Monster Jam UK Arena Tour - Review

Disclosure: We were invited to attend Monster Jam as guests this weekend in exchange for a review of the event. This post also contains affiliate links.

Yesterday, we spent a fun filled family day out at Manchester Arena attending Monster Jam, the must see live motorsport event tour that's perfect for families!

What happens at a Monster Jam Arena Tour?

I have to be honest here and admit that I didn't really know what to expect prior to the show, I was aware of Monster Trucks and I'd vaguely heard of Monster Jam but that was all, when I mentioned the show to my husband and children, they were all really keen on attending so I thought why not give it a go?

We had tickets to the pit party first, which was great fun and I would really recommend (read more below) and then we headed to the arena to find our seats as soon as the doors opened. I would advocate doing this as although it was an hour before the show started there was still things going on to entertain! The presenters were wandering around the seating areas, talking to families on the big screen and were also interviewing the drivers who were walking around the seating area too! The lovely Brianna Mahon, driver of Wonder Woman and the only female driver in the event, recognised my daughter from the pit party earlier and took her up to stand with her for her interview! As you can imagine this made my eight year old's day!

Once the event itself was ready to start, the presenters explained the format and told the audience how we had a part to play in the show too! After each contest (other than the first tournament which was scored on timings) we had 20 seconds to go to www.judgeszone.com enter the code displayed on the big screen and give a score to the truck that had just competed! My children loved this part and of course gave 10's to their favourites. So remember to bring along a fully charged smartphone to the show as you won't just be taking pictures with it!

There were six Monster Trucks competing in this Chicago Style Racing event: Wonder Woman, Grave Digger, Max D, El Toro Loco, Monster Energy and Earth Shaker (although sadly this truck suffered some mechanical damage early on so wasn't able to continue to compete).

The event lasted around two hours and started with the timed tournament, of which Todd Leduc driving Monster Energy took the podium, then a two wheel challenge that we got to vote for our favourites! Max - D was victorious in this one!

There was then an interval to get food and drinks before we returned to some supercross bikes who performed some awesome tricks that left us all open mouthed! My 11 year old especially enjoyed this segment.

Back to the Monster Trucks and the donut challenge came next, some of the trucks seemed to struggle with this in the confined space and the obstacles in the way but this was made up for by spectacular spinning performances by Max D and El Toro Loco!

The final contest of fuel injected fun was the freestyle where each athlete had 60 seconds to use all of the obstacles to showcase to us what their truck could do! This was my favourite event as each of the drivers had now had the chance to perform in the arena and seemed to have got the hang of the different lay out and how the ground differed to their usual tracks. We were treated to some fabulous displays but ultimately Max D was again named the winner and took the title of the event!

What is a Monster Jam Pit Party?

A pit party is quite an American concept and I wasn't aware of it previously but we decided to check it out and arrived just as the doors opened at 10.30. For this part of the event we were down on the arena floor and each of the drivers were with their trucks waiting to greet fans, chat to them, sign autographs and of course pose for pictures!

This was a fantastic opportunity to get up close to the colossal trucks, check out the awesome paintjobs and designs, take pictures and of course ask the drivers questions.

My daughter immediately fell in love with the Wonder Woman truck, posed for endless photos and loved meeting the driver Brianna. 

The pit party requires an additional ticket and does have a small extra charge but if you or your kids have an interest in Monster Truck racing then I would highly recommend it, do go early on though as it started off really quiet but the queues did build up towards the end.

We’re having lots of fun getting close to the trucks and meeting the drivers at #monsterjam at @ManchesterArena @MonsterJam #monstertrucks #familyfun (We’re here to review the show) pic.twitter.com/6v4NZMtLvW

— Jen Dixon (@Mymummyspennies) May 4, 2019

What Souvenirs can you buy at the Monster Jam Arena Tour?

As with any arena tour there is an abundance of merchandise available to purchase as a memento of your day, Flags representing your favourite truck competing were a popular choice and ideal for waving during the races or getting signed by the driver at the pit party! Other items available included t-shirts, baseball caps, popcorn, soft toys and novelty cups containing syrup flavoured ice drinks! The prices started at £10 and increased quite rapidly as I've come to expect from shows like this.

My top tip would be to order some Monster Jam (affiliate link) toys online at around half the price they are on sale there for, to give to your child at or following the show, they'll be just as happy and you will have saved yourself some pennies! 

