Piccadilly Gardens will host a party ‘fit for royalty’ across the long Jubilee weekend.
Manchester City Council says the area will be ‘completely transformed’ into a bustling marketplace, with live music and dance performances all bank holiday weekend.
It’s part of the city-wide Jubilee celebrations being planned to mark the Queen’s 70 years of service.
Elsewhere in town, a beacon will be lit in St Peter’s Square at 9.45pm on Thursday 2 June, accompanied by live music.
Piccadilly Gardens will host a Jubilee party.
It’s one of thousands of beacons being lit in the UK and the Commonwealth and is part of the official programme announced by Buckingham Palace.
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The city centre will be blooming too, as the Manchester Flower Show coincides with the Jubilee celebrations.
The event will be headlined by the Queen’s Jubilee Trail, hosted by City Co, with 10 floral installations and gardens positioned around the city centre.
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Over in Sackville Gardens, there’ll be an all-weekend dance party called the Fit for a Queen Weekend, with a soundtrack of songs from the past 70 years.
The Manchester Flower Show will have a Jubilee trail.
Manchester City Council will finish off the extended weekend with a free Sunday Funday event in the Central Library, with a day filled with vintage films, crafts and face painting between 12pm and 4pm.
There are also many more neighbourhood community led jubilee events taking place across city.
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Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The Queen’s Jubilee is a great opportunity for communities to come together, enjoy the long weekend and take part in the fun! There are lots of exciting events across the city.
“From foodie treats, to dance parties and film screenings, Manchester City Council is supporting events across the city which has packed the weekend full of activities for ages. We’ve got some brilliant entertainment planned and hope to see Mancunians enjoying the Jubilee weekend in style.”
Jane Sharrocks, Manchester Business Improvement District Chair and General Manager of Selfridges Exchange Square said: “The Manchester Flower Show is yet another example of our retail and hospitality sectors coming together to help build back the city post-pandemic.
“It demonstrates creativity, collaboration and resilience and we’re incredibly grateful to all the artists, community groups, retailers and businesses who are playing their part to bring this beautiful event to our city to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.”
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For more information on how to get involved in the Jubilee weekend please visit manchester.gov.uk/jubilee.
Featured image: Unsplash
What's On
Colourful new SmileyWorld art trail to take over Stockport town centre this summer
Emily Sergeant
Stockport will transform into a playful outdoor gallery this summer as a colourful new art trail takes over the town.
Following huge success in London and North Tyneside, Stockport visitors are being told to get ready to explore a full spectrum of emotions this summer, as the SmileyWorld® Art Trail takes over the town centre with a colourful collection of quirky, fun, and exciting sculptures each inspired by the SmileyWorld icons.
Kicking off from the start of next month, the trail will be making its North West debut in Stockport, and organisers say it’s guaranteeing family fun during the school summer holidays.
Oh and best of all, it’s completely free to attend.
Created by the trailblazing global arts producer, Wild in Art, in partnership with Totally Stockport BID and SmileyWorld – a lifestyle brand that’s dedicated to true emotional expression – the trail will feature 15 playful sculptures, each reimagined by a different artist to reflect the full range of human emotions including joy, pride, surprise, anxiety, and lots more.
Colourful new SmileyWorld art trail is taking over Stockport town centre this summer / Credit: Scott Kershaw Photography
Perfect for all ages, the trail will be spread across the town centre, with sculptures featured everywhere from the Merseyway Shopping Centre, to Stockport Underbanks, Viaduct Park, The Plaza, and more.
Designed as a self-guided experience, the sculptures will reflect a broad range of human feelings and will invite people to connect as they explore Stockport’s key locations and landmarks using free trail maps, complete with games, puzzles, and doodles for kids, all of which will be available to download ahead of time.
Printed copies will also be available for pick up in local businesses and public venues.
“We are delighted to be able to bring the SmileyWorld Art Trail to Stockport,” commented Charlie Langhorne, who is the Managing Director and co-founder of Wild in Art.
“Exploring the trail is a fun activity to do with friends and family and it’s free to visit. It’s a great opportunity to get out in the fresh air and take a stroll around Stockport town centre while discovering some truly unique and inspiring art.”
The SmileyWorld® Art Trail is taking over Stockport from 4 July through to 15 September 2025, and you can find out more here.
Featured Image – Scott Kershaw Photography
What's On
Manchester Day is back with a ‘mammoth day’ of music-themed FREE fun next month
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Day is making a grand return for 2025 this summer, and you can expect a day filled with loads of music-themed fun.
Oh, and it’s free fun at that… doesn’t get much better.
With a whopping 1.3 million music tourists expected in Manchester this summer – apparently a little band called Oasis is performing or something? First we’ve heard of it – and a massive lineup of live music legends set to take over venues and parks across the city these next couple of months, this year’s Manchester Day is aiming to get everyone ‘in the groove’.
Manchester City Council is working with outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank on a programme that promises something for music fans of all ages and all musical abilities.
From the English National Opera teaming up with Manchester’s football fans, to community choirs, West End show tunes, juggling drummers, hip-hop wrestling, and loads more, this year’s Manchester Day has got all musical tastes covered.
Manchester Day is back on Saturday 26 July. 🎉
Inspired by music, expect pop-up performances, spontaneous sing-a-longs and have-a-go activities. 🎶
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) June 2, 2025
As always, activities will be taking place right across the city centre – from St Ann’s Square to Cathedral Gardens, and everywhere in between.
Organisers say there will be plenty of chances throughout the day for visitors, both young and old, to get stuck in, try their hand at making music and maybe even uncover a hidden musical talent they didn’t know they had.
You can expect strum-along ukulele sessions, spontaneous sing-alongs, dancing to a steel pan band or some surprising Ska, and the stand-out music parade event travelling from St Peter’s Square to the Cathedral, with families invited to take a ‘musical meander’ through the city streets.
Manchester Day is back with a ‘mammoth day’ of music-themed free fun next month / Credit: Manchester City Council
“We’ve got a mammoth summer of live music coming up in the city this year, which means it’s only right that we max out on the music for Manchester Day,” commented Councillor Pat Karney, who is the Chair of Manchester Day, as this year’s theme was announced.
“Everyone in Manchester loves music, Mancs have music in their bones, there’s so much talent here – we’re either making it or playing it, and that’s why everyone’s on the guest list for this year’s Manchester Day to help us celebrate the music that Mancunians make best.
“We’ve got a fantastic day lined up, so loosen up those vocal chords, grab a guitar, grab your granny, all the family, and don’t miss it.”
Daisy Jackson -
27th May 2022 
