Caroline Aherne and Emmeline Pankhurst are among the ‘Manchester Icons’ set to turned into floral installations for a new trail that’ll line the city centre streets.
In case you missed it, it was announced back in January that Manchester is all set to become one of the most picturesque places in the UK once again this summer, and that’s because the city will be getting dressed up in celebration of the annual Flower Festival – which is back by popular demand for its seventh year.
The four-day festival – which is organised annually by Manchester BID and CityCo, and is often dubbed the “most Instagramable event of the year” – always sees Manchester bloom to life, with plants and flowers covering landmark buildings, shop windows, doorways, balconies, statues, fountains, and more right across the city centre.
This year’s Festival will take place over the late May bank holiday weekend from Friday 24 – Monday 27 May 2024.
And now, the theme for this year’s floral trail has now been revealed by the Festival’s organisers.
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‘Manchester Icons’ is the name and theme of this year’s trail – which is always one of the most popular events at the Festival each year – and visitors are being told they can expect to see 10 glorious displays inspired by Manchester-born figures, music icons, and even legendary buildings.
All the installations in the trail are created by local artists, gardeners, and flower enthusiasts.
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The late Manc actress Caroline Aherne, Manchester suffragette icon Emmeline Pankhurst, Girls Aloud and Stockport-raised band member, the late Sarah Harding, and local singing legend Rowetta are among the ‘icons’ who will be turned into floral art pieces, alongside other famous sites such as Gnome Island, the Hacienda, and Boddington’s brewery.
Manchester will be filled with fresh blooms as annual the Flower Festival returns this summer / Credit: Carl Sukonik & Fabio De Paola | The Manc Group
King Street, New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square, the Corn Exchange, and Manchester Arndale are just a few of the sites the installations will call home in a couple of weeks time.
The names and locations of the 10 installations are:
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‘What first attracted you to the comedian Caroline Aherne?’ – New Cathedral Street
‘The Girls Aloud Tribute Garden’ – St Ann’s Square
‘Emmeline’s Town Hall’ – On the corner of King Street and Cross Street
‘Queen Bee Rowetta’ – The Royal Exchange
‘Gnome Island’ – King Street
‘The Second Summer of Love’ – Manchester Arndale
‘Boddingtons Blooms’ – Corn Exchange
‘The Iconic Hive’ – New Cathedral Street
‘This is Manchester’ – St Ann’s Square
‘The Hacienda Gardens’ – On the corner of King Street and Deansgate
Alongside the headline floral trail, organisers say this year’a Manchester Flower Festival is also set to bring “fun and frivolity” to the city’s streets – with a cocktail trail, al-fresco dining, live music, lots of family entertainment, floral workshops, arts and crafts markets, and so much more.
Manchester Flower Festival 2024 is free for all to attend from Friday 24 – Monday 27 May, and you can find out more about the floral trail and everything else happening across the four days here.
Featured Image – Carl Sudonik (via Manchester BID)
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Manchester Village Pride reveals first wave of artists for 2026 with ‘historic’ fair pay union agreement
Emily Sergeant
The first 10 acts taking over the main stage this summer for Manchester Village Pride 2026 have now been announced.
In case you hadn’t heard, it was announced back in October last year that Manchester Pride – the charity / organisation that ran the Manchester Pride Festival – had entered into voluntary liquidation, but was then confirmed earlier this year that it would return, once again, this August bank holiday weekend as Manchester Village Pride CIC.
And now organisers have announced the first 10 acts who’ll playing the festival this year, alongside a landmark commitment to fair pay – marking the first UK union of its kind for a Pride event.
Manchester Village Pride 2026 wristband holders will be treated to a wide range of pop hits and queer performances this year, as the first wave of acts includes the iconic Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner, Danny Beard, noughties R&B and hip hop collective, Booty Luv & Big Brovaz, and award-winning singer Alison Jiear.
Russell Small and vocalist Katherine Ellis, as well as powerhouse singer Michelle Lawson, Newcastle’s drag cabaret comedian Gladys Duffy, and three of Manchester’s best-loved drag performers, KY Kelly, Misty Chance, and Shania Pain, also join the lineup.
This first wave reveal is said to be one of the first of many announcements coming up, as the new organising team curates a lineup that ‘reflects its core promise’ – rebuilding Pride for the community.
Central to this promise is a guarantee that all artists performing at Manchester Village Pride will receive fair pay, and that professional industry standards will be upheld.
This commitment was formalised last week through a partnership with Equity, establishing a historic precedent for Pride events across the UK.
Manchester Village Pride has revealed the first wave of artists for 2026 / The Vain Photos | Manchester Pride
“Our Village party is returning thanks to the incredible support of our LGBTQ+ community, especially those who have already purchased wristbands to help get us up and running,” commented Carl Austin-Behan, who is the founding board member and spokesperson for Manchester Village Pride CIC.
“We cannot wait to see these ten icons take to the main stage, and we are just getting started.”
Carl added that the important difference in the festival this year is that organisers are ‘putting on Pride for the community with grassroots values at its heart’.
He added: “That means paying artists properly and being completely transparent about where the money goes. No one at the organising level is taking a salary this year – funds from wristband sales go straight into event logistics, artist pay, and our five amazing charity partners.”
Manchester Village Pride 2026 will take place this August bank holiday weekend from Friday 28 – Monday 31 August, and you can get your wristbands here.
Featured Image – The Vain Photos (@thevainphotos – Supplied)
What's On
Jessie Ware announces biggest-ever headline tour, including massive Manchester arena show
Danny Jones
Beloved British singer-songwriter Jessie Ware has just announced her biggest headline tour to date, including a massive arena show right here in Manchester.
She’s back with a bang, all right…
The solo star revealed the title and album cover for her sixth studio LP, Superbloom, in late January, and with the release date now fast approaching (Friday, 17 April), she’s gearing up for some truly huge gigs, both domestically and across Europe.
Set to make her Co-op Live debut later this year – the venue having booked so many big names already for 2026 – her Manc comeback can’t come soon enough.
Commenting on the announcement, the award-winning UK artist said: “I am so excited to be performing my biggest shows ever. We made it to arenas!!! I am playing iconic venues around the world, and I couldn’t be happier.
“The ‘Superbloom’ Tour will be filled with celebration, dancing, theatre, cowboys and goddesses, and of course a LOT of singing. Can’t wait to step into my garden where we all shall bloom!”
Born in London, she may not be a Northerner, but we’ve always had a lot of love for her music.
The 41-year-old has also found a whole new audience over the decade or so, thanks to the smash-hit podcast she records with her mum, Lennie, called Table Manners.
With her following stronger and more varied than ever, it’s no surprise she’s playing a space as big and industry-leading as the Co-op.
JUST ANNOUNCED: Jessie Ware 🪩 Saturday 5 Decemberhttps://t.co/r240zY16az@coopuk members get first in line for tickets. Co-op Member Presale: 09:00 Tuesday 21 April General Sale: 09:00 Thursday 23 April pic.twitter.com/yctYxk4W8Z
Confirming just four shows here in the UK and Ireland, us being the only other one in England bar The O2 in London, local fans can count themselves lucky she’s coming to our city.
Booking her return to 0161 for this winter, Jessie Ware comes to the Co-op Live arena in Manchester on 5 December, 2026.
Part and parcel of this venue, official Co-op members get early access, but you can also secure pre-sale by ordering her new album.
She’s also playing a more intimate in-store show here in town at the Arndale HMV if you miss out; see her socials for more info on that one.
As for general admission standing and seated tickets, you can get ready to grab yours from 9am on Thursday, 23 April, right HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
6th May 2024 
