11 December 2014

Polly Checkland Harding

Introducing our Advent Calendar – the eleventh post in a cultural countdown to Christmas. Today: Light art and a snow show.

A brand new light art festival pilots in Piccadilly Gardens today: organised by Curated Place, Enlighten Manchester is just a taster of a bigger event in 2015, but already has artists such as Ulf Pederson (one of the founders of Durham’s Lumiere festival) involved. Expect large-scale projections, light-based artworks and more. What better way to stave off the early dark of winter? Piccadilly Gardens, 11-13 Dec, 4.30pm-8pm; 14 Dec, 4.30-6pm, free.

Do more. Running until 13 December, Slava’s Snowshow at The Lowry feels like an nearly-at-the-end-of-the-week kind of treat. It’s brilliantly bonkers, a clown’s approach to Christmas that manages to be touching as well as spectacular. Don’t forget to drop into Booths for foodie goodies while you’re at The Quays. Slava’s Snowshow, The Lowry. Tickets from £18.

Festive Happening Camerata
Spotlight on

Christmas Theatre and Concerts

As the big day approaches, you can count on theatres and concert halls across the North to pull out all the festive stops.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Exhibitions

It’s a good season for contemporary art fans in Manchester, with many of our favourite small galleries launching something big.

Theatre

The nights are drawing in. Theatre across the North is refusing to play it safe. November brings experimental performance, queer comedy and plenty of surprises.

Music

Grubby dance music meets high-gloss hyperpop and wildly ambitious opera in our latest music guide.

Food and Drink in the North

It's autumn and time to get scheduling those hearty meals. Here's the October guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.

Emily Lloyd-Saini as Grace in Space and Harrie Hayes as Lieutenant Strong in Horrible Science
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

Poet Helen Mort.
Literature Events in the North

One to add to your TBR pile, our latest round-up is a bumper edition and features some amazing events in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and beyond...