It’s finally starting to feel like spring is in full swing now, isn’t it?
The turn of the season has already brought with it food festivals, cultural celebrations, annual events, and so much more, and thankfully, there’s loads more in the Greater Manchester social calendar for everyone of all ages to be getting involved with throughout this week too.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do, we’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Tales of Manchester 2.0
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Monday 14 April – onwards
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Tales of Manchester 2.0 / Credit: Supplied
A brand-new art exhibition curated by visual artist Emma Evans in partnership with six other creators is now open in Manchester, and it’s completely free to visit.
Tales of Manchester 2.0 down at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is a collection of multi-platform art celebrating our brilliant city, and it’s showcasing six spoken word pieces by established Manchester based poets – Griot Gabriel, Ilaria Passeri, Lisa O’Hare, Mark Jackson aka Keith’s Brother, Matt Concannon aka The Thirsty Poet, and Sarah Attwell.
The spoken word is paired with visual pieces painted by self-taught artist Emma Evans, where the words have served as inspiration for the art.
Pieminister’s Bottomless Brunch / Credit: The Manc Group
Pieminister’s legendary pie bottomless brunch with free-flowing drinks has finally made a comeback.
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The popular pie restaurant chain – which has two sites here in Manchester city centre on Church Street in the Northern Quarter, and on Deansgate – is known and loved all across the UK for its thick and chunky pies, but its bottomless brunch offering is something else.
Whether you’re a meat lover, a veggie, vegan, flexitarian, or gluten free, there’s something to suit everyone on the menu.
Find out more and book your bottomless brunch slot here.
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Fancy heading out a walk somewhere in Greater Manchester and beyond this week?
The weather is FINALLY warming up a little, and it’s beginning to feel like we might finally have made it through winter.
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So that means it’s time for a walk, right?
Some of the green spaces that wrap around Greater Manchester are in their prime right now with blossoms, bluebells, and more – and that’s saying something, as they’re pretty spectacular all year round – so it couldn’t be a more perfect time to go for a walk to appreciate their beauty.
Read our round-up of stunning spots for a spring walk here.
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Manchester Open Exhibition 2024
HOME
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Monday 14 – Sunday 28 April
Manchester Open Exhibition 2024 / Credit: HOME
Manchester Open Exhibition is back for the third time in our city.
Taking place every two years down at HOME, the Open Exhibition is the biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s creative talent, and sees HOME’s Gallery walls filled with 480 artworks created by the people of our region that have been specially-selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives.
Open to all, the Exhibition brings together artwork including paintings, prints, photography, sculpture, ceramics, digital and mixed media, video, audio, and so much more.
Manchester never looks better than it does when all the blossom trees burst back to life, right? Well now there’s a walking trail through town that shows off the best bits.
From the iconic purple blooms outside the Central Library, to the surprising sprays that pop up in the middle of Ancoats, there are pretty colours appearing all over, so the National Trust is once again shining a spotlight on Manchester and bringing back its new-and-improved Bloomtown Map.
There are 39 spots all over the city centre (and slightly beyond) included along the route, each one showcasing one of the city’s most picturesque locations.
A plant paradise will be created in Manchester this week, as the inaugural RHS Urban Show takes over Depot Mayfield.
The huge event is the charity’s first large-scale indoor show ever, and it’s been created to celebrate the growing urban gardening movement, so whether you’re cramming a tropical jungle onto your balcony, or you’re just trying to bring a little plant life into your home, the RHS Urban Show will have exhibits to educate and inspire you.
You can learn the secrets to growing happy houseplants, see vertical structures for awkward urban spaces, explore a seven-garden vision for a greener city, and so much more.
The Botanist has brought back The Botanist LIVE to “help everyone celebrate summer” with free live music every weekend.
Set to “supply the soundtrack to your weekend” every Friday and Saturday night, The Botanist’s talented artists are set to play live from 8pm until late, and guests can expect a vibrant party atmosphere with sounds of rock, pop, soul, R&B, funk, disco, and blues.
The events are not ticketed and are free to attend, so all you need to do is turn up and wait for its house band get the party started.
The Manchester College ‘Greater Mancunians’ Exhibition
Manchester Central Library
Friday 19 April – onwards
The Manchester College ‘Greater Mancunians’ Exhibition / Credit: Supplied
Photography students from The Manchester College will be showcasing their ‘Greater Mancunians’ project as part of a landmark exhibition at Manchester Central Library’s Main Exhibition Hall from this week.
