Schools are now out across Greater Manchester, and that means families will be looking for activities to keep the the kids occupied for the next two weeks.
Keeping little ones entertained, educated, engaged, and enjoying themselves all at the same time is, undoubtedly, a real task – but luckily, the bustling city of Manchester and the surrounding areas have got you covered with so much to offer.
With outdoor retro funfairs, egg hunts, seasonal themed events, gaming extravaganzas, and so much more all in the events calendar, we’ve rounded up some of the best family-friendly things to do across the Greater Manchester region and beyond if you’re in need of some school holiday inspiration.
Some of the events on the list are completely free of charge, while others will set you back a few pounds but are still pretty cost-effective.
Here’s just a handful of our picks.
ADVERTISEMENT
___
Spring Escape
Trafford Centre
ADVERTISEMENT
Spring Escape / Credit: Trafford Centre
A giant outdoor funfair full of vintage fairground rides and a circus is back at the Trafford Centre.
After several hugely successful runs in both 2021 and 2022, the UK’s third largest shopping centre’s outdoor space has “sprung to life” once again for the school holidays, and is back with a whole host of thrilling rides, a glittering circus, and lots of delicious treats for the whole family to enjoy.
Spring Escape has popped up outside the Great Hall, and tickets are now available to buy for the wide range of events on offer.
Gaming Extravaganza / Credit: Science Museum Group
A massive “gaming extravaganza” is happening down at the Science and Industry Museum while schools are out this month.
As part of the museum’s hugely-popular ongoing interactive gaming experience, Power UP, visitors will be transported inside their favourite games as part of the Actual Reality Arcade – a life-size nostalgic gaming experience that’s promising to “unlock memories” players star in real-life versions of some retro favourite games, including Invaders and Breakout.
ADVERTISEMENT
Young gaming lovers can also explore a special Pac-Man floor maze, and families can level up together with some super-size gaming too.
Chester Zoo has launched an Easter egg hunt with a twist.
ADVERTISEMENT
If you’re looking for something to keep the kids entertained and educated at the same time while schools are out this Easter, the UK’s largest charity and conservation zoo’s ‘Really Wild Egg Trail’ will see giant 3D eggs hidden over the 128-acre site.
But the catch is, each of the six hidden eggs all belong to animals that you might not expect to hatch from eggs.
Families are encouraged to make the most of Manchester‘s new ‘sky park’ on Castlefield Viaduct during the school holidays.
The New York-inspired elevated urban park on the giant Grade II-listed 330-metre steel viaduct has been closed since December to allow time for the team of National Trust gardeners, volunteers, and community partners to prune, plant, and create new and exciting areas.
On top of the work to add a variety of seasonal planting displays created by, four plots on the viaduct have also been handed over to local community groups and partner organisations to create their own unique gardens for visitors to enjoy.
Farm Weekend is back at Bruntwood SciTech’s Alderley Park this Easter school holidays.
With families from all across Greater Manchester and the North West set to make their way to Macclesfield for two days of wholesome springtime fun on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 April, you can expect a weekend full of different outdoor family-friendly activities, performances, markets, and lots of local food and drink.
From tractor rides, falconry flying displays, and lamb cuddles, to bushcraft demonstrations, archery lessons, obstacle courses, interactive animal petting sessions, Easter-themed crafts, and artisan markets, there’ll be something for everyone to enjoy at the two-day event.
A ‘Double Bubble Dome’ full of edible milk chocolate bubbles will be at Manchester Arndale this Easter.
Straight from the world of Willy Wonka, this free activity give kids and adults alike the chance to bite edible bubbles from right out the air as the Bubble Volacano explodes, and win some exciting prizes and goody bags along the way.
Shoppers are also encouraged to share their experience at the event on social media to be in with the chance of winning great-tasting gifts from the likes of Hotel Chocolat, Lindt, Poundland, WHSmith, Over the Rainbow, and Candy Crunch.
Heaton Park’s flagship ‘Big Egg Hunt’ is back this Easter.