At Manchester Arena you are unable to take any food or drink into the arena with you, I am not aware if this is the case at all of the other UK arenas, but if it is then be aware that you may have to budget for purchasing snacks and drinks while you're there (which at arena prices  aren't cheap) as the event lasts quite a while if you arrive for the start of the pit party!

Would we recommend the Monster Jam Arena Tour?

The answer to this is a resounding, yes! We would wholeheartedly recommend the Monster Jam arena tour to any families with children or (or grown ups!) who have any interest in Monster Trucks.

I would also recommend paying the extra fee (I believe it was around £12 for the Manchester dates) to get tickets for the pit party as this was a great part of the experience for us.

One thing to bear in mind is that this is two hours of trucks and bikes driving around in a relatively confined space so it is LOUD! If your children are small or have sensory issues I'd suggest bringing ear defenders to make the experience more enjoyable for them. They were on sale outside of the arena but again you will pay a premium for buying these at the event.

As well as noise, another thing to consider is the fumes from the vehicles, the arena was well ventilated but towards the end of the show these where quite noticeable even up in the seating areas.

We had a fantastic day overall, and the event completely blew my expectations out of the water. It was chilled out, family friendly and pleasingly interactive!

Yes, there were a few mechanical issues with some of the trucks but these were managed well and we still felt very entertained! It did seem that some of the trucks weren't used to the concrete floors and would have been more at home on a dirt track in an outdoor arena, but they were still amazing to see.

My eight year old daughter now has a new hero in the form of Brianna Mahon, driver of Wonder Woman and my eleven year old son has been unusually vocal and and hasn't stopped talking about the show since!

Although the final show in Manchester is today, the tour continues around the UK, visiting the Principality Stadium, Cardiff on the 18^th May 2019 and then Coventry Ricoh Arena on the 8^th June 2019 and tickets can be purchased from www.monsterjam.co.uk.

Don't forget to visit Facebook.com/MJOnline and follow @MonsterJam to keep up to date with all the Monster Jam news! 

On Your Marks... Monster Jam Returns to Manchester

Disclosure: we have been invited to attend Monster Jam as guests this weekend and will be sharing our review after the event.

On your marks, get set, go… 

The thrilling experience that is Monster Jam^®, returns to Manchester Arena this weekend for the first time in nine years to deliver an unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable Monster Truck show that is sure to entertain kids (and big kids) of all ages!

The world-famous colourful trucks that stand 12ft tall and 10ft wide, will deliver entertainment that promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats and filled with adrenaline charged excitement throughout as they watch these 2000 horsepower vehicles perform!

It's not just driving a car! The Monster Jam drivers are world-class athletes who have mastered not just the physical strength and mental stamina required to compete but also the crucial dexterity to navigate these 12,000-pound machines to amaze audiences with wheelies, donuts, cross ups and head to head racing. 

My 11 year old is super excited for event on Saturday and can't wait to meet his favourite drivers, get up close to the Monster Jam trucks!

Monster Jam is at the Manchester Arena on 4th and 5th of May 2019 before moving on to the Principality Stadium, Cardiff on the 18^th May 2019 and then Coventry Ricoh Arena on the 8^th June 2019 and tickets can be purchased from www.monsterjam.co.uk.

Don't forget to visit Facebook.com/MJOnline and follow @MonsterJam to keep up to date with all the Monster Jam news! We'll be sharing our review of the show next week too so keep an eye out! Read it here: Monster Jam UK arena tour review.

The Jungle Book at The Lowry, Manchester - Theatre Review

On Wednesday we were invited to attend the opening night of The Jungle Book at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, Greater Manchester. It's a favourite venue of ours, having attended many family theatre shows over the years.

This adaptation of  Rudyard Kipling's much-loved children's classic was written by  Olivier Award-winning Jessica Swale, directed by Max Webster and presented by the team behind Goodnight Mister Tom and d Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild. 

The production is packed with memorable characters fantastically costumed in ways to spark a child's imagination, introduced new songs and tells a familiar tale in a new and intriguing way.

The themes of friendship and acceptance are presented in a comical way that thoroughly entertained both my 7 and 10-year-old children. 

As we watch Mowgli grow up in the jungle and battle for survival, this heart-warming tale of adventure features live music performed on stage by the characters while others dance amongst the visual 'jungle' built of ladders and bamboo stakes. 