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150 students have participated in the groundbreaking photography project, and it features images of some of Manchester’s most famous and influential people shot at numerous locations across the city.
More than 100 contributors are featured in the project, including musicians Noel Gallagher and Johnny Marr, athletes Diane Modahl and Ricky Hatton, local politicians Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, and Bev Craig, actors Maxine Peake and Bill Roache, artists Stan Chow and AKSE P-19, and other local figures like Jonathan Warburton, Simon Martin, and Professor Erinma Bell MBE.
Looking for somewhere to go for a hearty roast dinner in and around Greater Manchester this weekend?
From the moment we start to feel the weekend rolling in, we can’t help but turn our thoughts to Sunday roasts, steaming jugs of gravy, and big glasses sploshing over with red wine.
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It’s just the best feeling, and there’s plenty of it to be found here in our region.
We’re used to it being wet and miserable most of the year, and while we do love Sunday lunch on a sun-soaked afternoon in the beer garden when we get the chance, nothing warms the cockles more on those darker days than a giant plate piled high with roasted meats, vegetables, and gravy.
Read our round-up of some of the best Greater Manchester roast dinners here.
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SpringFest
Victoria Baths
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Saturday 20 April
Spring Fest / Credit: Victoria Baths (via Facebook)
Manchester’s iconic Victoria Baths will be hosting a festival filled with live music, art exhibitions, street food, and more this weekend.
All set to transform the beautiful Grade II-listed building into a cultural hub for the day, and gearing up to “put a spring in the step” of the Greater Manchester public, Victoria Baths’ SpringFest is returning for 2024 this Saturday with a jam-packed lineup of events celebrating music and art from across the region and beyond.
Tickets will be available at the door on the day, but organisers say booking in advance for £8 is “recommended” to secure your spot.
Did you know that April is actually National Pet Month?
Well, in a bid to properly celebrate in the best way possible, MediaCity has decided to host a handful of different dog-friendly events down at Central Bay’s newly-opened Kargo MKT overlooking the Salford Quays waterfront this Sunday.
On the lineup is the first ever ‘Furry Friends Market’ featuring 10 local traders offering all things pet-related, including treats, artwork, accessories, and more – which is free to attend – as well as the bound-to-be-popular ‘Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea’ party especially for four four-legged friends, with tickets on sale and available from £12.
Did you see that one of the biggest charity shops has just opened here in Greater Manchester?
The independently-run Regenerage superstore is the newest resident at the massively-popular Middlebrook Retail Park in Bolton.
Inside the huge 10,958 sq ft store, shoppers can find everything from ladies and menswear, to homeware, furniture, and children’s clothing too, plus books, and new white goods – including washing machines, fridge freezers, and more.
There’s also a specially-created bridal and occasional wear department too.
And if all of that didn’t sound brilliant enough as it is, there’s even the chance to get your hands on designer brands like Vivienne Westwood, Ralph Lauren, and Armani, all without the hefty price tag.
LEGO Creativity Workshop / Credit: The LEGO Group | Flickr
Little Mancs who love LEGO can take part in an interactive building workshops in Manchester this weekend.
As part of the launch of The LEGO Group’s new campaign aimed at championing and standing up for girls’ creativity, and in a bid to encourage children across Greater Manchester and the rest of the UK to “play without limits”, a ‘LEGO Creativity Workshop’ is being held down at the Trafford Centre this Sunday.
Kids will get to build a photo frame to display a picture of an achievement, their friends and family, or anything they want to celebrate.
The best bit? The workshop is free to attend, and you’ll just need to book a place online.
Spanish Bottomless Brunch / Credit: The Beeswing (via Instagram)
Popular Manchester wine bar The Beeswing down at Kampus has just launched a new ‘Spanish Bottomless Brunch’.
Called ‘Domingo’ – which means ‘Sunday’ in Spanish, and now running every Sunday until the summer and beyond – the brand-new event features a curated collection of classic Spanish brunch dishes to be served alongside free-flowing mimosas, sangria, and Bloody Marys for the pretty-impressive price of just £35 per person.
Hungry foodie fans can take their pick from a menu of Spanish-inspired brunch dishes like smoky shakshuka, and Ibérico eggs benedict, all while sipping on 90-minutes worth of drinks.
Featured Image – National Trust | Victoria Baths | RHS
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 2 – 8 June 2025
Emily Sergeant
June is here, and the kids have gone back to school after the final half term of the school year… but that doesn’t mean the fun’s over.
