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Chester Zoo announces ‘biggest and brightest’ Christmas lantern parade for 2023
Is it too early to mention Christmas?
Take a walk through a magical winter wonderland at Chester Zoo’s ‘biggest and brightest’ Christmas lantern parade set for this year.
The popular light trail will return this Christmas with some added new features for the family to enjoy, making it even more interesting and spectacular.
Lanterns and Light at Chester Zoo promises to bring wild worlds to life with its enchanting winter light and sound experiences that will surround you and the family in festive magic.
We may be still in the middle of summer and looking forward to jetting off somewhere sunny, but Chester Zoo has revealed its new plans for its festive winter light trail and it sounds like a must-see for families.
The dazzling trail of lanterns and light displays is set to hold some added new surprises and never before seen installations.
Among its new features, visitors can gaze in awe at a 15 metre-long woolly 3D mammoth hologram, illuminated dolphins jumping through waterways, a walkway of gigantic pea lit animals and an impressive fire garden.
The zoo have partnered with Sony Music / RGL, as well as Culture Creative — who are the creatives behind other successful worldwide events such as Christmas at Kew Gardens, Christmas at Blenheim Palace and Dark Spectrum — delivering a display to delight the senses.
Chester Zoo’s special Christmastime event will run throughout the crisp, dark evenings of November and December giving families plenty of opportunity to find the time to visit this wonderland.
The zoo have said they will combine elements from its original Lanterns trail — which has been a popular attraction for the last 12 years — delivering its ‘biggest and brightest’ trail yet under the new name of Lanterns and Light.
Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards Chester Zoo’s efforts to conserve nature and wildlife, and helping it to thrive.
Dominic Strange, Chester Zoo’s commercial director, said: “Everyone knows what a special place the zoo is by day. But this winter, by night, our new Lanterns and Light event will transform it into a spectacular, truly unique festive light trail that’ll be like no other.
“Building on the tremendous success of our previous annual winter evening event, The Lanterns, we’ve partnered with Sony Music and Culture Creative to create an extraordinary festive experience that promises to be bigger, better, and brighter than ever before.
“This will be a delightful fusion of the nostalgic and the new. While still honouring all of the charm and many old favourites from times gone by, such as our interactive puppets, animals, lanterns, and of course, Father Christmas.
“Our fresh new look, and all of the many new elements we’re adding, will make Lanterns and Light an experience that truly is beyond compare. We can’t wait to share it with our visitors.
“Most importantly of all though, Lanterns and Light will not only give families the opportunity to immerse themselves in the magic of Christmas and create cherished memories, it’ll also support our charitable efforts to protect some of the world’s most threatened species.”
Tickets for Lanterns and Light are now on sale and cost from £12. To book or find out more, click HERE.
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Huge beer festival with more than 500 different varieties coming to Manchester
Can’t wait for this!
Manchester Craft Beer Festival is back for another year, bringing with it more than 80 breweries and 500 different beers to sample.
The fourth edition of the festival will be taking place at Depot Mayfield on Friday July 5th and Saturday July 6th.
Cloudwater, Track, Marble, Northern Monk, Bundobust, Sureshot and Seven Brothers will be there to represent Manchester, alongside other UK stalwarts like Deya, Verdant, Siren and Leeds’ North Brewing Co.
Manchester Craft Beer Festival
Heritage breweries like Timothy Taylor’s, Chouffe and Timmermans will also be there, as well as international breweries from the US, Greece, Spain and Australia.
There will also be some great food options to line your stomach, including bao buns, crispy chicken and katsu tater tots at Bone Daddies, as well as Almost Famous, Bundobust, MorMor and Voodoo Rays.
Manchester Craft Beer Festival
Greg Wells, director of Manchester Craft Beer Festival, said: “It’s been a disheartening year for Manchester’s beer scene so far with closure of the beloved Indy Beer Con Fest and the unsuccessful debut of the International Brewing and Cider Festival, but we’re pleased to announce our return and bring more of what has been loved in the past three years.
“With even more breweries and experiences on offer and larger capacity this year, we’re buzzing to be back to satisfy all the beer lovers out there.
