We’re mid-way through the month, and summer still hasn’t really shown its face.
Despite the grim Greater Manchester weather over the last few weeks, the region’s events calendar luckily still continues to be jam-packed with events for everyone to be getting involved with while schools are out – from festivals, family-friendly activities, and foodie feasts, to immersive experiences, exhibitions, and so much more.
If you’re stuck for choice, we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week.
Here’s our top picks.
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Dinosaurs in the Park
Heaton Park
Monday 14 August – onwards
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Dinosaurs in the Park / Credit: Dinosaurs in the Park
Dozens of life-sized animatronic dinosaurs have taken over the grounds of Heaton Park for the summer.
Manchester has become “a palaeontologist’s playground” as around 40 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs have descended on the popular park to give dino fans of all ages the chance to get up close and personal with well-known favourites such as the Stegosaurus, Triceratops and Velociraptor, as well as the lesser-known Dilophosaurus, Kentrosaurus, and Hypacrosaurus.
Visitors can expect dinosaurs around every corner, and “an educational and enjoyable day out for the whole family“.
Summer Daze is back and better than ever at the Trafford Centre this summer.
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Running all summer long right the way through until early September, Summer Daze is home to a massive 600sqm beach for sunbathing and sandcastles, and not one but two “thrilling splash parks” with loads of water jets outside the shopping centre.
Not only that, but there’s also a retro funfair with over 20 fairground rides, and you can also take part in crafting workshops and face painting, and catch costume characters, live music, and entertainment.
A brand-new exhibition is currently having its world premiere at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, and it’s giving families the chance to “dive headfirst into the digestive system” and “travel like a poo”.
The new blockbuster exhibition, Operation Ouch!, is based on and will see the award-winning CBBC children’s TV series brought to life.
Visitors can expect interactive experiences, amazing objects from the Science Museum Group’s collection, and appearances from world-renowned doctors who will be on hand to guide audiences through this “lively, interactive, and playful adventure to better understand our brilliant bodies”.
The Great Frogtastic Invention Trail / Credit: Totally Stockport
Stockport’s beloved giant colourful frog sculptures have returned.
Following the undeniable success of previous art trails in both 2019 and 2021, the Stockport Frogs are back for a brand-new adventure this summer, with 19 multi-coloured amphibians having hopped onto podiums across the town centre.
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This year’s trail is themed all around ‘Frogtastic Inventions’, and will see frog-spotters of all ages get to make their way around the town centre on what’s set to be an “educational, engaging and vibrant” outdoor adventure.
Thought Barbie fever was finally dying down? No sir, think again.
Spinningfields wine bar Provence is giving its excellent ‘wine-oke’ offering (which is, as you might have guessed, karaoke fuelled by wine) the Barbie treatment.
You can book 90 minutes of all-pink fun, with any pink drink included on arrival for £20pp – or you can go bottomless for £40pp, which includes unlimited selected wine, prosecco, or beer and one of Provence’s sharing grazing boards.
And anyone who shows their Barbie cinema ticket at Provence can enjoy half-price rose sangria (£4 per glass) and 2-4-1 on Pornstar Spritz.
Fancy trying out some new bars, and restaurants that have opened in Greater Manchester this month?
How is it August already? Somehow, this summer has felt like the shortest one yet, but no matter if you’re feeling a bit meh about this wonderful British summertime, as there’s always food to turn to in Greater Manchester – and that, as we know, makes everything better.
Failing that, there’s always a drink. Or a few.
As we do every month, we’ve rounded up the best new bars and restaurants opening in Greater Manchester this month, and there’s some really good ones to look forward to, so you can find out where to put on your list here.
Also, if you’re looking to keep your spending within a budget, check out our round-up of some of the best food and drink deals to take advantage of this month here.
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StarWash Roller Disco
Trafford Centre
Monday 14 August – onwards
StarWash Roller Disco / Credit: Trafford Centre
Trafford Centre’s new disco-themed roller rink has officially opened for the summer.
Having popped-up in The Orient food court in front of the Main Stage area, the shopping centre’s new StarWash Roller Disco is described as being a “dazzling disco-themed roller rink” that’s an immersive experience where skaters can “get down both on and off the rink”.
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Skaters are “transported” to a world of “vibrant lights, pulsating beats, and a kaleidoscope of colours”, all while a DJ blasts out a soundtrack of feel-good tunes and disco classics.
