Manchester Day is back for 2024 this weekend, and the city centre is set to become the “biggest ever playground” to celebrate.
Fancy putting your sporting talents to the test? Riding some vintage fairground rides? Watching some street theatre? Or being entertained by a flash mob? Well, now that schools are officially out across the region, and the summer holidays are well and truly here, the massively-popular Manchester Day is making a return once again this weekend, and as always, it’s set to be “the day summer officially starts” in the city centre.
Gearing up to be a massive celebration of “all things Mancunian”, the theme of this year’s annual event is ‘Let The Games Begin’.
It’s inspired by the international summer of sport, just 2024 Olympics kicks off over in Paris.
This time next week, Manchester Day comes to town 😍
Expect swooping performances and have-a-go games from the likes of:
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 20, 2024
The day will be packed full of free events and activities for all the family to get involved with.
But what exactly can you expect from 2024’s Manchester Day? Where is all the action happening? What show-stopping entertainment is on the cards? What activities can you hope to get stuck into? And how about food and drink?
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is Manchester Day 2024?
If you’re ready to start your summer off in style, then this year’s Manchester Day is happening on Saturday 27 July.
As it has done in previous years, Manchester City Council is working with outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank on a jam-packed programme that promises something for everyone, and the city’s streets and squares will be filled with music, dancing, and interactive activities designed to “bring out the inner athlete” in visitors, both young and old.
Manchester Day is back for 2024 to celebrate the international summer of sport / Credit: Manchester City Council
Where is Manchester Day taking place this year?
Following the resounding success of last year’s ‘promenade-style’ event that saw activities take place in a number of different locations, the Council has revealed that this year’s Manchester Day will also take over the whole city centre.
With a wide range of festivities set to kick-off from midday and run right through until 6pm, attractions will be dotted in main social hubs such as Deansgate, Piccadilly Gardens, St Peter’s Square, Market Street, and more.
Exchange Square, St Ann’s Square, Cathedral Gardens, and New Cathedral Street are a handful of other places where plenty of action will pop up.
The one-day festival will take over the whole city centre this Saturday / Credit: Manchester City Council
What’s on this year’s entertainment lineup? What FREE activities are there to take part in?
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.
The streets will also be filled with big screens showing sports, flash mobs, a vintage fairground with loads of retro rides, street theatre performances, and even a Capri-style beach club.
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 too.
There’s loads of FREE interactive events and activities to get involved with / Credit: Manchester City Council
Football, cricket, netball, and taekwondo being just a few of the sports you can try out.
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 things like cheekiest grin, best Dad dancer, and more.
What is the Council saying?
Councillor Pat Karney, who is the Chair of Manchester Day, said this year’s event is pretty “sensational” in terms of what’s lined up.
“We’ve pulled out all the stops to make Manchester’s favourite day of the year a medal-winning Manchester Day to remember,” Cllr Karney added. “We’re all-in, going for gold with a fantastic programme jam-packed full of free things to see and to do, and enough different have-a-go activities to bring out the inner athlete in everyone.
Local LGBTQIA+ football team Manchester Laces are set to play in the FA Cup for the first time ever
Danny Jones
Inclusive football team Manchester Laces are set to break even more new ground are they prepare to compete in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup for the first time ever.
What a truly incredible few years it’s been for the club.
Set to play their maiden match in the female division of the sport’s oldest competition this weekend, Manchester Laces’ Yellows squad will be taking on rival Greater Manchester Women’s Football League (GMWFL) side, Northwich Victoria, in another historic milestone for the local outfit.
Announced last month, the game is now fast approaching, and they’re hoping that plenty of Manc natives will turn up in support.
For anyone unfamiliar with the story, Manchester Laces has grown to become the leading women’s, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ positive sporting bodies in the region.
In fact, as part of a wider family – which includes clubs in Hackney, South London and Limehouse Laces, not to mention players over in Canada too – they’re comfortably one of the biggest in the entire country.
Sticking with MCR Laces alone, founded by Helen Hardy, they have grown so much in reputation and size that they have six different teams besides just the Yellows: the other Manchester squads include the Blues, Greens, Oranges, Purples, as well as the budding new Reds and Blacks.
