Everything happening at the Great Manchester Run 2021
Famous for its city centre route and atmosphere, the 2021 Great Manchester Run is set to feature live music, entertainment zones that celebrate local character and culture, and a boisterous crowd roaring on the participants.
The Great Manchester Run – the North-West’s flagship sporting event – is officially returning after a 16-month absence. And organisers are promising a “special day” to mark the occasion.
September’s Run is the first since 2019 – with thousands of people preparing to hit the tarmac for 10ks and half marathons.
Famous for its central route weaving around the city’s iconic landmarks, the 2021 Great Manchester Run will feature live music, entertainment zones that celebrate local character and culture, and a boisterous crowd roaring on the participants.
All the action will be televised live on BBC – with runners receiving a t-shirt, shiny new medal, and finisher’s bag filled with goodies.
Event organisers said: “Whether you do it for the challenge, to fundraise for charity, or simply for fun, take your place on the start line and be part of something really special.”
As well as the main event, here’s what else is happening on the 26 September 2021:
The Great Manchester Run 2021 is being billed as a “special occasion” / Image: GMR
Junior & Mini Great Manchester Run
The Junior & Mini event gives runners aged 3+ the opportunity to enjoy the big event experience at the Great Manchester Run, with music and a cheering crowd all the way around.
Entries to the Junior (2.5k) and Mini (1.5k) Great Manchester Run are now open.
High-tempo music and charity cheering points are set to be part of the occasion for the 2021 Great Run – re-energising runners at each kilometre of the course.
Also back by popular demand for 2021 is the Hacienda Zone – featuring a massive sound system, disco lights and bubble machine to give runners a final boost to the finish line.
Thousands will take part in the Run this year / Image: GMR
Business Challenge
The Business Challenge encourages local businesses to compete against each other at the Run to be crowned “champions”.
If you and a group of colleagues want to take on a running event together, for charity, a fitness goal or perhaps just have fun as a team, you can enter the ENGIE Business Challenge here.
The countdown to the Great Manchester Run is on – take your place on the start line and be part of the action, because this year it’s all about the comeback!
For more information about entering, head on over to the official website.
What's On
There’s a ‘not snobby’ cheese tasting evening coming to Manchester this autumn
Thomas Melia
An evening dedicated to celebrating all things cheese is coming to a Manchester city centre pub this autumn.
Leeds-based cheese company Homage2Fromage launched its cheese-focused company back in 2011 as a monthly service highlighting all the delicious dairy offerings.
Since this, Homage2Fromage has gone on to host incredible events and activities, including an all-you-can-eat cheese festival right here in Manchester back in 2023.
Now, the cheese fanatics return with a brand-new event titled ‘Extreme Cheese’, where it’s bringing lots of creamy and crumbly varieties to local Manchester city centre pub, The Wayfarer.
You can expect to sample eight dairy delights, with some expected to be ‘very strong’, as the company adds ‘fromage not for the faint-hearted’, so if you like your cheese strong, then this one’s for you.
Homage2Fromage host cheese tasting experiences across the country including Manchester / Credit: Supplied
This cheese provider offers tasting experiences up and down the country, including prime spots in the north like Halifax, Harrogate, Leeds, and Sheffield.
The newest cheese-inspired event is set to be no different, with an itinerary packed regarding all things cheese.
You can grab a drink on arrival, and as soon as you hear ‘CHEESE’ the tasting begins, followed by scoring and, most importantly, an informative chat where you learn all about this dreamy delicacy.
For those who are cheese aficionados, the company even lets you host your own cheese event and provides everything you could ever need – including that golden flavour-packed good stuff.
If you’d rather put your hosting skills to one side though, and just simply tuck into some of the best cheddar varieties there is, then you can do just that at this upcoming cheese testing evening this autumn.
Homage2Fromage is bringing an exclusive cheese tasting evening, ‘Extreme Cheese’, to Manchester city centre at The Wayfarer on 24 September, and you can find tickets HERE.
Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)
What's On
Blackpool Pleasure Beach announces its famous ‘late night riding’ is back this summer
Emily Sergeant
Blackpool Pleasure Beach has announced that its famous ‘late night riding’ event is making a grand return this summer.
Don’t quite feel ready to say goodbye to summer just yet, and want to cling onto that laidback lifestyle for a little longer?
Well luckily the Lancashire seaside town’s beloved theme park has just announced that it will be bringing back its ever popular ‘late night riding’ hours for one Saturday only later this month, and tickets are now on sale.
It’s not just us calling it ‘late night riding’ for nothing, by the way, that is genuinely what Blackpool Pleasure Beach has decided to name the event.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s famous ‘late night riding’ is making a comeback / Credit: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Anyway, on Saturday 23 August, Blackpool Pleasure Beach will be open from 10am right through until late in the evening, so thrill-seekers can enjoy their favourite rides under the town’s twinkling lights once the sun has gone down.
“Enjoy the fantastic atmosphere as the park sparkles and shines in the dark,” Blackpool Pleasure Beach said as it announced the event‘s return.
While Blackpool Pleasure Beach is always a great day out during the daylight hours anyway, Late Night Riding gives you the chance to ‘brave your favourite rides in the dark’, and experience the park like never before.
Staying open until late means there’s even more hours to ride into the night on the UK’s tallest rollercoaster, the Big One, check out the twists and turns of ICON in the evening, enjoy a night race on the Grand National, and ride on the the Big Dipper at dusk.
There’ll also be a show-stopping fireworks display on the day at 10pm.
The spectacular fireworks displays have a different theme each Late Night Riding event, and always fill the skies above the rollercoasters, rides, and attractions of the park with plenty of colour, while special shows, themed music, and live entertainment fill the park below, all to make sure that visitors have the most immersive experience
The popular event will return for one night only later this month / Credit: Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Tickets for Late Night Riding on Saturday 23 August are available online, and will set you back £35 for an online ticket or £50 on the day.
If you’re unable to make this month’s Late Night Riding though, don’t worry, as you’ll have a chance to visit in a couple of months time when the event returns again in late November
The Manc -
20th August 2021 
