Enchanting fun to be had, join in Easter Face Painting (April 4,6,9,11,17,18).

Help welcome the Easter Bunny to the Mall by decorating the Easter Garden with colorful homemade flowers in the Easter Flower Making Workshops (March 31 and April 1)

Win medals and goody bags at our Mad Hatter’s Games Day (April 2)! With an egg-citing line up of Easter Egg games including Egg & Spoon Races, What’s inside the Egg and Roll the Giant Egg!

Have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny (April 3) and feature on your very own Easter card to take home! Make sure you take part in The Great Easter Egg Hunt too! The mischievous Easter Bunny has hidden 100 Easter Egg Cards around the Mall. If you find one on Saturday 3rd April hand it into Customer Services and get a FREE chocolate Easter Egg!

For all those magical in mind visit the Mall on Magic Monday – The Great Lorenzo (April 5) for a truly magical display of sorcery tricks and talents.

Get crafty at the Easter Basket Workshops (April 7 and April 8), decorate your very own Easter basket before filling it with Easter treats to take home and enjoy.

Bring your teddy along to take part in our Teddy Bear Fun Day (April 10), which includes a talent contest, music, games and more with prizes for the winners! Plus, meet William our friendly 14ft Teddy Bear!

The Lowry Outlet Mall is the perfect place for a family day out, offering free entertainment and events all year round, an on-site cinema, restaurants and stores offering up to 60% off RRP all year round

ACTIVITIES:

Easter flower making workshops – Wednesday 31th March, Thursday 1st April: 11am to 4pm
Mad hatter’s games day – Friday 2nd April: 11am – 4pm
Have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny! plus easter egg hunt in the mall!* – Saturday 3rd April: 12pm – 4pm
Easter face painting – Sunday 4th April : 11am to 4pm
Magic Monday – the Great Lorenzo – Monday 5th April: 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm
Easter face painting – Tuesday 6th April: 11am to 4pm
Easter Basket workshops – Wednesday 7th April, Thursday 8th April: 11am to 4pm
Easter face painting – Friday 9th April: 11am to 4pm
Teddy bear fun day & meet the tallest teddy bear in the world!* – Saturday 10th April: 11am to 4pm
Easter face painting – Sunday 11th April, Saturday 17th April, Sunday 18th April: 11am to 4pm

For more information visit www.lowryoutletmall.com or follow us on http://twitter.com/lowryoutletmall

Please note, the following applies to the activities:

* (*) Characters will be appearing at various intervals throughout the day.
* The children’s entertainments are not supervised playschemes and parents are requested to stay with their children and join in the fun.
* The Lowry Outlet Mall reserves the right to cancel or change the times of any events without notice.
* Only one chocolate egg per child on the Great Easter egg hunt

School holidays just got better with the news that at February half term there is going to be some great extraterrestrial fun with ‘Out of this World’ adventures from February 13th until February 21st 2010.

Firstly, there is something for Dr. Who fans, (young and old), with the arrival at the Mall on Saturday, 13th February (11:00 am – 3:00 pm) of Classic Dr Who characters played by Hyde Fundraisers to raise money for BBC Children in Need. You will be able to meet Dr Who and other popular characters such as K-9, Ogron, Classic Cyberman, Tetrap, Heamovore, Silurian, Davros, Exillon, Draconian and Auton, and no Children In Need fundraiser would be complete without a surprise visit from Pudsey Bear.

On Sunday 14th February and Friday 19th February the Mall is hosting Intergalactic Games Day (10:00 am-4:00 pm – every half hour). Games include Space Hopping, Mars Racing and Satellite Spinning. There is a space academy medal for everyone taking part and there will be a prize for the best space cadet in each group.

There is Alien face painting on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th February, (11:00 am – 4:00 pm both days) and there is the Floating Space Ships Craft Workshop on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th February (11:00 am – 4:00 pm both days) where kids can make their very own helium space ship.

On Saturday 20th February there is another opportunity to meet Dr Who characters, (11:00 am – 3:00 pm) but this time Hyde Fundraisers will be raising money for BBC Children in Need when they perform as Modern Dr Who Characters including Judoon, Santa, Ood Sigma, Host, Scarecrow, Hath, Donna Noble, Clockwork Droid and, of course, Pudsey Bear!

The following day, Sunday 21st February, kids can learn to moonwalk, Michael Jackson style, with the Learn to Moonwalk workshop. (11:00 am, 12:30pm, 2:00 pm and 3:30pm (30 minute sessions)). This dance session will feature dance movement, moonwalking, hip-hop and a body popping workshop for all those far out performers.

Get directions and keep up to date with whats happening at the Lowry Outlet Mall website.

