Manchester is set to become one of the most picturesque places in the UK this summer, as the city gets dressed up in celebration of the annual Flower Show.
Back by popular demand for its fifth year, the four-day festival – which is often dubbed the “most Instagramable event of the year” – will see Manchester bloom to life and be draped from head to toe in magnificent floral displays.
Plants and flowers will be seen covering landmark buildings, shop windows, doorways, balconies, statues, fountains, and more right across the city centre.
Taking place over the late May bank holiday, festival organisers say to expect a “fabulous floral spectacle” – with a dedicated ‘Manchester in Flowers’ floral trail gearing up to be the star of this year’s show, and several other stunning show gardens and green installations all set to weave through central streets.
Organised annually by Manchester BID, the festival usually sees tens of thousands of people flock to the city centre – and this year will be no different.
With the event now only a few months away, festival organisers are on the hunt for budding and professional gardeners, florists, landscapers, businesses, charities, community groups, and schools across the region to be part of the celebrations.
ADVERTISEMENT
Manchester Flower Festival is known for offering both seasoned and aspiring gardeners the chance to showcase their talent, while helping to create “a unique floriated experience across the city” – with opportunities open this year to lend a hand with large-scale headline gardens and displays, floristry displays, and smaller ‘Bijou’ gardens.
The annual event gives both seasoned and aspiring gardeners the chance to showcase their talents / Credit: Manchester BID
Local traders can also sign-up to sell the Festival Market, which will feature everything from plants, and produce, to garden decor, street food, art, and so much more.
Businesses in the city centre are also being encouraged to show their support for the festival by creating window, building, or in-store displays, and hosting dedicated events, and food and drinks specials.
Volunteers are also needed to help at this year’s event, with festival organisers promising the chance to “gain valuable experience” and enjoy being part of the team at one of the city’s annual flagship events.
Find out more about Manchester Flower Festival 2023 here.
Featured Image – ManchesterBID
What's On
One of the largest charity shops in the UK is opening in Bolton this week
Emily Sergeant
One of the largest charity shops in the UK is set to open down at a popular Greater Manchester retail park this week.
The independently-run Regenerage superstore is set to become the newest resident at the massively-popular Middlebrook Retail Park in Bolton – which also happens to be the biggest retail park in the UK too – when it throws open its doors to the public tomorrow.
Regenerage Bolton – previously known as Age Concern Central Lancashire – is the first to be launched under the brand’s new name.
Inside the huge 10,958 sq ft store offers, shoppers will be able to find everything from ladies and menswear, to homeware, furniture, and children’s clothing too, plus books, and new white goods – including washing machines, fridge freezers, and more
One of the largest charity shops in the UK is opening in Bolton this week / Credit: Regenerage
Not only that, but there’s also a specially-created bridal and occasional wear department too.
This means customers will have the unique chance to pick up the perfect pre-loved items for upcoming occasions, like weddings and proms, in excellent nearly-new condition – with many items having been donated after just one wear.
And if all of that didn’t sound brilliant enough as it is, you can even get your hands on designer brands like Vivienne Westwood, Ralph Lauren, and Armani, without the hefty price tag.
/ Credit: Regenerage
“We’re incredibly excited to be finally opening the doors of our new superstore,” commented Bel Fry, who is the Director of Retail at Regenerage.
“It’s the largest store we have ever launched and the whole team has worked tirelessly to make it stand out from the crowd. I have been blown away by the quality of items coming through the doors, and it’s a real testament to the generosity and kind-heartedness of local people for the range of products we are able to offer customers.
“We’re thrilled to be part of Middlebrook Retail Park, and we can’t wait to make our opening day one to remember.”
The new Regenerage store opens at Middlebrook Retail Park in Bolton from 10am tomorrow (Wednesday 20 March), and the first 100 customers through the doors will be given a free branded tote bag to pop their shopping in.
As part of the grand opening, anyone purchasing an item on the day will be entered into a special prize draw with the chance to win a £50 voucher to spend in-store too.
Featured Image – Regenerage
What's On
Curious mini Mancs called on to help fix ‘special machine’ at Science and Industry Museum
Emily Sergeant
Curious mini Mancs are being called on to head down to one of Manchester’s most-visited museum’s to help fix a “special machine”.
With schools across Greater Manchester gearing up have two-weeks off over Easter very shortly, leaving many parents, carers, and guardians with the task of keeping the kids entertained and educated at the same time, the Science and Industry Museum has, thankfully, just announced a wide range of events and activities especially for the holidays.
And a good chunk of the events planned over the next couple of weeks are actually open to getting involved with for completely free of charge.
The museum, which is based right in the heart of Manchester city centre, is giving families the chance to “spring into action” as it hosts a full programme of “curious contraptions, dynamic demonstrations, and immersive experiences” over the next three weeks.
Kicking off this Friday (23 March) and running right through to 14 April, the Science and Industry Museum is inviting “inventors and tinkerers of all ages” down to explore the world of magnificent machines during the jam-packed half term.
Some of the activities on the lineup include creating a giant marble run, experiencing the thunderous sounds of Greater Manchester’s historic mill machinery, and venturing on a mission to explore mechanics around the museum, as well the opportunity to visit the two of its most talked-about exhibitions that are currently running – Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You, and Power UP.
Machines are at the heart of many of the stories told at the Science and Industry Museum, which is why one of the most intriguing events on the Easter holidays lineup this year has to be the chance for young inventors to join the museum’s team of Explainers and “embark on a mission to mend a special machine” and search for pieces to help fix an engine.
Curious mini Mancs are being called on to help fix a ‘special machine’ at the Science and Industry Museum / Credit: Science Museum Group
Visitors can also “turbo-charge their tinkering” by experimenting with a giant up-cycled marble run created by Wild Rumpus, and “combine their creativity with the forces of gravity and friction” to build their own circuits and mechanisms.
There’ll also be plenty of demonstrations of the museum’s historic textiles machinery over the next three weeks too, so visitors can be transported to the past and learn what life was like for Manchester’s factory workers in the Industrial Revolution and the roles that people of all ages played in the production of cotton.
And of course, if you still haven’t yet been able to make the most of the museum’s most-visited exhibitions, then this Easter is your chance to do just that.
There’s a jam-packed lineup of FREE events at the museum this Easter holidays / Credit: Science Museum Group
World-premiere exhibition, Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You, will be taking visitors on a digestive journey over the next three weeks, while the ultimate gaming experience, Power UP will also be open every day, with five decades of games to explore.
Both FREE entry tickets to the museum, and charged-for tickets for Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You and Power UP, can be booked now on the Science and Industry Museum website.