.

10 years since launching his solo career with debut single ‘Just Hold On’, Tomlinson is hitting the road again for his tour, which shares its title with the name of his latest LP – How Did I Get Here?

Tomlinson’s last visit to Manchester saw him gracing the impressive 21,000 seater AO Arena – a stage he was already familiar with during his UK boyband days.

But now, the Doncaster-born musician is visiting one of Manchester’s biggest indoor live music venues, Co-op Live, and it’s sure to be a jam-packed night of live music.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Louis Tomlinson UK tour dates

  • Fri 24 April – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Sat 25 April – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
  • Mon 27 April – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
  • Tue 28 April – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena

Are there tickets left for Louis Tomlinson at Co-op Live?

Well if you’ve made it this far through, it’s safe to say the fact you’re after Louis Tomlinson tickets is ‘Written All Over Your Face’.

If you’re wanting to ‘Face The Music’ or ‘Jump the Gun’ you can do so as there’s tickets to his Manchester show at Co-op Live HERE.

Louis Tomlinson is bringing the How Did I Get Here? tour to Manchester on April / Credit: Flickr via Javie Rosh / Wikimedia Commons via Kurt Kulac (Supplied)
Louis Tomlinson is bringing the How Did I Get Here? tour to Manchester on April / Credit: Flickr via Javie Rosh / Wikimedia Commons via Kurt Kulac (Supplied)
Louis Tomlinson is bringing the How Did I Get Here? tour to Manchester on 24 April / Credit: Flickr via Javie Rosh / Wikimedia Commons via Kurt Kulac (Supplied)

Louis Tomlinson setlist for 2026 tour

The How Did I Get Here? Tour officially kicked off in Europe and it prioritises songs from his latest LP.

Here is the set list:

  • Lemonade
  • On Fire
  • Written All Over Your Face
  • Out Of My System
  • Bigger Than Me
  • Saturdays
  • Angels Fly
  • Dark to Light
  • Broken Bones
  • Defenceless
  • Just Hold On
  • Lazy
  • Sunflowers
  • Lucid
  • Jump the Gun
  • Imposter
  • Sanity
  • Kill My Mind
  • Face the Music
  • Silver Tounges
  • The Observer
  • The Answer
  • Miss You
  • Palaces

Stage times

Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm meaning you can get home before having to watch the sky turn from ‘Dark to Light’.

Anyone attending this show is in luck as the North has been well and truly represented in the form of Manc-based rock group Pale Waves and Doncaster talent ADMT.

Great to see another one of our own, Alex Spencer, also joining the bill for the EU leg, even if it means Manchester just misses out on getting to him hit the stage.

How to get to Co-op Live

Tram

For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.

Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Bus

You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live. You also get free Bee Network travel with any valid event.

Getting there by car and parking

If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.

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The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.

Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:

  • Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
  • Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
  • Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.

There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:

  • Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
  • Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
  • Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces

Walk/cycle

Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.

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Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.

For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.

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

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adidas and JD are giving away FREE Nell’s pizza with a Manchester Marathon medal

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson adidas x Nell's x JD

Manchester Marathon finishers will be able to reward themselves with free Nell’s pizza this weekend, thanks to a collaboration with adidas and JD.

The sportswear giants will be teaming up with one of the city’s top pizza spots to hand out the ultimate post-race reward at Kampus this Sunday.

It’s all to celebrate the launch of the new adidas EVO SL ATRs, a shoe that’s built with running miles in mind.

And there’ll be a chance to grab an exclusive t-shirt too, and have your official marathon finish time branded on-site.

adidas and JD are giving away FREE Nell’s pizza with a Manchester Marathon medal / Credit: Supplied

As well as a free slice of Nell’s famous New York-style pizza and a drink, Manchester Marathon finishers will be able to enter into a range of giveaways, with prizes including the EVO SL ART, adidas merch, and range of other prizes.

And you’ll be recovering with a slice in hand and a live DJ keeping the post-race energy high

All you need to do is show your Manchester Marathon medal at Nell’s at Kampus, to grab your free slice, and check out adidas and JD’s latest drop.

Friends and family are encouraged to join too – after all, all runners know a marathon isn’t possible without that support crew.

There are also a bunch of giveaways and more to look forward to / Credit: Supplied

Pizza slices will be handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis, so make sure your sprint to Nell’s is your fastest yet.

Thankfully, the adidas EVO SL’s are built for speed…

adidas x JD x Nell’s – Manchester Marathon event

  • Taking place on Sunday 19 April, from 12pm to 8pm
  • Free pizza slice and a drink when you show your Manchester Marathon medal (while stocks last)
  • Exclusive merch and great prize giveaways from adidas and JD
  • Plus photo moments, live DJs, and more
  • Find it at The Bungalow, Kampus, M1 3GL (next to Nell’s)

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