What's On
Chester Zoo to let guests visit the animals at sunset as part of special after hours events
The sell-out ‘after hours’ event is back this summer — with limited tickets available
Chester Zoo will hold an outdoor sunset cinema and live entertainment event this summer.
The zoo has announced its sell out Into the Night evenings are set to return — after a successful run last year — for a limited number of nights this summer.
The wildlife attraction will host a number of fantastic family evenings, including new adult-only nights, spread across 15 special dates in June, July and August.
The spectacular event will give visitors the chance to explore all of the zoo’s 128-acres after hours. All proceeds generated will go towards the not-for-profit zoo’s vital conservation work.
Visitors will enjoy a rare chance to experience the zoo and see its 27,000 animals in a different light as the sun begins to set and the nocturnal animals come to life. From 4pm they can explore the animals in their habitats while they potter around.
Guests will also be treated to outstanding live entertainment, including animal-themed stilt walkers, dancers, puppeteers, flash mob dance troupes and acrobats.
This year, the zoo has also included new adult-only evenings, exclusive The Luna Cinema screenings and a celebrity guest appearance to the line-up. There will be three family favourite screenings on August 22nd, 23rd and 24th.
The films being shown are Grease, Top Gun: Maverick and The Greatest Showman. Doors open at 7pm for The Luna Cinema with films starting at 8.30pm.
Ellie Trigg, Chester Zoo’s customer development manager, said: “The zoo is a totally different place as the sun starts to set — for some animals it’s time to bed down while for others the night is only just beginning.
“Our special Into the Night event offers a rare chance for people to come and experience the awe and wonder of all the zoo has to offer in a completely different light.
“And as if seeing what your favourite animal gets up to when most people have gone home isn’t exciting enough, there’ll also be lots of entertainment, including acrobats, dancers and stilt-walkers.
“For the first time ever, as part of our Into the Night summer evening programme, our friends at The Luna Cinema will also be joining us at the zoo for three exclusive nights in August, where they’ll be screening three much-loved family blockbuster movies.
“With guest talks and appearances from a few well-known faces also on the line up, including wildlife filmmaker and presenter Bertie Gregory, it promises to be a wonderful summer.
“And best of all, the proceeds are going to help our charity zoo to protect some of the world’s most threatened species, making it a great night out that’s contributing to wildlife conservation.”
During event evenings, all parts of the zoo will be open, including animal habitats, tropical houses, indoor areas, and the zoo’s brand new 360° immersive ‘out of water’ digital shark experience Planet Shark: Predator or Prey.
All of the zoo’s restaurants and several kiosks will also be open, serving up a whole host of food and drink options featuring gin sorbet cocktails, delicious kebabs and so much more.
A limited number of tickets are available each evening, with prices starting at £16 for adults and £10 for children (3-17 years). Find more info on Into the Night, here. For more info on Chester Zoo presents The Luna Cinema, click here.
What's On
The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Get in the festive spirit!
Get in the festive spirit with a brand new FREE Christmas makers night market, with over 40 traders and small businesses from across the region.
Brought to you by Renaker, the Manchester Made Christmas night market is coming to New Jackson, Deansgate Square from Friday December 6th to Sunday December 8th.
Following on from a successful summer market in May, the Manchester Made Market is returning bigger and better than before but with a Christmassy twist.
Manchester Made Market
Expect a ‘cosy and magical’ Christmas night market experience, with food, drink, live music and even a grotto for visits to Father Christmas.
There’ll be Christmas trees galore, glittering with lighting, with one huge show-stopping tree taking centre stage.
Bringing together over 40 artisanal traders and small businesses from across the region, the three-day event will showcase a plethora of food produce, homewares, crafts and creations.
Manchester Made Market
Visitors will be sure to find unique Christmas gifts that support local businesses, including from The Cole Men and their award winning sauces, Moon & Sixpence’s handmade jewellery, and fine art photography by Craig Barker.
There’ll be live music from a 20-piece choir, playing Christmas classics, cocktails from Manchester Gin and Gooey’s sweet treats.
The experts from Millington Hall Farm in Altrincham will be bringing a taste of their Wild Grill experience, including live sausage making demonstrations and an array of German sausages served from a festive BBQ trailer.
Manchester Made Market
Families with children can visit the Christmas grotto, where Father Christmas himself will be waiting in a cosy tipi – kids will get a gift from Santa, and bookings can be made online for £8.50 per child.
Manchester Made Market will be open from 4pm to 9pm on Friday December 6th, and 1pm to 9pm on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th – pre-register for a free guest list ticket and 50% off a hot chocolate HERE, or book the Christmas grotto HERE.
What's On
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Get in the festive spirit in Stockport!
Stockport’s free, one-day Christmas festival is returning this festive season, with 200 performers and more than 50 shows.
Spectacular Sunday will return to the town on November 17th at various sites and venues.
Following the success of last year’s event, hundreds of performers will take over Stockport, with everything from giant roller-skating presents to a living snow globe and roaming Christmas dolls.
There will also be street theatre, including grumpy Christmas grandads, a gigantic balloon man and water show.
Matthew Nichol Photography
Produced by carnival arts organisation Global Grooves and organised by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport, Merseyway and Stockport Market, the town centre will be buzzing with Christmas excitement.
Events will be happening in iconic Stockport locations like Market Place, Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock and Suffragette Square.
A grand finale in Merseyway will bring together the brass bands of Stockport, ending the day with a huge flash mob and rendition of All You Need Is Love.
Cirq Delight
Cllr Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport, said: “We’re so excited to bring this event back after last year’s amazing success.
“It’s such a fun way to get everyone in the festive spirit and really shows off what makes Stockport special – our sense of community and joy.
“With loads of free performances and activities, plus a chance to enjoy the newly improved areas of Merseyway, it’s a perfect day out for families.
“Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday is all about having fun, making memories, and starting the holiday season in style.”
Spectacular Sunday is happening from 11am to 5pm on Sunday November 17th – find out more HERE.
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year next month, bringing with it a vibrant gallery space showcasing thousands of works from over 500 artists.
One of the biggest and most significant events in the UK art world calendar, it’ll take over Manchester Central for three days, from Friday November 15th to 17th.
The city will be flooded with art from all corners of the world, championing everything from local heroes to new emerging talent, as well as international artists with worldwide acclaim.
Manchester Art Fair
A wide range of artistic disciplines will be represented at the event, from painters, illustrators, and sculptors to graffiti artists and everything in between.
Expect exhibitions, workshops, Q&A sessions, demos, book signings and parties happening across the event.
Tickets include free access to art workshops and talks from leading artists and cultural experts, and are on sale now.
You can grab them HERE.
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The VR gaming experience at airport where you can escape reality
The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Simmons Bar opens first Northern site in Manchester with free drinks at launch party
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year
