The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 2 – 8 August 2021
Schools are out, and summer is well and truly here.
With plenty in the calendar now that curbs have lifted, we’ve put together another edition of our ‘what’s on’ guide for the city of Manchester and beyond this week.
Some of the events we’re going to mention here are completely free, others will set you back a few pounds, and many will need to be booked in advance – with plenty still taking COVID-safety measures to give you peace of mind.
Here’s a few of our top picks.
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Beat the Frog
Frog and Bucket Comedy Club
Monday 2 August
Beat the Frog is the legendary amateur comedy night that takes place every Monday 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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Summer Social
Trafford Centre
Monday 2 August – 5 September
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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Dino Kingdom
Wythenshawe Park
Monday 2 – Sunday 8 August
An immersive family experience with a pre-historic twist has arrived at one of Manchester’s most popular parks – and this is your last week to make the most of it.
From the team behind the award-winning light and lantern festival Lightopia, which took over Heaton Park this past festive season, comes Dino Kingdom – an epic outdoor, prehistoric exploration that features more than 100 life-like moving and roaring dinosaurs and creatures to uncover, plus state-of-the-art 3D and AR technology.
Dino Kingdom is “bringing dinosaurs back to life” at Wythenshawe Park, with unforgettable interactive experiences and thrilling fairground rides for all the family.
There’s 70 life-sized dinosaurs dotted around the park, as well as some smaller dinosaurs to seek out and other interactive “beastly beings” amongst the woodland, such as crocodiles, frogs, bees, spiders and much more.
Tickets start at £13 – and you can find more information here.
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HOPE FEST at Hope Mill Theatre
Ancoats
Monday 2 – Sunday 8 August
This is your last week to catch the outdoor theatre festival that’s brought a jam-packed programme of arts and cultural events to Ancoats.
Created by Manchester’s iconic Hope Mill Theatre in association with Electric Park, HOPE FEST sees musicals, comedy, live music, family shows, film screenings, one-off special community events and even a dog festival have all arrived in the city’s sought-after suburb.
The festival’s unique programme of community-centric events are taking place inside a large sheltered tent that’s set to accommodate 250 people based beside New Islington Tram Station, just a stone’s throw away from the theatre itself.
To offer a wide range of local beers, spirits and good grub, the new pop-up summer venue will also include an onsite bar and an eating area with a BBQ.
You can find more information about HOPE FEST here.
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Wonderland: Summer Holiday Activities
RHS Garden Bridgewater
Monday 2 – 31 August
Families will be able to “tumble down the rabbit hole” and be transported to Alice’s Wonderland at RHS Garden Bridgewater this summer.
The Royal Horticultural Society is partnering with Macmillan Publishers to celebrate 150 years of Alice in Wonderland – bringing a series of themed events inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic novel to the new £44 million garden attraction in Worsley throughout August.
Visitors can view the new garden through the eyes of Alice, meet their favourite characters, and enjoy performances, storytelling, minibeast hunts, planting and craft workshops, and so much more.
You can find more information about the events on offer here.
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Box on the Docks
MediaCityUK
Monday 2 August – onwards
MediaCityUK’s popular outdoor dining concept Box on the Docks (BOTD) is welcoming customers to its waterside ‘pods’ this week, with the collection of 30 sheds and greenhouses having undergone renovation from local artists.
An exciting range of residents have moved into the neighbourhood for the summer, along with beloved local eateries from across the region such as The Spinn, Grandad’s Sausages, I Knead Pizza, Bada Bing Deli, and Batard Bakery.
You can find more information about Box on the Docks 2021 here.
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I’m A Celebrity… Jungle Challenge
MediaCityUK
Monday 2 August – onwards
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 Saturday, 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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Platt Fields Park Story Trail
Fallowfield
Monday 2 August – onwards
A brand new interactive story trail has arrived at Platt Fields Park for the summer.
The trail – which is based on a story about elves in the Fallowfield park written by children’s author Rebecca Lewis-Oakes and illustrated by Aaron Cushley – is delivered by the National Literacy Trust as one of 12 story trails across the country that are part of the Hungry Little Minds campaign.
The campaign provides children with lots of simple and fun activities to easily slot into their daily routines, all whilst building speech and language skills at home.
