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Greater Manchester’s popular Walking Festival returns next month with more than 400 events

It's time to get out into nature.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 17th April 2025

Greater Manchester’s popular Walking Festival is back next month and there’s more than 400 events happening.

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.

Whether you’re walking with a pram, wheeling with a mobility aid, exploring with friends, or simply just taking time to move mindfully, there’s something for everyone on this year’s lineup – from scenic canal strolls and city centre heritage walks, to family-friendly nature trails, and dementia-friendly rambles.

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Organisers say the festival offers an opportunity to ‘move, connect, and feel good’, as each event is free to attend and designed to be inclusive.

Some of the highlights on this year’s festival lineup include the chance to get off the beaten track and discover the hidden corners of Burrs Country Park in Bury with a friendly local guide, the ‘Steps Against Stigma’ walk in Salford Quays, where you can join a community opening up about mental health, or a lovely wellbeing walk across parks in Sale Moor.

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Women walking in nature
Greater Manchester’s popular Walking Festival returns next month / Credit: Greg Rosenke (via Unsplash)

There’s also dedicated events for over 50s, those going through the menopause to connect with others, and events for lovers of birdsong and woodland nature.

“I’m delighted to see so many local groups from all parts of Greater Manchester coming together to make this year’s GM Walking Festival,” commented Louise Robbins, who is GM Moving’s Strategic Lead for Walking and Active Environments.

“With over 400 walks happening across May, there are countless opportunities to get moving in a way that works for you.”

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Read more:

GM Walking Festival 2025 takes place throughout the month of May, and you can find out about all the events happening here.

Featured Image – Kitera Dent (via Unsplash)

What's On

A completely free canal-side festival is coming back to Salford again

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia A completely free canal-side festival is coming back to Salford again

After a successful run last year, the Salford-based Middlewood Locks Fest is returning for a second time with the promise of an even bigger and better programme of entertainment, food and fun. 

Taking place on Saturday 10 May from 2pm-10pm, the free festival returns to Middlewood Locks..

Whether you’re local or just looking for a great day out, the festival will have something for everyone. There’ll be plenty of activities and pop-up stalls for you to get involved with, including a daytime market as well as children’s interactive workshops.

Get Living is proud to support the festival for the second year, which celebrates local creativity, community spirit and culture. The event is set to take place on the doorstep of New Maker Yards, Get Living’s canal-side neighbourhood.

With a range of one-three bedroom homes available for rent, New Maker Yards blends spacious, stylish apartments with green open spaces, complete with an on-site cafe and a strong community feel – all at the heart of the vibrant Middlewood Locks neighbourhood, where  the festival action is taking place.

For Middlewood Locks Fest, a Makers Market will be taking place throughout the day with items on offer from local makers, artisans, performers and creators, including plants, jewellery, artwork, clothes and produce.

The Canal & River Trust is organising explorer’s activities for kids and families alike, while St Philip’s CE Primary School has worked with artists to create bespoke decorations for the event too.

A completely free canal-side festival is coming back to Salford again
A completely free canal-side festival is coming back to Salford again. Credit: Karen Wright

If that wasn’t enough for you, how about a special appearance from a canal-side regular as a giant Canadian goose puppet will also be making an appearance to meet festival-goers.

Everything really is catered for here. On top of the makers market and masterclasses, there will also be live music courtesy of a brass band – that sounds like music to my ears.

There’s even the opportunity to go on the water yourself as a handful of rafted canoes will be in use for activities throughout the day.

And of course food is in safe hands too. Street food vendors including Taka Taka Mam will be bringing all the flavours of the Mediterranean and stuffing them into their famous hearty gyros, while city favourites Ginger’s Ice Cream Emporium is popping up from Afflecks to soak up the sun and provide dreamy desserts direct from the canal-side pop-up.