The show is recommended for children aged 6 and above, which I would say is accurate guidance as there were a couple of loud moments of shouting that slightly unsettled my seven-year-old and so younger children may have found this too much. 

Both children thoroughly enjoyed the show and my 10-year-old in particular barely stopped laughing all evening. It was lovely to see how captivated he was with this humorous retelling of a tale he has loved since he was tiny.

The show is running at the Lowry until Sunday 6th May 2018 and tickets are still available to book. To find out more and to book, go to The Lowry website, or call the box office on 0843 208 6000..

We were invited to attend the show as guests of The Lowry.

Our No Spend Day Out at Heaton Park with Subway #ad

I've been looking forward to the Easter break for so long, waiting for the chance to spend some quality time with the children without worrying about work, dreaming of lazy mornings, fun days out and cuddled up movie nights...

However, the school holidays can be an expensive business, with the cost of entertaining the family for two weeks really adding up. That's why Subway have decided to give parents a helping hand with their Kids Eat Free offer this Easter holiday. 

From now until 17th of April in participting stores in Great Britain, you can pick up a completely free Kids Pak with every Six-inch Meal Deal at your local Subway store. As well as a four-inch sub with a choice of filling and salad, the Kids Pak includes a drink, a snack and a gift to take home. 

To celebrate this fantastic offer, we were challenged to enjoy a day out in Manchester over Easter without spending a penny on the kids! As soon as I heard the challenge I knew that Heaton Park would be the perfect place to visit. Located just fifteen minutes drive (or 20 minutes on the Metrolink) outside of Manchester City centre, at 600 acres, it's one of the largest municipal parks in Europe and has so much to offer!

We started our day off with one of those lazy mornings I'd been looking forward to so much (isn't it just an amazing feeling to wake up without an alarm? ) then headed out to lunch. It's super easy to find your nearest Subway branch, using the Store locator and we found one in Whitefield, just a few minutes drive away from Heaton Park.

A Subway Picnic Lunch

Treating myself and my husband to a six-inch sub and drink meal deal, meant that both our children got a Kids’ Pak™  absolutely free! Each Kids’ Pak™ is 2 of a child’s 5-a-day. Every Kids’ Pak™ Sub is low fat, low in saturated fat and low in sugars, as well being a source of protein. They both chose brown bread with ham and cheese and a generous selection of salad and paired their sub with a Fruit Shoot My-5 and a Bear Yo-Yo fruit treat for afters. They each got a SEA LIFE Splashy Sticker Mosaic pack which was perfect for entertaining them on the journey home! We also received a voucher giving 50% off access to SEA LIFE centres across the UK & Ireland, for a family of four, perfect for saving money on another day out in the holidays!

This delicious, healthy lunch for all four members of our family, cost less than £8. What a bargain!

Subway is great for fussy eaters of all ages (I include myself in that!) as you get to choose exactly what you get, from the type of bread down to salad and sauce.

Despite it being a typical cloudy April day, the children decided we were having a picnic, so we took our lunch to the park and enjoyed it while in the grounds of the beautiful 18th century Heaton Hall which is currently undergoing renovations.

Once our tummies were full and our thirst quenched, it was time to continue on with our adventures!

Heaton Park Animal Centre - Free to visit!

With so much to do for free in Heaton Park, we were spoiled for choice so decided to start off with a visit to the Animal Centre. Our youngest is a big animal lover and couldn't wait to find out which new friends we would meet today. 

We had great fun watching the pigs get fed, the goat pull tongues, and the peacocks show off their stunning plumes. I absolutely love the fluffy alpacas, they are just adorable!

Visiting the Highest Point In Manchester

Once we'd bid farewell to all of the animals  - Elizabeth had found out each of their names from the friendly staff of course - we decided to go for a wall around the grounds of Heaton Hall and visit the highest point in Manchester, where the ornamental temple designed in 1800 sits atop a hill. The children ran up and down the hill playing football and giggling at their made up games, while we followed them at a leisurely pace and enjoyed the breathtaking views for miles around. 

 Heaton Park Tramway Museum - Free Entry!

Our final adventure of the day was a visit to the Historical Heaton Park Tramway, which is run by the Manchester Transport Museum Society. Heaton Park is home to the oldest section of original tramtrack in the UK, dating back to 1905!

On Sundays between Easter and October, you can watch a selection of lovingly restored trams running through the park, and even ride on one for a small fee, we were happy to watch them and wave at the passengers as they went past as we walked along to the museum which is full of Manchester tramway history.

