And now, we have the return of Festive Sundays to add to that exciting list.
After proving to be a smash-hit success during their inaugural year in 2022, with families flocking to the city centre in their thousands to make the most of the free events, it’s now been confirmed that a series of four ‘Festive Sundays’ will enchant audiences in the run-up to Christmas this year too.
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‘Festive Sundays’ are returning to Manchester city centre this Christmas / Credit: Manchester BID
The city centre’s main streets will, once again, be filled with “captivating” parades and performances that are set to “surprise visitors of all ages”.
Organised by Manchester BID, in partnership with Manchester City Council and Manchester Markets, this year’s Festive Sundays event series starts on Sunday 26 November and will see roaming performers and illuminated acts take to the streets across St Ann’s Square, King Street, Exchange Street, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Square, and Manchester Arndale every following Sunday until 17 December.
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The Christmas parades this year are promising to “capture the imaginations” of little Mancs, and “bring festive magic to all”.
Organisers have given a quick run-down of each event and what to expect.
Families are expected to flock to the city centre in their thousands to make the most of the free events / Credit: Manchester BID
Sunday 26 November
Where? Manchester Arndale, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street, Exchange Street, St Ann’s Square, King Street, and Deansgate
What time? 12pm – 7pm
Kicking the series of ‘Festive Sundays’ off in style is a magical takeover across the city centre with giant roaming puppets, street performers, and live music, all accompanied by the vibrant sights and sound of the Fat Cat Brass Band and Bloco Band, who will bring “Christmas cheer and tunes” to the streets of Manchester.
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Sunday 3 December
Where? All across the city centre
What time? From 1pm
The “heartwarming event of the season” returns again this year, and organisers are promising it’ll be “even bigger and better” than last year.
Manchester’s free Christmas Parade will once again bring joy to thousands of spectators, both young and old – with processions of spectacular characters, magical performances, and extraordinary acts weaving their way through the city’s streets to “sprinkling pure festive magic”.
The city streets be filled with “captivating” parades and performances / Credit: Manchester BID
Sunday 10 & 17 December
Where? St Ann’s Square
What time? 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm
Ready to entertain visitors as they sip on their hot chocolates and dig into Yorkshire pudding wraps, the final two Festive Sunday events will see a stunning ‘Toy Procession’ take to Manchester’s iconic Christmas Markets.
Created by Walk the Plank, the procession will feature giant stilt-walking acts of Christmas crackers, sugar plum fairies, toy soldiers, Christmas elves, a sparkling fairy mouse, and more, who’ll all bring magical street entertainment to Manchester on the run-up to Christmas Day.
Taemin at AO Arena: Take the K-pop world’s ‘Advice’ – you need to watch him live
Thomas Melia
This time last month, South Korean star, SHINee and SuperM boyband member, Taemin showed Manchester the real meaning of ‘The Rizzness’. It was our first K-pop gig and won’t be our last.
Normally, if you ask me what I’m getting up to on a Tuesday night, I’d respond with the usual: “Nothing.” Ask me this random but eye-opening night back in March 2025, and I’d say, “Watching the ‘Ephemeral Glaze’ tour”.
Opening with a song labelled ‘Déjà vu’, ironically, felt from the truth, as the minute the performer stepped onto the stage, the whole crowd was watching what felt like an all-new spectacle come to life – even for some of the already inducted K-pop fans inside the AO Arena.
Following up with ‘Guilty’, I’d be lying if I told you we didn’t love this performance. It wasn’t overshadowed by that unbelievable grand opening either – if anything, it was even better.
A majestic pose from Taemin at AO Arena in Manchester, performing to a lively crowd.Credit: Audio North
This was a setlist that just keeps on giving: after this, ‘Advice’ greets our ears and fans erupt in various screams and cries, to which Taemin, 31, certainly appreciated.
It’s high energy through and through, as the next song, ‘Idea’, felt like the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle for those of us not so used to this kind of music, well and truly captivating the Manc crowd.
Closing what was merely his opening segment with this song was definitely a good ‘Idea’… (sorry).
Its title may draw from a comedic viral term used to describe someone with great flirting skills, a.k.a. ‘rizz’, but ‘The Rizzness’ is no laughing matter.
Fans caught on quickly, and as soon as the first note was pumped out into the arena, the atmosphere reached whole new heights and those familiar screams at an other-worldly pitch returned.
I never thought I’d see the day where AO Arena screamed, “You know I got the rizz, the rizzness”, but there’s a first time for everything, I guess.