Salford Council is organising safe, fun filled family entertainment in the shape of its very own Ice Ring. Salford Ice Rink is open for just over one month, from Friday 4th December 2009 until Wednesday 6th January, 2010. Salford Ice Rink is a very popular attraction over the holiday period and is enjoyed by young and old alike.

This is a great way to spend the day over the festive holiday period. This years rink is bigger than ever and with the ice ring now open on Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve for the first time, its even better than last year.

The organisers say ……

“………….We’ve also got a whole host of discount promotions and events happening including an opening night launch, special family sessions, the chance to meet Santa and keep an eye out for the Real Radio crew popping down to the rink as well………….”

Salford Ice Rink opening times are as follows:-

Friday 4th December – Sunday 20th December 2009

Monday to Friday – 1.30pm to 8.00pm (final skating admission 7.00pm)
Saturday and Sunday 11.00am to 8.00pm (final skating admission 7.00pm)

Monday 21st December – Wednesday 6th January 2010

Monday to Friday 12.30pm to 8.00pm (final skating admission 7.00pm)
Christmas Eve 12.30pm to 8.00pm (final skating admission 7.00pm)
Christmas Day – Closed
Boxing Day 1.30pm to 7.00pm (final skating admission 6.00pm)
New Year’s Eve 12.30pm to 6.00pm (final skating admission 5.00pm)
New Year’s Day – Closed

There is free car parking available all weekend and from 6.00pm on weekdays and tickets cost £6.00 for Adults, £5.00 for 13 to 17 year olds and £4.00 for 5 to 12 year olds. Other discounts and concessions apply so visit the Salford Council website for more information about ticket prices and for details of how to book.

Its now the bonfire and fireworks season and there are a number of safe, family events being organised across Greater Manchester.

As there are so many events going on I have only listed events advertised on the Salford Council and Manchester Council websites. Apologies if you are looking for events in other local authority areas.

Council events are well organised and provide a safe environment for you to get the best out of every event you attend.

So here are details of some of the events going on between Friday 30th October and Friday 6th November in and around Manchester and Salford in November 2009.

Friday 30th October:

Debdale Park – M18 7LJ
Meet at the Event Field. Fireworks: 7.30pm and bonfire starts thereafter
Contact: 0161 223 8278.

Saturday 31st October:

Halloween Magic Garden
Lantern parade and animated magic garden includes a children’s pre-event party.
Parade 5.00-7.00pm Party 3.00-5.00pm
Albert Park, off Great Cheetham Street, Broughton.
Ranger Team 0161 793 4219

Witches Walk
Be afraid…be very afraid. The Witches Walk is back at Blackleach Country Park and it’s scarier than ever with more magic, mystery and mayhem on this popular walk. Please be aware that the trails will be very dark and uneven. 5.00-8.00pm
Meet at the Visitors Centre, Blackleach Country Park, John Street, Walkden, M28 3TD.

Monday 2nd November:

Crumpsall Park – M8 5SA
Family funfair and fireworks event: 6 – 8pm
Contact: 0161 795 2650.

Cringle Park – M19 3SD.
Meet at the Main Field. Family funfair and fireworks event: 6 – 8pm.
Contact: 0161 223 8278.

Tuesday 3rd November:

Philips Park – M11 4DQ.
Family funfair and fireworks event 5.30 -7.30pm – Sportcity (car park 6) http://www.medlockvalley.org.uk
Contact: 0161 223 8278

Brookdale Park – M40 1PE
Family funfair and fireworks event 6 – 8pm
Contact: 0161 795 2650.

Wednesday 4th November:

Boggart Hole Clough – M9 7DF
Family funfair and fireworks event 5.30 – 8.30pm
Contact: 0161 795 2650

Lighting the Legend presents ‘Green Bananas’
An amazing night-time spectacle at a secret location on the Quays. Join the lantern parade to the site of ‘Green Bananas’, a magical story inspired by real events and stories from the working people of the docks. Plus fireworks.
Meet at Fit City Ordsall at 6.30pm

Thursday 5th November:

Heaton Park- MetroLink Bonfire and Firework Display – M25 2SW
Meet at the Papal Fields event site. Firework display and funfair 7.30pm and bonfire 8pm. http://www.heatonpark.org.uk
Contact: 0161 773 1085

Wythenshawe Park – M23 0AB
Funfair and food area 4pm, fireworks 7.30pm and bonfire 8pm.
Contact: 0161 998 2117

Platt Fields Park – M14 6LP
Meet at the show field. Firework display and bonfire 7.30pm.
Contact: 0161 224 2902

Buile Hill Park Bonfire Night
Introducing a fantastic sculptured bonfire with a hidden secret. There will be a magnificent firework display and fairground rides for children.
Bonfire lit at 7.15pm, fireworks 7.30pm, fairground 6.00-9.00pm
Buile Hill Park, Salford, M6 8GL

Peel Park Bonfire, Little Hulton
Traditional bonfire and fireworks organised by local volunteers working with Salford Ranger Team
Bonfire 7.00pm, fireworks 7.30pm
Peel Park, Manchester Road West, Little Hulton, M38 9EG
Ranger Team 0161 793 4219

Friday 6th November:

Irlam Bonfire and Fireworks at Prince’s Park
Bonfire, stunning firework display and children’s fairground rides.
6.00-9.00pm; bonfire at 7.00pm and fireworks at 7.30pm
Prince’s Park, Liverpool Road, Irlam.

