We’re less than five months away from Manchester Pride 2023 and as one of the biggest annual events in the UK, let alone the city, there’s a huge programme of events and activities on the cards.
Kicking off on Friday, 25 August, the celebrations are set to last the entire bank holiday, with the party not rounding off until Monday, 28 August.
We don’t need to tell you how special Pride is in Manchester but, whilst we’re here: the annual celebration of LGBTQ+ life not only brings people from all walks of life together to have fun, demonstrate and champion individuality and community, but it also won the award for ‘Best Large Festival’ last year.
Now, for Manchester Pride Festival 2023, there are six wonderful events that are all absolutely free to attend, however, the ticketed Gay Village Party around Canal Street is back as always and passes go on sale this Wednesday at 12pm. It promises to the bigger and better than ever.
Canal Street is the centre of the universe, especially during the Manchester Pride Festival.
A space for all members of the LGBTQ+ family to come together, the Gay Village Party is the heart of the legendary annual festival. The four-day street party will see a whole host of performances by artists and performers from the community, with non-stop music, dancing and all-round good vibes.
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Whilst the rest of the festival at large is free to enjoy at your leisure, tickets are required to enter the Gay Village Party performances in and around Canal Street.
You can purchase either day or weekend-long passes tickets, with all events scheduled on Monday 28 August free to attend, not to mention, low-income tickets, family packages and VIP options available.
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Better still, £2.50 from every ticket will be donated to the Manchester Pride Community Fund, with the money going directly to LGBTQ+ causes and projects around Greater Manchester through the distribution of grants. You love to see it.
Credit: Supplied
Ticket options and prices include:
Weekend: £37.50
Friday ticket: £21.00
Saturday ticket: £31.00
Sunday ticket: £31.00
Monday ticket: Free plus £2.50 donation
Diamond VIP (weekend): £182.50
Gold VIP (weekend): £122.50
To ensure the Manchester Pride Festival is accessible and inclusive in the midst of a cost of living crisis, more low-income packages have been made available as well:
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Weekend: £20.00
Friday ticket: £11.75
Saturday ticket: £16.75
Sunday ticket: £16.75
Manchester Pride 2023 free events programme
As for the rest of this year’s Pride Festival, you can access various different events for absolutely nothing and, always with the people behind this wonderful occasion, there’s plenty to be enjoyed.
Manchester Pride Parade
The main event: Manchester‘s biggest parade will be returning to the city centre on Saturday, 26 August, with the LGBTQ+ community and its allies marching for equality in front of thousands of spectators.
Superbia Weekend
You’ve also got ‘Superbia’, Manchester Pride’s year-round arts and culture programme, which offers a culturally rich alternative to other elements of the festival, creating space for all with a series of alcohol-free events and spotlighting new work from LGBTQ+ performers.
Human Rights Forum
Taking place on Friday 25 August, the Human Rights Forum will bring together prominent activists and thought leaders to discuss the challenges that continue to face LGBTQ+ communities today, and what we as individuals can do to bring about political and social change.
Family Pride MCR
It’s never too soon to start celebrating pride. Family Pride MCR provides a safe and inclusive space for people of all ages, ally or otherwise, to enjoy Pride celebrations, with a special programme of events designed for little ones.
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Youth Pride MCR
A safe and nourishing space for young people to experience Pride in a way designed just for them, Youth Pride MCR is a free event specially curated for those aged 14-18 fusing fashion, music, art, performance and creativity. Manchester Pride is the only UK Pride event to have a dedicated space for young people.
Candlelit Vigil
Last but not least, there is the Candlelit Vigil, which is the culmination of Manchester Pride, closing the four-day Festival on Monday 28 August with an ever-important moment of reflection in Sackville Gardens.
The home of Alan Turing, The National Transgender Memorial and the Beacon of Hope, the gardens are transformed into a sea of flickering candles to remember and honour those who we have lost to HIV, as well as those discriminated and persecuted against for being part of the LGBTQ+ community, both here Manchester, the UK and, indeed, all around the world.
If you’ve ever come across Manchester Pride before, you’ll know that it isn’t just a Manc event; people travel from all over the country and even the globe to experience this legendary festival.
Pride 2023 is set to be an absolute belter as always and whether you’re coming along for the free events or wanting hoping to be part of the iconic Gay Village Party, you’re guaranteed to have a great time.
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Once again, tickets for the Manchester Pride Festival 2023’s Gay Village Party go live at 12pm tomorrow (Wednesday, 8 March) and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
The free stuff your mum can get in Manchester for Mother’s Day
Danny Jones
If there’s one thing we know for sure it’s that none of us would be lucky enough to be on this planet were it not for our mums, and we think the least they deserve is for things to be made easy, comfortable and, ideally, free wherever possible when it comes to Mother’s Dayherein Manchester.
Now, we don’t live in a perfect so unfortunately not everyone Manc mum is going to be able swan into their favourite place and expect a complimentary this and a gratis that.
However, there are guite a few places in Manchester city centre doing the right things and giving away some free stuff for Mother’s Day 2025, so we thought we’d round them up for you and, more importantly, the person who helped bring you into the world.
Let’s get into, shall we?
Six freebies mums can score in Manchester this Mother’s Day
Albert’s Schloss – Deansgate
What better to begin than with a top-notch breakfast spot? Albert’s Schloss on Peter St is not only one of the best places to start or end a day out but they also do brilliant early morning offerings. Plus, this Mother’s Day, you can wash down your Bavarian brekkie with a free spritz, because why the hell not?
