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.
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The line-up features up-and-coming indie artists including Colliders, Bedside Manners, The Common View and Reave.
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
You can ride a spooky steam train through Greater Manchester this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
A whole host of “terrifying tricks and terrific treats” are waiting for the whole family on the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) next month.
Looking for “loads of spooktacular fun” now that the spooky season is right around the corner? Can you lend a helping hand to banish ghosts, ghouls, and monsters? And do you have the guts to ride on a haunted steam engine through the heart of Greater Manchester with the heritage railway’s scream team this Halloween?
Then you can join ELR’s horrible heroes, Count Brian the vampire, Veronica the witch, and Zombie Bob for the train ride of a lifetime.
They will help brave passengers avoid terrible curses and scary surprises along the way.
A whole host of “terrifying tricks and terrific treats” are waiting for the whole family on the East Lancashire Railway / Credit: ELR
That’s not all either, as there’s also going to be a raft of ghoulish ghosts singing some of the most spine-chilling songs and creating magic spells to set the spooky scene.
They may also trick you into joining in scares with them too, if you don’t keep an eye out.
East Lancashire Railway has also said that fancy dress is “definitely encouraged” onboard the Halloween Ghost Trains – “the scarier the better”.
Are you brave enough to climb aboard one of the eerie Halloween Ghost Trains? / Credit: ELR
And if you’re still hungry for hunting, then more frightful fun is on offer across the road at the Bury Transport Museum, where there will be a brand-new ‘Carn-Evil’ that’s home to a haunted cottage and a whole host of rides – including the Dragon Coaster, the Spooky Sizzler Twist, and many more family-friendly rides.
The Halloween Ghost Trains are happening on Thursday 27, Friday 28 & Saturday 29 October, and you can find out more and grab tickets here.
Featured Image – ELR
Kids & Family
Massive spooky ice rink to return to Manchester city centre this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Monsters are set to descend on Manchester once again this year, as the city’s largest outdoor ice rink returns this Halloween.
As the cold air begins to draw in and with the spooky season right around the corner, a whole host of ghoulish monsters will soon begin to take over the city centre just in time for Halloween – and just as it has many years before, Cathedral Gardens will become home to one of the colourful creatures at its large outdoor ice rink.
Scare Skate will see Halloween fans and fear-loving families take to the ice for some “frightfully good fun” this October half term from Friday 21 – Monday 31 October.
Gearing up to be “a frightful experience to remember”, not only will the spooktacular rink see one of the iconic MCR Monsters take centre stage as part of the annual Halloween in the City event, but it will also be complete with Halloween-themed music and lighting.
Fancy dress is also massively encouraged and all part of the experience, with plenty of themed props for those all-important “Instagrammable moments” too.
Monsters are set to descend on Manchester as the city’s largest outdoor ice rink returns this Halloween / Credit: Skate Manchester
“Halloween is always a spectacular time in Manchester,” said Rob Derry – Managing Director, Ice & Special Events at Skate Manchester.
“We’re thrilled to be part of the iconic monsters trail for another year, and in the beautiful setting of Cathedral Gardens, Scare Skate offers an exciting and unique activity that will bring all of the family together.”
Tickets for Scare Skate are available to book now here.
Prices start at £14.50 for adults and £12.50 for children, with discounted family, group bookings and season tickets also available, and students and key workers able to get themselves a dedicated discounted ticket too.
Scare Skate will see Halloween fans and fear-loving families take to the ice / Credit: Skate Manchester
Is it too early to mention the big C word?
Well, we’re going to – because in the true magic of Christmas, Cathedral Gardens will then transform into a winter wonderland following its Halloween-themed opening week, with a dazzling seven-metre tall Christmas tree in middle of a custom-made ice path taking the spot occupied by the MCR Monster.
Skate Manchester will then be open daily from 2 November 2022 – 2 January 2023, except for Christmas Day.
Daisy Jackson -
25th August 2022 
