Plus Free Carnival Fun at Ladysmith!

Summer holidays are almost here, and at Ladysmith Shopping Centre, we are turning up the magic! If you’re looking for a spectacular, budget-friendly way to keep the kids entertained, look no further. We are bringing the thrill of the carnival, the joy of the funfair, and a touch of pure mystery right to the heart of Ashton.

Become A Real Magician And Impress Your Friends And Family!

But before we tell you about our incredible event, we’ve got something super mysterious to share with you! To celebrate, we’re giving you a free mind-boggling trick that your children can perform for friends and family.

Click here to download the instructions. You can take a photo with your phone or print it out. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Fancy taking a photo or video of them performing the trick? Send it to us and we’ll share on our socials!

DOWNLOAD THIS MAGIC TRICK HERE and be the star of the show at home!

Want to know more?

3 Things You Might Not Know About Magic!

1. What was the first trick ever performed?

The oldest magic trick we know about is called ‘Cups and Balls.’ A painting of this exact trick was found inside an ancient Egyptian tomb from nearly 5,000 years ago! The magician hides tiny balls or stones under upside-down cups, making them vanish, reappear, or jump from cup to cup right before your eyes.

2. Who is the most famous magician?

The most famous magician in history is Harry Houdini. He lived about 100 years ago and became incredibly well known for his astonishing escape acts. He could break out of  police handcuffs, untie himself from ropes while hanging upside down, and escape from locked boxes filled with water!

3. How can  you or your children start to learn magic?

• Start with everyday objects, you don’t need expensive tools. You can do amazing tricks using a regular pack of playing cards, coins and elastic bands.
• Practice the ‘secret move’! Film yourself on a phone doing the trick. Watch it back to make sure your hands look completely natural and aren’t accidentally showing the secret!
• Tell a story. A great magician doesn’t just do a trick in silence, they tell a funny or mysterious story to distract the audience.
• The Magician’s Code! Never tell anyone how a trick is done, and never do the exact same trick twice in a row for the same person (otherwise, they will figure out your secret)!

One More Fun Fact!

How Was Candy Floss Invented?

Surprisingly, candy floss (or cotton candy) was invented by a dentist!

In 1897, a dentist named William Morrison teamed up with a confectioner named John C. Wharton in Nashville, Tennessee. Together, they designed and patented an electric candy machine that used centrifugal force to spin liquid sugar through tiny holes. As the melted sugar flew through the air, it cooled instantly into the fluffy, thread-like strands we know today.

They originally called it ‘Fairy Floss’ and introduced it to the world at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. It was a massive success, they sold over 68,000 boxes even though it cost 25 cents a box, which was a lot of money back then!

In the 1920s, another dentist named Josef Lascaux tried to improve the machine and rebranded the treat as ‘cotton candy,’ which stuck in America, while the UK and Australia kept names like candy floss and fairy floss.

Step Right Up to the Funfair

Tuesday 11th August from 11am – 3pm is officially the Ladysmith Summer

Spectacular and It’s entirely FREE to attend. We are transforming the centre into a bustling carnival ground for the afternoon. Kids can get creative with our fantastic Face Painting artists, testing out their favourite mystical designs. Then, it’s time to test their skills at our classic funfair games! We’ll have Hook a Duck and Tin Can Alley, with plenty of brilliant prizes just waiting to be won.

Circus Skills Workshop

Have your little ones ever wanted to learn the secrets of a circus performer? Alongside our games, we are hosting a completely free Circus Skills Workshop. There is absolutely no need to book, simply turn up on the day and join the fun! Kids will learn how to move like real carnival performers. It’s the perfect way to build up their coordination and give them a few dazzling ‘magic tricks’ to show off to the family at home.

Save the date Tuesday 11th August 11am – 3pm.

Enter Our Sweetest Competition Yet!

Think your eyes can’t be tricked? We are putting your vision to the test with our Sweet Spectacular competition! We have a sweet jar packed entirely to the brim with colourful treats, but can you work out exactly how many sweets are hiding inside?

This is a digital competition you can enter right from your phone. Simply head over to our website, fill out the form with your ultimate guess, and you could WIN a £50 Ladysmith gift card! Your guess could be the lucky one, so make sure to look closely.

Want To Start Your Magic Journey With Ladysmith?

Head to Home Bargains and pick up some juggling balls and a pack of cards for less than £2.