A pop-up beach club has appeared right in the heart of Manchester city centre, and it’ll transport you straight to the Mediterranean.
The Capri Beach Club – which has appeared at Exchange Square outside Selfridges – has been kitted out with cabanas, boardwalks, swing chairs, and even real sand, and it promises to recreate the ambience of a real Capri beach club.
There’s a DJ playing chilled-out beats from the 80s up to the latest chart-toppers, plus resident saxophonist Elliot Slater, who has graced the stages at some of the biggest clubs in Ibiza.
As you lounge back on luxury seating, you can work your way through the summer cocktail list that includes Aperol spritzes, margaritas, bellinis, and espresso martinis, and then grab a bite to eat from the range of street food vendors.
Have you heard that NQ64 has got itself a new Northern Quarter home? And it’s big.
The much-loved arcade bar that’s packed with retro arcade games and themed cocktails has shifted over from its original site in a Tib Street basement to a brand new location… in a Tib Street basement.
Taking on the former Dive bar site next door, here there’s much more room for activities – with free-play retro consoles, classic arcade games, competitive simulations like Guitar Hero, dance mats, and so much more to get stuck into.
Now that it’s four times the size, the new super-sized NQ64 has space for 350 people inside.
Backyard Cinema is back in Manchester for the summer, and has created a Miami Beach rooftop experience that’s transporting people back to the 1980s.
The immersive cinema experience has taken over the roof of Depot Mayfield and transformed the industrial space into Miami Beach – using 30 tonnes of sand and signature palm tree cocktails to create the UK’s largest pop-up beach.
The summer-long series will include cinematic parties and screenings of major summer blockbusters, plus sing-alongs and loads more, all with sand between your toes and ultra-comfy seats.
One of Manchester’s most iconic and historic venues is hosting the perfect rainy day summer holidays event this week.
How does a picnic inside a hollowed-out Grade II-listed gala pool sound? As part of Victoria Baths’ weekly ‘Welcome Wednesdays’ event, this week’s ‘Picnic in the Pool’ gives families the chance to soak up the sun without a chance of rain, as you picnic under the glorious glass roof and get stuck into a whole host of activities for all ages.
The event is free, but booking is advised to avoid disappointment as spaces may be limited on the day.
Find out more here.
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Red Rose Diners
East Lancashire Railway
Friday 18 – Sunday 20 August
Red Rose Diners / Credit: ELR
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this summer.
Running every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday right through the summer until September, ELR’s Red Rose Diners are described as being “the ultimate first class foodie experience”, as they start with a glass of fizz and stretch over an almost three-hour steam train journey through the Irwell Valley.
The experience includes a four-course dinner with complimentary sparkling wine, followed by tea or coffee and after-dinner chocolates.
New late-night tickets for Yayoi Kasuma’s giant polka-dot inflatable art exhibition in Manchester have been made available after what was an undeniably successful run as part of this year’s jam-packed Manchester International Festival programme.
Tens of thousands of people made their way to see the major new installation by celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, and it’s fair to say they were left mesmerised by the jaw-dropping spectacle.
‘You, Me and the Balloons’ gives visitors the chance to “immerse themselves in Kusama’s psychedelic universe”.
Featured Image – Trafford Centre | The Manc Group | Totally Stockport
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 26 May – 1 June 2025
Emily Sergeant
It’s bank holiday Monday and schools are out for half term.
May has been in full bloom for the last couple of weeks, especially as Manchester Flower Festival is still here, and with June arriving at the end of this week, there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to in Greater Manchester.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries.
We’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide, both free things, and those that’ll set you back a few pennies too.
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The Dachshund Pup Up Cafe
Manchester City Centre
Monday 26 May
The Dachshund Pup Up Cafe / Credit: Supplied
Are you a big dachshund fan? Love seeing lots of little sausage dogs in the same place? Looking for your little pup to make some sausage friends? Don’t even have a sausage dog but want to join in on the fun anyway?
Well you’re in luck, as the Dachshund Pup Up Cafe is back in our city for its second time this year… and what better day than bank holiday Monday.
Organisers are expecting more than 250 dachshunds to join in on the fun this time around, and there’s loads for them to look forward to.
Manchester Flower Festival 2025 / Credit: Manchester BID
Manchester is blooming with colour once again as the city’s annual Flower Festival has returned this late May bank holiday weekend.
