A free festival with a lineup packed full of interactive activities, workshops, live music, and more is coming to Manchester this summer.
Happening in the heart of the city centre in a couple of weeks time, just in time for schools to be out for the summer holidays, families across Greater Manchester are invited to head on down to the independent arts venue, HOME, and get stuck into everything from interactive theatre and circus skills workshops, to dance, hands-on crafts, and so much more.
The family-friendly Little HOMEfestival is set to pop up across two weekends in August – from Friday 2 through to Sunday 4 August, and the following weekend on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August.
A musical theatre production of the much-loved illustrated book by Nick Sharratt, Shark in the Park, will open the festival on Friday 2 August, with extra performances on the following two days, and tickets now available to book from £15 each on the HOME website.
A variety of free pop-up performances will be taking place in the spaces in and around HOME throughout Little HOME festival, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
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Festivalgoers can expect to make friends with a pair of fantastical beasts, prepare to be charmed bya postman-themed puppetry production, come face-to-face with Dr Frankenstein at his work table, visit fortune teller Mystic Mog to find out the future, and meet a bunch of other mischievous madcap characters along the way.
A family-friendly festival full of free interactive activities is happening in Manchester this summer / Credit: HOME MCR
Not only will there be some special one-to-one theatrical encounters to experience, but there’ll also be an impressive choice of free creative crafts, workshops, and games to take part in too – which is ideal for those who like doing as well as seeing.
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Especially on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 August, Skylight Circus Arts and their team of performers will not only be drawing gasps of amazement from festivalgoers for their special circus skills, but they’ll also be on hand to help little Mancs and their families master their own juggling, plate-spinning, and diabolo skills too.
And if the festival’s programme wasn’t already packed full of fun enough as it is, you can also expect to let off some steam through a range of interactive dance classes, and unwind by watching family-friendly films like includes Pete’s Dragon, Kung Fu Panda 4, and The Parent Trap inside HOME’s cinema.
All the activities that form part of Little HOME are free to take part in, and you can find more information ahead of the festival next month here.
Featured Image – HOME MCR
What's On
Manchester City to open pop-up pub in honour of John Stones and Bernardo Silva
Danny Jones
Manchester City are setting up a special pop-up to celebrate John Stones and Bernardo Silva as they prepare to leave at the end of this season.
Having spent nearly two full decades at the Etihad Stadium between them, Stones and Silva will be toasting their departure in true Northern fashion: with their very own Man City pub of the same name.
Come on, you have to admit it: ‘The Stones and Silva’ has a nice ring to it.
Opening for just a few days later this month, before the conclusion of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign and their final appearances in City colours, this is your time to cheers their careers.
Pouring pints from Thursday, 21 May until the end, Cityzens are being encouraged to come along and raise a glass to two of their team’s most successful stars.
Taking over the legendary Star and Garter on Fairfield Street in Manchester city centre, as per an official press release from the club, “The Stones & Silva will feature themed décor inspired by the pair’s unforgettable moments in sky blue.”
As arguably two of the most important players during the Manc side’s most prolific period for winning silverware, it feels only fitting that Blues give them a proper send-off.
Entry will be available on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the event, and you can expect plenty of supporters to come through the doors.
The chosen picture for the pub’s hanging inn sign is inspired by the iconic snap of the Gallagher brothers back at the start of the Oasis mania.
MCFC’s The Stones and Silva pop-up pub will open at the following times:
Thursday, 21 May: 4pm-11pm
Friday, 22 May: 4pm-11pm
Saturday, 23 May: 12pm-11pm
Sunday, 24 May: 12pm-8pm
Better still, in collaboration with official partners Asahi, the first 100 fans through the doors each day will be able to get their hands on a FREE beer. Be rude not to at least try and turn up early…
Elsewhere at the club, the drinks have already been flowing in and around Etihad Campus, as Man City Women finally lifted another league title. See some of the party scenes down below.
Featured Images — Manchester City Football Club (publicity pictures)
What's On
Smash-hit West End musical Trainspotting is coming to Manchester later this year
Emily Sergeant
Trainspotting The Musical is coming to Manchester.
30 years on from the film that changed everything, and following its successful world premiere run in London’s West End, Trainspotting The Musical is heading out on a major UK tour later this year, and will be taking to one of Manchester‘s most iconic stages in the autumn.
Written by Irvine Welsh – as adapted from his best-selling debut novel – and directed and developed by Caroline Jay Ranger, Trainspotting The Musical has been described by critics as ‘radical, invigorating and life-affirming’ since its premiere.
It’s said to be an unforgettable production that’ll have even the most sceptical audiences leave on a ‘consciousness-altering high.’
➕ ATG+ PRESALE ➕
CHOOSE LIFE.
Trainspotting: The Musical is coming to the Palace Theatre this November. Written by Irvine Welsh.
Groups presale 👉 Tues 12 May 10am General sale 👉 Wed 13 May 10am
— Palace & Opera Mcr (@PalaceAndOpera) May 11, 2026
In 1996, the breakthrough British film of the same name was released and became the biggest grossing UK film of the year, winning a slew of awards in the process – including a BAFTA for Best Screenplay, and even being ranked tenth in the BFI’s top 100 greatest British films of the 20th century.
Now, three decades later, the industrial drug crazed working-class heroes of British youth culture are back… but this time, live on stage.
Trainspotting The Musical is coming to Manchester later this year / Credit: Supplied
“I believe the musical has a bigger, loudly beating human heart than either the book or the film,” creator Irvine Welsh commented as the UK tour was announced this week.
“People need to think about the world we’re living in, and we offer that inspection, but they also need to sing their hearts out and laugh their heads off. It’s what being human is all about. We’ve put together an incredible Scottish cast and I can’t wait to see them bring the musical to life.”
Trainspotting The Musical will taking to the stage at Manchester Palace Theatre later this year from Monday 2 – Saturday 7 November 2026, and tickets officially go on general sale tomorrow (Wednesday 13 May) from 10am.
Emily Sergeant -
4th July 2024 
