'Land of Lights' is arriving in Warrington next month.
A new lantern festival is coming to one of North West’s best-loved theme parks this winter, and it sounds like the most magical family day out. Outdoor Lantern Festival
In what is a first-of-its-kind attraction for the local area, Land of Lights is set to transform Gulliver’s World in Warrington into an immersive winter wonderland with 12 “vivid dreamworlds” full of dozens of gigantic lanterns that are inspired by animals, mega monuments, and wonders of the natural world.
As the sun goes down and the nights draw in, visitors will be able to explore an amazing array of light installations as they walk all around the park.
More than 7,000 individual lanterns and hundreds of thousands of LED lights create the spectacle.
Setting the festive scene and bringing the magic from 11 November, Land of Lights is arriving in Warrington after it was held for the first time ever at Gulliver’s Land down in Milton Keynes last year, and proved to be a smash-hit success that was visited by thousands.
Land of Lights is the award-winning work of the Zigong Lantern Group, and more than 100 people have been involved in the production process.
With each lantern and light installation in the festival having been carefully-handcrafted by skilled artisans, the Warrington attraction has taken more than six months to design, manufacture, and artistically finish.
As well as all of the show-stopping lanterns and light installations to marvel at, visitors will also have the chance to tuck into a feast of festive-themed street food and drinks all throughout the festival too.
A post shared by Land of Lights Lantern Festival (@landoflightsuk)
Craig Clews, who is the Land of Lights festival manager, said organisers “can’t wait” to welcome the festival to Warrington in a couple of weeks time.
Speaking ahead of the festival’s arrival, Craig said: “Land of Lights is a spectacular, illuminated attraction that will provide people from the local area with a great night out, as well as attract visitors from far and wide to the area to experience the breathtaking moments and awe-inspiring installations bursting with energy and culture.
“The festival proved to be enormously popular in Milton Keynes last year, so we’re confident it’ll wow audiences here too.
“Alongside our usual must-visit Christmas events and activities, it’s definitely going to be an autumn and winter to remember here at Gulliver’s World.”
Land of Lights is arriving at Gulliver’s World in Warrington from 11 November, and will run right through to 25 February 2024 – with tickets now already on sale and prices starting from only £12, so it’s best to get booking early if you want to save a few pennies.
You can grab tickets here.
For exclusive sneak peaks, ticket announcements, and more event content news, you can also sign up to the exclusive Lands of Lights mailing list here.
The extravagance of Alice in Wonderland is coming to Six By Nico on Deansgate; explore a world of curiosity and adventure through their creative six-course menu, Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
For the next phase of popular city centre restaurant’s latest series of six-course tasting menu, which changes each and every month, the chefs over at Nico have followed up their previous ‘Street Food’ selection with something truly magical.
It’s a showcase of food fantasy, fusing first-class fine dining with storytelling that Lewis Carroll would approve of. You can take your tastebuds on this culinary exploration for a limited time only, cooking this limited menu between 15 January and 25 February.
Here’s what you can expect.
The trip down the rabbit hole begins by expertly combining mushroom tea, smoked bacon jam, truffle parmesan royale, pickled walnut and a Keen’s cheddar scone.
This is followed by the aptly named ‘The White Rabbit’ featuring a rabbit, chicken and date ballotine, beef fat roasted carrot, tarragon pesto, rabbit Bolognese and carrot ketchup. Fitting and delicious.
For course three, guests will enjoy ‘Paint the Roses Red’: a charming combination of sweet and savoury consists of a goats’ cheese mousseline, baby beetroot, garden radish, kalamata olive soil and red apple caramel.
Course four, ‘Eat Me, Drink Me’, is by name by nature. Roasted black pollock is the star of the show, accompanied by a miso glaze, bonito emulsion, white turnip puree, pickled Tokyo turnip and Dashi broth.
Course five is fit for a queen… ‘Off with Its Head!’ Pork belly is paired with choucroute, apple gel, pig head croquette, cauliflower and sauce charcuterie.