From 11am-3pm on Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 April, and for just £3 per ticket, everyone from the tiniest tots to big kids can take part and hunt for eggs hidden around the park.
ADVERTISEMENT
To take part, all you need to do is visit the Heaton Park reception based in the tunnel at the stable block and follow the map to locate clues that will help you solve the puzzle, and then, to claim your prize, you’ll just need to return to the desk with the completed mystery word puzzle.
Printworks is another city centre venue that’s packed its Easter holiday events calendar with a wide range of interactive events for all the family.
ADVERTISEMENT
In what is sure to be one of the more popular events on the lineup, the venue’s legendary Hard Rock Cafe is hosting a special Breakfast With Bunny on Sunday 2 April, and it’s giving families the chance to join the Easter Bunny for an unlimited all-American breakfast
There’ll also be face painting and lots of other “magical entertainment” to make the most of during the two hour event.
Tickets are now on sale, and you can find out more here.
___
The Great Hunt
Trafford Centre
ADVERTISEMENT
The Great Hunt / Credit: Selfridges
Selfridges at the Trafford Centre is another place to head to this week if you’re looking to get the family all together and join in the hunt for Easter eggs hidden around the store’s kids and toys department, as “rumour has it, the Easter bunny hid the best eggs at Selfridges.”
There’s eight eggs to find, and chocolate prizes up for grabs, with a whole host of other “surprises” promised along the way.
Escape Hunt has launched a new City Hunt adventure just in time for Easter, and it’s giving families the chance to go outdoors, discover our city in a way like never before, and jump down the rabbit hole as it is Alice in Wonderland themed.
The hunt will start at Escape Hunt at the Corn Exchange, and you’ll be set up with an iPad and picnic hamper filled with everything you should need to complete your adventure.
Tickets are now on sale, and what’s more, is that children under eight go completely free.
The Wizarding Adventure & The Dino Adventure / Credit: ELR
Two of the East Lancashire Railway’s (ELR) fan-favourite events are back this school holidays, and they’re giving families the chance to go on dinosaur and Harry Potter-themed steam train rides through the picturesque Greater Manchester.
The Wizarding Adventure is an interactive Hogwarts Express-style experience full of performances by colourful characters and magical creatures, while The Dino Adventure gives dino fans to “get your teeth into some Jurassic Lark” and go on a prehistoric expedition on “a time-travelling steam train” to meet with a herd of adorable baby dinosaurs.
Find out more and grab tickets to all of ELR’s Easter events here.
___
The Giant Easter Egg Hunt
RHS Garden Bridgewater
The Giant Easter Egg Hunt / Credit: RHS Garden Bridgewater
RHS Garden Bridgewater has got a whole host of family-friendly activities planned throughout the school holidays, but one of the stand-out events has to be the chance to head out on a hunt for giant Easter eggs.
Families can search for giant eggs hidden around the garden to win a chocolate prize.
After you’ve had a go at finding all the hidden eggs, there’s also plenty of other activities to get involved with – including craft workshops, interactive performances, and more.
Little Mancs can try their hand at becoming a pilot this school holidays, as the much-loved Flight Academy returns to Manchester Airport.
The Flight Academy programme is back at Runway Visitor Park with 90-minute sessions to give curious kids the chance to learn all about the different job roles that help keep Manchester‘s airport in action throughout the year.
The first part of the session takes place aboard a retired Monarch DC10 airliner, so kids can sit in the cockpit and find out about everything from the cabin crew’s role, to the ground operators, and more, and they’ll even get to dress the part, and “take control” of the flight deck too.
If you’re looking to let your child’s creativity run wild this Easter holidays, then Selfridges Trafford Centre is hosting a workshop led by the creative experts at Pop Up & Play, where little ones will be guided through an hour-long spring-themed crafting session to make their own creations, and take them home to proudly display once they’re done.
Suitable for children aged four and above, tickets are £5 each and are now available to buy.
