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Dinosaur park where you walk among huge lifelike dinos is 90 minutes from Manchester
Have an absolute roar with the kids!
There’s an incredible family dinosaur park just 90 minutes’ drive from Manchester and the kids will absolutely love it.
Pangea — Discovery of Dinosaurs is the newest addition to Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, and is a great family friendly place for a day out.
Better known for its wildlife including tigers, polar bears, lions, monkeys and giraffes across the sprawling nature reserve, this attraction now has its own scaled down version of Jurassic Park.
After a huge £50m investment at the site, they’ve built a park area containing huge models of prehistoric beasts that move, roar and even spit as they tower over you.
Each dino also has an information board next to it naming its modern-day animal descendant, that you are also able to go and visit in the nearby wildlife park.
They’re not live giant reptiles but who wants live ones anyway? — I mean, you’ve seen what happened in the film, right?
For the youngsters, these huge moving figures with sound effects included are the next best thing — much safer too.
You can take a stroll along the landscaped trail located beside a lake as the kids are amazed by 35 animatronic dinos across the park’s representation of Pangea .
This was the name of the supercontinent that existed when Earth had one huge land mass, before it began to break up causing a continental drift during the Jurassic period — about 200 million years ago.
The dinosaur trail begins at the heart of the deep, dense forest of the Gondwana region. While you emerge from the undergrowth the ground becomes much drier and cracked as you enter the perilous region of Rift Valley.
Next up you will embark on the steep climb into the perilous heights of Cathaysia Mountains. From here, you will head down into the final land of Pangea and the mysterious murky waters of the Gondwana Swamp.
The park also contains both indoor and outdoor play areas — the perfect place to tire out your adventurers whatever the weather may hold.
In Keeping with the theme, the Uproar! Playbarn will see your little ones have a scream of a time while you relax as they entertain themselves. Here, you can book a two hour slot separately from the wildlife park entry, and the cost is £8 for ages 3-12, £4 for ages 1-2, and £1 for adults. Uproar! Is open seven days a week.
There’s the Evolution restaurant where you can eat amongst the reptiles and get to meet some baby dinosaurs too. The restaurant has an abandoned pirate ship for children to explore and staff even dress up as pirates creating the perfect entertainment.
There’s also a large cafe area with snacks, drinks and ice creams including a full dinosaur toy shop located on The Hive site, just a couple of doors along from the playbarn.
If you want to make a night of it, the newly-opened Hex Hotel is situated on the site just metres away from the wildlife park entrance — with many of the rooms boasting views out across the zoo.
If you’d like to book passes for Pangea — Discovery of Dinosaurs, or find out more, click here.
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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