Taemin and his dancers were electric at AO Arena.Credit: The Manc Group
Being from Korea, 31-year-old Taemin tried his best to communicate with the crowd throughout the night, taking breaks after back-to-back performances to gauge the audience’s reactions.
The South Korean superstar didn’t take long to warm up to the crowd and showed off his cheeky side, telling the arena, “Only 4 more songs” before finishing the sentence with “I lied”.
‘Criminal’ had me and the rest of Manchester weak in the knees; the choreography was flawless throughout, but this was a true highlight. Ending with ‘Say Less’, Taemin knew exactly what he was doing, putting a song that catchy right at the end, as this was all that replayed in my head on the train home.
Put it this way, we may still be relative newbies to the world of Korean pop music, but with another big name heading to Manchester, we’re definitely keen to find out more.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 21 – 27 April 2025
Emily Sergeant
We’ve got just one more bank holiday left before it’s back to school and back to the grind.
But even though the Easter break may be over and done with, and it won’t be long before April is too, there’s still absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to in Greater Manchester this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though?
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 too.
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The Giant Egg Hunt
RHS Garden Bridgewater
Monday 21 – Sunday 27 April
The Giant Easter Egg Hunt / Credit: RHS
The Giant Egg Hunt is back at RHS Garden Bridgewater this spring school holidays.
Running from 10am to 4pm daily, and suitable for children aged three and up, visitors are invited to follow the hunt around the Salford-based garden to find the hidden giant eggs, and once you’ve spotted them all, you’ll be rewarded with a free chocolatey treat to take home with you.
This year the trail is more exciting than ever too, because children have a special quest and ‘egg-nigma code’ to crack.
Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You / Credit: Science Museum Group
You can plunge headfirst into the incredible world of our senses at a new immersive museum exhibition that’s now arrived at the Science and Industry Museum.
Back by popular demand after a successful run over these past two years, but with a fresh new adventure lined up for 2025, Operation Ouch! is giving you the chance to journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot, and delve deeper into how our brains interpret the world.
Tickets to Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You are now on sale, and visitors are being told to prepare themselves for an “epic exploration of the senses”.
Looking for more activities to do with your little Mancs at the Science and Industry Museum during the spring season?
Science shows, sensory activities, and a chance to discover what life is like for animals, are just some of the things you can do at one of the region’s best loved museums, as well as dive into five decades of retro gaming.
Visitors can enjoy a host of Easter-themed workshops designed to delight all ages at Trafford Palazzo this bank holiday weekend.
There’s everything from Easter egg and Easter bunny headband decorating workshops, to spring garland making, biscuit decorating, Easter card making classes, and loads of other wholesome activities to get involved with across the four-day weekend.
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There’s even a chance to meet some Easter characters too, like Trafford Palazzo’s very-own Maximus bear giving out big hugs, and, of course, the Easter bunny.
Now that schools are out, families can get themselves one of Oxygen at MediaCity’s Easter Holiday Pass, which gives pass holders the chance to visit the newly-opened £2.5m indoor activity park on any five days of the two-week break for 60 minutes of ‘Open Play’.
Weekends and bank holidays are also included in the pass, so there’s plenty of time to go.
Mary Poppins / Credit: ATG Tickets | Daniel Boud (via Unsplash)
Mary Poppins is now back on stage in Manchester as part of its UK tour.
Two decades after the world premiere in Bristol, and subsequent record-breaking run of productions around the world ever since, one of the best-loved musicals of all time has flown back into our city and landed on the iconic Palace Theatre stage.
Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, the story of the world’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is even more magical than ever before, featuring dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs.
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Australian stars, Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers, are both reprising their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert.
A Knight’s Tale has been turned into a comedy musical.
A Knight’s Tale may be one of Chaucer’s most well-known Canterbury Tales, but for most of us, we tend to be more familiar with Brian Helgeland’s iconic 2001 medieval action comedy film of the same name instead, which of course starred the late great Heath Ledger, alongside Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Mark Addy, and more.
And its the latter that has now been reimagined for the modern day and turned into a brand-new comedy stage musical that’s charging into Manchester this month.
Did you see that one of Greater Manchester’s popular museums has been named the best free museum in the UK?
Now that schools are out for spring, plenty of parents, carers, and guardians across Greater Manchester will likely be looking for a ways to keep the kids entertained and educated while schools are out, and without having to break the bank too.
Luckily enough, Bolton Museum has taken the top spot in a list of the best free museums and galleries to visit in the whole of the UK.