Middlewood Locks Fest in Salford
Middlewood Locks Fest in Salford
Middlewood Locks Fest, a canal-side festival in Salford. Credit: Karen Wright Photography

And when the sun’s out it would be rude not to treat yourself to a tipple, so good thing that the Adams & Rose Bar is making an appearance to fill up your glass with the finest gin and rum selection.

As the night comes to an end, you can dance the night away to some epic tunes thanks to a live DJ while being surrounded by a mesmerising fire and sound installation to close this spectacular celebration.

Kim Quickfall, Regional Director at Get Living, said: “Last year’s Middlewood Locks Fest was
a huge success and we’re excited to be supporting the event again in 2025.

“Bringing people from across Salford and the wider area together, the day will celebrate the best of local culture, enterprise and creativity with activities and events for all.”

Middlewood Locks Fest is returning to Salford on Sunday 10 May from 2pm to 10pm and more information can be found HERE.

For those that can’t make the festival fun, there are plenty of other things to see and do in the area. From the delicious treats at 97 Degrees Coffee to the landmark Aviva Studios cultural hub,  there is plenty to discover in this buzzing neighbourhood.

Explore the 1-3 bedroom homes for rent at New Maker Yards and discover more at getliving.com.

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Featured image: Karen Wright Photography

What's On

Clubland at AO Arena, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Clubland is returning to Manchester this weekend, and we’ve got you sorted with all you need to know so you can let your hair down.

Whether you’re ready to jump up and down for a bit of ‘Everytime We Touch’ or lose it all and go crazy over ‘Now You’re Gone’, you can do both as Clubland is in town.

Instead of waiting months between seeing your favourite artists live, this night brings them all together and pops them on one big stage for a three-hour-long festival, isn’t that handy?

Get ready to live out your Europop dreams, dance the night away and enjoy some feel-good, care-free tunes.

Clubland UK tour dates

Clubland tickets for AO Arena gig

Clubland has toured the UK numerous times and has become a firm staple in some people’s concert calendar every year.

However, fans are in luck as there are just a handful of tickets left to choose from HERE.

Clubland setlist

Basshunter and Cascada are two of the guests lined up for Clubland at AO Arena, Manchester.
Basshunter and Cascada are two of the guests lined up for Clubland at AO Arena, Manchester.
Credit: Remigiusz Józefowicz via Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

The gig at AO Arena in Manchester will be the closing night of the 2025 UK tour, meaning fans will be dancing like nobodies watching and soaking up all those seriously good vibes.

On AO Arena’s website, the concert is set to feature various artists, including Basshunter, Billy Gillies feat. Hannah Boleyn, Cascada; Darren Styles, Flip n Fill feat. Karen Parry, Kelly Llorenna and Ultrabeat.

Although no setlist is confirmed, based on that lineup alone, anyone attending is in for a treat.

What are the stage times for Clubland in Manchester?

AO Arena has a curfew of 11pm meaning concertgoers can ‘Evacuate The Dancefloor’ before the clock strikes twelve, but we’re sure if you want to continue the party Manchester is always ready for a party and with an array of bars and clubs nearby, our city centre will be waiting with open arms.

Doors for Clubland are scheduled for 6pm with a start time of 7:30pm. The lineup looks to be complete and intact for now; regardless of any drop-outs/latecomers, we’re sure some of your favourite dance tunes will be pumping out through the arena’s speakers.

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How to get to AO Arena

Tram

For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.

Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Train

Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.

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Bus

A variety of buses cover AO Arena and Victoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.

A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.

Getting there by car and parking

The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.

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Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.

Walk/cycle

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.

About the AO Arena

The AO Arena has a few strict policies to keep gig-goers safe, so make sure to check entry requirements carefully before you travel.

For example, only one small bag per person is allowed, and bags like backpacks, travel cases and laptop bags are not permitted inside the arena.

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All bags are scanned on entry to check for prohibited items like laser pens, flares, projectiles, weapons, drugs and alcohol, and even selfie sticks.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Publicity Picture (via Supplied)

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