What's On

10 things to do in Greater Manchester this Bank Holiday weekend

Stuck for plans this Bank Holiday weekend? We’ve rounded up some of the best things to across the region.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 27th August 2021

August Bank Holiday weekend is finally upon us.

Now that it’s been a good few weeks since restrictions were relaxed, the sun is shining, the streets are filled with smiling faces, and this extended summer holiday is always a busy time for our city region – but if you’re stuck for plans this weekend, we’ve rounded up some of the best things to do right here in Greater Manchester.

A few of the events we’re going to mention here are completely free, others will set you back a few pounds, and some may require you to book in advance.

Plenty are still taking COVID-safety measures to give you peace of mind though.

So in no particular order, here’s 10 of our top picks.

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1. Manchester Pride 2021

Manchester City Centre

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Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 August

Manchester Pride

40+ big-name UK and international acts are on the lineup at this year’s Manchester Pride.

The iconic LGBTQ+ festival – which historically takes over the city each August Bank Holiday weekend – may have sadly had its 2020 edition cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and this year’s Pride Parade has also been cancelled following similar safety concerns, but it’s back once again, with Zara Larsson, Sigala, Annie Mac, Gabrielle, Katy B, Example, and Eve all leading a stellar lineup.

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The popular Gay Village Party also has an impressive lineup of acts performing too.

Several other events have been announced to take place instead of the Parade, including five ‘Equality Marches’ on Saturday 28 August, limited to just 400 people per march, with 2,000 participating overall.

The festival is this year to feature six key strands – Activism, Equality, Arts and Culture, Youth and Family, Community and Party.

You can find more information about Manchester Pride 2021 here.

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2. Festa Italiana

Manchester City Centre

Friday 27 – Sunday 29 August

Festa Italiana

The UK’s biggest Italian food festival Festa Italiana is returning to Manchester, with Cathedral Gardens turning green, white and red over the Bank Holiday weekend.

First launched in 2017 and featuring delicious pizzas, fresh pasta, sweet crepes, and deli meats as far as the eye can see, Festa Italiana is known for bringing amazing street food into Manchester city centre and showcasing top Italian chefs from across the region.

Top-class chefs like Aldo Zilli, Giancarlo Caldesi, Gennaro Cantaldo, specialist pasta maker and author Carmela Sereno Hayes, and Festa founder Maurizio Cecco are all confirmed to attend.

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The festival is promising some exciting new additions for its fourth edition too, including a massive outdoor cinema.

You can find more information about what’s on at Festa Italiana 2021 here.

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3. Bolton Food & Drink Festival

Bolton Town Centre

Saturday 28 – Monday 30 August

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Bolton Food & Drink Festival

The hugely-popular Bolton Food & Drink Festival is finally returning this Bank Holiday weekend after a year of postponement.

After COVID-19 restrictions sadly meant that the annual festival had to move online in 2020, the support of local businesses of all shapes and sizes is helping the North West’s biggest food and drink event to return in person for its 16th year this summer.

They’ll serve up some of the best food and drink the region has to offer.

World-renowned chefs will share their secrets during free cookery demonstrations, and a collection of outdoor bars, live music and street entertainment is set to create the usual festival atmosphere that draws visitors from far and wide.

You can find more information here.

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4. Sixes Cricket

Corn Exchange

Sixes

The “world’s first immersive cricket experience with hospitality” is coming to the Corn Exchange this Sunday with the opening of Sixes Manchester.

A social cricket sports bar kitted out with three state-of-the-art cricket nets available to hire for 30, 60 or 90 minutes, as well as a champagne bar, a 70-seater dining space and an open kitchen, Sixes offers the chance to swing for the boundaries whilst enjoying a wide selection of high-quality food and drink.

The opening of this new Manchester venue coincides with an exclusive game at Sixes called ‘The Hundred’ – which is named after the 100-ball cricket tournament taking place for the first time this summer.

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You can find more information about Sixes Manchester here.

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5. Beat the Frog

Frog and Bucket Comedy Club

Monday 30 August

Frog and Bucket Comedy Club

Fancy a good laugh this Bank Holiday Monday? Beat the Frog is the legendary amateur comedy night at Manchester’s iconic Frog and Bucket Comedy Club, and has helped to launch the careers of some of comedy’s biggest names – including Peter Kay, John Bishop, Johnny Vegas, Smug Roberts, and more.