If you are looking to go the extra mile the roasted scallop with black pudding, pickled celeriac and lovage emulsion is an optional add-on (£9).
To finish we go to a sweet showstopper named after the lady herself. ‘The Queen of Hearts’ is naturally shaped as a glossy red heart where a white chocolate mousse is joined by red velvet cake, raspberries and pecan brittle.
As beatiful in taste as it is in appearance.
Delectable and affordable, the menu is priced at £39, which will no doubt have you smiling like a Cheshire cat. You can also indulge in an expertly selected wine and specialist drinks pairing for an additional £30.
As mentioned, this ever-evolving restaurant concept changes its menu every six weeks, with dishes inspired by places, memories or imagination, so if this spread sounds up your street, get in while you can and keep your eyes peeled for whatever they come up with next.
Alice famously said, “I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it” — we sincerely advise you to take this recommendation on board.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — The Manc Group
Manchester’s massively-popular Science Festival has confirmed it will be making a grand return for 2024 later this year.
Fancy playing some games in the name of science, and helping to discover the key to maintaining healthy brains and bodies while you’re at it? Well, thankfully, Manchester Science Festival is back once again for 2024 – and it’s giving you the chance to do just that.
Not only is it one of the UK’s most popular science festivals, but this year, Manchester Science Festival – which is produced and staged at Manchester‘s legendary Science and Industry Museum in the heart of the city centre every other year – is offering visitors the unique opportunity to become a genuine part of history.
You’ll do this by participating in what will be the world’s largest online study into “the elusive relationship” between the brain and body.
A post shared by Science and Industry Museum (@scienceandindustrymuseum)
Returning from Friday 18 – Sunday 27 October, the 2024 festival’s programme of events will “explore extremes” and give festivalgoers a shot at getting hands-on with some of science’s most cutting-edge developments, as well as delving into some of the biggest questions facing our planet.
Think multi-sensory experiences, immersive performances, and so much more.
As mentioned, ahead of this year’s event, the festival has collaborated with researchers at Western University over in Canada to launch a pioneering series of online brain games that will help a team of world-renowned neuroscientists to discover more about the links between physical and cognitive health.
As well as being fun to take part in, each completed survey will give participants instant results and support them in learning about how their own brain functions, all while helping the neuroscientists identify activities and lifestyle habits that could improve or maintain the functioning of our brains for longer.
Anyone who signs up to the survey will have a chance to to win some Amazon vouchers, and the findings of the experiment will be explored at this year’s Manchester Science Festival.
Speaking ahead of the return of Manchester Science Festival for 2024 later this year, Sally MacDonald, who is the Director of the Science and Industry Museum, said: “We can’t wait for Manchester Science Festival’s return this October.
“It’s a brilliant opportunity to bring together visitors of all ages and interest to be inspired by science in action, and a wonderful way to showcase Manchester’s long-standing position as a leader in progress and innovation.
“We are delighted to be launching the festival with the pioneering Brain and Body study, and giving more people the unique opportunity to be part of contemporary developments in science and play a role in furthering scientific knowledge to benefit our collective future.”
The ‘Brain and Body study’ is being spearheaded by celebrated neuroscientist, Professor Adrian Owen of Western University.
If you fancy taking part in history, the survey can be completed online here using a desktop, laptop, or tablet, and takes around 75 minutes to fill in – with fun brain games and cognitive challenges all part of the process, and the results shared with you at the end.
Find out more about what to expect at this year’s Manchester Science Festival 2024 here.
Featured Image – Science Museum Group
The people's voice of Greater Manchester. Our aim? To make sure you’re in the know, entertained and educated on what’s happened, or what’s happening, in our great city.
39 Princess Street, M2 4FN [email protected]
Outdoor Lantern Festival Copyright © 2024 The Manc The Manc is a trademark of The Manc Creative Ltd