The city centre is to be transformed into the “biggest-ever playground” for this year’s Manchester Day celebrations.
In case you missed it a couple of months back, Manchester Day – which is often dubbed “the day summer officially starts” in Manchester, and undoubtedly one of the most vibrant and colourful events in the city’s annual social calendar – was confirmed for a 2024 return this summer, with our city all set to host a massive celebration of “all things Mancunian” next month.
This means you can expect a day packed full of FREE events and activities to get involved with.
Following the resounding success of last year’s ‘promenade-style’ event that saw activities take place in a number of different locations, , Manchester City Council has revealed that this year’s one-day festival will also take over the city centre.
And now, after weeks of waiting, the theme for this year’s event and all the celebrations lined up, have been revealed.
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The city centre will become the ‘biggest ever’ playground for this year’s Manchester Day / Credit: Manchester Day
This year’s event will be inspired by an international summer of sport, according to the Council, and the city’s streets and squares will be filled with music, dancing, and interactive activities that are designed to “bring out the inner athlete” in visitors, both young and old.
As it has done in previous years, the Council is working with outdoor arts specialists, Walk the Plank, on a jam-packed programme for the day that promises something for all ages and all sporting abilities.
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Visitors can expect to see jaw-dropping acrobatics, pop-up performances of wrestling, breakdancing, opera, drag, and more in “the most unlikely of places”, and a daring dance-circus production, all while getting stuck into various games such as darts, hook-a-duck, or even the ‘actual reality’ arcade filled with larger-than-life consoles.
Manchester Day is back on Saturday 27 July. 🌞
Inspired by an international summer of sport, expect pop-up performances, astounding acrobatics and have-a-go activities. 🤸♀️🎾🚴♂️
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) June 20, 2024
Most importantly though, in what will be a Manchester Day special for 2024 to mark this sizzling summer of international sport, with UEFA Euro 2024, Wimbledon, and the Olympics being just a couple of the sporting events in the calendar, the Council has also partnered with some of the UK’s leading sports bodies to offer loads of fitness taster sessions and activities throughout the day.
Football, cricket, netball, and taekwondo are just a few of the sports that visitors can expect to show off their skills in.
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Gold medals will be awarded in a special ‘Winners’ Enclosure’ throughout the day, and the honours will be up for grabs in all kinds of categories – including cheekiest grin, best Dad dancer, and more.
Sporty celebrations will take place all across the city centre / Credit: Manchester Day
“We know how much Mancunians of all ages love to celebrate the city’s special day with us, and this year we’re really going for gold,” Councillor Pat Karney, who is the Chair of Manchester Day, teased ahead of this year’s event in a couple of weeks time.
“We’ve got an absolutely fantastic day lined up, stuffed full of free things to see and do for all the family, all with a sporting flavour, so grab your granny and your trainers and come on down and join us.”
Manchester Day 2024: Let The Games Begin! will take over the city centre on Saturday 27 July from 12pm-6pm.
Operation Mincemeat at The Lowry, Manchester – Monty Python meets Six in a masterclass of multi-rolling
Clementine Hall
The best-reviewed show in West End history has just opened in Manchester, and it’s a must-see for any theatre lover.
When you think of a great topic or story for a glitzy musical, an underground secret mission of World War II doesn’t exactly spring to mind.
But Operation Mincemeat suddenly turns this very serious snippet of history into the most hilarious thing you’ve ever seen.
From starting out as a small fringe musical about a covert British war plan, Operation Mincemeat is now a huge West End and Broadway Smash having received a monumental 88 five star reviews.
Image: Supplied
So, how did the British MI5 trick Hitler with a corpse, an engagement ring, a love letter and a collection of receipts?
Well, this musical walks you through it in a style that combines Monty Python with Six the Musical, in the most brilliant way.
The cast consists of only five performers, each who play a myriad of rolls of both genders – and this is no mean feat.
Image: Supplied
Holly Sumpton leads the troops as the Eton-educated, dapperly dressed and much too self-assured Montague.