Bolton Museum has been crowned the best free museum to visit in the UK / Credit: Bolton Council
The museum – which is on the Grade II-listed Le Mans Crescent in the town centre, and dates back to 1852 – has been a part of the leisure and education of Boltonians for over 120 years, and is home to one of the largest regional Egyptology collections in the UK, made up of over 10,000 archaeological objects.
There’s also an extensive local history section, with 38,000 objects from the 17th to 20th century relating to Bolton.
How about that Chester Zoo is giving away more than 30,000 free tickets to kids this year?
The UK’s largest charity zoo is on a mission to help nature to “survive and thrive”.
And so, in a bid to do just that, has announced that it will once again be handing out tens of thousands of tickets to schoolchildren for completely free of charge, so that they can explore the zoo up close and learn all about the inspiring work the conservation charity does.
With the hopes of empowering as many youngsters as possible, and sparking their passion for saving species once again, the zoo has now opened the scheme back up for the 2025/26 season – with a whopping 33,000 tickets available for schools, nurseries, and colleges to claim.
Those who secure tickets will have the opportunity to visit the zoo between this November and February 2026.
Even better yet, did you see that Chester Zoo has also recently opened a magnificent new African savannah habitat?
One of the largest habitats of its kind in the UK – spanning an area the size of 17 football pitches (22.5 acres) – Heart of Africa is home to dozens of African species, including giraffes, rhino, zebra, vultures, and meerkats.
Not everyone has little Mancs in their lives, and even if they do, it doesn’t mean you can’t take some time for yourself, so here are some more spring activity suggestions to entertain or flex those creative muscles across Greater Manchester.
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Bento Cake Workshop
Vanilla Ice Cakes
Bento Cake Workshop / Credit: The Manc Group
How cute is this? We’ve discovered a little workshop over in Chorlton where you can ice, pipe, garnish, and decorate a miniature bento cake just the way you want it, with the help of the experts at Vanilla Ice Cakes.
You can whip up your dream colour buttercream, personalise your fillings, and learn brand-new skills before heading home with this adorable little celebration cake of your own.
At Vanilla Ice Cakes in Chorlton, you’ll sit under the expert eye of owner Fiza, a master baker who’s been in the game for more than a decade, and she’ll guide you (and sometimes step in to help you) as you fumble your way through decorating your own cake.
Sken Studios might just be the most wholesome way to spend an afternoon in Greater Manchester.
Ran by the legend that is Sabira, she’ll guide you through the workshop, teaching you the proper techniques necessary to carve your ring out of wax.
The rings are completely customisable and can feature whatever kind of shape and design you feel most inspired by, then once the workshop is over, your ring is sent off to be cast in either silver or gold and a few weeks later is delivered straight to your doorstep.
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Make a Bear Brick
Blank Studio
Make a Bear Brick / Credit: The Manc Group
Put down the paint brush, because at this workshop, it’s all about free-pouring paint over adorable new best friends.
This is Blank Studio, tucked away down at the Maker’s Quarter in KAMPUS, and if you’re looking for something different to try in Manchester, then this is a great (and very satisfying) activity to try your hand at.
You pick your paint colours and your character-shaped brick (from bears and rabbits, to balloon dogs and more), then get pouring to create beautiful custom marble effects.
Could this be the most satisfying activity in Manchester? We think so.
This new Manchester restaurant has just one rule for you… cut your pizza with scissors.
Our city has been blessed by the pizza gods yet again, and Forbici is not messing around, as this newbie is taking the Italian delicacy very seriously with no shortcuts.
NEW OPENING – Lina Stores / Credit: The Manc Group
An 80-year-old London icon has finally landed in the North… welcome to town, Lina Stores.
This stunning Italian restaurant, deli, and bar is almost ready to open, with absolutely masses of treats on offer, from breakfast, all the way through to sundowner cocktails.
We tucked into a gorgeous array of starters such as the burrata and focaccia, and crudo di tonno, before enjoying tagliolini al tartufo, or ravioli con burrata, all washed down well with some summery signature cocktails. Oh, and who could say no to a tiramisu or cannoli? Not us.
The UK’s second largest marathon and one of Europe’s largest, this is an iconic event drawing participants from all over the world to the vibrant streets of Greater Manchester – with everyone from from superb elite runners, to those who thought completing a marathon would never be possible, taking on the 26.2 mile challenge.
2024 saw 32,000 people sign up, but this Sunday, a record-high of 36,000 runners will take part with all places sold out more than five months before the event.
An all-day fanzone is also being set up in the city too, and you can find out more here.
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Featured Image – Manchester Marathon | The Manc Group
Emily Sergeant -
14th November 2023 
