The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 1-7 July 2024

We’ve waved goodbye to June, and now it’s time to welcome a new month with open arms.

Greater Manchester‘s social calendar has been packed full of loads of foodie festivals, cultural celebrations, sporting tournaments, and wholesome family-friendly events so far this summer… and thankfully, there’s even more where that came from in July.

Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though?

We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week, so here’s some of our recommendations.

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Disney’s Aladdin

Palace Theatre Manchester

Monday 1 – Sunday 7 July

This is your last week to catch Disney’s smash-hit musical, Aladdin, here in Manchester.

Based on the beloved 1992 animated film of the same name, and following several critically-acclaimed and sold-out runs on both Broadway and in London’s West End since it first debuted back in 2011, the Tony and Olivier Award-nominated production has taken to the stage down at Manchester’s iconic Palace Theatre.

The musical features all the timeless songs we know and love from the film, and people are already describing it as a seriously magical show.

Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.

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50 Years of the Replica Shirt

National Football Museum

Monday 1 July – onwards

A new exhibition telling the story of the football shirt pioneers, Admiral, is now open at the National Football Museum.

50 Years of the Replica Shirt will take visitors right through the Admiral’s history, from their humble beginnings in a Leicestershire textile town, to the official kit manufacturers for the England national team – with key moments in the company’s timeline highlighted through a range of objects, photographs, and kit designs.

Find out more about the new exhibition here.

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Wild

Manchester Museum

Monday 1 July – onwards

A groundbreaking new immersive exhibition exploring our relationship with the natural world is now open at Manchester Museum.

‘Wild’ look at how people are creating, rebuilding, and repairing connections with nature, and how the natural world has traditionally been presented and idealised through Western art, as well as looking at some unique approaches to environmental recovery too.

The exhibition will also crucially look at how we can tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis by making the world more wild.

Find out more and grab your FREE tickets here.

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Flight Academy

Runway Visitor Park

July & August

Little Mancs can try their hand at becoming a pilot this summer, as the popular Flight Academy returns to Manchester Airport.

After proving popular with families during plenty of school holidays in recent years, the Flight Academy programme is back at Runway Visitor Park over the next couple of months on a handful of selected dates, especially for the summer break.

Curious kids the chance to learn all about the different job roles that help keep Manchester‘s airport in action throughout the year during 90-minute sessions.

Find out more and book tickets from £14 each here.

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Power UP

Science and Industry Museum

Monday 1 July – onwards

Did you know there’s a huge gaming event currently happening in Manchester?

With more than 160 consoles and hundreds of games to play, Power UP is back for more in 2024 down at the Science and Industry Museum, and it’s taking ticket-holders on a journey through five decades of gaming every weekend.

There’s everything from retro arcade games, to state-of-the-art virtual reality, and so much more to get stuck into, and each ticket includes unlimited play all day.

Find out more about the exhibition here.

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Sounds of the City 2024

Castlefield Bowl

Wednesday 3 – Saturday 13 July

Sounds of the City 2024 officially begins this week.

After having established itself as a staple part of the Manchester music scene, with some of the most acclaimed live artists taking to the stage over the years, the festival is back and taking over Castlefield Bowl once again for a series of headline concerts over the next couple of weeks.

Avril Lavigne, The National, Tom Grennan, and Jungle are at just some of the famous names taking to the stage throughout the month.

Find out more here.

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General Election 2024 LIVE!

Cultplex

Thursday 4 July

A General Election ‘all nighter’ where the results will be streamed live onto a big cinema screen is happening in Manchester this week.

Politics fans will want to make sure they’re get themselves down to Cultplex, tucked away inside GRUB in the Green Quarter, from 9:30pm sharp this General Election day on Thursday 4 July to grab a seat ahead of the exit polls and make their way through the many, many hours of crushing and dramatic announcements.

A full bar, lots of snacks, and “monumental amounts of coffee” will be on offer all night.

Tickets are ‘pay-what-you-can’, and 100% of the profits will go towards the Trussell Trust, and you can find out more here.

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Looking for somewhere to watch UEFA Euro 2024 in Greater Manchester this summer?

European football’s flagship tournament has now officially kicked off.

But if you haven’t been lucky enough to grab tickets to catch a game over in Germany itself, and you don’t fancy sitting at home and watching on your own, then thankfully, our region is filled with places where you can catch all the action surrounded by hundreds of other football fans.

You’re absolutely spoiled for choice this year, as there’s plenty of places in Manchester city centre and beyond screening all the games.

Check out our round-up list of all the best places to watch the Euros in Greater Manchester here.

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Manchester Craft Beer Festival 2024

Depot Mayfield

Friday 5 & Saturday 6 July

Manchester Craft Beer Festival is back for its fourth year this week.

Taking over Depot Mayfield this Friday and Saturday, and set to be even bigger and better than ever before, the cavernous space will be home to expert-led talks, tastings and tours, as well as live UEFA EURO 2024 screenings. 

Some of the world’s best breweries and most dynamic brands from across the planet will be joining in with the fun – with more than 65 breweries and 500 beers to taste. 

Find out everything happening at this year’s festival here.

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Red Rose Diner

East Lancashire Railway

Friday 5 July – onwards

Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this summer.

Running on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the summer, East Lancashire Railway’s ‘Red Rose Diners’ are described as being “the ultimate first class foodie experience”, as they start with a glass of fizz and stretch over an almost three-hour steam train journey through the Irwell Valley.

The experience includes a four-course dinner with complimentary sparkling wine, followed by tea or coffee and after-dinner chocolates.

Find out more and book here.

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Wellnergy Festival 2024 – Manchester

Wythenshawe Park & Gardens

Saturday 6 July

Wellnergy Festival is coming to Manchester for the first time ever this weekend.

After the success of last year’s London event – which was even described as being “one of the best festivals of 2023” – Wellnergy is back for more and on its way to Wythenshawe Park & Gardens this Saturday, so prepare to be joined by thousands of other likeminded individuals and immerse yourself in a ‘wellness paradise’.

There’ll be loads of inspirational talks, fitness classes, mindfulness workshops, music, and more to make the most of and get stuck into throughout the day.

Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.

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Featured Image – Runway Visitor Park | MCBF | Wellnergy