It’s this kind of impressive expansion and, crucially, representation that has seen them win two Football v Homophobia Awards and Grassroots Initiative of the Year back in 2023.
Side-note: they also happen to have one of our favourite fooy kits of the entire year so far…
Boasting a new regular stadium at Timpson Road and set to take part not only in the North West Women’s Regional Football League (NWWFL)/GMWFL, but now FA Cup and county cup games, 2025 could be their most momentous year yet.
Providing access to countless women and people from within the queer and non-binary community who love the beautiful game and may have otherwise struggled to find an outlet, their work has been crucial in and around Greater Manchester.
With that in mind, taking part in an inaugural run within the prestigious knockout tournament feels like yet another watershed moment for the organisation.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, the club wrote on social media: “In 2021, we started our journey in Div 2 of the GMWFL with the aim of creating an inclusive and welcoming space for all. After winning consecutive league titles and earning back-to-back promotions, we are now a Tier 6 team.
“Yellows are delighted to be stepping into the magic of the FA Cup for the very first time, and we would love to see you there!
Taking place at both Wythenshawe Town FC’s and the Yellows’ own new home ground of Ericstan Park on Sunday, 7 September (2pm KO), we wish them the best of luck.
The Last Dinner Party have announced a huge 35-date tour, including a big Manchester gig
Danny Jones
Multi-award-winning indie and alternative rock band, The Last Dinner Party, have just announced what is set to be one of their biggest globe-trotting tours ever, with a momentous Manchester gig included on the UK run.
The much-celebrated five-piece have revealed their latest run of shows will span the UK, Ireland, mainland Europe, Australia AND New Zealand, confirming a total of 35 live dates.
After coming somewhat under fire in 2024 following a series of cancelled concerts, the Londoners have responded in the best way possible: by putting their money where their mouth is and coming back with a bang ahead of their highly anticipated sophomore release.
We have every faith they’ll have the stamina to fulfil their live commitments this time around, and you best believe we’ll be going for tickets.
Speaking in the build-upto the release of the second album, From The Pyre – which is set to drop on 17 October – the band said of their latest material: “This record is a collection of stories, and the concept of album-as-mythos binds them.
‘The Pyre‘ itself is an allegorical place in which these tales originate, a place of violence and destruction but also regeneration, passion and light. The songs are character-driven but still deeply personal, a commonplace life event pushed to a pathological extreme.
“Being ghosted becomes a Western dance with a killer, and heartbreak laughs into the face of the apocalypse. Lyrics invoke rifles, scythes, sailors, saints, cowboys, floods, Mother Earth, Joan of Arc, and blazing infernos. We found this kind of evocative imagery to be the most honest and truthful way to discuss the way our experiences felt, giving each the emotional weight it deserves.”
Going on to describe the follow-up to their seminal debut, Prelude to Ecstasy (which saw them sweep up multiple BRIT and NME Awards, as well as a Mercury Prize nomination), as “darker, more raw and more earthy”, you’re definitely in for a heavily intellectualised experience with this one.
Their performances are certainly much more than a group of musicians getting up on stage too; having seen them last October ourselves, the LGBTQ+ icons definitely revel in the artistic expression of a live show, and have been praised for celebrating the female queer gaze too.
As you can see in the social post shared by the band, they’re about to have a very busy end to 2025, plus plenty of travelling in the new year, but for now, you can see The Last Dinner Party’s upcoming UK tour dates in full down below:
14 November – 3Arena, Dublin
17 November – Corn Exchange, Edinburgh
20 November – O2 City Hall, Newcastle
23 November – Bridlington Spa, Bridlington
26 November – Aviva Studios, Manchester
29 November – The Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
30 November – The Prospect Building, Bristol
2 December – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
4 December – Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth
5 December – Brighton Centre, Brighton
7 December – O2 Academy Brixton, London
8 December – O2 Academy Brixton, London
Yes, set to visit Aviva Studios – a.k.a. the home of Greater Manchester’s ever-growing artistic hub – for the very first time, we couldn’t think of a more fitting act to play the stunning dynamic space.
General admission for The Last Dinner Party tour goes live from 10am GMT on Friday, 12 September, but fans who pre-order the album can gain early access.
You can get ready to grab your tickets right HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
24th July 2024 
