Little Mancs who love LEGO can take part in a series of interactive building workshops in Manchester next month.
Following the launch of its new campaign aimed at championing and standing up for girls’ creativity earlier this year, The LEGO Group hosted its first series of interactive workshops back in April, and then a second round this past summer – but now, in a bid to keep encouraging children across Greater Manchester to “play without limits”, the next set of dates have been announced.
Aimed at young creators aged six to 12, the workshops will be focused on themes such as entertainment, space, imagination, and gaming.
Workshops will take place down at Manchester Arndale and the Trafford Centre on selected Sundays in October, around half term time, as well as online for those who can’t make it in person.
LEGO is hosting more free interactive workshops for kids in Manchester next month / Credit: Supplied
This time around, the in-person ‘Creativity Workshops’ – which will be held at the LEGO Toy Shop in Manchester Arndale and LEGO Store Trafford Centre on Sunday 13 and Sunday 20 October – will let youngsters delve into the world of gaming through a series of exciting activities and tasks.
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Kids can create their own ‘video game level’ or buildable characters, or have a go at building anything they want, all with a little help from the LEGO store associates for guidance.
And the best bit? Tickets to the workshops are free, but you will need to make sure you book them in advance on the LEGO website here, however, as they’re expected to be snapped-up fast.
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Workshops are happening down at Manchester Arndale and the Trafford Centre / Credit: Craig A Rodway (via Flickr)
For those who aren’t able to attend the workshops in person though, there’s the new ‘Creativity at Home’ series, which are online workshops hosted by creative innovators – including dancing sensation Dianne Buswell, and this time around, gaming pioneer and influencer Kennedy Rose for Cozy Games.
Kennedy will demonstrate how to create fun LEGO builds that show off your gaming spirit and personality, and they’re available to take part in now on www.LEGO.com/Creativity-Workshops.
Book your place on the Greater Manchester-based workshops here.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 24 – 30 August 2026
Emily Sergeant
It’s our final full week of August, and we’ve got a bank holiday to make the most of too.
Summer is finally drawing to a close, and thankfully some of the heatwave conditions have subsided too, but despite the rain, that doesn’t mean there isn’t loads happening across Greater Manchester this week.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though, no worries, as we’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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Pride Fringe
Manchester City Centre
Monday 24 August – 1 September
Pride Fringe / Credit: Supplied | Jason Lock Photography
Of course, we all know Manchester Village Pride will be returning for 2026 over the August bank holiday weekend, but aside from the official festivities around the Village, an extensive new Pride Fringe event is also taking place for the first time this year.
You can expect an exciting mix of LGBTQIA+ arts, culture, live entertainment, family events, food, drink and shopping experiences.
On top of that, the city’s hotels will also be joining in the celebrations – with dedicated Pride packages, parties, free gifts, and discounts this month.
You can find out everything happening these new few weeks here.
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Manchester City Stadium Tours
Etihad Stadium
Monday 24 August – onwards
Manchester City Stadium Tours / Credit: The Manc Group
If you’re looking for something to do this summer, did you know you can currently get 15% off Manchester City’s tours of the Etihad Stadium?
You’ll get to walk in the players’ footsteps down the tunnel, sit in Enzo’s seat, get pitchside, see the Domestic Double Winners’ trophies, and loads more. Plus, from 17 August, you’ll be able to see City’s brand-new dressing room too.
Get ready to spend the summer in space, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced its summer events programme and it’s full of free interactive events and activities to get involved with these next six weeks.
From live space shows and giant rockets, to tinkering activities Martian discovery trails, and the chance to visit the blockbuster exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos if you haven’t already, budding astronauts are in for a summer to remember.
By far one of the stand-out free events this summer is the arrival of 30-foot-tall rocket ship, Skybolt 2 – hosted by Manchester-based aerospace company, Starchaser.
Find out more and book tickets for your visit here.
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Summer Scran Fest
Manchester Arndale
Monday 24 – 31 August
Summer Scran Fest / Credit: The Manc Group | Supplied
Looking for the best foodie deals in Manchester city centre this summer? We’ve got you covered. Summer Scran Fest is back at Manchester Arndale, bringing a month-long celebration of tasty food, refreshing drinks, and unbeatable offers.