Now in its eighth year, and always billed as being the city’s most Instagrammable event in the annual calendar, The Manchester Flower Festival is a fabulous floral spectacle that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors into Manchester city centre.
This year’s festival, which is organised annually by Manchester BID, is celebrating Manchester and other great cities around the world.
From the vibrant tulip fields of Amsterdam, to the urban energy of New York’s Statue of Liberty, and the high-tech influence of Singapore, this year’s theme is wide open for interpretation, and offers contributing gardeners the chance to showcase their designs which interpret the beauty of cities through iconic landmarks, floral heritage, or personal connections to global hotspots.
The GM Walking Festival is back for 2025, and it’s bigger than ever.
Coordinated by Greater Manchester Moving, and organised in alignment with National Walking Month, the month-long celebratory festival invites people from all across the region to experience the joy of walking and wheeling throughout May.
The festival brings together more than 400 free organised group walks hosted by local organisations and community groups in every borough of Greater Manchester.
Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You / Credit: Science Museum Group
You can plunge headfirst into the incredible world of our senses at a new immersive museum exhibition that’s now arrived at the Science and Industry Museum.
Back by popular demand after a successful run over these past two years, but with a fresh new adventure lined up for 2025, Operation Ouch! is giving you the chance to journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot, and delve deeper into how our brains interpret the world.
Tickets to Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You are now on sale, and visitors are being told to prepare themselves for an “epic exploration of the senses”.
Stories – Brought To Life / Credit: The Manc Group
A major new National Portrait Gallery exhibition has arrived in Salford.
The ground-breaking new experience by FRAMELESS Creative has opened at MediaCity, bringing some of the world’s most famous portraits to life like never before.
Stories – Brought to Life will explore the fascinating lives of these figures, who have shaped the UK’s history and culture all the way since the Tudor period, and will combine the highest quality digital projection, Hollywood-style visual effects, and the latest audio technology, along with specially created musical scores and creative narratives to shine a new light on each individual.
Visitors will be able to step inside iconic portraits including Grayson Perry, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Emmeline Pankhurst, Queen Elizabeth I, and William Shakespeare.
Balcony Greening Workshops / Credit: National Trust
Free balcony greening workshops are happening across Greater Manchester this spring to help people create their own ‘mini wildlife havens’.
The National Trust is on a mission to help city dwellers create their own green spaces through its ‘Sky Gardening Challenge’, with the conservation charity encouraging people with balconies to ‘grow and green’ the town or city they live in from skyline spaces in the hopes that it’ll enhance their connection to nature and improve their wellbeing, all while helping wildlife thrive at the same time.
City dwellers can get a free balcony gardening guide, free seeds, and free workshops in collaboration with lots of brilliant community organisations across the region.
Classes are happening across the borough on selected dates up until 7 June, and you can find out more and book here.
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COMING SOON – Circolo Popolare
St Michael’s
COMING SOON – Circolo Popolare / Credit: The Manc Group
Get ready to say Ciao to Circolo Popolare, Manchester’s newest Italian restaurant opening over in Gary Neville’s fancy St Michael’s development early next month, because we got to have a little look around and can confirm it’s an absolute feast for the senses.
From the jasmine-covered ceiling to the windows full of vintage booze bottles, all the way down to the hand-painted crockery, she’s certainly a looker.
On the menus you’ll find authentic Neapolitan pizzas, huge pasta bowls, authentic plates, and a gigantic wibbly-wobbly tower of a lemon meringue pie – plus cocktails poured from animal-shaped jugs.
It’s officially opening on 6 June and this is one you want to get straight in your calendar.
L.S. Lowry’s iconic masterpiece ‘Going to the Match’ is being brought to life right before your eyes in this brand-new exhibition now open at The Lowry.
Lowry 360 is an immersive experience forming part of the legendary The Lowry theatre’s 25th anniversary programme, and it means that, for the first time ever, you can see one of Manchester’s most famous paintings by, arguably, the city’s most famous artist come to life through sight and sound.
Better yet, after you’ve immersed yourself in this incredible experience, then you can then see the actual painting in the full gallery – Modern Life: The LS Lowry Exhibition.
Legendary musical The Rocky Horror Show is back in Manchester this week.
Having been seen by over 35 million theatregoers since it first debuted, The Rocky Horror Show will be making a grand return to one of Manchester’s biggest stages this week, and it’s starring none other than Australian superstar, Jason Donovan.