Sure, May has been in full bloom these past couple of weeks, but there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to in Greater Manchester now that June has arrived – we’re talking festivals, themed events, new foodie openings, and loads more on the horizon.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? No worries.
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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Stories – Brought To Life
MediaCityUK
Monday 2 June – onwards
Stories – Brought To Life / Credit: The Manc Group
A major new National Portrait Gallery exhibition has arrived in Salford.
The ground-breaking new experience by FRAMELESS Creative has opened at MediaCity, bringing some of the world’s most famous portraits to life like never before.
Stories – Brought to Life will explore the fascinating lives of these figures, who have shaped the UK’s history and culture all the way since the Tudor period, and will combine the highest quality digital projection, Hollywood-style visual effects, and the latest audio technology, along with specially created musical scores and creative narratives to shine a new light on each individual.
Visitors will be able to step inside iconic portraits including Grayson Perry, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Emmeline Pankhurst, Queen Elizabeth I, and William Shakespeare.
Balcony Greening Workshops / Credit: National Trust
Free balcony greening workshops are happening across Greater Manchester this spring to help people create their own ‘mini wildlife havens’.
The National Trust is on a mission to help city dwellers create their own green spaces through its ‘Sky Gardening Challenge’, with the conservation charity encouraging people with balconies to ‘grow and green’ the town or city they live in from skyline spaces in the hopes that it’ll enhance their connection to nature and improve their wellbeing, all while helping wildlife thrive at the same time.
City dwellers can get a free balcony gardening guide, free seeds, and free workshops in collaboration with lots of brilliant community organisations across the region.
Classes are happening across the borough on selected dates up until 7 June, and you can find out more and book here.
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Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 2 June – onwards
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”.
An award-winning play about the England men’s national football team is playing outside of London for the first time ever, and Greater Manchester has been chosen as the lucky location.
The National Theatre’s smash-hit production of writer James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play, Dear England, has started its four-week run at the legendary The Lowry in Salford, and audiences have a chance to catch it up until 29 June.
Directed by the Almeida Theatre’s Artistic Director, Rupert Goold, Dear England tells the story of the England men’s football team under former manager, Gareth Southgate.
NEW OPENING – Circolo Popolare / Credit: The Manc Group
Get ready to say Ciao to Circolo Popolare, Manchester’s newest Italian restaurant opening over in Gary Neville’s fancy St Michael’s development early next month, because we got to have a little look around and can confirm it’s an absolute feast for the senses.
From the jasmine-covered ceiling to the windows full of vintage booze bottles, all the way down to the hand-painted crockery, she’s certainly a looker.
On the menus you’ll find authentic Neapolitan pizzas, huge pasta bowls, authentic plates, and a gigantic wibbly-wobbly tower of a lemon meringue pie – plus cocktails poured from animal-shaped jugs.
It’s officially opening on 6 June and this is one you want to get straight in your calendar.
L.S. Lowry’s iconic masterpiece ‘Going to the Match’ is being brought to life right before your eyes in this brand-new exhibition now open at The Lowry.
Lowry 360 is an immersive experience forming part of the legendary The Lowry theatre’s 25th anniversary programme, and it means that, for the first time ever, you can see one of Manchester’s most famous paintings by, arguably, the city’s most famous artist come to life through sight and sound.
Better yet, after you’ve immersed yourself in this incredible experience, then you can then see the actual painting in the full gallery – Modern Life: The LS Lowry Exhibition.
Kargo on the Docks / Credit: Supplied | Mark Waugh
Kargo on the Docks is back for the summer.
MediaCity’s al fresco dining pop-up has taken over the waterfront and gardens once again with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.
A handful of Greater Manchester’s most popular independents have set themselves up Quayside inside those signature re-imagined shipping containers.
Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours including Caribbean, Lebanese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and Pan-Asian dishes.
Did you see that Manchester Museum has been named European Museum of the Year for 2025?
Talk about a prestigious title.
Yes that’s right, congratulations are in order, because Manchester Museum – which is part of The University of Manchester (UoM) – has received one of the most prestigious museum awards in the world, the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA).
Not only that, but it’s made history in doing so too, as it’s the first university museum to ever receive the annual prize.
Manchester Museum has been named the European Museum of the Year for 2025 / Credit: Manchester Museum
It beat out 41 other cultural hubs across the continent to claim the coveted prize.
Operated by the European Museum Forum (EMF), EMYA recognises new or redeveloped museums that showcase the best in excellence and innovation in their field.
NEW OPENING – Baby Mayhem / Credit: The Manc Group
This new doughnut hatch in Anocats is already causing mayhem… but the best kind.
