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Sea Life Manchester is hosting magical real-life mermaid shows this month
Real life mermaids will be swimming with the aquariums resident turtles
SEA LIFE Manchester will be opening its tanks to some very special visitors this month.
While most can expect to find sharks, sting-rays, turtles and other exotic marine life within the walls of Manchester’s only aquarium, it’s safe to say people won’t be expecting mermaids.
Yep, this month, guests will get a rare chance to marvel at (kind of) real-life mermaids as they join the aquarium’s resident sea turtles, Cammy and Ernie in a beautiful evening display.
Jason Lock Photography / SEA LIFE Manchester
Once inside the attraction, guests will be issued a set time to take a break from exploring the aquarium and head over to the Ocean display window for the mermaid experience.
This will help ensure safe social distancing is adopted, as well as give everyone a great view of the show without long queues or crowds.
Tickets are currently priced at £21.95 for adults, £16.95 for children, and just £5 for annual pass holders. Children under the age of three can enter for free.
Jason Lock Photography / SEA LIFE Manchester
The mermaid sessions will run between 5pm-9pm on the following Fridays: June 4th, June 11th, June 18th, and June 25th.
For tickets and more information, visit the SEA LIFE website here.
SEA LIFE is the world’s largest aquarium brand, which welcomes more than 20 million guests each year to their fifty aquariums and six sanctuaries, located across the UK, Europe, North America and Australasia.
The aquariums care for over 180,000 creatures living in authentically themed habitats, and are dedicated to providing guests with a window into the world beneath our oceans, all the while delivering a strong message around the sustainability and conservation of the oceans through their BREED, RESCUE, PROTECT scheme.
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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