Running right through until the end of the month, there’ll be discounts across 30+ restaurants, cafes, kiosks and leisure venues, all under one roof – from big-name chains, to local indies.
Manchester is bringing 14 weeks of free activities for children to parks across the city this summer.
Thanks to additional Council funding that was allocated earlier this year, Manchester’s biggest-ever Parktastic programme has now launched – expanding from the summer holidays alone to include after-school sessions before schools break up, activities throughout the holidays, and even sessions continuing into September.
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Back by popular demand and aimed at children ages six-12, Parktastic offers sports, games, arts and crafts, dance, drama, nature activities, storytelling and messy play.
Sessions are free, no booking is required, healthy snacks are provided, and children can simply turn up and join in.
Thrill seekers, this one’s for you – as Zip World Manchester has launched its new Forest Tubing experience, and it’s bringing the UK’s longest outdoor tubing slide is coming to Heaton Park.
The new family‑friendly outdoor adventure gives visitors the chance to soar along two slides, winding through woodland at one of the largest parks in the North West.
Suitable for children aged four and above, visitors can book an hour-long session – with unlimited rides during that time slot – and either ride solo, or share the experience with fellow adventurers.
The huge new MCR Made exhibition by incredible local artist Stanley Chow has now taken over Manchester Arndale.
Running through until the autumn, shoppers and locals will be able to admire 13 portraits of Manc icons, which measure up to six-metres in length – whether it’s Oasis legends or Suffragettes, football heroes or creative pioneers.
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The gigantic inflatable portraits are suspended right across the iconic shopping centre for an art trail that celebrates the figures who have shaped the city.
National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails
North West
Monday 24 August – onwards
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National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails / Credit: James Dobson | Annapurna Mellor
National Trust and Pokémon have teamed up for an exclusive trading card game and immersive trail.
The partnership is set to bring together the places the National Trust cares for and Pokémon’s spirit of play and discovery.
Exclusively designed for the National Trust, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails are going to be running throughout summer at 14 National Trust places nationwide, combining ‘imaginative play’ with ‘gentle physical activity’ inspired by Mega Evolution Pokémon.
Find out where to get involved and book tickets here.
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Manchester Village Pride
Manchester City Centre
Friday 28 – Monday 31 August
Manchester Village Pride / Credit: Supplied
One of the most important events in the city’s annual social calendar is returning as Manchester Village Pride this bank holiday weekend.
This year’s event includes a ‘diverse’ programme of events that build on some of the best-loved elements of previous years – a Pride Parade, candle-lit vigil, party with performance and music across various stages, as well as talks, exhibitions, and community activities.
All funds raised through the sale of wristbands and passes will support LGBTQ+ charities, grassroots organisations, and vital community services.
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Everything you need to know about Manchester Village Pride 2026 is here.
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Bolton Food & Drink Festival
Bolton
Friday 28 – Monday 31 August
Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2026 / Credit: Paul Hayes (Supplied)
Bolton Food and Drink Festival is back this August bank holiday weekend.
The award-winning festival is the biggest of its kind in the North West, bringing together celebrity and regional chefs, cooking demos, live music, street entertainment, special events, and over 200 market traders.
Hosted right across the town centre, foodies can roam freely as they explore food stalls, bars, dedicated music stages, and plenty more at the free-to-attend festival.
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Bundobust x Federal
Manchester
Saturday 29 August
Bundobust and Federal have teamed up for something pretty delicious, as this Saturday they will host a collaborative brunch at Bundobust Piccadilly – giving guests the chance to experience an exclusive menu created by both kitchens.
Following this, there will be a few collaborative specials on each menu for two weeks in all venues across Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool, so keep your eyes peeled.
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The Wagon Train at Irlam & Cadishead Festival
Prince’s Park
Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August
The Wagon Train is making an appearance at Irlam & Cadishead Festival this weekend, and visitors are invited to join for an afternoon of music and creativity, with something for everyone to get involved with – from performances and workshops taking place throughout the day.