And since you’ve started as you mean to go on, we’d say the only thing better than an early drink (and a free one at that) is a second one, so it’s a good job one of the newest additions to Manchester, The Trading Route, is offering a free cocktail to mums this Mother’s Day.
Best of all, the new S. John’s beer and food hall is located just down the road from the main Deansgate strip and is just next to Spinningfields, so it’s a short walk from Schloss. You can book HERE.
Speaking of which, if your and/or your mum resisted the urge to grab another bite at Trading Route (we wouldn’t blame them if they did), you could then head from St. John’s to Spinningfields and grab some a sophisticated bit of brunch as you grab your next freebie.
Habibi on Hardman Boulevard is giving away a complimentary luxury gift from home, body and beauty brand, Rituals, to those who book ahead. Consider that killing two gift-shaped birds with one stone.
Now, we’re not necessarily expecting you stop at every single place on this list – unless your feeling extravagant or your mum really is that mega that she deserves all of this and more – but you’d be a fool not to grab yourself a margarita on the house from any Nell’s location.
Besides, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to grab a slice to further line your stomach.
However, if mum hasn’t had a nibble in a hot minute then why not take her back in the direction you came from to beloved Polish restaurant, Platzki, who as well as serving an incredible main menu are also offering a free cheesecake or apple pie to all maternal diners this Mother’s Day.
Open for walk-ins as always, of course, but you can reserve your table HERE.
Credit: The Manc Group
House of Fu – Central
And last but not least, what harm would another free marg do? That’s what on the cards over at House of Fu, which just so happens to be up there with some the best ramen in Manchester if there’s still any room in that well-treated tummy.
Located on Portland Street, it’s also not too far from Picadilly, the bus station or St Peter’s Square tram stop when you and your mum are ready to call a day on this freebie parade… Or, you could always tie off the night with some karaoke downstairs. Now that’s how you put an end to a party.
We’d like to think that half a dozen options should just about do you and your mums in central Manchester, though we’re sure there’s plenty more free things to snap up this Mother’s Day.
The cynics might want you to believe that this date is just another annual observance created, or at least perpetuated by companies to sell cards, flowers, chocolate and son, but the truth is a special day that deserves to be celebrated properly.
In fact, the truth is that Mothering Sunday started nearly 120 years ago over in Philadelphia, when a woman named Anna Jarvis wanted to honour her mother who spent her life gathering groups to promote female friendship and health during a memorial service at her late mother’s church.
We think that’s wonderful and whatever your relationship with the mother figure in your life, we reckon it’s a sentiment and motivation worth sustaining much more than just once a year.
Much love to all our mums from The Manc, and sorry if we were ever a pain – hopefully a few drinks makes up for it.
The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess to host ‘Merch Market’ in aid of bands
Thomas Melia
Tim Burgess, frontman of legendary band The Charlatans, is set to launch a one-off ‘Merch Market’ event, and its core purpose is to support bands.
He might have a ‘Jesus Hairdo’ but he’s currently serving as a good Samaritan as The Charlatans‘ Tim Burgess is putting on an event solely focusing on funding bands via gig merch and other apparel.
Running across a variety of live music locations within Manchester city centre, the day-long event is called ‘Merch Market’, and it’s encouraging music lovers and bands alike to tag along.
Although ticket sales, album sales and streams are critical in funding the careers of all the artists we know and love, one key drive in securing actual revenue in the music industry is merchandise.
Expect to pick up some rare finds and own some limited edition collections.Band merch will be front and centre at this event which is hosted by The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess.Credit: The Hoot/Audio North
‘Merch Market’ is taking place at O2 Ritz as well as adjacent venues Gorilla and Dog Bowl across the road with a special appearance from ‘Tim Peak’s Diner’, the caffeinated brainchild of Tim Burgess.
The whole point of this event is to make sure that bands can receive the full 100% of merch sales without any cuts from any third party.
Fronted by The Charlatans lead singer Tim Burgess, ‘Merch Market’ is building off his 2021 gathering, which had a similar initiative with ‘Vinyl Adventure’ encouraging the sale of physical music and media.
Alongside stocking up your wardrobe with all the latest band t-shirts, hoodies and everything in between, there will be an array of interesting performances and talks happening throughout the day.
Entry to this incredible celebration of bands is completely free of charge and, better still, there are chances to win some seriously cool prizes – including some tasty festival tickets.
Gorilla is one of the live music venues that ‘Merch Market’ is taking place at.The Manc and Antony Szmierek outside O2 RItz, another venue which will be taking part in ‘Merch Market’.Credit: The Manc Group
Expect stalls, live DJ sets, interviews, panels and even a chance to bag yourself VIP tickets for UK festival, Kendal Calling, which Burgess will be returning for 2025.
Burgess is a man of many talents as he will not only be hosting this fantastic initiative, but he will also be hosting a stall of his own and singing a couple of his biggest hits.
Bands don’t have to worry about forking out a fortune for renting a stall either as tables at ‘Merch Market’ are free, the only thing musicians have to bring is their merch and charming personalities.
So whether you’re an artist with leftover stock from your last tour or a music lover who just missed out on snagging a snap back, head down to these three venues on 25 May.
Danny Jones -
7th March 2023 
