What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 1 – 7 August 2022
Emily Sergeant -
30th July 2022 
We’ve waved goodbye to July, and we’re saying hello to August in Greater Manchester.
A new month is here, summer is in full swing, schools across the region now out for the six-week holidays, and the events calendar is packed with plenty to be getting up to once again, so we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
As always, some of the events we’re going to mention are completely free, while others will set you back a few pounds, and many will need to be booked in advance.
Here’s our top picks.
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Castlefield Viaduct
Castlefield
Monday 1 August – onwards
Manchester‘s New York-inspired ‘sky park’ at Castlefield Viaduct has finally opened to the public for the first time ever.
After the National Trust announced its ambitious vision to create an urban green space in the heart of the city centre by tackling the challenge of “greening” the Grade II-listed Castlefield Viaduct and celebrate the history of this well-known landmark over half a year ago, visitors are now able to enjoy the park in all its glory.
Thousands of plants, shrubs, trees, and more have been planted to transform the giant 330-metre steel viaduct into an elevated park.
100 people a day are able to visit the Castlefield Viaduct, and entry onto the structure will be free, but a booking system will be in place to help manage numbers.
Find out more here.
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Come To The Beach
Heaton Park
Monday 1 August – onwards
A giant sandy beach has arrived in Heaton Park just in time for the school holidays, and the best part? It’s completely free.
Organised by events company Carousel Funfairs, Come to the Beach has returned to Manchester, and has brought sand, deck chairs, buckets and spades, and so much more to one of the area’s most popular and best-loved parks so all the family can make the most of the sunshine before it disappears.
The free event has “the largest sandpit in the North West” with 100 tonnes of play sand, according to event organisers, and it’s promising to be “the biggest beach” the city’s ever had.
Find out more here.
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The Stockport Collection
Stockport Museum
Monday 1 August – onwards
A new photography exhibition that captures life in Stockport during the 1970s has now opened at a local museum.
After a successful run at one of the town’s most prestigious restaurants, Where The Light Gets In, back in June 2021, the exhibition – which is titled The Stockport Collection, and features the work of local photographer Heidi Alexander – has now opened to the public at Stockport Museum, and it’s free for everyone to visit.
The Stockport Collection documents the social history of a particular time, place, and way of life.
The exhibition illustrates the human need for a sense of identity, and of belonging to a working community with a common purpose.
Find out more here.
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Coronation Street Stars Tour
MediaCityUK
Monday 1 August – onwards
Coronation Street has revealed that its famous ‘Stars Tours’ are returning this summer, and it means you can meet “mystery” cast members on the legendary cobbles.
Just as the name suggests, the Stars Tours not only include the standard 90-minute guided tour of the external Coronation Street set in MediaCityUK, but they also give you the opportunity to meet the a surprise cast member from the show.
While bosses of the official guided tours are keeping names of the mystery cast members who are set to make appearances close to their chest, they have assured fans that they’ll pop out to say hello, and pose for pictures, as well as letting you in on a few filming secrets or a story during the special events too.
Find out more and book tickets here.
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Crossing The Line: The Story of Women’s Football
National Football Museum
Monday 1 August – onwards
The National Football Museum and Manchester City Council has launched a new exhibition dedicated to the history of the women’s game.
Coinciding with the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 tournament, the new exhibition, Crossing the Line: The Story of Women’s Football, chronicles the game’s early growth, the effects of the FA’s de facto 1921 ban, its survival and its resurgence in recent decades.
The exhibition is split into two halves, with the first half telling the story of the women’s game up until the ban, from its nineteenth-century origins to the all-conquering Dick, Kerr Ladies, and the second half kicks off later in the summer, focusing on the present state of play within women’s football, from the grassroots up to the professional game.
Find out more here.
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Sixes Social Cricket – The Hundred Competition
Corn Exchange
Monday 1 August – 3 September
Manchester‘s social cricket entertainment venue is kicking off the launch of the 2022 The Hundred tournament with an exciting new competition – and you and your mates could bag a share of a £10,000 prize if you come out on top.
To celebrate the start of the tournament, Sixes – the world’s first immersive cricketing experience, where budding batters can show off their skills in the nets – has decided to set up an inclusive sporting competition that will see teams from all across the UK face-off against each other to see who can rack up the most runs nationwide.
Cricket fans who reckon they’ve got what it takes to clinch the win can head on down to Sixes Manchester in the Corn Exchange to take part in the competition before The Hundred returns once again.
Find out more about the new competition here.
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Box on the Docks
MediaCityUK
Monday 1 August – onwards
Box on the Docks has returned to the banks of Salford Quays for the summer, and there’s flowing beers, freshly-baked bagels, and boozy ice cream.
Back for its third year in a row, MediaCity’s popular outdoor dining concept, Box on the Docks, is set for another busy summer on the waterside piazza – but for the first time, it has taken on a brand-new format, as this year’s event is in partnership with SEVEN BRO7HERS.
The Salford-based brewing company has been put in charge of operating a rotating residency of the region’s emerging and established independent food and drink pop ups.
There’s also an exciting lineup of live music and events for all ages.
You can find out more here.
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Amazônia
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 1 – 14 August
A critically-acclaimed photography exhibition is currently in Manchester as part of its international tour.
