A huge new event celebrating the legendary miniature toy cars of Hot Wheels has opened in Manchester - and families are now flocking in. The Hot Wheels City Experience is making its European debut right here in the city, with a truly immersive experience inside the BEC Arena at Trafford Park.
The event aims to bring the legendary toy cars to life across a series of interactive stations and car workshops. It has something for all ages of Hot Wheels fans - starting with a museum celebrating the long history of the toy cars.
You can also pose up next to a host of REAL hot wheels - with classic cars on display.
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You then walk through to an extraordinary array of immersive activities - including a gaming zone, a "Hot Wheels Lab" where you can put your mini car on a variety of zany loop-the-loops, and a giant "Shark Zone" with trampolines and ball pools that younger visitors are going to love.
The attraction, with tickets on sale now, spans a 6,000 square metre space inside the BEC Arena, boasting 10 "thrilling zones" for visitors to experience. You start in the briefing room, where a short film takes you zooming into the world of Hot Wheels.
Then you are guided through to the first part of the experience - the Hot Wheels Museum. Here you can trace the history of the model cars, the classic art of the brand, as well as pose up with some legendary life-sized Hot Wheels cars.
Guests can follow an orange strip through to the next section, which is the "Gamer Zone". Rows of game consoles are set up at the far end of the room to have a go on some classic car racing computer games.
For younger guests, there's also a bank of tables set up with car colouring kits.
You can then head through to more car simulators for older kids (as they'll need to reach the pedals!). You and old can also get photos taken to be put on a personalised Hot Wheels "driving licence" which they can proudly wear on a lanyard.
Next up is the Design Centre, where you can have a go at creating your own vibrant colours and graphics which are then beamed on to life-sized model cars. Further inside the exhibition there's also a digital “build your own car” station where the finished results are beamed onto the walls.
The Hot Wheels Lab was one of the busiest areas on launch night - as this is the spot where fans get to play with the most popular Hot Wheels toys including giant tracks and pre-built racecourses.
There is also the “Hot Wheels Challenge Accepted Championships” take place, alongside the opportunity to win some exciting prizes.
Younger kids will undoubtedly be drawn to the Hot Wheels Shark Frenzy zone. This area boasts two rows of trampolines, as well as large foam square pits that kids will love to jump into.
Guests on the opening night on Monday got the first glimpse of over 1000 original Hot Wheels diecasts on display alongside the legendary life-sized Hot Wheels cars, including the iconic Bone Shaker.
The Hot Wheels City Experience is now open inside the BEC Arena at Trafford Park opening from today (August 13) for a run of dates daily through to September 12. Once inside you're free to stay as long as you like, with bosses saying most people stay around 90 minutes to two hours.
The event has been created by Live Nation, BeFUN, and Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) and has headed to Manchester fresh from a tour of South America.
How to get tickets and prices
Tickets start in price from £27.50 for adults and £22.50 for children for the Hot Wheels event, which will be running from August 13 to September 12 at the BEC Arena which is on Longbridge Road on Trafford Park.
Tickets are available from Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
There is parking on site at the arena, but this needs to be booked online separately here which is priced at £12. Alternatively the nearest tram stops are at Parkway or the Trafford Centre, around a five minute walk away.
Is there food and drink?
At the end of the exhibition there is a large bar area serving a range of drinks including hot and cold beverages and alcoholic drinks for the adults, while upstairs is a loaded fries restaurant.
Outside the BEC Arena there are also pop-up street vendors - on opening night these were a pizza oven and Eat New York bagels.
Is there a shop?
Yes, at the end of the exhibition you'll find a fully-stocked gift shop. It boasts an array of Hot Wheels cars, race tracks and merchandise like t-shirts and caps.
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