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Manchester city centre to be filled with fresh blooms as the annual Flower Festival returns

Bringing fun and floral frivolity to start the summer.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 25th February 2025

Manchester will be blooming with colour once again this early summer, as the city’s annual Flower Festival returns.

Now in its eighth year, and always billed as being the city’s most Instagrammable event in the annual calendar, The Manchester Flower Festival is a fabulous floral spectacle that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors into Manchester city centre.

This year’s festival, which is organised annually by Manchester BID, will celebrate Manchester and other great cities around the world. 

From the vibrant tulip fields of Amsterdam, to the urban energy of New York’s Statue of Liberty, and the high-tech influence of Singapore, this year’s theme is wide open for interpretation, and offers contributing gardeners the chance to showcase their designs which interpret the beauty of cities through iconic landmarks, floral heritage. or personal connections to global hotspots.

Manchester city centre will be filled with fresh blooms this summer as the annual Flower Festival returns / Credit: ManchesterBID

Returning, as always, this May bank holiday weekend from Friday 23 – Monday 26 May, there are lots of ways to participate and get involved in this year’s festival – including various ‘Show Gardens’, floristry displays, festival market stalls, and loads of other events.

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Festival organisers are calling on garden designers, florists, street artists, garden groups, and budding enthusiasts across the region to showcase their designs at this year’s event.

Local businesses in the city centre are also encouraged to show their support for the annual festival by creating window, building, or in-store floral displays, and even host dedicated offers and food and drinks specials.

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Businesses can even host food pop-ups, outdoor bars, or take part in the festival’s cocktail trail. 

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Volunteers to help at this year’s event are also needed, and organisers assure volunteers will gain valuable experience and enjoy being part of the team at one of the city’s annual flagship events.

Featured Image – Manchester BID (via Supplied)

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Neighbourhood Weekender reveals second wave of HUGE acts for summer lineup

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Neighbourhood Weekender has just dropped another list of names for its 2025 lineup.

The Warrington-based festival is always stacked with mega acts, with this summer’s lineup being absolutely no different, and a whole new bunch of famous faces have just been announced this week too.

This new batch of bands and artists sees the addition of some rising stars, as well as some much-loved favourites.

First up on the impressive roster is Dylan John Thomas, who may be known for his rockstar tunes, but he also loves to break it up with a performance of ABBA classic ‘Mamma Mia’ from time to time.

Villanelle are also ready to raise the roof, and if that name sounds familiar to you, then that’s because the band is fronted by none other than Liam Gallagher’s son, Gene, while another big highlight on the lineup just announced is The Slow Readers Club.

The Manchester band are about to have one of the most epic summers too, as they’re also supporting Elbow at Castlefield Bowl two months later.

Neighbourhood Weekender reveals second wave of HUGE acts for summer lineup / Credit: Supplied

This list doesn’t end there either, as busker-turned-overnight-star Alex Spencer is on the bill and is already proclaimed as one of the UK’s most promising songwriters.

Previously, this popular indie rock festival – which is taking place this May bank holiday weekend on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May – had already announced huge names like James, Stereophonics, The Wombats, and The Reytons as some of the acts performing across this two-day event.

If this second wave of names didn’t convince you enough to get a ticket already though, worry not, as more names are soon to be revealed.

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Neighbourhood Weekender is returning to Victoria Park in Warrington on 24 and 25 May, and tickets as well as a full lineup so far can be found HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image – Publicity Picture (Supplied)

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Ornella’s Kitchen, Gooey and Hello Oriental to move into Freight Island

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Freight Island has just announced some massive new arrivals and its biggest-ever spring-summer programme – including the arrival of Ornella’s Kitchen.

Joining Ornella’s Kitchen – a tiny Tameside restaurant which is consistently booked up MONTHS in advance – will be equally massive local names like Gooey and Hello Oriental.

The landmark street food and entertainment venue turns five this year, and is announcing new kitchens, a refreshed dining service, a new look, and a free to attend festival programme.

Set to reopen on Thursday 3 April, this next iteration of Freight Island will include new kitchens for some of Manchester’s best-known and best-loved operators.

Up first will be Ornella’s Little Kitchen – an announcement they already teased last week – where this in-demand Italian restaurant will be serving its pasta-deli specials in a new restaurant setting inside Freight Island. You’ll be able to book a table for Ornella’s Little Kitchen HERE.

Also opening next month will be a Chinese BBQ spot from MOREJOY, huge French toast brunches from Gooey, and ice cream and desserts from Hello Oriental as they launch Hello Dezato.

Of course, Freight Island will have its returning resident kitchens too with fresh new menus, like chicken shop Patterson’s, Venezuelan food from Mia’s Arepas, smash burgers from the legendary Burgerism, giant pizza slices from Voodoo Ray’s, pan-Asian dishes from FUKU, Greek street food from Mega Gyros, and cheesecake on a stick from Oh My Cheesecake.

Kantina will be back with curated supper clubs between Freight Island traders and guest chefs from across the country.

Beyond the food and drink offering, Freight Island will have a packed programme of a spring-summer festival programme, featuring Moovin Festival, Wookie, Greg Wilson, Optimo (Espacio), David Rodigan, Luke Una’s É Soul Cultura, DJ Paulette, Congo Natty, Crazy P (DJ Set), Fat Tony and loads more.

And there’ll be official takeovers and celebrations in the UK’s biggest dedicated sports fanzone, including UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 and the Woman’s Rugby World Cup.

On joining Freight Island, Jamie at Ornella’s Kitchen, commented: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Ornella’s Little Kitchen to Freight Island and be part of such a dynamic food and entertainment space.

“Our pasta-deli specials have found a loyal following in Manchester, and we can’t wait to share our authentic Italian flavours in this new setting.”

Dan Morris, Managing Director at Freight Island, said: “Freight Island was always imagined as a place for innovation and pushing boundaries and this year’s update is about taking us closer to that original vision.

“With the incredible new food, a refreshed dining experience and our biggest Spring/Summer festival line-up yet, we’re set for an unforgettable season.”

To find out more about what’s on and check Freight Island’s full calendar, visit www.escapetofreightisland.com/entertainment.

Freight Island is re-opening on Thursday 3 April, and will be open Thursday to Sunday.  

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Featured image: supplied

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