We didn't Spend a Penny on the Kids all Day

We had a fantastic day out that was filled with fun activities and we didn't need to spend a single penny on the children all day. I really enjoyed taking part in the challenge and it made me realise that there are so many things in Manchester to enjoy for free! You really don't need to spend money to enjoy a fun day out.

The #KidsEatFree offer at Subway is excellent value for money and we'll be taking advantage of it again while we are out and about during the holidays as it's running right up until 17 April!

Disclaimer: We have been compensated for this post but all images and opinions are our own.

Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure at Manchester Arena - Review

On Wednesday we visited the newly re-opened Manchester Arena to see Disney on Ice Presents Passport to Adventure, it was our sixth time watching a Disney on Ice show and my Disney mad daughter declared that it was the best show ever!

We donned our Disney themed clothing to get into the spirit and jumped on the tram after school to head into the City Centre to Manchester Arena. It was our first visit to the venue after the terrible events that took place in May and it felt quite emotional to be there again. However, the staff were all fabulous, super friendly and made us all feel very safe. The security was fantastic and handled really well, taking note of the information on the arena website, we took very little with us so passed through the airport-style scanners quickly and easily.

Both children were super excited to have the very special opportunity to have their photo taken with Mickey Mouse before the show. (OK, I admit it I was excited too!) We soon found our seats and took our places ready to enjoy the Disney magic!

Before the main show began, we were treated a Fit to Dance pre-show warm up with the stars of Zootropolis, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. It's definitely worth arriving early to give your children the chance to see this extra segment and join in the dancing!

It wasn't long before the much-loved characters, Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Donald and Goofy came out onto the stage ready to start the show, their costumes were amazing as always and perfectly themed with the 'Passport to Adventure' title, they even had their suitcases ready!

The world tour of Disney delights started with a beautiful display of costumes from around the globe, skating to It's a Small World, which my daughter loved as it took her back to our Trip to Disneyland Paris earlier this year and her favourite ride!

I don't want to reveal too much but the first half continued to take us on a whistlestop world tour, stopping at  Africa in the Pridelands and getting us all dancing to 'I Just Can't Wait to be King', then London and Neverland on a magical adventure full of Pixie Dust with Peter Pan.

After a short interval where I successfully veered the children away from the rather shockingly priced merchandise (but did treat them to a box of popcorn each for £4), we headed Under the Sea to visit with Ariel and friends, which involved some amazing skating that had the audience oohing and ahhing throughout.

The final destination we visited was Arendelle, where we were treated to a mini-retelling of the Frozen story including all the much-loved characters and favourite songs! We've Frozen featured in Disney on Ice previously, but I think this may have been the most entertaining yet, we just wanted to sing along!

The spectacular finale brought all of the stories together and ended the show with a sparkly bang!

Each segment had something unique to offer and our whole party were enchanted throughout the show, however, one had us just squealing with delight and that was Peter Pan! It's long been a favourite of both my children and everything from Tinkerbell, Peter and the Darling children flying high across the Arena to the wonderful costumes of the lost boys and of course those pesky pirates led by my son's favourite, Captain Hook!

We thoroughly enjoyed the show and had a wonderful family evening! 

If this has got you singing your favourite Disney tunes and ready to dance along why not book your tickets now?

The tour continues at the following venues: 

Arena Birmingham - 18th -29th October

SSE Arena, Belfast - 3rd - 5th November

Citywest Hotel, Dublin - 10th - 12th November

FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield 15th - 19th November

The O2, London - 20th - 30th December

You can book tickets and see the full schedule on the Disney On Ice website.

Check out what We're going on an Adventure, The Brick Castle and Red Rose Mummy thought of Disney on Ice presents Passport to Adventure too!

We were invited to attend Disney on Ice at Manchester Arena free of charge for the purpose of review, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure at Manchester Arena

Disney On Ice will be returning to the Manchester Arena this year with Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure. The show will run from 11th to 15th October 2017 as part of the tour that started in Glasgow and visits Newcastle, Birmingham, Belfast, Dublin, Sheffield and London before the end of the year.

Disney fans young and old can join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as they take audiences on a fun-filled journey to the most memorable Disney destinations with all of the favourite characters and classic tales that have captivated the world.

