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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
Hot Wheels interactive experience hosting its first-ever European event in Trafford
This will be mint!
A Hot Wheels interactive experience is coming to Trafford Park this summer, the first time the event has ever taken place in Europe.
Coming from Live Nation, BeFUN, and Mattel, the Hot Wheels City Experience is heading to the B.E.C Arena in Trafford Park this August, making its European debut as it brings the legendary toy cars to life.
Spanning a series of immersive stations and interactive activities, the event will have something for families and devoted collectors alike.
Hot Wheels City Experience
The 6,000 square metre experience will let fans step through a nostalgic and educational journey consisting of 10 stations, including a design centre, immersive museum, playground, gamer zone and Hot Wheels Lab.
Fans will go on a journey through the colourful world of Hot Wheels, starting with an introductory video which will take a deep dive into the history and culture of the brand.
Luís França / Hot Wheels City Experience
The next station features an immersive museum and expo where visitors will get to see the best of the Hot Wheels collections – including graphics with the history of Hot Wheels, classic arts of the brand, and the Hot Wheels legendary life-sized cars.
There’s also the Gamer Zone, where gamers can show off their skills, the Design Centre, where the latest technology is used to introduce colour and graphic projection onto virtual cars, and a Digital ‘build your car’ and painting workshop where fans can create and have their work emailed to them or projected on the walls.
Hot Wheels City Experience
Lastly, the Hot Wheels Lab will let guests play with the most popular Hot Wheels toys, including giant tracks and pre-built racecourses – with the opportunity to win prizes.
The Hot Wheels City Experience opens its doors on August 13th and runs until September 12th 2024, with presale tickets launching at 10am next Wednesday, April 24th – sign up for pre-sale HERE.
On-sale tickets will be available at 10am on April 26th, starting from £27.50 for adults and £22.50 for children – head here for more info.
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Epic indoor inflatable park reopens with huge new ball pit filled with nearly half a million balls
Take advantage of the discount while it’s still available
A Greater Manchester indoor inflatable park has reopened after a revamp revealing the addition of a huge new ball pit filled with nearly half a million balls.
Inflata Nation has reopened its doors in Trafford Park after undergoing a renovation, revealing some exciting new features for visitors to enjoy.
If you’re wondering what you can do to keep the kids entertained, why not take them to this newly upgraded indoor park?
An incredible blue ball pit filled with 418,000 balls looks like an ocean as it floods the open space. Other new features include the epic double tipping slide, a ballcano, ball pit blasters and obstacle courses.
The park has also upgraded its mini arena, which is exclusively for children under four.
Packed with ball pits and engaging soft play activities, this area offers sensory stimulation and opportunities for cognitive development, tailored specifically for the little ones, the park says.
Since opening back in 2017, the site has attracted thousands of visitors looking for fun-packed family days out.
Visitors have jumped into its ball pits, bounced on its inflatables and dived down its slides, where they’ve enjoyed plenty of fun and laughter that has brought them back time and time again.
Tickets for Inflata Nation Manchester cost £13.99 for visitors aged four and above and £6.99 for under fours. You can add an extra hour for £8.50 and £3.50 respectively. The park is also offering 15% discount of all visits when booked in advance online until April 17th.
To get the discount simply head to the booking panel on the website, choose the location, complete your details and enter the correct discount code at checkout. For Manchester use the code: EASTERMANC. For discount on bookings and more information, click HERE.
Inflata Nation Manchester is located on Textilose Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1WA.
What's On
Charity pop-up with up to 70% off designer clothes coming to King Street
Funds will be used to help women looking for employment support
A sustainable charity fashion pop-up is coming to Manchester’s King Street this month.
The pop-up marks the first event as part of a new concept ‘King Street Presents’ and will feature some of the best and newest names in fashion including the likes of Adanola, Barbour, Nobody’s Child, Pretty Lavish, Rixo, Saint & Sofia, Whistles and more.
Shoppers can enjoy up to 70% off items with all proceeds raised being donated to the female-founded charity, Smart Works.
Smart Works Greater Manchester can be found at 35 King Street from Thursday, April 18th to Saturday 20th, with its sustainable fashion pop-up shop, selling brand new high street, designer and pre-loved clothing and accessories.
The pop-up will raise vital funds to support Smart Works’ two Greater Manchester centres, in Manchester city centre and Stockport.
The team will also be on hand to provide advice and guidance on how to access their free services to any women looking for support in finding employment and preparing for job interviews.
During its time on King Street, Smart Works will share the postcode with its roster of high- profile tenants which include; GAIL’s artisan bakery, The White Company, El Gato Negro restaurant and vintage football shirt hotspot, Stunner, to name just a few.
Thomas Royston, director at DTZ Investors, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Smart Works Greater Manchester to King Street. At its core is a female founder on a purpose-led mission to make a difference to women.
“For them to choose King Street as their platform for reaching and showcasing their offering and commitment to women across Manchester is a testament to the reputation this now renowned street has developed in recent years.
“As part of our ongoing ESG policy we will be continuing to work with a selection of exclusive brands throughout 2024 to take up pop-up stores in currently vacant units on the street, enriching the retailer experience for visitors and giving a physical presence to out of area and online brands.”
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