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At the start of the competition, three cards are handed out to lucky members of the audience, and up to 10 acts will then take to the stage and each try to do five minutes of material. If within those five minutes all three cards go up, then the act has lost and must leave the stage – but if the three cards stay down, that act has successfully ‘Beat The Frog’.

They are then invited back to the stage for a clap off at the end of the night – which will determine the overall winner.

It’s been named the “most unpredictable comedy night in the north”.

You can find more information, and grab your tickets via the Frog and Bucket website here.

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6. Deansgate Mews Street Festival

Great Northern

Deansgate Mews Street Festival

A festival full of food and live music is coming to Deansgate Mews at Great Northern Warehouse this weekend.

Completely free-to-attend and spanning three-days, The Deansgate Mews Street Festival was originally due to be held earlier this month, but postponed due to bad weather and rearranged for the Bank Holiday weekend.

It will celebrate the eclectic independent food and drink businesses on the street, alongside welcoming 30 different music acts.

You can find more information here.

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7. I’m A Celebrity… Jungle Challenge

MediaCityUK

Saturday 28 – Monday 30 August

ITV

Did you see that the highly-anticipated Salford Quays adventure attraction based on ITV’s popular survival reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has officially opened to visitors?

The I’m a Celebrity… Jungle Challenge – which was first announced back in April – will welcome fans into the wilderness from this Bank Holiday weekend, inviting them to “navigate a series of fun-filled physical challenges inspired by the blockbuster ITV show”.

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Located at MediaCityUK, the attraction features a variety of familiar vantage points and landmarks – including the Main Camp, the Throne and, of course, the Winner’s Bridge.

You can find more information, and book tickets here.

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8. Moovin Festival

Stockport

Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 August

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Moovin Festival

Rap royalty Naughty By Nature will headline Moovin Festival at Etherow Country Park this August Bank Holiday weekend, with the hip-hop trio confirmed for a rare UK appearance.

Dance titans Basement Jaxx, rap pioneer Eek A Mouse, UK favourites Asian Dub Foundation, and disco don Todd Terje are also confirmed, alongside other big names such as Sugar Hill Gang, Mr Scruff, Krafty Kuts, Graeme Park, DJ Woody, Craig Charles, Stanton Warriors, K Klass and The Mouse Outfit.

An eclectic mix of support acts have also been confirmed, including Afrobeat collectives, beatboxing violinists, and the Elvis fronted Nirvana tribute band Elvana.

You can find more information, and grab tickets here.

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9. Manchester Pride Music Events

Manchester City Centre

Saturday 28 – Monday 30 August

The Refuge

If you haven’t managed to grab tickets for Manchester Pride 2021 taking place this Bank Holiday weekend but are still keen to properly celebrate, then there’s still plenty of venues right across Manchester city centre that are going all out for the iconic LGBTQ+ festival that you can head on down to.

Escape to Freight Island, Ducie Street Warehouse, and Feel Good Club are just some of the places hosting alternative celebratory Pride events over the weekend.

You can find more information, and grab tickets here.

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10. Summer Social

Trafford Centre

Saturday 28 – Monday 30 August

Trafford Centre

An 8,000 sq ft beach, retro fairground rides, entertainment, and independent food and drink brands have all arrived at the Trafford Centre for the summer.

The region’s biggest shopping mall has announced the opening of its new ‘Summer Social’ event space – a vast new outdoor area that brings together all the fun of the fair, alongside a beach, live music, exciting pop-ups, and selfie-ready backdrops.

As well as several covered events spaces where people can safely relax, a number of independent food and drink brands will also be popping up over the summer, kicking off with Boujee Bar – the renowned, all-pink Instagrammer’s dream founded by Real Housewives of Cheshire star Lystra Adams.

Live musicians, street artists, and buskers will also be welcomed across the month at Summer Social.

You can find more information and grab your tickets here.

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Featured Image – The Refuge | Sixes Manchester

What's On

Huge contemporary craft fair with 200+ makers is coming to Manchester later this year

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

One of the UK’s largest craft fairs will be taking over a historic Manchester building later this year.

More than 200 of the UK’s finest contemporary makers and artists will gather in Manchester this autumn, as the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair (GNCCF) returns to the magnificent Victoria Baths in October, creating a shopping experience like no other.

