Manchester’s secret suntrap street will throw a huge three-day live music festival this weekend, alongside family-friendly Pride fun.
The Great Northern Warehouse’s sun terraces will be serving up sun, food, drinks, and live music throughout the bank holiday weekend.
Lion’s Den will welcome Manc music legend Clint Boon to its newly refurbished terrace space as part of Den Fest, alongside live performances from rising talent.
The bar’s pop-up outdoor stage will welcome more than 25 different artists, bands and DJs between 26 and 28 August – and it’s totally free to attend.
The line-up features up-and-coming indie artists including Colliders, Bedside Manners, The Common View and Reave.
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Any proceeds raised from Den Fest will be donated to local charity Forever Manchester, which supports community activity across the region.
Den Fest at Great Northern Warehouse. Credit: Phil Tragen 2021
Elsewhere at the Great Northern Warehouse, its giant outdoor sandpit will host a series of free, family-friendly events, in collaboration with Family Pride MCR and LGBTQ+ charity Proud 2 b Parents.
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The Palaver Party will be an inclusive and celebratory event, hosted in the square and amphitheatre, with live performances celebrating queer identities for children and families.
There’ll be a magic show, a mini disco, arts and crafts, party games, prizes and free play, aimed at children aged between three and eight.
The Palaver Party will be at Great Northern Warehouse as part of Family Pride MCR. Credit: Supplied
The Palaver Party will take place on Saturday 27 August between 12pm and 6pm and is free to attend.
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The Book Nook, Great Northern Warehouse’s community library on the first floor of the warehouse building, will hold a human library and quiet chill-out areas in collaboration with Proud 2 b Parents.
All the Great Northern Warehouse’s brilliant independent businesses will open for business this weekend, so you can really make a day of it.
You can start with brunch or lunch at Another Hand – recently shortlisted as Newcomer of the year and Restaurant of the year at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards – where the ever-changing menu features small plates and perfect eggs on Holy Grain sourdough.
The Book NookAlmost Famous
Another Hand is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am until 3pm, with the small plates menu available from 5pm until 10pm.
There are delicious milkshakes, cakes and bakes at Alex’s Bakery, like brand-new Cake Pots, made up of fluffy carrot flavoured sponge cake with the bakery’s top-secret recipe vanilla cream, topped off with freshly whipped cream.
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The largest sun terrace of the lot is at Impossible, which is open late between Tuesdays and Sundays.
There are two-for-£12 cocktails between Sunday and Thursday, including the Vimto Bramble, a delicious mix of double Beefeater gin, lemon and drizzled in Vimto syrup.
Almost Famous are based here too, and will be offering 50% off all burgers on Thursday 25 August to celebrate National Burger Day.
The burger legends have just added new ice cream cookie sandwiches to the menu too, using freshly-baked cookies and Cheshire Farm ice cream, rolled in a biscuit crumb.
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To find out more about this weekend’s activities at the Great Northern Warehouse, visit thegreatnorthern.com.
Featured image: Supplied
Kids & Family
Be part of the biggest Great Manchester Run ever
Danny Jones
Runners and regular Mancs alike, start lacing up your trainers and sorting safety pins early, because the Great Manchester Run is back for 2026, and you can be part of it.
With sign-ups flying and bibs selling out fast, we really recommend getting a move on and booking your place now to make sure you’re part of what is, without fail, not just one of the most exciting dates on the local sporting calendar, but always a great day for the city in general.
Returning for its 23rd edition and fourth year being backed by principal sponsors, AJ Bell, we can assure it’ll be as well-attended as ever.
In fact, judging by the numbers already and the increasing crowds of spectators every year, this is looking on course to be the biggest Great Manchester Run to date.
The only question is, are you going to help make it the BEST yet by joining the thousands of others already finding the perfect spot to hang their shiny new medal?
Half-marathon, 10k, junior and mini races
As ever, the Great MCR Run isn’t just limited to one event: there are multiple distances, routes and age groups that can race the route in and around the city centre.
Whether you’re a seasoned runner looking to get in a PB, looking to box off your first half, love a 10, or you’re a youngster looking to get in on the action and soak up some of that glory on the day
So, whether you’re a seasoned runner looking to get in a PB, looking to box off your first half, love a 10, or you’re a youngster looking to get in on the action and soak up some of that glory on the day, there really is fun for all ages.
In all seriousness, even watching the massive metropolitan event stood next to the roads with homemade signs promises plenty of atmosphere, but with fancy dress galore, various different activations in the middle of the city, there’s not a chance you’ll get bored.
Even in the years we’ve missed out on running it ourselves (it sold well in advance last year, for instance), the pure buzz we got from joining countless other Mancs cheering from the pavement is enough to keep us coming back time and time again.
All that being said, if you’re looking to sort the perfect Christmas present for a runner, or simply need more reason to give yourself the kick up the backside you’ve been waiting for and just put your name down, this is it.
Besides the full annual marathon in April, running events simply don’t get bigger in this region than this one, so don’t miss out.
Sign up for the 2026 Great Manchester Run right HERE.
Featured Images — Great Run Company/AJ Bell (supplied)
Kids & Family
New Year’s Eve fireworks and special Albert Square party confirmed for Manchester city centre
Danny Jones
Manchester City Council have confirmed that a special firework and lights display will be held right in the centre of town this New Year’s Eve.
Better still, the festivities will be continuing over on Albert Square, as the recently restored ancestral home of the Manchester Christmas Markets will be hosting a celebration of its own.
Yes, for the first time ever, we’re being given the choice of two different NYE events at two of the most stunning central points in the city – the other being the Central Library.
Hosted by former presenter at The Manc, Joe McGrath, as well as DJ Jimmy the Gent, there’ll be tunes and plenty of family-friendly fun from St Peter’s Square right up until the big countdown, when the stunning light display will go off and ring in the New Year.
Credit: Manchester City Council (supplied)
The all-ages, alcohol-free event kicks off at 10pm with entry into the square through security-controlled entry points around the square and bag searches in operation.
Of course, hot drinks and food will be available as the MCR Christmas Markets proper wrap up for 2025, and the fireworks and light displays themselves will be launching right off the top of the library roof.
It’s going to be fantastic.
As for over on the other side of the Town Hall, the Markets will still be in full swing, with bratwurst, beers and cheer aplenty, and so will the truly massive Ferris Wheel – the biggest mobile wheel in the country, in case you hadn’t heard.
That’s right: in case you hadn’t put two and together quite yet, if you’re lucky enough and you don’t mind heights, you might just get to watch the NYE 2025 fireworks going off all over Greater Manchester from the top of the wheel. How magical would that be?
Honestly, it’s been so great seeing Albert Square looking back to its stunning and buzzing best.
Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas and New Year spokesperson for Manchester City Council, said of the plans: “We all know how much Mancunians of all ages love to get together and party, which is why we’re thrilled this year to give them not one but two celebrations to take their pick of this New Year’s Eve.
“Whether you’re a Ferris Wheel fanatic with a head for heights, or a music-loving feet-on-the-ground firework fan, it promises to be a brilliant night out. So get yourselves ready to have some fun and dance the night away – wrap up warm, grab your family and your friends and come down and join us!”
Promising to work closely with local councillors and therefore businesses and residents in turn, they’re promising to keep any inconveniences and nuisances to a minimum; they want everyone to be able to enjoy the night as much as possible.
You can find out more information, including timings, accessibility, road closures and parking suspensions in the full Council statement right HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
25th August 2022 