Manchester Arena is a place close to my heart, I attended my first music gig there as a teenager in the nineties, and have been to many more since as well as taking my children to a variety of shows and experiences at will what be always known to me as the M.E.N. Arena.

The terrible event that took place earlier this year scared me and made me think about all the times I had been stood in that foyer with my children. However, it has not put me off returning there with my children as we are Manchester and we are tougher than that.

As you will know from reading past posts, we are a house full of  Disney fanatics and this will be our sixth time watching Disney on Ice; it's looking like it may be the best one yet! 

We're looking forward to exploring the African Pride Lands with Simba, Timon and Pumbaa, voyaging deep under the sea to Ariel’s mystical underwater kingdom and touring London with Peter Pan and Wendy, before flying to Neverland to meet up with Tinker Bell. That's three of our favourite Disney movies covered there!

My daughter is also super excited that Frozen will be featured again this year as she absolutely loved last years Anna and Elsa themed show. 

There will be lots more excitement, including the pre-show party! Families arriving early will get to take part in the Fit to Dance pre-show warm up featuring Zootropolis!

We were treated to a sneak peek of this last month when we attended an exclusive Fit to Dance workshop in Manchester, led by the Disney On Ice Skaters and hosted by leader of dance troupe Diversity, winners of the third series of Britain's Got Talent, Ashley Banjo himself!

So if this has got you singing your favourite Disney tunes and ready to dance along why not book your tickets now?

You can book tickets and see the full schedule on the Disney On Ice website.

Free Spooktacular Fun at Lowry Outlet

Today we took the children to the Lowry Outlet Mall in Salford Quays to check out the fabulous free Halloween activities they had to offer.

The Lowry Outlet Mall is in a great location, standing next to the Lowry Theatre and Media City UK and just across the bridge from Imperial War Museum North. It's also handy to get to, just ten minutes drive from Manchester City Centre or 15 minutes on the tram.

It's an ideal place to bring together all the family's interests from shopping to a nice meal out, or a trip to the theatre or cinema. They also have regular events and activities from monthly Makers Market's to themed craft activities in the school holidays.

Today we went to check out what was going on for Halloween. There have been a number of different activities all week for half term, however today and tomorrow there are free pumpkin carving sessions, free face painting and a fun activity trail to complete, that on completion gives your children access to the spooky forbidden forest and all it's treats!

When we arrived we headed straight for the pumpkin carving, there were two 'witch helpers' who were great with the children and helped to cut out the face that my daughter drew on her pumpkin. She had fabulous fun scooping out the pumpkin's flesh and seeds, and then designing her spooky face before finishing the whole thing off. There were also colouring sheets available here, which were ideal for younger siblings to enjoy while older ones were carving. (Please note it was one pumpkin per family and was suitable for over 3's) This was a great free activity that my almost six year old daughter absolutely loved!

We then started to follow the trail around, finding the giant skull stickers on the floor using the maps we collected, both children loved this as I knew they would, being great fans of treasure hunts!

After queuing for a short while for my daughter to have her face painted (my 9 year old has recently decided he is too old for things like face painting and dressing up now!) We went and handed our completed trail sheets in and each child was given a Spooktacular badge which granted them access to the Forbidden Forest. Here they had a fantastic time checking out all the spooky props, fighting off the ghouls in the scarecrow's pumpkin patch and making spells in the witches garden.

After all that fun and a wander around the shops and Maker's Market, tummies were rumbling so we headed to Bella Italia to enjoy a delicious meal.

As well as a whole host of shops, many of them offering extra discounts on high street prices, there are a great selection of restaurants suitable for a variety of tastes and budgets. We ate at Bella Italia, where until 31st October, all kids in fancy dress eat free with an adult dining from the main menu!

We had a fantastic day and I would highly recommend the Lowry Outlet for a fun family day out, however, one thing I would mention if you are driving, the car parking prices have recently increased and you can no longer validate your parking when shopping or eating in the Mall. Keep an eye on how long you will be as the parking charges increase dramatically if you go over 6 hours and we learnt this too late!

All activities mentioned are free and are taking place again tomorrow between 11am and 4pm so if you're looking for something to do, pop over to www.lowryoutlet.co.uk for more details.

We were offered a complimentary meal at Bella Italia in exchange for sharing our day.

Disney On Ice presents Frozen comes to Manchester

The latest Disney On Ice spectacular will be coming to Manchester this October and will be bringing the Academy Award^® winning and number one animated feature film of all time, Disney’s Frozen, to life!