Set within the spectacular Grade II-listed venue, the fair will transform the building’s iconic empty Gala pools into one of the UK’s most distinctive settings for contemporary craft.

Since launching in Manchester all the way back in 2008, the GNCCF has showcased the work of more than 4,500 makers, welcomed over 90,000 visitors and generated more than £4 million in sales for independent creative businesses.

A huge contemporary craft fair with 200+ makers is coming to Manchester later this year / Credit: GNCCF (via Facebook)

Now in its nineteenth year and expected to attract thousands of visitors from across the UK, the GNCCF has become one of the highlights of Manchester’s cultural calendar, having showcased the work of more than 4,500 makers and generated more than £4 million in sales for independent businesses.

The fair will bring together designer-makers from the fields of ceramics, jewellery, textiles, furniture, glass, wood, metal, printmaking, sculpture, and fine art.

Every exhibitor is selected by an independent panel of craft experts – with 2026 set to welcome 70 exhibitors making their GNCCF debut, alongside many of the UK’s most respected makers. 

Prices will range from affordable handmade gifts to collector-quality pieces, meaning the fair will offer something to suit every budget, every taste, and every stage of collecting.

“Victoria Baths is one of Manchester’s most remarkable heritage buildings and provides an extraordinary backdrop for the fair,” explained Victoria Scholes, who is the Development Director of GNCCF.

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“The contrast between its beautiful Edwardian architecture and the very best in contemporary craft makes visiting GNCCF a truly memorable experience. People often tell us they love exploring the building as much as the craft.”

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2026 will be taking over Victoria Baths from 15-18 October, and you can get tickets here.

Featured Image – GNCCF (via Facebook)

What's On

The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 3 – 9 August 2026

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

August is here, and what a busy month we have in store.

Summer is properly here and the school holidays are well underway now, so that means there’s loads of things happening across Greater Manchester these next few weeks. If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though, no worries, as 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 are featured.

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Afterglow 2026

Chester Zoo

Monday 3 – Sunday 16 August

Afterglow 2026 / Credit: Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo is keeping its gates open late into the evening across two special weeks this summer.

The UK’s biggest charity zoo has announced the return of Afterglow, which is known and loved for offering visitors the rare opportunity to explore the zoo and its 30,000 animals after hours.

Unlike previous years, visitors will no longer need to leave Chester Zoo’s grounds and return with a separate event ticket. Instead, guests can spend the entire day exploring the zoo before enjoying Afterglow‘s evening programme, all as part of a standard admission ticket.

Find out more and book tickets here.

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Parktastic 2026

Manchester

Monday 3 August – onwards

Parktastic 2026 / Credit: Artem Kniaz (via Unsplash) | MCC

Manchester is bringing 14 weeks of free activities for children to parks across the city this summer.

Thanks to additional Council funding that was allocated earlier this year, Manchester’s biggest-ever Parktastic programme has now launched – expanding from the summer holidays alone to include after-school sessions before schools break up, activities throughout the holidays, and even sessions continuing into September.

Back by popular demand and aimed at children ages six-12, Parktastic offers sports, games, arts and crafts, dance, drama, nature activities, storytelling and messy play.

Sessions are free, no booking is required, healthy snacks are provided, and children can simply turn up and join in.

Find everything happening this summer here.

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Summer in Space

Science and Industry Museum

Monday 3 August – onwards

Summer in Space / Credit: Science Museum Group

Get ready to spend the summer in space, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced its summer events programme and it’s full of free interactive events and activities to get involved with these next six weeks.

From live space shows and giant rockets, to tinkering activities Martian discovery trails, and the chance to visit the blockbuster exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos if you haven’t already, budding astronauts are in for a summer to remember.

By far one of the stand-out free events this summer is the arrival of 30-foot-tall rocket ship, Skybolt 2 – hosted by Manchester-based aerospace company, Starchaser.

Find out more and book tickets for your visit here.

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Forest Tubing

Zip World Manchester

Monday 3 August – onwards

Forest Tubing / Credit: Supplied

Thrill seekers, this one’s for you – as Zip World Manchester has launched its new Forest Tubing experience, and it’s bringing the UK’s longest outdoor tubing slide is coming to Heaton Park.

The new family‑friendly outdoor adventure gives visitors the chance to soar along two slides, winding through woodland at one of the largest parks in the North West.

