10 things to do in Greater Manchester this Bank Holiday weekend
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
Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 August
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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”.
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
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
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
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