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Manchester is hosting loads of FREE kids activities for National Play Day tomorrow

There's SO much to get involved with.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 6th August 2024

Loads of fun and interactive activities for kids of all ages to get stuck into are happening across Manchester tomorrow.

Now that schools across Greater Manchester are out for summer, there’s likely to be lots of parents, carers, and guardians who are struggling to come up with different ways to keep the kids educated and educated at the same time, all while not breaking the bank too much – but luckily, there’s plenty happening in our region tomorrow to have you covered.

And it’s all to celebrate ‘National Play Day’.

One of the most wholesome annual events, ‘National Play Day’ was established back in 1987, and is a day dedicated to recognising and highlighting the importance of play in children’s lives.

A particular issue is focussed on each year, and 2024’s theme is ‘The Culture of Childhood’, which will celebrate the rich and lively culture of children’s play, and how playfulness is a distinct feature of behaviour across generations and cultures.

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Manchester will be looking at the “vital benefits” of play for children’s health, happiness, and creativity as it celebrates ‘National Play Day’ on Wednesday 7 August.

This means children of all ages can get involved with a wide range of fun activities at countless community venues across the borough – including arts and crafts, free play, den building, team sports, cycling, drumming, a book club, and more.

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Manchester is hosting loads of FREE kids activities for National Play Day tomorrow / Credit: Stephen Andrews | Kenny Eliason | Yan Krukau (via Pexels & Unsplash)

Many of the events happening tomorrow are organised and run by Manchester City Council – with the local authority saying “children from all backgrounds and abilities” are “welcome” at the activities and events near them.

Manchester Central Library, Manchester Art Gallery, Z-Arts, Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, Manchester Aquatics Centre, and Heaton Park are just some of the places where play sessions are happening at throughout the day, and many of them are free to turn up to without needing to book places in advance.

Countless other libraries, leisure centres, galleries, and cultural hubs across the city are also hosting free events too.

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Read more:

Find out more and check out the events near you here.

Featured Image – Artem Kniaz (via Unsplash)

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Elbow teams up with Co-op Live to donate equipment to Manchester grassroots venues

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Bury band Elbow have joined forces with Manchester’s biggest indoor arena, Co-op Live, in aid of supporting local grassroots venues.

Last year saw Elbow become the first act to play the arena, and now they’re teaming up with Co-op Live to offer equipment to glorious city centre venues.

The funds will help improve the already incredible music scene in Manchester, benefitting staples likes Night and Day Café, Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club, SOUP and more.

All of the donations will be distributed across six independent music venues and will be used for various instruments, PA equipment, backline technology and other necessities depending on the requirements of each site.

Elbow have teamed up with Co-op Live in aid of supporting Manchester grassroots venues.
Elbow have teamed up with Co-op Live in aid of supporting Manchester grassroots venues.
Credit: Supplied

This initiative has been keeping Manchester’s Northern Quarter in the forefront of people’s minds when it comes to live music as well as the impressive Co-op Live.

Alongside providing vital resources for these local institutions, Elbow teaming up with Co-op Live also helps cement the North West as one of the main powerhouses in relation to live music.

The latest efforts from the largest indoor arena in Manchester fall in line with celebrating one year of bringing some of the best live music to the city, being officially open for 12 months in May.

Co-op Live have made a commitment to the people and the planet, promising to donate £1 million annually to the Co-op Foundation.

The stunning Co-op Live venue, Manchester's largest indoor arena.
The stunning Co-op Live venue, Manchester’s largest indoor arena.
Elbow performing at Co-op Live, marking history as the first act to grace the venue.
Elbow performing at Co-op Live, marking history as the first act to grace the venue.
Credit: Audio North/Supplied

Manchester’s latest live music venue also contributed significantly to selected charities, including Happy Doggo – chosen by Liam Gallagher and Eric Clapton’s addiction recovery centre, Crossroads.

As Elbow teams up with Co-op Live, even more money is making its way to necessary resources, this time in the likes of crucial live music establishments.

Elbow front-person Guy Garvey says: “Playing Co-op Live’s opening night will stay with us for a lifetime, not least because of how incredible the room sounded.”

“When the venue donated funds in our name to support the city we love, it made complete sense to carry that through to the Northern Quarter and to venues that have meant so much to my bandmates and I throughout our career.”

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Guy Dunstan, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Co-op Live, adds: “In the past year, I have been proud to see Co-op Live become an integral part of such an incredible city.”

“Teaming up with Elbow to directly support the venues that first put Manchester on the map, and to share something so intrinsic to us as venues – proper sound – is something truly special.”

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Featured Image — Supplied (via Publicity Picture)

What's On

Award-winning The Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon to kick off UK tour in Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Sunny Afternoon

Multi award-winning musical Sunny Afternoon is set to kick off its UK tour here in Manchester later this year.

Following a sell-out run at Hampstead Theatre, the musical production featuring all the hit songs by legendary rock band The Kinks opened to critical acclaim at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London’s West End, where it ran for two years ahead of its sensational UK and Ireland tour throughout 2016/17.

It also collected four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and Outstanding Achievement in Music for Ray Davies, along the way.

Unfamiliar with the show?

Award-winning The Kinks musical Sunny Afternoon is kicking off its UK tour in Manchester / Credit: ATG Tickets

Set against the backdrop of Britain on the cusp of the rebellious 60s, Sunny Afternoon is described as being an ‘exhilarating and moving’ celebration of the music, life, and the band that changed it all, The Kinks.

Sunny Afternoon celebrates The Kinks’ raw energy, passion, and timeless sound.

Charting the ‘euphoric highs’ and ‘agonising lows’, the smash-hit production tells the band’s story through an incredible back catalogue of chart-toppers – including ‘You Really Got Me’, ‘Lola’, ‘All Day and All of the Night’, and of course, ‘Sunny Afternoon’ itself.

Sunny Afternoon
Sunny Afternoon
Tickets are on sale now from just £15 each / Credit: Kevin Cummins

Producers Sonia Friedman Productions and ATG Productions announced last week that the show would be returning for another UK tour later this year, and it’ll be opening right here on one of Manchester‘s most iconic stages.

The hit musical will open at Manchester’s Palace Theatre on 10 October 2025 and it will run right through until 18 October.

Sunny Afternoon has music and lyrics, and an original story, all by the band’s frontman Ray Davies, along with a book by Joe Penhall, direction by Edward Hall, design by Miriam Buether, and choreography by Adam Cooper.

Read more:

Tickets are now on sale from just £15 each, and you can find out more information and get your hands on them here.

Featured Image – Kevin Cummins

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