As well as the story trail, there will also be an elf garden and elf-making activities to get involved with, and everyone will walk away with a free book thanks to Read Manchester’s Look for a Book partnership.
You can find more information about the Platt Fields Park Story Trail here.
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Use Hearing Protection
Science and Industry Museum
Wednesday 4 August – onwards
A special exhibition documenting the formation and early years of the iconic Factory Records has officially opened at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum.
Use Hearing Protection: The early years of Factory Records shines a light on the formative period for the Manchester label, disclosing lesser-told stories from family members, alternative voices and international collaborators.
The exhibition also examines the period 1978 to 1982, revealing how the label grew and thrived to give the city an authentic voice and distinctive identity, and visitors will be guided through the pre-Haçienda years to uncover the history of the label and how it earned its status as a catalyst for innovation through rarely or never-before-seen objects.
The first 50 artefacts from the official Factory Records catalogue are on display, including creations from Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column, and so much more.
You can find more information here.
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Matt & Phred’s on the Canal
New Makers Yard
Thursday 5 August
The Northern Quarter’s iconic backstreet jazz club, Matt & Phred’s, is coming to Get Living’s New Maker Yards at Middlewood Locks this Thursday.
The canalside sessions taking place on Lockside Lane will traverse the worlds of jazz, blues, New Orleans inspired R&B, Latin and funk, all accompanied by top Manchester DJ, Meme Gold, with Leeds-based deep jazz, post-punk quartet Vipertime headlining.
Tickets to the event are free, and each ticket holder will also receive a free Seven Bro7hers burger too.
You can find more information and grab tickets here.
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The Laughięnda Comedy Club
Lions Den
Thursday 5 August
If you’re looking to let your hair down for a mid-week laugh, then a selection of Manchester’s top new comedians assemble every Thursday night at the Lions Den bar at Great Northern Mews in the heart of the city centre for The Laughięnda Comedy Club.
With comedian lineups usually revealed closer to the time, you can find more information about what to expect here.
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Ancoats Pop-Up Market
Ancoats
Saturday 7 August
Nestled among the backstreets of Manchester and tucked into the courtyard of an old, red-brick historic mill, Ancoats Pop Up Market is a weekly-run market event which has teamed up with MUD (Manchester Urban Diggers) to supply the neighbourhood with a wealthy selection of fresh, organic and locally-grown fruit and veg, as well as dry goods.
The market also features Manchester-based stallholders serving speciality coffee, locally-brewed rum liquors, locally-sourced bakes and crafts, and more.
Street food and freshly-brewed coffee is also available while you browse.
You can find more information here.
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Day Out with Thomas
East Lancashire Railway
Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 August
Back by popular demand, iconic heritage railway service the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) has announced that everyone’s favourite blue engine, Thomas the Tank Engine, will return to its tracks this weekend.
Billed as “a train ride like no other”, families will be able to hop on board the replica of the cult-classic blue train character for a 45-minute round trip through Burrs Country Park and Summerseat in Bury.
The journey begins at Bury Train Station, where guests will be greeted by The Fat Controller, before Thomas makes a final stop at the beautiful Ramsbottom station.
You can find more information and grab tickets here.
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Our Kids: Silent Disco
Homeground by HOME
Sunday 8 August
Our Kids Social is packing up all of their silent disco kit, brushing off the sequins, and heading to HOME MCR’s brand-new, festival-style outdoor events hub, Homeground, this Sunday.
Set to bring smiles to the faces of children aged 10 and under as the school summer holidays get underway, this session will include disco-themed arts and crafts, where they can make some funky dance props and festival wristbands, before the party moves over to the dance floor and they can choose which channel they want to listen to through the OKS silent disco headsets.
There’ll be two channel kids’ pop vs adults’ guilty pleasures – so think Little Mix vs Candi Staton, and George Ezra vs Bon Jovi.
You can find more information and grab tickets here.
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StreamGM and The Manc have teamed up to show some some serious love and support to the region’s renowned theatres, nightclubs, and live-music venues with the launch of SeeGM – a digital campaign to shine a bright spotlight on many of the amazing events, club nights, gigs and shows in our region.
You can find out more here.
#SeeGM
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Featured Image – Geograph (David Dixon)