Featured Image – RHS | Jody Hartley | National Trust
What's On
BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is returning to Greater Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
The BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is coming back to Manchester once again, and they’re bringing yet another phenomenal lineup with them.
National radio station and overall upcoming music connoisseurs, BBC Radio 6, are back with their music festival, and just like years previous, it’s taking place across Manchester.
Over the years, the festival has brought some of music’s biggest names to lots of local venues, putting on an array of brilliant live performances.
Last spring saw the arrival of rock band Gossip and Irish singer CMAT, both taking up residency in O2 Victoria Warehouse, Lily Fontaine of English Teacher at Band On The Wall, while DJ Seinfeld went B2B with Salute in Depot Mayfield.
Leading this glowing roster of performers is Ezra Collective, a Mercury award -winning band known for their brilliant jazz productions, and then from one Mercury-winning band to another, Lily Fontaine won’t be riding solo this year, instead she’s bringing all the crew with her, as English Teacher are set to perform at this huge festival.
Fat Dog, whose debut album is titled ‘Woof’, are joining in on the fun with Scottish band Mogwai also making a feature too.
There’s even a chance for an exclusive first listen too, as Kae Tempest will be debuting new material right here in Manchester.
Ezra Collective are performing at BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.English Teacher make a return to Manchester for this special event.Fat Dog are also playing the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.
All performances will be taking place at a multitude of venues, like the previously mentioned O2 Victoria Warehouse, Depot Mayfield, and Band On The Wall, as well as loads of other events at entertainment bar, Yes.
Every highlight, alongside live and recorded live performances, will be taking place at MediaCityUK in Salford, in order to keep everything Manchester central.
BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is happening from 26 – 29 March 2025, with tickets going on sale from 6 February at 10am here.
Where to watch the Super Bowl in Manchester
Danny Jones
Game day is fast approaching and with the NFL scene getting bigger and bigger in the UK each year, more and more Mancs are left wondering where to watch the Super Bowl in Manchester.
The excitement’s really starting to build as we’re just days away from the clash between current holders, the Kansas City Chiefs and their familiar foes, the Philadelphia Eagles – but, first things first, you’ve got to pick where you wanna be in time for kick-off.
Luckily, there are a whole host of sports bars in the city centre that will be showing Super Bowl LIX right through till it finishes around 3am BST.
Oh yes, it’s a long old night but that’s why love it and if you’re still undecided as to where to go, here are a dozen places you can hunker down with some good grub and plenty of pints to watch it.
12 of the best places to watch the Super Bowl LIX in Manchester
First up on our list is the place we spend the Super Bowl pretty much every year: Blues Kitchen just off Deansgate, which promises big screens, live music, American BBQ favourites and more from 9pm.
With food and drinks served until late to keep you going throughout the long night, you’ll have an absolute ball. Book HERE.
Arguably the epitome of the American sports bar vibe here in Manchester, Shooters Sports Bar in Printworks’ Bierkeller is practically an institution at this point. Hosting NFL games for years, their various matchday packages make this one of the best places showing the Super Bowl in the UK full stop.
They’ve even had the Sky commentary team over there in past seasons, as well as being named official sponsors of the Manchester Titans American football team. If it’s good enough for them it’s good enough for us – you can sort seats for you and your group HERE.
3. BOX – Deansgate
BOX Bar opened on Deansgate back in 2021 and has quickly become one of the most popular places to watch any sport in town and it’s not hard to see why either.
With massive pitchers and steins of booze, a banging food menu built for shuffleboard at the back and screens on almost every wall, including a massive NBA-style jumbotron screen, you won’t miss a second of the action. This one always fills up quickly so book now if you don’t want to miss out.
4. Calcio! – Northern Quarter
Credit: The Manc Group
It may look like footy and games at first glance, but there is so much more to Calcio! over on Dale Street. From retro PS2 and Nintendo classics, as well as an amazing food and drink selection, this city centre sports bar has quickly become the go-to spot for hordes of sports fans.