Baby Mayhem has been open for two weeks and is already taking Manchester by storm, with fresh doughnuts baked daily, filled with mascarpone cream or cheesecake, and topped with a range of fillings like spaghetti ice cream, Dubai pistachio kunafa, raspberry ripple, and loads more.
It may not be for everyone, but we say be sure to try one of their fresh doughnuts dunked in coffee as well, it’s the perfect hangover cure on a Saturday morning.
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Free Sausage Rolls for ‘Gregs’
Tariff & Dale
Thursday 5 June
Tariff & Dale sausage roll / Credit: Supplied
One of Manchester’s much-loved restaurant bars is doing a free sausage roll giveaway this week… but there’s a catch.
The catch being you have to have a certain name in particular.
In case you didn’t know, this Thursday (5 June) is the day dedicated to all things sausage roll, so what better way to mark the occasion than with free portions of Tariff & Dale’s legendary 15-inch honey glazed meaty treat? Only the thing is, you can only get a freebie if your name happens to Greg.
Okay, that’s a slight lie, you can also tuck into the pork pastry goodness if your surname is Gregory or Gregson, or something similar.
Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet will be celebrating its 30th anniversary with a huge free concert that’ll hark back to the 2000s.
The hugely-popular shopping destination will be inviting customers to a totally free summer gig on a stage built on site as part of the wider 30th anniversary celebrations – which will include a headline performance from a top-secret 2000s music act.
All they’ve revealed about the headliner so far is that they have a catalogue of number one singles and beloved hits.
Taking place in the evening of Friday 6 June, the Cheshire Oaks 30th anniversary party will be free to shoppers and visitors, and a select group of VIPs from the local community will have the opportunity to meet the mystery headliner in person.
Read everything you need to know about the event here.
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Stock Party 2025
Stockport
Saturday 7 June
Stock Party 2025 / Credit: Supplied
Stockport’s big summer block party returns this Saturday for its second edition.
Building on that already-winning formula from last year, Stock Party 2025 is set to make its sophomore outing the biggest yet, bringing together local food and drink vendors, independent traders, entertainment and lots more.
Set up in collaboration with Stockport’s Business Improvement District (BID), Totally Stockport and Stockport Council, the iconic Underbank district will be filled with tables and chairs enabling festival-goers to welcome summer in true Stockport style.
IRONMAN 70.3 / Credit: IRONMAN England (via Facebook)
IRONMAN 70.3 returns to Bolton once again this weekend.
With Bolton – and more recently, also Wigan – having been the UK-based home to the world-renowned triathlon event for the past several years now, IRONMAN UK has become known for its iconic spectator support, incredible bike course scenery, and impressive finish line that’s in the heart of the town centre
The Greater Manchester public is always encouraged to line the streets to cheer the athletes on.
A number of temporary road closures will be in place across Bolton on race day to ensure the safety of athletes and the public.
Featured Image – IRONMAN | The Manc Group | The Lowry
What's On
A huge Irish festival with iconic music stars, markets, food and more is coming to Greater Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A massive Irish music festival with masses of food, drink, crafts, workshops and surprises is returning to Greater Manchester this summer.
Craic by the Creek 2025 will bring together all the best bits of the Emerald Isle for a weekend-long knees-up in a gorgeous countryside location on our doorstep in July.
There’s a huge music line-up (with plenty more still to be announced) featuring Boyzlife, made up of Keith Duffy from Boyzone and Brian McFadden from Westlife.
And this fun-filled Irish Music Festival is the only one of its kind offering full weekend camping, at the beautiful village of Compstall in Stockport.
The countdown is now officially on for this unmissable celebration of Irish music, culture, and community spirit, which will take place between 18 and 20 July.
Craic by the Creek has been hailed as the greatest Irish music festival in the UK and is back for 2025 bigger than ever.
Already announced to perform live along with Boyzlife are The Tumbling Paddies, Derek Ryan, All Folk’d Up, Johnny Brady, The Kilkennys and loads more.
There are still more acts to be revealed in this stacked line-up.
And it’s not just about the music at Craic by the Creek – there’s also a bustling Irish-themed craft market with handmade goods, Irish-inspired food and drink, social dance workshops, and plenty of surprises.
Expect a weekend of tunes, traditions, community vibes and campfire craic.
Craic by the Creek will take place between 18 and 20 July, 2025 – tickets are on sale now via Skiddle, and they’re already flying.
Emily Sergeant -
11th April 2024 