For up to date details of bonfire and fireworks events in Manchester and Salford visit the Salford Council and Manchester Council websites.

There are two organised events in Stockport………

Light in the Night – Bonfire Blast – A Stockport Civic Bonfire will be held at Heaton Norris Park sponsored by local charity “Calvary Chapel” on Thursday 5th November, 2009. (Heaton Norris Park, Love Lane, Stockport, SK4 1JA). The schedule for the evening is:-

5:45 pm – Doors open
6:30 pm – Bonfire lit
7:30 pm – Fireworks
9:00 pm – Event over

For more information phone 0161 443 2327 or visit Stockport Council’s website.

Marple Guides and Scouts Bonfire and Firework Display will be held at Brabyns Park, Brabyns Brow, Marple on 7th November 2009.

The schedule for the evening is:-

7:00pm – Bonfire
7:30pm – Fireworks
8:30pm – Finish

For more information visit Stockport Council’s website.

The Birmingham Royal Ballet’s visit to Salford in March 2010 is sure to be one of the year’s highlights for ballet fans across the North West. The Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of The Sleeping Beauty at The Lowry Theatre, in Salford, lasts from Tuesday 30th March to Saturday 3rd April 2010. The Ballet is accompanied by a classical score by Tchaikovsky and this production is by former director Sir Peter Wright.

The Birmingham Royal Ballet website said the following about the 2009 production of The Sleeping Beauty:-

“…………Considered by many to be one of the greatest ballets from Imperial Russia, The Sleeping Beauty, will be performed during March. Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production by Peter Wright brings the story to life with lavish sets, over 150 beautiful hand-sewn costumes and a cast of over 80….”

Birmingham Royal Ballet whose director is David Bintley CBE, is quite interesting for another reason – it was formed in 1990, when Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, which had also had a world wide reputation for quality productions, moved to Birmingham.

It may be a while off, but now is the time to try and get the best seats, possible. The Sleeping Beauty performance schedule at The Lowry is as follows:-

Tuesday 30 March 2010 7:30 pm
Wednesday 31 March 2010 2:00 pm
Wednesday 31 March 2010 7:30 pm
Thursday 1 April 2010 7:30 pm
Friday 2 April 2010 7:30 pm
Saturday 3 April 2010 2:30 pm
Saturday 3 April 2010 7:30 pm

There are still many people who have never experienced a ballet performance by an accomplished production company. For people in that position, this performance of The Sleeping Beauty would be a great place to start.

More information about the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of The Sleeping Beauty is available from their website. Tickets are priced from £18.00 to £37.00 and can be purchased from The Lowrys website, here.

The world famous squash tournament, the ATCO British Open Squash Championship will be in held in Manchester from 8th to 14th September, 2009. The British Open has been in existence for more than 80 years and Manchester is proud to host it in 2009.

The competition which lasts from 8th to 14th September features the cream of UK and world wide sporting talent. Top ranking competitors including elite male and female players such as Karim Darwish, Rachael Grinham and Nicol David will take their place amongst other top squash talents in an international line up, to battle it out for the tournament prize.

Some of the early rounds will be held at The Northern, (Palatine Rd, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 3YA), a racket sports venue located in Didsbury, in the south of Manchester. However, the main focus of the action in the later stages of the Open will be the all-glass squash court at the National Squash Centre (Sportcity, Gate 13 Rowsley Street, Manchester M11 3FF) from September 10th, onwards.

For more information about the British Open Squash Championships 2009 and to book tickets for the championship, visit the event website.

There are a total of five Proms In The Park regional classical music concerts and they are part of the final highlights of the BBC’s Proms 2009 classical music festival which lasts from 17th July – 12th September, 2009.

This year Buile Hill Park, Salford, will be one of only five regional concert venues that will host the BBC’s Proms in the Park concerts. These concerts, together with the Last Night of the Proms event at London’s Royal Albert Hall, mark the end of the festival, on Saturday 12 September, 2009. The other Proms in the Park events are taking place in:-

Hillsborough Castle, County Down
Glasgow Green, Glasgow
Hyde Park, London
Singleton Park, Swansea

Proms In The Park, together with the Last Night of the Proms event at the Royal Albert Hall, London, are the culmination of what is probably the UK’s most well known classical music festival. The BBC Proms 2009 includes more than 70 concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and 19 chamber music recitals at Cadogan Hall, Chelsea, London.