It’s a perfect performance that leads the narrative, and pokes fun at the posh male entitlement that is only heightened by her physical humour made better by the cross-casting.
Seán Carey plays the bumbling and sweet scientist Charles, a character that lacks the boarding school confidence yet gains the trust of the audience as we root for his success. Carey’s physicality and playfulness made for some of the night’s funniest moments.
Image: Supplied
Charlotte Hanna-Williams plays a headstrong Jean as she tries to break through the misogynistic ideals of war time Britain, and Jamie-Rose Monk is an absolute hoot as Bevan and a whole host of other roles – popping up in places you’d never expect somehow wearing a different hat or waistcoat.
The highlight performance for me though was Christian Andrews, who flicks between the slimy coroner Spilsbury and meticulous yet loveable MI5 matron with utter ease.
The song Dear Bill was a welcomed tender moment nearing the end of act one in the high-pace, slapstick performance that left no dry eye in the house.
But it’s not the individual performances that make Operation Mincemeat so spectacular, it’s an absolute masterclass in multi-rolling with no performer missing a beat throughout.
It’s fast, it’s risky (there’s even a couple of swastikas), at often times its heartfelt, and its downright bloody hilarious.
This is why original musicals matter, and this one certainly deserves its flowers.
Operation Mincemeat is at The Lowry until Saturday28 February before embarking on a world tour, and you can get your tickets here.
Local BID board launch new ‘Visit Alty’ app ahead of Taste of Altrincham 2026
Danny Jones
One of Trafford’s resident BID (Business Improvement District) board have officially launched their brand-new ‘Visit Alty’ app for the market town ahead of this year’s A Taste of Altrincham festival.
Set to be a dedicated one-stop where residents can find out what’s going on in and around the area, the platform is already available on the likes of the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android phones.
As A Taste of Alty returns for 2026, this is just the second instalment in the total 10-day food and drink party – with a big opening weekend celebration starting this Friday, 27 February – the latest innovation by Altrincham BID is hoping to keep residents more up to date on their village than ever.
Sponsored by native law firm Myerson Solicitors and supported by various local businesses, the sophomore edition of the now annual festivities serves as the ideal staging event for the fledgling Visit Altrincham app.
Running until Sunday, 8 March, A Taste of Altrincham is even bigger this time around. (Credit: Press shot)
With a full programme events kicking off this weekend, the app itself is ideal for keeping track of everything going.
In addition to workshops, live demos by regional chefs, supper clubs, wine tastings, the latest ‘Ultimate Pudding Competition’ and lots of other special events, it can be hard to keep track of everything.
That why, like any good festival, the app has a full map and guide featuring all the key info.
Beyond just the event itself, the app itself is aimed at supporting local independents and more by helping to increase their exposure, sign-post daytrippers to the old Cheshire holdout’s best bits, and push more and more people to one of the borough’s blossoming suburb in general.
Teaming up with a number of popular locations in and around the town centre, it’s a real come one, come all affair – just as things should be.
Residents and visitors alike can also found physical printed copies of the full Taste of Alty ’26 programme nearby at the likes of Altrincham Library, the Bee Network Interchange, as well as OYEZ Arts at the Town Hall.
Created with digital town hub partners, Loqiva, co-founder Marcus Chidgey said in a statement: “We’re pleased to be partnering with Altrincham BID to support Altrincham’s continued growth.
“With a strong independent business scene, an award-winning Market and excellent transport connections to Manchester, the Visit Altrincham app offers a new way for people to discover and explore the town.”
As for the local BID department, Alty’s director Mandy White added: “If you haven’t downloaded the Visit Altrincham app yet, now is the perfect time. It’s a simple way to find out what’s on, discover local businesses and unlock exclusive offers, especially during A Taste of Altrincham.
“The app helps people get more from their visit while supporting our independent businesses and high street brands.”
The Visit Altrincham app is FREE to download right now – you can find it HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
24th June 2024 