Confirmed acts at the free festival include Cadishead Public Band, Morag Rose, Brazen Brass Band, Stepping Stones, Irlam Mixed Voice Choir, Treading the Boards, and Art with Heart, to name a few.
Good news ahead of the new season, one of Old Trafford’s finest pubs has reopened after a £400k refurb, and it’s more serious about sport than ever before.
Inside the new-look The Tollgate, you’ll find loads of new state-of-the-art HD screens, including a few outside and one particularly giant one inside, plus walls covered in United merch, two-pint cups of beer, and great pub bites.
There’s darts, there’s pool, there’s sport on the screens round-the-clock, and there’s nowhere better to grab a pint (or a double pint) before kick-off.
A Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant with a whole host of breakfast, brunch, and sweet treat dishes you need to try, and with a dinner menu coming soon too (plus, everything is halal), get yourself down Deansgate and try it out.
Proloco is gearing up to open its doors on Great Ancoats Street, and this is a neighbourhood restaurant we can all get behind – think £7 negronis, great wine, and ‘butter pie’ pizzas (where mozzarella is replaced with slivers of butter).
As well as pizza made with top local ingredients, there are little scoops of gelato that pack a big punch, plus fantastic small plates, so you can fill your table with the things that make you very happy indeed.
Everything you need to know about Proloco is here.
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On a budget and need somewhere to take the kids to eat for £1 or even FREE over the summer holidays?
In case the ongoing heatwave didn’t remind you, summer is in full swing and so are the school summer holidays.
If you’re after ways to enjoy some quality family time without having to break the bank, we’ve found lots of places where kids can eat for £1 or free – 15 of them, to be exact.
So, whether you’re in the mood for a hearty Italian, a bit of brekkie, or even a big Greek feast, just because you’re on a budget shouldn’t mean you have to limit your and your family’s taste buds.
It’s strawberry season, and Kenyon Hall Farm has officially opened up its strawberry fields (plus plenty of other pick-your-own produce) for the season for you to frolic amongst, with loads of summer treats in its cafe and award-winning farm shop too.
Strawberries have been growing at Kenyon Hall Farm for nearly 50 years now, and it’s proven as popular ever since.
Did you know that Go Ape now runs adult-only sessions?
We nipped over to Go Ape at Rivington as we heard you can now act like a big silly kid there without having to share anything with actual children.
It’s one of the region’s top attractions for good reason, giving you a chance to clamber and fly through the treetops on a sky-high obstacle course, and now every Thursday and Friday evening, you can escape your work inbox and switch it out for a maze of ziplines, ladders, swings, and more.
Less than an hour from Manchester, you’ll find what is essentially a gigantic floating bouncy castle which makes for an incredibly silly afternoon out.
At Wild Shore Delamere you can take on slides, monkey bars, ninja jumps, tyre runs, and plenty of other opportunities to slip and spectacularly fall into the lake. And if you don’t fancy wiping out in front of a lake full of children, there’s also paddleboarding, wakeboarding, open-water swimming, and even a lakeside sauna.
If you’d like to say on land, how about a shopping trip?
You already know Cheshire Oaks is the ultimate shopping destination, but have you seen its summer transformation yet?
The huge designer outlet has areas like a summer chill-out zone, its rooftop bar Under The Oaks, fairground rides, and absolutely loads more, plus kids eat free deals at restaurants across the village. That’s in addition to the big-name stores packed with summer essentials, the huge kids’ play area, and photo opps like murals and a massive floral installation.
We’re deep in the school holidays now, and if you’re running out of things to do, don’t worry as we’ve got you covered. To make life even easier, all the activities are accessible by the Bee Network AND they’re tried and tested by us, so we can guarantee you’ll love them.
Manchester Village Pride – ticket prices, lineup, parade, and more
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Village Pride is coming home. After years of celebrations that have stretched across the city, Pride is returning to the heart of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community for four days of music, drag, culture, community and, of course, one very big party in the Gay Village.
Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend, from Friday 28 to Monday 31 August, Manchester Village Pride 2026 promises a celebration that focuses firmly on community, with a packed programme bringing together LGBTQ+ icons, local talent, drag queens, DJs, performers and artists across the Village and beyond.
The Pride Parade will once again take over Manchester’s streets on Saturday 29 August, with thousands expected to line the route as it makes its way from Liverpool Street into the city centre and towards the Gay Village.
There’s also a brand-new Pride Fringe programme, bringing LGBTQ+ film, comedy, club nights, exhibitions, walking tours, family events and more to venues across Manchester.
So whether you’re heading straight for the outdoor stages, getting involved with the parade, exploring the Fringe or simply soaking up the atmosphere around Canal Street, there’s something happening throughout the city.
Here’s everything you need to know about Manchester Village Pride 2026, including the dates and times, parade route, lineup, ticket prices, entry rules and the best of this year’s Pride Fringe.
When is Manchester Village Pride 2026?
Manchester Village Pride will take place on August bank holiday weekendThe parade will also return
As always, the Manchester Village Pride celebrations will take place over the August bank holiday weekend, filling the Gay Village for four whole days.
This year, Manchester Village Pride will take place on Friday 28, Saturday 29, Sunday 30, and Monday 31 August.
Event gates will open at 6pm on the Friday, 12pm on both Saturday and Sunday, and 10am on Monday for the Family Fun Day.
The main outdoor stages will wrap up earlier, but the party in venues around the Gay Village will continue into the early hours – naturally.
Manchester Village Pride Parade info
The Manchester Village Pride Parade will return in 2026, weaving its way all throughout the city streets on Saturday 29 August.
This year’s theme is ‘No Place Like Home’, an apt choice as the celebrations return to their spiritual home in the Gay Village.
The route will begin on Liverpool Street at around midday, before travelling down Deansgate, Peter Street, Oxford Street, Portland Street and Whitworth Street, finishing in The Village at around 4pm.
Road closures will be in place, which you can see HERE.
Manchester Village Pride lineup
In stark contrast to the previous Manchester Pride bosses, this year’s organisers have put most of the time, effort, and money into curating a real community, back-to-its roots Pride celebration.
So rather than a big flashy headliner, they’ve curated one of the best lineups we’ve seen in years, of LGBTQ+ icons and allies plus loads of homegrown talent (and they’ve spent £20k less on the entire bill than was spent on one single headliner last year).
Performing at Manchester Village Pride 2026 will be the likes of Nadine Coyle, Danny Beard, Gareth Gates, Kate Nash, Cascada, and Rowetta.
Friday will be headlined by Nadine Coyle and Danny Beard; Saturday will see top slots for Gareth Gates and Meek; on Sunday, it’ll be Cascada and Kate Nash; then Rowetta will be the main act on Sunday.
They’re joined by a lineup of fantastic local talent, including artists, DJs, and drag queens, taking our city’s Pride celebrations back to their roots, and keeping things firmly in the Gay Village.
It’s going to be epic.
Manchester Village Pride ticket prices
The music will all take place in the Gay Village for Manchester Village Pride
Also in stark contrast to 2025 will be the ticket prices for Manchester Village Pride, which are as follows:
Weekend tickets – £44.80 including booking fee
Friday, Saturday, Sunday day tickets – £28 including booking fee
Organisers have stressed that you will need a wristband to enter the Gay Village – this is because the Village legally becomes a ‘Live Event Space’, and its license requires a secure perimeter.
Without that, there can be no outdoor stages or bar.
Pride Fringe events
Manchester is launching its first-ever Pride Fringe this year, bringing LGBTQ+ arts, culture, entertainment and community events to venues across the city.
The programme includes the SCENE film and TV festival, comedy, club nights, exhibitions, Pride-themed walking tours, shopping events and family activities.
Manchester Arndale will also hold a pre-Pride celebration on 22 and 23 August, with makeup stations, a selfie spot, and live drag performances.
Many events will raise funds for local LGBTQ+ charities, while hotels are offering Pride-themed packages, parties, gifts and discounts.
Emily Sergeant -
25th September 2024 
