Lightopia Festival
[Ad-gifted] Dressed in our cosiest winter woollies and sturdiest walking boots, we set off to experience Lightopia – a new lantern and light festival that has transformed Manchester’s Heaton Park.
The immersive and visually-dramatic event is running until the end of the year, providing alternative family fun throughout the festive season.
Our verdict of Lightopia Festival
Lantern and light festivals appear to be growing in popularity across the UK as a new type of Christmas activity. And now Manchester’s Heaton Park is playing host to its own – Lightopia.
Curious to experience it for ourselves, we travelled to the event from Nantwich on a chilly Saturday afternoon.
Before heading off, it’s a good idea to consider your travel arrangements. We discovered in advance there was only limited parking near the event, so we drove to one of the park-and-ride locations and completed our journey by tram.
We arrived at the site before it was open, so popped into a nearby pub for a quick drink, rather than wait around outside in the cold.
Luckily, there was only a short queue when it was time to go in, and so the four of us – me, my husband Simon, nine-year-old son Ewan and 13-year-old nephew Fin – were soon inside.
Although it was a dry day, it was muddy on the ground, so we were glad we’d worn sensible footwear. Plus, it was bitterly cold, so remember to wrap up warm (this is an outdoor event).
We started with the stunning lantern trail, which took us on a walk around the beautifully crafted illuminations, including The Love Gate, Tree of Life, Elysian Field, Flower Hand, The Flower Road and Happy Valley. There’s also a Manchester Light Bees installation, representing the unity and solidarity the city is known for.
Highlights included the flower-themed lights and the candy-inspired display. I was also mesmerised by the water show, featuring a 30m water screen with lasers and lighting over the park’s lake.
Lightopia was a fantastic experience for the boys and something quite different, but Ewan was distracted by the cold – despite being wrapped up!
There were some food and refreshment stalls within the park, but the queues were long (not much fun in the cold!). However, we did stop for some delicious churros.
There’s some shelter from the cold, but not much, so not many opportunities to warm up. (I admit we ended up rushing things because we were feeling the cold and were hungry, too, so left after about two hours).
Other entertainment includes live music and acrobatic performances. And there are also family rides, which you pay extra for.
Overall, Lightopia is a magical experience for the whole family, and a great deal of work has gone into creating the stunning installations and water show. But at £62 for a family ticket (£54 in advance), we feel the price is a little on the high side, especially if you spend extra on food, drink and rides.
The festival could do with more marquees where visitors can warm up, sit down, and eat and drink, as well as more stalls. If that had been available, our experience would have been far more enjoyable.
When is Lightopia Festival?
It opened on 21 November and runs until 31 December, 2019. The event is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, except during school holidays. It’s closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The event is open between 5pm and 10pm, with last entry at 8.30pm.
Where is Lightopia Festival?
Heaton Park
Middleton Road
Prestwich
Manchester
M25 2SW
How much if Lightopia Festival?
Advance adult tickets cost £18, while adult tickets on the day are £20. Advance child tickets (aged 3-16) cost £11, and child tickets on the day are £13. Advance family tickets (two adults and two children) cost £54, and family tickets on the day are £62. Children under 3 go free.
How do I book tickets to Lightopia Festival?
For tickets, visit the website here.
Things to note:
- Heaton Park tram stop is the closest transport link from Manchester city centre
- There’s limited parking available, with no on-street parking and road closures around Heaton Park. The car park inside Heaton Park is charged by parking meter and is extended during Lightopia Festival times
- Visitors are advised to use one of the park-and-ride facilities located across the Greater Manchester area and to complete their journey via Metrolink
- It’s recommended to arrive 15 minutes before your chosen entry start time
By Colette Warbrook
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Review of the Bluedot 2019 Festival at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire
* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.
20 comments
The installations in the park look gorgeous, especially the swan and Peter Pan. I do find the ticket quite pricey as well though, especially for an outdoors event where you have to pay extra for food and drinks.
Thanks Joanna, we try to be as transparent as we can when we do our reviews, so hopefully you can visit the place as it is stunning despite the price.
I’d love for us to someday go to the UK and Europe for the holidays. Your photos really wants me to go here and experience this firsthand!
Hope you do get the opportunity Brianne, there is so much to see and do here, especially during Christmas time
Oh wow this looks like it would be absolutely incredible. I love this sort of thing myself I have to say – there’s something about watching light festivals in winter.
Especially since it gets dark quicker now, so you will have more time to admire these lights
It does look so beautiful. I have to agree that the price is a little high, but it does look magical. x
Yes it was a stunning set of display indeed, we loved the lights and the design of it all
Looks like a lovely light collection and quite a festive family thing to do, although I do think it’s quite pricey if you’re taking your whole family x
Agree Rhian, that is what we thought as well when we saw the price, but it is worth is as the light structures were stunning
Wow this looks like such a lovely family trip out I do love seeing things like this and especially with the days getting dark a lot earlier now x
The light structure was stunning as you can see in the images here, we did enjoy looking at it
It looks absolutely incredible, such a magical evening. I’m going to go next year
Hope you do, it is a lovely event to head to especially if you have kids
We love this kind of experience but haven’t been to one for a couple of years, wish we lived closer!
Do plan to visit Manchester next year, as there will be a lot more festival-like this
Lightopia looks amazing and very pretty! I have seen this advertised and I must say I was tempted to go. It looks like a very fun family day out.
It was indeed, if you are heading for it, remember to dress warm
Oh wow I have never heard of this but it looks so beautiful. The girls would love it
Yes they sure would as it was a stunning display