In what is the first UK exhibition of this scale outside of London for over 20 years from the world-renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado, the Science and Industry Museum has will welcomed Amazônia – a major photography exhibition that celebrates the indigenous peoples and breathtaking landscapes of the Brazilian rainforest.
Salgado worked in the Amazon for seven years with 12 different indigenous communities, and the result is an incredible collection of powerful photographs that present his vision of a forest that is approaching a crucial tipping point in the fight against climate change, the Museum says.
You can find out more here.
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Summer Daze
Trafford Centre
Monday 1 August – 4 September
An all-new water park, funfair, beach, and giant 15sq m outdoor screen showing classic films and some of the summers biggest sporting events have all arrived at the Trafford Centre.
The UK’s third largest shopping centre has announced that its “most significant outdoor event to date” will offer a full lineup of family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy throughout the day and into the night.
Summer Daze will span an impressive 2.5 acres of land, and will be located outside the Great Hall up until 4 September.
One of the new events arriving for 2022 is the Trafford Centre’s summer of sport – which is now live – and it will give sports-lovers the chance to gain free to access to a fan zone to watch some of the summer’s biggest sporting events such as the Tour De France, UEFA Women’s EURO 2022, and the Athletics World Championships, all on a giant outdoor screen.
You can find out more here.
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Manchester Play Day Festival 2022
Whitworth Park
Wednesday 3 August
Circus skills workshops, climbing walls, den building, and bug hunts are just some of things Manchester youngsters can be getting up to at a new festival this week.
Just in time to kick-off the start of the school summer holidays across the region, and coinciding with Play Day 2022 – the national day for play, which is celebrated every year across the UK on the first Wednesday in August – Manchester City Council has organised a day jam-packed full of activities and opportunities for children to get stuck into.
Taking over Whitworth Park in the heart of the city centre, there’ll be everything from face-painting, storytelling, messy play, and other sensory activities for younger children, to a climbing wall, a DJ, circus skills workshops, and so much more for the big kids.
Manchester Play Day Festival promises to be be “filled with fun” from start to finish.
Find out more here.
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Andy Burnham DJ Set
Ramona
Wednesday 3 August
Andy Burnham is going to get back behind the DJ decks to play a packed setlist of Manchester classic tunes this week.
Ramona has unveiled the lineup for the third instalment of its Ramona Radio series, where every Wednesday, a different artist will take over the playlist both in the venue and on a live stream – and who better to start with than the Mayor of Greater Manchester?
It’s not the first time the 52-year-old has moonlighted as a DJ either, as he once performed a set at Jimmy’s back when it was in its original home in the Northern Quarter, but this time, Andy will be heading down to Ramona to spin the tunes.
Find out more here.
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Manchester Originals v Northern Superchargers
Emirates Old Trafford
Friday 5 August
Manchester Originals and The Hundred is returning to Emirates Old Trafford this week.
Sports fans will get the chance to see some of the world’s best cricketers, watch a handful of the hottest music acts, and tuck into some amazing local street food once the city’s 100-ball cricket franchise, Manchester Originals, and The Hundred tournament returns to Emirates Old Trafford on Friday.
It’s set to be one of the best sporting and entertainment events this summer.
The Hundred’s return to gives people the chance to watch the city’s very-own Manchester Originals live in action throughout the season.
Find out more about the return of The Hundred and Manchester Originals here.
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Rudimental
Haydock Park Racecourse
Friday 5 August
Rudimental is set to play a headline DJ Set as part of a live concert series at Haydock Park Racecourse this summer.
The Jockey Club Live is renowned for bringing live music to thousands of fans in the relaxed open-air setting of some of the UK’s biggest racecourses, and genre-defying, BRIT award-winning drum and bass band Rudimental will be playing a headline DJ set on Friday 5 August.
After bursting out of London’s underground music scene with its thrilling world of pirate radio and crude DJ set ups, Rudimental cracked into the mainstream on the release of their double-platinum selling debut album Home in 2013 – which has since sold over one million units worldwide – and are known for collaborative hits with superstars Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, John Newman, James Arthur, Jess Glynne, and more.
“We’re so excited live music is back,” Rudimental said of their first time at Haydock Park.
You can find out more and grab tickets here.
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Goldie
Joshua Brooks
Friday 5 August
City centre bar, restaurant, nightlife destination, and live music venue Joshua Brooks is welcoming acclaimed drum n bass and jungle act Goldie for an extended set, alongside Grey Code, this Saturday 6 August.
Tickets are now available to buy online, setting you back just £14 each or £9 for students, and you must be 18 or over to gain entry.
Find more information and grab tickets here.
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Day Out with Thomas
East Lancashire Railway
Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 August
Iconic heritage railway service East Lancashire Railway (ELR) has announced that the Thomas the Tank Engine replica train is back by popular demand this weekend, and the Day Out With Thomas experience is said to be “a train ride like no other”.
Families will be able to hop on board the replica of the cult-classic blue train character for a 45-minute trip through the Greater Manchester countryside.
The journey begins at Bury Train Staion, where you’ll be greeted by The Fat Controller, meet Sir Topham Hatt, say hello to Thomas on the platform, and then climb aboard a carriage, all before Thomas makes a final stop at the beautiful Ramsbottom station.
You can find out more, and book tickets here.
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Featured Image – National Trust | Manchester Originals | ELR
