With only a few weeks to go now until schools in Greater Manchester and the North West are out for October half term, the massively popular museum in the heart of Manchester city centre has unveiled a jam-packed lineup of free events, and is inviting families down to “transform into architects, engineers, and inventors” for a day.
That’s because it’s handing over its galleries and spaces to community groups and neighbours from right across the region.
The groups’ll be using their “unique outlooks” to help people explore all the ways the city is evolving.
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The Science and Industry Museum has unveiled its lineup of events for October half term / Credit: Science Museum Group
Running from 21 October right through to 5 November, the museum’s half term events lineup has been created in partnership with friends and partners across the city-region as part of the Science and Industry Museum’s new City Sparks community programme.
Those heading down to the museum this half term can become architects for the day and reimagine the city’s high streets and iconic skyline, discover how to get their voices heard using arts and crafts, and explore Manchester’s industrial history through live performances.
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Highlights from the programme include a giant interactive model of Openshaw high street designed by architect, Laura Sanderson – with hands-on activities encouraging “placemakers of tomorrow” to create their vision of future communities by designing their own town centres through giant drawing challenges and model making.
The museum is handing over its galleries and spaces to the region’s community groups and neighbours / Credit: Science Museum Group
Local children from Armitage C of E and All Saints Primary Schools have also created a series of special workshops where visitors can “transform into engineers” and “rebuild Manchester” from viewpoints around the museum’s site.
Inspiring stories from the city’s community will also be shared during popup events – including Dukinfield Craft Café, who are using craft to explore the impact of the closure of their community swimming pool.
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Ruth Murray, who is the Community Partnerships Manager of the City Sparks programme, said they’re “so excited” to be bringing local people together for the events lineup.
“The Science and Industry Museum is home to ideas that change the world, from Manchester and beyond,” she commented, “and it’s our mission to inspire the next generation of creators, engineers and inventors, so we can’t wait to see our visitors’ ideas about the future of our amazing city.”
The museum’s other much-loved exhibitions will also be running throughout half term / Credit: Science Museum Group
As well as each of the activities and workshops guest-hosted by the community, all of the museum’s much-loved exhibitions that are currently running will also be open throughout half term, so if you haven’t had the chance to “travel like a poo” at Operation Ouch!, or take a trip down memory lane and play a whole host of retro games at Power UP, then now’s your chance.
General admission is free, but tickets to the museum’s exhibitions will set you back a couple of pounds and need to be booked in advance, either online or by calling 033 0058 0058.
Find out more about the October half term events lineup here.
Featured Image – Science Museum Group
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Influential indie veterans The Wedding Present to embark on 40th anniversary tour
Danny Jones
Influential indie band The Wedding Present are about to begin a big live tour across the UK for their 40th anniversary, and one stop is right here in Manchester.
As boundary-pushing veterans of the genre for the best part of four decades, The Wedding Present have always been one of the most pioneering auteurs of the Northern music scene, and nothing has changed even after all this time.
The Leeds-formed icons are a favourite not only of ours but even more so among our friends over at The Hoot, and with an artistic legacy as strong as Yorkshire’s, that’s saying something.
David Lewis Gedge’s long-standing project rather quietly announced its major retrospective series of live shows back in June – so quiet, in fact, that we missed it until now – but as they gear up for a handful of very special dates, we’d urge Manc gig-goers to give themselves a Wedding Present.
Gedge and co. will be coming to the O2 Ritz in Manchester for just the second show of merely half a dozen confirmed for The Wedding Present 40th Anniversary Tour, having played the venue many times.
In fact, even after visits featuring live configurations over the years, the current lineup played the Ritz as recently as May 2023; the show was met with strong reviews pretty much across the board, and it seemed to signal somewhat of a falling back in love with the crowds of the North.
For anyone unaware of the self-styled ‘semi-legendary band’ (their PR’s words, not ours), The Wedding Present are probably in similar territory to fellow underdogs and Manc natives, James, when it comes to the amount of music they’ve put out over the years, inspiring generations of those who came after.
You might assume we’d name one of their most famous tracks, ‘George Best’, as our favourite, for rather obvious reasons – but you’d be wrong: it doesn’t get much better than ‘Dreamworld’, if you ask us.
Their rich back catalogue encompasses not only so many different eras but also sounds, styles and various other eccentricities; so much so that their multi-genre-spanning music has even produced its own musical.
But before we dive any deeper down into the rabbit hole, let’s get back on track.
Set to play Manchester on Friday, 10 October, The Wedding Present will be kicking off the tour in Bristol at the start of next month.
There are other dates in the likes of Sheffield, Liverpool, Chester, Holmfirth, Buxton, Newcastle and more, but only a few are officially part of the anniversary tour.
Tickets are live as we speak, so if you fancy going along to see them, you can grab yours HERE.
A unique Manchester attraction is offering FREE entry to anyone who shares its ‘birthday’ month
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most unique attractions is offering free entry for two weeks to celebrate its first birthday.
But there’s a catch… free entry is only granted to people born in one specific month.
Museum of Illusions – which is is one of the largest and fastest-growing private museum chains – is celebrating the first birthday of its debut UK attraction in Manchester this September by giving away free tickets to anyone who shares its birthday month.
Since opening on Market Street in 2024, Museum of Illusions has welcomed more than 200,000 visitors through its doors to experience the dozens of mind-bending illusions and interactive exhibits inside, and has quickly established itself as one of the city’s top attractions in what is a very competitive market.
Manchester’s Museum of Illusions is celebrating its first birthday / Credit: Supplied
Loved by locals and tourists alike, the museum blends fun and education for visitors of all ages, and is fully-accessible too, ensuring everyone can enjoy the fun.
Manchester‘s Museum of Illusions is not only the first in the UK, but it’s also the second-largest in Europe, just behind Copenhagen – so yes, it’s a pretty big deal.
To mark the milestone and celebrate its first anniversary, visitors born in September can enjoy free entry to the museum from Monday 22 September through to Friday 3rd October (excluding weekends).
All they need to do to access this offer is show a valid ID when they arrive.
The museum will also be dressed for the occasion too, adding a birthday touch to its already-captivating mix of optical illusions and immersive exhibits.
“Manchester has truly embraced the Museum of Illusions, and we’re so grateful for all the support we’ve had in our first year,” commented Steve Buchan, who is the General Manager at the Museum of Illusions in Manchester.
The unique attraction is offering free entry to anyone who shares its birthday month / Credit: Supplied
“Welcoming over 200,000 visitors in just 12 months has been incredible.
“Free tickets to anyone celebrating their birthday in September feels like the perfect way to give something back. It’s our way of saying thank you for the incredible support, and of course, to invite even more people to experience the fun, curiosity, and wonder the museum brings.”
Is your birthday in September? You can visit the Museum of Illusions in Manchester anytime from Monday 22 September – Friday 3rd October (excluding weekends).
Emily Sergeant -
11th October 2023 
