Browse Sections

• Magazine 
• Food and drink

Days out: C-old Trafford, Chorlton, Levenshulme

Conrad Astley
25/11/2005

A PAIR of special guests will be dropping in at a Chorlton store helping shoppers to decide what to buy relatives for Christmas.

Noddy the donkey and Bilbo the goat will be coming to the town's Oxfam shop on Wilbraham Road on Tuesday to help launch the charity's Oxfam Unwrapped catalogue.

The duo will be in the shop to help provide inspiration for people making a start on their Christmas shopping. They will be helping to demonstrate the impact an alternative gift could have for people in some of the world's poorest countries. Shoppers can buy animals such as goats as Christmas gifts, which will be sent to help third world families.

They can also buy school lunches for poverty-stricken children, shares in a mango plantation, or even a camel.

The furry fellows will be in the store at 1.30pm on Tuesday (November 29).

GREEN-FINGERED Chorlton residents can take part in a community bulb planting event.

The free activity will take place from 11am-1pm tomorrow (Saturday) at Chorlton Park. Contact John McGann on 881 9014 for more details.

LEVENSHULME residents who missed the Manchester lights switch-on can enjoy their own version of the festivities next week.

The town's lights will be turned on next Thursday (December 1) at the village green on the junction of Stockport Road and Chapel Street.

Festivities, starting at 4.45pm will include entertainment from fire jugglers and stilt walkers, while Santa Clause will be on hand to give out free presents to the first 250 children.

The lights will be turned on at 5.30pm.

A WINTER wonderland which will be in place outside Manchester United's ground throughout Christmas opens its doors this weekend.

The first skaters will head out across the Old Trafford ice rink tomorrow (Saturday) and it will be open every day apart from Christmas day until January.

The 750sq mtr rink has a capacity for 240 skaters and will be the only one of its kind in Greater Manchester after the closure of Altrincham ice rink.

It will be housed inside a clear dome next to the stadium's east stand, by Sir Matt Busby Way, and will also contain a café serving warm drinks and snacks.

Skating sessions at the rink will be broken down into 10 one-hour slots per day, beginning at 10am.

Adult tickets cost £9, under 16s cost £7 and concessions are £8. Family tickets - for one adult and three children or two adults and two children - cost £28.

The rink has its own box office but tickets can be booked by visiting www.manutdicerink.com or www.ticketmaster.co.uk

A PEA which finds a real princess, a bean which runs away to make its mark, and the biggest pumpkin in the world.

These stories will all appear in a children's theatrical performance coming to Bowdon at the weekend.

Rob Burnett, who entertained youngsters with his story of Jack and the Beanstalk last year, will be coming back to the town's Cinnamon Club with The Pea, The Bean, and The Enormous Turnip.

He will take his audience of children and parents on a magical journey using his astonishing storytelling and puppetry skills.

The performance, suitable for children aged 3-8, starts at 11am tomorrow (Saturday) but doors open at 10.30am. Tickets cost £5.50 for children and £7.50 for adults, and are available by calling 941 7277 or 928 4102.

THE FESTIVE spirit is coming to Platt Fields Park this weekend as families are invited to the annual Christmas tree dressing fair.

The Rusholme park's Lakeside Centre is holding a festive afternoon tomorrow (Saturday) with mince pies, carols, games and other activities on offer.

Santa Claus will be in his grotto to take some early requests from youngsters.

There will also be art workshops helping children and adults make tree decorations and cards from leaves, ferns and other materials found in the park.

The choir from Holy Trinity Platt will sing a selection of Christmas carols, while the centre's tree will be decorated.

Brian McKeown, chairman of the Friends of Platt Fields Park, organising the event, said: "Many people support the friends in so many ways.

"This is our opportunity to welcome everyone into the park to celebrate recent improvements with pride, and to thank everyone for their help throughout the year - and gather ideas for future plans. We wish everyone a very festive season."

The free event will take place from 1-4pm on Saturday. Families driving to the event can enter the car park via Langley Road, off Wilmslow Road opposite Owens Park.