The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of two squeaky clean college kids, who meet the charismatic Dr Frank-n-Furter when, by a twist of fate, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion whilst on their way to visit their former college professor.
It’s described as being an adventure filled with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity, and you can find out more and get last-minute tickets here.
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Half Term 50% Off Pass
Oxygen at MediaCity
Monday 26 May – Sunday 1 June
Half Term Pass / Credit: Jamie McPhilimey
Now that schools are out, families can get themselves one of Oxygen at MediaCity’s Half Term Pass, which gives pass holders the chance to visit the newly-opened £2.5m indoor activity park on any five days of the two-week break for 60 minutes of ‘Open Play’.
Weekends and the bank holiday are also included in the pass, so there’s plenty of time to go.
Kargo on the Docks / Credit: Supplied | Mark Waugh
Kargo on the Docks is back for the summer.
MediaCity’s al fresco dining pop-up has taken over the waterfront and gardens once again with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.
A handful of Greater Manchester’s most popular independents have set themselves up Quayside inside those signature re-imagined shipping containers.
Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours including Caribbean, Lebanese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and Pan-Asian dishes.
Little Tikes x Bluey / Credit: Bluey | Wikimedia Commons
Fancy taking your little Mancs to meet Bluey herself this half term?
As schools across Greater Manchester are out for half term this week, toy manufacturers Little Tikes are heading to MediaCity, and bringing everyone’s favourite adventurous puppy Bluey along for the ride too… oh and better yet, it’s all completely free.
This day-long event – which is to celebrate the launch of Little Tikes and Bluey’s collaboration – will feature an abundance of Little Tikes toys for kids to try out, while parents can put their feet up and watch some Bluey on the big outdoor screen.
A popular festival full of pop-up live music, performance, food, drink, and family fun is back in Swinton this weekend.
Returning to the Salford town for the third year running at some of Swinton’s favourite venues and well-known locations, Swinton Sounds – which is a collaboration between Salford City Council and From The Other – is all about celebrating the local area and its vibrant community.
Throughout the weekend, local venues will welcome a lineup of Greater Manchester’s best musicians and DJs in a programme curated by the team behind the Sounds from the Other City festival.
Featured Image – Supplied | Pup Up Cafe | National Trust
What's On
You can get 50% off tickets at Manchester’s new £2.5m indoor activity park this half term
Emily Sergeant
Families have the chance to visit Greater Manchester’s newly-opened indoor activity park for half price this half term.
In case you hadn’t already heard, Salford was chosen by Oxygen Activeplay as the location for its next venture, and officially opened the doors to its newest state-of-the-art equipment facility above bustling food hall Kargo MKT, inside the former site of I’m a Celebrity Jungle Challenge down at Quayside MediaCity, in mid February.
Since opening to the public, Oxygen MediaCity has already been helping lots of local families stay active while having fun at the same time.
Following a £2.5 million investment, the new park features more than 30 trampolines, a mega-air bag, a high ropes course, a ‘Rollglider’ aerial ride which flies over the facility, and Oxygen’s signature illuminated sensory experience ‘Excite Tunnel’, along with even more epic activities.
A series of optional games and dance parties are also on offer during each play session, and the new Manchester park also hosts ‘Peaceful Play’ sessions designed for neurodivergent guests, who prefer a calmer and quieter playing environment, as well as there being a ‘Toddler Venture Zone’.
A cafe serving drinks, snacks, and meals also overlooks the park, so once you’re all bounced out, you can recharge with a full feast from the new menu before heading home.
And thankfully, once schools are out again for half term next week, families can get themselves one of Oxygen at MediaCity’s Half Term Passes, which gives pass holders the chance to visit the park on any five days of the two-week break – including on weekends and the bank holiday – for 60 minutes of ‘Open Play’ between 26 May – 1 June.
Manchester’s new £2.5m indoor activity park is offering 50% off tickets over half term / Credit: Jamie McPhilimey
What’s more is that when pre-booking online, jumpers can add VIP Meal Deals to their order, which include a kid’s meal, slushie, and an ice cream or fruit bag for children for just £6, a toddler meal for just £4, or an adult meal, along with a bottled drink and ice cream for just £10.
Alternatively, guests can add a ‘Feed The Family’ bundle to their order when pre-booking tickets to secure a 20% saving.
For a limited time only, you can save some pennies and take advantage of the half-price offer by getting your hands on a Half Term Pass for only £30.
Emily Sergeant -
14th August 2023 