 Disney On Ice presents Frozen is set to mesmerise audiences of all ages when it opens at the  Manchester Arena tonight! Fans will be able to see their favourite characters, including Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven come to life on the ice! And of course young and old will get to sing along with the familiar musical masterpieces including “Let it Go,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “Fixer Upper.” (You know you know them word for word!)

  Anna, a girl with an extraordinary heart, embarks on an epic journey to find her sister, the magical Elsa, who is determined to remain secluded as she finally feels free to test the limits of her powers.    Rugged mountain man Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven, the lovable and hilarious snowman Olaf and the mystical trolls help Anna along the way in this story about love conquering fear. 

 Plus, attendees can warm up for the show and learn the snowman dance, during the Fit to Dance pre-show. Disney On Ice’s Fit to Dance is a family programme, which aims to inspire families to have fun and be active through storytelling and dance.

Frozen directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee add, “Seeing audiences around the world embrace Frozen has been the experience of a lifetime.  And to now have the chance to consult with the talented team at Feld Entertainment and watch their creation come to life on ice, is thrilling.”

Fans of traditional Disney characters Mickey and Minnie won't be disappointed as they still have a part to play, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse take the audience through the magical story based in Arendelle, with special appearances by beloved Disney princesses and favorite characters from Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story and Finding Nemo and Disney’s The Lion King, who come together to prove that true love is the greatest power of all.  

As you are probably aware my family are huge Disney fans and not just the children! We have been lucky enough to attend Disney on Ice the last few times it has visited Manchester and this show looks to be the best yet, especially for my Frozen mad five year old! I'll be sure to come back and update you once we've seen it!

Disney On Ice presents Frozen is appearing across the UK from today, 13th October to 30th December visiting Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Nottingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Sheffield and London. Tickets for the show are on sale now.

Find out more information, including a full list of tour dates, and stay up to date on the Disney On Ice website, Facebook page and Twitter @DisneyOnIce.

We have been offered tickets to tonight's show in exchange for this post.

Celebrate Roald Dahl Day in Manchester this Weekend

'A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.' Roald Dahl

I loved reading as a child, and although he wasn't my favourite author, Roald Dahl was definitely in my top five. His books filled part of my childhood bookshelves and have always stayed with me. My favourites were George's Marvelous Medicine and Danny, Champion of the World!

2016 marks 100 years since the birth of one of the greatest Children's authors and 13th September was his birthday. There are events happening all over the world to celebrate and plenty happening in Manchester over the weekend. My children will be dressing up as their favourite characters for school on Tuesday to mark the occasion (Fantastic Mr Fox and either Matilda or a witch - she's not decided yet!) before before that we'll be heading in to Manchester City Centre on Sunday to have some fantastic fun!

Glittering Eyes pop up cinema

On Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th there will be a fantastical  Glittering Eyes pop up cinema at New Bailey near Spinningfields. There will be showings of James and the Giant Peach,  Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,  Matilda and The Witches. It's not just about the movie showings though as there will be a wonderland of Dahl themed activities from a walk through Willy Wonka's garden to a giant peach pop-up library and loads of Children’s entertainment as well as lots of tasty street food traders to tempt your tastebuds! 
New Bailey Street, Salford, M3 5AX (tickets from £7.50 available at www.eventbrite.co.uk).  

Roald Dahl Big Picnic Day at Tatton Park

To celebrate this special birthday Tatton Park are opening their Gardens to picnickers for the first time on Sunday 11th September 2016, so you can bring a picnic and settle down in their gorgeous formal Gardens! And what's more, they will be free to enter for everyone! During your picnic enjoy exploring the 50-acre garden. There’s a fabulous Danny the Champion of the World Trail to follow full-of-fun obstacles. James and the Giant Peach and the Twits provide further fun! A great afternoon entertainment programme includes a mini disco, Roald Dahl inspired performances and the young ones can settle down and listen in to storytelling. On the day you’ll be able to give a little by treating yourself to a slice of the most humungous, yummy birthday cake baked by our very own baker …..the proceeds go to Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity caring for seriously ill children. Go dressed up as your favourite Roald Dahl character and you could win a superlicious surprise! Gardens open from 10am. Activities take place between 12pm and 3pm. Ice cream, beers and hot and cold refreshments are available to purchase. Car parking is £6 per car. Find out more here