Suitable for children aged four and above, visitors can book an hour-long session – with unlimited rides during that time slot – and either ride solo, or share the experience with fellow adventurers.

Find out more and book your tickets here.

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National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails

North West

Monday 3 August – onwards

National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails / Credit: James Dobson | Annapurna Mellor

National Trust and Pokémon have teamed up for an exclusive trading card game and immersive trail.

The partnership is set to bring together the places the National Trust cares for and Pokémon’s spirit of play and discovery.

Exclusively designed for the National Trust, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails are going to be running throughout summer at 14 National Trust places nationwide, combining ‘imaginative play’ with ‘gentle physical activity’ inspired by Mega Evolution Pokémon. 

Find out where to get involved and book tickets here.

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On a budget and need somewhere to take the kids to eat for £1 or even FREE over the summer holidays?

In case the ongoing heatwave didn’t remind you, summer is in full swing and so are the school summer holidays.

If you’re after ways to enjoy some quality family time without having to break the bank, we’ve found lots of places where kids can eat for £1 or free – 15 of them, to be exact.

15 places kids can eat for £1 or FREE throughout the summer holidays

So, whether you’re in the mood for a hearty Italian, a bit of brekkie, or even a big Greek feast, just because you’re on a budget shouldn’t mean you have to limit your and your family’s taste buds.

Check out our round-up here.

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Fancy a wholesome summer activity?

It’s strawberry season, and Kenyon Hall Farm has officially opened up its strawberry fields (plus plenty of other pick-your-own produce) for the season for you to frolic amongst, with loads of summer treats in its cafe and award-winning farm shop too.

Strawberries have been growing at Kenyon Hall Farm for nearly 50 years now, and it’s proven as popular ever since.

Find out more and book your spot here.

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Did you see that seven Manchester green spaces have been named some of the best in the UK?

Once again, seven of our city’s green spaces – including parks and cemeteries – have been named some of the best the UK has to offer.⁠
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That’s because leading environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy, has handed out its coveted Green Flag Awards, which recognise accessible green spaces that set ‘an international benchmark for management’.

The awards shed light on the groups, volunteers, and staff who devote themselves year-round to the maintenance and upkeep of these areas.⁠

Read more about this incredible honour and find out which green spaces have been chosen here.

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National Play Day 2026

Greater Manchester

Wednesday 5 August

National Play Day 2026 / Credit: Manchester City Council

Manchester is set to celebrate National Play Day this week, and there’ll be more than 100 free activities for families to join in with.

There’ll be whole series of free events taking place right across the city on a drop-in basis throughout the day. Activities will run from 11am through to 2pm, and will include things like sports coaching, circus skills, cycling taster sessions, live demonstrations, storytelling, and a range of other interactive and hands-on experiences.

Find out everything happening here.

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Emergency Services Day 2026

Trafford Centre

Thursday 6 April

Emergency Services Day 2026 / Credit: Trafford Centre

Dozens of emergency services vehicles, live demonstrations, meet and greets, and more will be heading to the Trafford Centre this week, as Emergency Services Day returns for 2026, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the lifesaving work carried out across the region every day.

Running from 10am through to 4pm, this free family-friendly event promises a full day of excitement, education, and entertainment.

Visitors can expect around 50 emergency service vehicles, live demonstrations, and interactive displays.

Everything you need to know is here.

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Red Rose Diners

East Lancashire Railway

Saturday 7 August – onwards

Red Rose Diners / Credit: ELR

Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is currently hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this summer.

Running on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the year, East Lancashire Railway’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.

Find out more and book here.

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Rochdale Feel Good Fest 2026

Rochdale

Saturday 8 August

Rochdale Feel Good Fest 2026 / Credit: Supplied via Rochdale Borough Council)

Worried you might have missed your chance to attend a festival this year?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, as Rochdale Feel Good Festival returns this weekend with a star-studded main stage lineup featuring the likes of Gabrielle, Ash, and Wigan’s very-own Starsailor.

One of the longest-running and best-value festivals in Greater Manchester, Rochdale Feel Good Festival also proudly showcases upcoming artists too, and this year, two new Rochdale bands will play the biggest gig of their careers.

Find out more and get your tickets here.

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Featured Image – Rochdale Council | James Dobson | Artem Kniaz (via Unsplash)

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