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MMMMMM: Tuck in to Chocolate Week activities
It's chocs away
8/10/2008
CHOCOHOLICS will be in heaven thanks to the nationwide Chocolate Week. The week, from October 13 to 19, is the UK’s biggest chocolate-themed event – a celebration of fine chocolate with talks, tastings and demonstrations taking place around the country. The theme for this year’s week is British chocolate, and there’s loads of events on offer in Greater Manchester.
The Thorntons store in the Trafford Centre will see chocolatier Ross Sneddon holding two demonstrations relating to the chain’s new Fusions range. The demonstrations will take place at 1pm and 5.30pm on Wednesday, October 15. Or enjoy some chocolate sampling at Slattery’s in Whitefield. Slattery’s will be sampling Divine chocolate all week so pop in to the chocolatemakers on Bury New Road try the delicious fairtrade chocolate. For more details on Chocolate Week and its events, visit www.chocolate-week.co.uk
GO ALONG to Manchester’s Platt Fields Park on Saturday for a colourful day of entertainment all linked to the Dashehra Diwali Mela. This involves two Hindu festivals commemorating the victory of good over evil, and the park will be bursting with celebration and fun. There will be music and dance, street performers, jugglers, fire dancers, an Indian wedding brass band and stilt walkers. There will be live music and dancing and at dusk, a 30-feet high effigy of the demon king Ravan will be set alight followed by fireworks and schoolchildren will take part in a lantern procession, walking with the lanterns they have made at earlier workshops. There will also be a mini-bazaar and a funfair. The event is free and runs from 3.30pm to 9pm. Visit www.dashehradiwali.co.uk
DISCOVER Manchester’s pop music heritage next Saturday on a guided tour around the city. It’s arranged by the Blue Badge Guides and takes place from 3pm to 5pm, finishing in the city centre. The tour takes in the sites associated with Manchester bands, from the Hollies to Doves via the Smiths, and reveals the facts and the myths surrounding these iconic groups. Cost is £5 for adults and £4 for concessions. Book in advance by either calling into the Manchester Visitor Information Centre on Lloyd Street or ringing 0871 222 8223.
EVERYONE can take part in one of the most enjoyable festivals in the Jewish calendar through an event on Sunday. As part of the month of October’s Big Draw, Manchester Jewish Museum is inviting children to create flowers and fruits for the succah – the temporary organic structure built by Jewish people during the festival of Succot in which they will eat their meals. This free event takes place from 1pm to 5pm and also offers a chance to look around the lovely Grade II listed building, the former Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, on Cheetham Hill Road. Find out more by going to www.mjm.org.uk or ringing 0161 834 9879.
STEP back to Victorian times on Tameside on Sunday when the countryside rangers have organised a programme of free events. There’s a traditional craft fair in the Victorian setting of Park Bridge Heritage Centre at The Stables, Park Bridge in Ashton under Lyne. This runs from 11am to 4pm. And there are also costumed, guided walks throughout the day to discover the history of Park Bridge. These take place at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm, last around an hour, and go from the heritage centre. For more details 0161 330 0613.
IF you’ve ever wanted to be an artist a terrific hands-on exhibition at The Lowry at Salford Quays is for you. There’s the chance to choose how you want to express your feelings, from scribbling to life drawing, from pencils to paint and landscapes to dreamscapes. Make an exhibition of your work as part of this lively free show. The sessions are open from Sunday to Friday, 11am to 5pm, and on Saturday 10am to 5pm. For more information go to www.thelowry.com
GARDENING fans are in for a treat at Cholmondeley Castle Gardens in Cheshire. On Sunday, there’s a chance to enjoy the best of the autumn tints that nature has on offer when the gardens are open to the public. This splendid Gothic castle is surrounded by some of the country’s most romantically beautiful gardens and there’s a wealth of plants, shrubs, flowers and trees of all types to please the eye. For more details ring 01829 720 383.
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