The North’s largest winter festival, Winter Island, is set to make its highly anticipated return to Freight Island in Manchester this festive season, bringing a brand-new immersive experience with it. The winter event from previous years, Twilight Trail, has evolved to Twilight Tales, and will see Freight Island’s spacious and heated courtyard transformed into a wonderland of light, sound and festive adventure. Purpose-built for the 2025 festive season, organisers of Twilight Tales promise it will be “a captivating blend of storytelling and sensory discovery”.
When does Twilight Tales take place?
Winter Island (including Twilight Tales) runs from Thursday 13th November to Wednesday, 31st December 2025.
What to expect at Twilight Tales
A series of immersive walkthrough installations
Guests will begin their journey by stepping into a towering, enchanted garden, centred around a giant storybook that brings the tale to life, surrounded by a twinkling Christmas tree forest. The experience continues as guests step into a series of immersive walkthrough installations, starting with the Smokey Tunnel, a playful passage filled with swirling clouds of mist and floating smoke bubbles that dance through the air.
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From there, guests are transported into the Icicle Cave, a glittering world where shimmering light meets frosty festive magic, evoking the feeling of stepping into a crystal cavern. The adventure then unfolds through the Spirograph Tunnel, a mesmerising walkway woven with glowing webs and dynamic patterns of light that shift and swirl as visitors move through. Finally, guests emerge into the Mirrorball Cave, a dazzling corridor where reflections sparkle and twinkle like stars across the night sky – a truly breathtaking finale to this enchanting sequence of experiences.
Throughout the tales, Santa’s mischievous elves will be playing hide and seek, and those who spot all ten will have the chance to win a festive gift.
The North Pole Playground and The Twilight Express
Following the walkthrough journey, guests are invited to discover The North Pole Playground – an illuminated playground space in Mayfield Park designed for both children and grown-ups to play, explore, and let their imaginations run wild. But the magic does not stop there as guests are invited to climb aboard The Twilight Express – a neon-lit train experience that captures the excitement of a festive journey to the North Pole, with shimmering carriages filled with bursts of steam, enchanting sound effects and interactive controls.
A cosy festive celebration featuring Santa’s workshop
The Twilight Tales experience leads into a cosy festive celebration where guests can gather around the firepit to toast complimentary marshmallows, enjoy hot chocolate or mulled wine, and for the little ones to get creative in Santa’s Workshop with crafts, plus complimentary face painting. Capture the perfect festive photo on Santa’s sleigh and send Christmas wishes through the giant, magical mail chute.
New additions to the food line-up
Also new for this year, the team behind Winsome will be joining the food line-up to unveil a new project. Known for their thoughtful approach to British comfort food and warm Northern hospitality, the Winsome team will bring their signature flair to Winter Island, offering guests a taste of something truly special for the festive season.
How to get tickets for Twilight Tales
Tickets for Twilight Tales cost £5 (off-peak) and £6 (peak) for kids, £8 (off-peak) and £9 (peak) for adults. Family tickets are available at £24 (off-peak) and £27 (peak) for a family of four, up to two adults and two children- book tickets for Twilight Tales here.