This is a great opportunity to see the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra which is based in Studio 7 Concert Hall, BBC Manchester, Oxford Road, in a memorable and atmospheric outdoor venue.

At the time of writing there are plans to screen Proms in the Park on the BBC Big Screens located around the country, including Manchester’s Exchange Square.

(Additionally,Manchester based chamber orchestra Manchester Camerata will be playing as part of the Proms 2009 at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday 20 July 2009, 9.30pm)

The event, supported by NS&I (National Savings & Investments).

The BBC have a very useful dedicated microsite for the Proms in the Park.

Tickets are priced at £15.00 (£10.00 for Salford residents)

Details of the BBC’s Proms 2009, including TV and radio coverage, can be found online, here.

For more details, visit Visit Salford or phone 0161 848 8601.

Are you planning to go? What are you looking forward to? Tell us more, in the comments section, below -

Phillip Pullman has had a distinguished writing career with a string of popular childrens books in print. Perhaps his best known works is the His Dark Materials trilogy. The novel trilogy His Dark Materials consists of the books Northern Lights (called The Golden Compass, in the US), The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. Together they make up an exciting and very popular trilogy series of novels that have become a world wide hit.

The books in the series have also been made into an Academy Award and a BAFTA winning film called The Golden Compass. The smash hit film was called The Golden Compass and the cast included Dakota Blue Richards, Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman, amongst many others.

Now the stage adaptation of His Dark Materials is on at The Lowry, in Salford, and it is likely to be popular with Pullman fans young and old.

The books have been adapted for the stage by British playwright and dramatist Nicholas Wright, who is a former Associate Director at the National Theatre. Both plays are directed by Rachel Kavanaugh and Sarah Esdaile. The plays are performed by actors from the Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company in association with West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass have been made into two separate full length plays – His Dark Materials Part 1 and Part 2. They will be performed at The Lowry, as follows:-

His Dark Materials Part 1, will be performed on Thursday 23rd April at 7:30 pm, Saturday 25th April at 2:00 pm and Sunday 26th April at 2:00 pm.

Part 2 of His Dark Materials, will be performed on Friday 24th April at 7:30 pm, Saturday 25th April at 7:30pm and Sunday 26th April at 7:30 pm.

The show is suitable for ages 12+ and tickets are priced from £14.00 to £20.00 for each performance.

For more information about both the production and for ticket availability, visit the whats on section of The Lowry website.

This is great news for fans of the Manchester music scene and offers an opportunity for fans to take a great trip down memory lane.

Subtitled Salford Sounds – 1950s To Today, the exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery, (Peel Park, The Crescent, Salford, M5 4WU) celebrates the history of popular music in Salford over the past fifty years.

The exhibition lets

“Salford musicians, bands, managers, producers, fans and music people recount their personal stories for this exhibition, and show the unique musical character of this city……”

The wide range of exhibits include:-

• New Order’s Peter Hook’s guitar
• Ting Tings 2007 tour artwork
• an original demo tape from the Happy Mondays
• stage costumes belonging to Elkie Brooks

and much much more.

Accompanying the exhibition is the production of the Salford Music Map. The Map is available from the exhibition, Salford Tourist Information Centre and a number of key venues on the map, or you can request a copy of the map from the event website, here.

The map shows the location of many important venues that relate to Salford’s musical heritage, such as Salford Lads’ Club, made famous by The Smiths and Islington Mill, home of the Ting Tings.

The exhibition runs until 25 Oct 2009 and you can find out more about the exhibition by visiting the event website, here.

The hall is a fine example of an Elizabethan black and white half-timbered manor-house. With a history that dates back nearly 700 years, Ordsall Hall is likely to be the oldest surviving building in the Greater Manchester area.

Unfortunately, Ordsall Hall will close to the public for a comprehensive programme of renovation and restoration work that will result in an even better visitor attraction. However, there is still a little time left as the closing date has been set for Saturday 21 February 2009. It will will reopen in Easter 2011.

Closing week events are planned and you can find out more at the Ordsall Hall website.

Update 25/01/09: Ordsall Hall is planning some special half term attractions for children.

A mass clearing up session is being held at the historic hall to put the much-loved building ‘to bed’ in advance of its £4.1m lottery-funded renovation.

Clean up sessions are planned for Wednesday February 18 and Friday February 20 and the sessions will form a key part of the fun and educational activities taking place at The Quays over the half term holiday. For further details contact Ordsall Hall on 0161-872 0251.

Even though Ordsall Hall is closing, The Quays area is home to many other great attractions that are worth visiting, including the Imperial War Museum North, Lancashire County Cricket Club, The Lowry Outlet Mall and The Lowry.