Showing every from cricket and F1 to rugby, snooker and more, they’re one of many screening the Super Bowl in Manchester. If you’re interested in watching the Super Bowl at Calcio, you can sort your table/booth HERE.
Given students are typically the ones who don’t tend to worry about sleeping/waking up at any particular time, it’d be rude not to put a regular uni haunt and Manc nightlife favourite The Courtyard on this list.
Not only is this one of the cheapest places for a night in town, possibly the country, but it’s yet another prime location to watch the sport. You are never, we repeat, NEVER too old for Courtyard and it never disappoints when there are sports fans in.
Another all-time classic Manchester sports bar, The Directors’ Box just off St Peter’s Square in the city centre has plenty of pints, an absolutely mint menu full of sharing platters perfect for watching the game with your mates, as well as a pool table to keep you occupied during the breaks.
They’re even putting on a special menu just for the game. This is another one that packs out fast, so book now while you still can.
The Brotherhood of Pastimes and Pursuits is another tried and tested favourite come any matchday and the team over there does a great job of building a proper atmosphere across their two floors when it comes to the Super Bowl.
It’s great a post-work spot any day of the week, let alone when there are big events on like this. Food, pints, pool, table tennis and more. 10/10, no notes from us. Reserve your table HERE.
8. Tib St Tavern – Northern Quarter
Credit: The Manc Group
No list of Manchester sports bars would be complete without Tib Street Tavern, one of the most popular in NQ or the city centre in general, for that matter.
With booths for you and all your mates to pile into, massive screens filling the walls and solid grub, this place is packed out noon till night, so give ’em a ring on 0161 834 1600 to sort your seat whilst you still can. They’ve also recently had a bit of a refurb as well so you’ll be comfier than ever this year.
Nothing like the Bowl at Bunny’s. If you’ve ever been in this beloved wing-stop and rock-themed watering hole for an NFL game, you know that this place is pretty much the perfect place to be.
Arguably the best dive bar on the planet, (it’s us, we’re arguing it), and not just because the wings are 30p, there’s no bookings — you just rock up and try your luck and hope for laces out. Say no more.
10. GRUB – Green Quarter
In at number 10 is one of our favourite places in Manchester for hosting big events full stop, so it’s no surprise that it’s also going to be packed out for this year’s Super Bowl.
Projecting the big game straight onto their in-house Cultplex cinema screens, not only will tickets set you back just a tenner but they also include a welcome drink and a hot or vegan dog — now that’s what we call gameday vibes. You can sort yours HERE.
If you popped into Brickhouse for the World Cup or even the Six Nations, you’ll know the bar, club, rooftop terrace and pool hall is really killing it when it comes to live sports at the minute.
Kicking off from 8pm and spreading across two of the three floors, this is one of the best places to grab a slice of pizza and a pint while watching the game. Better yet, their increasingly popular fan zone is absolutely free, you just need to email [email protected] or ring 0161 236 4899.
Last on our list is another cult favourite amongst NQ frequent flyers, as not only do Shack MCR specialise in all the very best kinds of food you want whilst watching live sport — wings, fries, burgers, nachos etc. — but they’re even serving up special Super Bowl platters for the occasion.
They’ll be serving scran until 1:30 in the morning and although all the private booths have already sold out, there are still some tables left for Sunday, 11 February, so book yours now.
Of course, it goes without saying that if we could chuck every one of this city’s wonderful pubs and sports bars on this list then we would, but we’d be here forever.
That being said, a literal dozen places to watch the big game in Manchester city centre should be more than enough to get you started — now it’s down to you to make sure you plan out the perfect Super Bowl Sunday for LIX 2025. Just make sure you’ve got your arse in a seat before that first touchdown.
So, who’s going all the way this year then? Will the Chiefs retain the title or will ‘The Birds’ make up for their loss to the reigning champions back in 2023? Only time will tell.
Get lots of sleep this week because you’re going to need it!
Emily Sergeant -
31st March 2023 
