Magazine


Sounds of festive fun

by Angela Kelly
22/12/2006

GET in the festive mood at Tatton Park tomorrow (Saturday) with Family Christmas Carols in the stable yard setting at this enjoyable Cheshire venue.

Join the King Edward Musical Band and choir in traditional carols from 4pm to 5pm, with mince pies and hot punch available in the Stables Restaurant.

And keep the seasonal family fun going with a special event - Hunt For The Pantomime Magic - from 11am to 3pm on Wednesday, December 27, until Sunday, December 31.

Join Tatton's characters on a magical trail around the gardens.

Garden entry for adults is £3.50 and children under 16 go free although normal park entry charges apply.

Ring the park for more details on 01625 534400.

IF you are looking for a few different places to take the family over the Christmas holiday period, Imperial War Museum North at Salford Quays is an excellent place to start.

IWMN is free to visit and has a variety of attractions to appeal to children of all ages.

There are handling sessions involving many of the museum's objects, regular family tours, Holiday Hotspots and Studio Sessions as well as regular interactive events.

On Saturday, December 31, there is a Studio Session suitable for youngsters aged eight and over which use a range of creative techniques and materials to discover more about the museum's themes. These run from 1pm to 4pm.

And the Hotspot activities use costume, craft and handling sessions to help everyone explore the museum's galleries.

Find out more about all the family attractions, and about opening times over the holiday, by ringing 0161 836 4000.

Or if you are planning a city centre visit, head for the Museum of Science and Industry in Liverpool Road, Castlefield, for something to please every age group.

Xperiment is a new, interactive science gallery where children can poke, prod, push and pull the exciting exhibits.

Other attractions include The Textiles Gallery with its thunderous old cotton machinery, the Special Exhibitions Gallery with a programme of blockbuster events from around the world and the Collections Centre, where you can explore hidden treasures.

There are electricity room sets with seven decades worth of electrical appliances and a fascinating tour of Underground Manchester with reconstructed Victorian sewers.

Be amazed at the colossal steam Beyer Garratt locomotive or get up close and personal with the historic Avro Shackleton plane.

To find out opening times and other details, contact the museum on 0161 832 2244.

BLOW the cobwebs away and work off some of that Christmas fare with a couple of enjoyable outdoor events over the holiday period. Reddish Vale Country Park is the venue tomorrow (Saturday) for a moderate walk on the Reddish Vale Trail from 10am to 1pm.

It's free and open to all, and for more details ring 0161 447 5637 or 0161 474 4512.

Today (Friday) there's an early morning, moderate walk to Hartshead Pike from the Park Bridge Heritage Centre on Tameside. Meet at 7.15am and the walk lasts until around 10am. Next Wednesday, you can join Paul Nethercott's Christmas walk over Hartshead Pike through Park Bridge and Knott Hill, stopping off at the Junction Inn for a well-earned drink before returning over Luzley.

Ring 0161 330 9613 for more details of either of these two events.

Next Thursday, Norman Balmforth, of Flora Walk fame, cordially invites everyone to a mid-Christmas ramble around Werneth Low.

It's an eight-mile walk and to find out more ring 0161 368 6667.

And next Friday make the most of the countryside by exploring the hills and valleys around Stalybridge Country Park.

Meet at the Oakgates car park, off Huddersfield Road.

For more details ring 0161 330 9613.

CITY centre seasonal attractions well worth visiting include the famous Wheel Of Manchester and On Ice in Piccadilly.

The high-flying wheel in Exchange Square allows everyone to see right over the office blocks and rooftops with all the central landmarks clearly on view.

Ticket prices are adults £6 and children aged four to 12, £4. Children under three go free but it is worth checking opening times over the Christmas holiday.

Visit the website www.worldtouristattractions.co.uk

And you can skate under a canopy of twinkling lights at Manchester's open-air ice-rink in Piccadilly Gardens.

It's open every day except Christmas Day until January 7.

For times and costs, visit www.quaytickets.com

ENJOY watching the best of Manchester's young basketball players when the Amaechi International Junior Basketball Championship take place in Manchester next week.

The venue is the Amaechi Basketball Centre in Whalley Range.

Events start on Wednesday, December 17, and last until Friday, December 29.

Find out more by ringing the centre on 0161 881 0090.


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