A huge German beer festival is taking over Hatch this weekend
Hatch will be transformed into an Oktoberfest-inspired “bier hall'' for the weekend, with long tables, bunting, music, sausages, keg cracking and lots of German beer
As October ushers in the start of Autumn, it also brings with it the delights of Oktoberfest – a brilliant German beer festival with over 200 years of history behind it.
Plenty of places in the city are getting involved in the festival this year, including Manchester’s independent shipping container village Hatch – who are encouraging food and drink lovers to grab their lederhosen and get ready to celebrate Oompah-style with them under the fairy lights.
In what will be Hatch’s first urban Oktoberfest, the destination will be transformed into an Oktoberfest-inspired ‘bier hall’ this weekend – bringing long tables, bunting, music, sausages, keg cracking and lots of German beer (naturally).
Image: Grandad’s Sausages
Hatch favourites Grandad’s sausages will be on hand with German-inspired currywurst, or if that’s not your style, there’s a huge range of other traders to choose from including Abeja Tapas Bar, Fuku, T’arricrii, Hanoi 75 and Oh My Cheesecake.
Drinks-wise, the Hatch bars will be serving up a range of Bavarian beers especially for the weekend, including a host of brews from Bavarian craft specialists ABK. Stocking ABK’s full range, drinkers can try the brewer’s helle, edel, dunkel, festbier, radler beers across the weekend and more.
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The stage, meanwhile, will welcome live Bavarian music throughout the day courtesy of Oompah group Brasswurst. Mixing up traditional German drinking songs with iconic modern pop tunes, with hosting duties performed by Madame Von Spowitch, you already know it’s going to be a belting weekend.
Image: Hatch
Tucked under the Mancunian way, Hatch has also invited some special, lederhosen-wearing guests to roam about throughout the weekend and keep their Oktoberfest revellers entertained.
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If you’re staying into the evening, DJs will take over the entertainment side of things as the sun goes down – pulling out some big, anthemic selections perfect for toasting tankards and dancing the night away.
Taking place this weekend from 12 pm until late across Friday 8 and Saturday 9 October, Oktoberfest at Hatch is free entry but booking is advised. Book yours here.
Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade returns next month to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade will make its way through the city centre once again next month.
As Manchester gets ready to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 – which officially begins on Tuesday 17 February and runs through to Tuesday 3 March – and mark the ‘Year of the Horse’, the iconic Dragon Parade will be making its grand return to the streets of our city centre, and bringing a spectacular show of colour and light along with it.
In case you’re unfamiliar with what the Dragon Parade is all about, it’s the focal point of the city’s annual Lunar New Year celebrations – and it’s a real spectacle, to say the least.
The parade is known for attracting thousands of visitors from all across the region each year.
Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade returns next month to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 / Credit: Chinese NY Manchester (via X)
Celebrations officially kick off on Saturday 14 February this year, and as the headline of the festivities, the popular parade is set to take place the day after (Sunday 15 February).
Once again, organisers are expecting visitors in their thousands to turn out and watch as the famous 175ft Chinese dragon weaves its way through the city’s main shopping streets.
Official timings and plans for the parade are yet to be announced by the Council, but if previous years are anything to go by, it’ll likely kick off from around midday, starting on the junction of Oxford Street and George Street, and then make its way along Portland Street before concluding in Chinatown for a final performance on Princess Street.
Chinese New Year festivities will take place over a full weekend / Credit: Chinese NY Manchester (via X)
There’ll also be even more cultural celebrations and activities to get involved with throughout Lunar New Year over in Manchester’s popular Chinatown – with live stage performances, traditional lion and dragon dances, and loads of stalls serving up tasty and authentic street food.
And to top it all off, we’ll also soon see the return of Manchester’s famous traditional red lanterns dotted up above all around town too, adding colour to dark winter days.
As always, this year’s celebrations have been organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM), in partnership with Manchester Business Improvement District (BID) and Manchester City Council.
Featured Image – Chinese NY Manchester (via X) / CityCo
What's On
Chester Zoo announces new spring date for its popular running event to help UK wildlife
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo has announced that its popular Run For Nature is back again this year, and this time, there’s a new spring edition.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo seen success with this event in the past few years, with thousands of runners signing up for one of the North West’s most unique athletic experiences and all funds raised going towards efforts to protect highly-endangered giraffes in Africa.
This year though, the much-loved event’s focus brings conservation ‘a little closer to home’ and will protect some of the UK’s most threatened species instead – with all funds helping to safeguard hedgehogs, kingfishers, otters, harvest mice, and more.
It comes as the UK is currently considered one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth.
Participants will first get to wind through the zoo and enjoy glimpses of elephants, lemurs, and other incredible species along the way, before heading out into the picturesque Cheshire countryside.
Adults can choose from a 10K or 5K route, while younger runners are invited to take part in a one-mile ‘Zoom’ race, open to children aged four-15, which takes place entirely within the zoo’s incredible 130-acre grounds.
All runners will receive free entry to the zoo for the rest of the day as part of their registration, along with a 25% discount for friends and family who come along to show support.
Chester Zoo’s popular 10K charity run is returns with a new spring date / Credit: Chester Zoo
Lorraine Jubb, who is the Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, called the Run For Nature a ‘really special event’.
“In previous years, runners have already supported conservation efforts for Asian elephants, Eastern black rhinos and Northern giraffe,” she explained. This springtime though, we’re turning our attention much closer to home in the UK, and to the wildlife we share our gardens, parks and countryside with.
“With one in six species now at risk of extinction in the UK, every runner will be playing a vital role in helping us protect animals and supporting our growing nature recovery work across right across Cheshire.
Georgina Pellant -
5th October 2021 