“The addition of a complimentary trade session to our programme is all about promoting this world class beer city and a small gesture to support all the incredible people who work across the drinks and hospitality industries.
“We all have a mutual understanding of the hardships our industries have faced in recent times so we thought it’d be a nice gesture to get everyone together for the love of drinks, food and music to celebrate beer and ourselves!”
Manchester Craft Beer Festival
The entry price includes all your drinks throughout your session, as well as festival glass and access to all the events happening.
And as it’s on during the Euros, it will be screening the football too.
Day tickets cost £57 per day session – with a discount for four tickets – or £145 for the whole weekend. Grab tickets HERE.
What's On
New makers market with everything from dog accessories to house plants and jewellery coming to Manchester
Get this one in your diary!
A brand new makers market is coming to Manchester this late May Bank Holiday weekend, with something for everyone.
Taking place at New Jackson – a new urban neighbourhood located at the southern gateway to the city – Manchester Made Market will be held on Saturday May 25th and Sunday May 26th.
Over the two days you’ll be able to browse a selection of local artisanal traders and small businesses from across the region.
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There’ll be everything, from food produce, homewares, crafts and creations to dog accessories, house plants, jewellery and homemade soap.
Among the traders will be Manchester and Cheshire-based florist and floral artists Dot & Flora, graphic artist Ablott MCR selling music prints, HGT with crochet fashion and homeware designs, and artisan candlemakers Leaves and Prickles.
Elsewhere, there will be essential oils and other treatments from Grounded Wellness, permanent jewellery from Sealed Links, and desserts from Cake With Heart.
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There will be plenty of street food options to keep you topped up while you shop, including The Wild Grill, Food Sorcery, Salvi’s and new favourite Medlock Canteen.
Neighbourhood Brew will be supplying some great drinks as well.
Supported by Renaker, the market is free, but you can upgrade your experience with a limited, free VIP ticket with access to the dedicated bar area.
What's On
Manchester Flower Festival returns with tributes to Sarah Harding and Caroline Aherne
It’s taking place later this month!
The legendary Manchester Flower Festival is returning to our city later this month, complete with pop-ups, installations and tributes to some local icons.
Taking place over the late May Bank Holiday, the event will be headlined by its ‘Floral Trail’.
This year’s theme is Manchester Icons, with a host of names past and present being honoured in flower form, including the late comedy legend Caroline Aherne, pop star Sarah Harding and suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.
The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival
Collaborating with Manchester illustrator Stanley Chow, floral designer Liv Woodward will create a portrait of Caroline Aherne at the Floral Marquee on New Cathedral Street, using sustainably sourced plants and flowers.
Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding will be remembered in a ‘tribute garden’, sponsored by the AO Arena, with visitors able to donate to the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal by scanning the QR code at the display.
The homage to Pankhurst has been created by female-led Decordia, featuring an ornate wooden Manchester Town Hall-inspired planter with sashes, posters and colourful icons, alongside a wicker figure of the suffragette herself.
This can be found at the corner of Cross Street and King Street, adorned with purple, green and white plants – the colours of the suffragette movement.
The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival
Other local legends will also be honoured with their own installations, including Happy Mondays vocalist Rowetta and iconic Manchester brewery Boddingtons .
Fringe events will be taking place too, at locations including Northern Quarter art shop Fred Aldous, The Bridgewater Hall, the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and the National Trust’s Castlefield Viaduct.
Selfridges Exchange Square, El Gato Negro, Tast Catala, Franco Manca, Grand Pacific Manchester and Urban Playground will also be taking part, with alfresco dining, festival-related dishes and cocktails.
The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival
Now in its seventh year, the Flower Festival, which is put together by Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, with live entertainment, workshops, and arts and crafts markets.
It all happens from May 24th to May 27th – head over to the website HERE to find more information.
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Huge beer festival with more than 500 different varieties coming to Manchester
New makers market with everything from dog accessories to house plants and jewellery coming to Manchester
New apartment development with huge gardens and outdoor space opening this year
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Manchester Flower Festival returns with tributes to Sarah Harding and Caroline Aherne
