The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 15 – 21 May 2023
It’s really starting to feel like summer is nearly here as we head into another week of May.
After what’s been a chilly year so far, the temperatures have finally started hotting up, and along with it, so has the Greater Manchester events calendar, so we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week.
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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Spring Escape
Trafford Centre
Monday 15 May – onwards
A giant outdoor funfair full of vintage fairground rides and a circus is back at the Trafford Centre.
After several hugely-successful runs in both 2021 and 2022, the UK’s third largest shopping centre’s outdoor space has “sprung to life” once again, and is back with a whole host of thrilling rides, a glittering circus, and lots of delicious treats for the whole family to enjoy.
Spring Escape has popped up outside the Great Hall, and tickets are now available to buy for the wide range of events on offer.
Find out more here.
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Turn It Up: The power of music
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 15 May – onwards
Mancs can “unravel the secrets of sound” through experiments, play, and performance at the Science and Industry Museum’s new world-first exhibition.
Fancy getting to march to the beat of your own drum? Turn It Up: The power of music gives visitors the chance to make music together, and play with beat, melody, and harmonies in a newly-commissioned musical playground, as well as find out how music can trigger emotions and memories, whether it can affect what you buy, and even what certain songs taste like.
You can even take part in a musical Turing test and see if you can tell the difference between songs written by humans and machines.
Find out more here.
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Italian Bottomless Brunch
Cibo
Monday 15 May – onwards
How does a three-course premium Italian bottomless brunch with 90 minutes of non-stop Aperol Spritz, prosecco, and bellinis sound?
Cibo Manchester – which has two city centre sites in Castlefield and Great Northern – has updated its bottomless brunch deal for spring, and now, pizza and pasta lovers can dig into three courses of classy Italian favourites alongside a free-flowing drinks menu – all for just for just £49.95 per person.
Diners can indulge in the likes of deep-fried mozzarella frittas, wild mushroom and truffle risotto, Cibo’s pistachio-topped four cheese pizza, and the absolute star of the show, a penne reggiano cooked inside a flaming parmesan cheese wheel at your table with added cognac and truffle oil.
Find out more and book here.
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Totally Jurassic
Walkden
Monday 15 May – onwards
A new Jurassic-themed trail has opened in Greater Manchester, and you can go back in time to when “dinosaurs ruled Earth”.
Described as being “an immersive dino experience” where families can walk among huge static dinosaur models, all while learning lots of fun facts and snapping photos along the way, Totally Jurassic has now opened in Walkden town centre, and tickets are available from as little as £5 per person.
It’s the latest pop-up family attraction by Totally Roarsome – which is one of the North West’s best-loved immersive events companies.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Greater Manchester Walking Festival 2023
Greater Manchester
Monday 15 May – onwards
Celebrating National Walking Month, there’ll be a range of free walks and activities organised by local residents and organisations across the region.
There are almost 250 walks as part of this year’s Greater Manchester Walking Festival, so there’s always plenty to choose from.
With the event having been created to celebrate the joy of walking and being outside with friends, family, neighbours, and other members of our communities, walks in this year’s festival also include photography strolls, age-friendly routes, and proper hikes.
You can out more and discover walking routes on the GM Walking website here.
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Greatest Days
Palace Theatre Manchester
Tuesday 16 – Saturday 27 May
A new production of Take That’s smash-hit musical Greatest Days is arriving at the Palace Theatre in Manchester this week.
Starring Kym Marsh, and following the story of five boyband-obsessed best friends in the 1990s, who reunite over 20 years later to see their heartthrobs one last time, Greatest Days features more than 15 record-breaking Take That songs, alongside a heartwarming and hilarious story of love, loss, and laughter from award-winning writer Tim Firth.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Fancy trying out some new bars, and restaurants that have opened in Greater Manchester this month?
We have some cracking new openings for you to check out this month.
A suntrap ice cream parlour, a Dutch pancake house, waterside beer gardens, a Malibu beach club, a new sushi and tonkotsu ramen spot, a boozy pasta restaurant, and a Hong Kong-style restaurant in Chinatown serving spam and noodles on its breakfast fry up, are just some of the things the Greater Manchester hospitality gods are delivering this month.
We think you’ll agree there’s a lot to look forward to, so if you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite this week, we’ve rounded up some of the best new openings to try.
You can read our list here.
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The Myth of Serial Killer Profiling
Contact Theatre
Thursday 18 May
The Myth of Serial Killer Profiling will focus on some of the most “infamous and perplexing” serial murder cases in FBI history.
It’ll also reveal how criminal profilers “often got it so wrong”.
Coming to Contact Theatre this Thursday 18 May, Professor Jackson – who has contributed to over 50 documentaries about violent crimes and murder throughout his career – will reveal evidence he believes shows criminal profiling has never resulted in the identification, apprehension, and conviction of serial murderers.
Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.
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Musical Theatre Raves
Cargo Manchester
Thursday 18 May
An all-singing all-dancing musical theatre rave is taking over a popular nightclub in Manchester city centre this week.
Described as “a theatre kid’s dream come true”, Musical Theatre Raves will be taking over Cargo Manchester in the Printworks on Thursday.
Set to be “the ultimate night out for musical theatre lovers”, Musical Theatre Raves usually kick-off with some electrifying live performances from West End and stage stars, all before a DJ takes to the decks to blare out your favourite musical theatre tunes.
Find out more here.
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Manchester Jazz Festival 2023
Manchester City Centre
Friday 19 – Sunday 28 May
Manchester Jazz Festival is back this week with 10 days of live music from some of the best northern, national, and international musicians in the world of contemporary jazz.
Taking over the vibrant neighbourhood of First Street, MJF 2023 brings a diverse range of talent to the city, from big-name artists to those who often unjustly fly under the radar – making it the perfect place for discovery of musical worlds you’ve never even heard of.
Find out more here.
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GRUB Food Fair and Plant Powered Sundays
Cheetham Hill
Friday 19 – Sunday 21 May
Two of the most popular foodie favourite events are back at Manchester’s largest street food fair GRUB this weekend.
On Friday and Saturday, the GRUB Food Fair this week will see the likes of Eat Like a Greek, Igloo Pizza Kitchen, Rad Burger, and Mary’s Cakery Makery serve a wide range of mouthwatering delights for you to try, while on Sunday, there’ll be handful of the finest vegan food traders there for Plant Powered Sundays to show you what it’s all about.
Find out more here.
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Flashback Festival 2023
Platt Fields Park
Saturday 20 May
Flashback Festival is making its return to Manchester this weekend.
Taking over Platt Fields Park this Saturday 20 May, the music event will celebrate all things 90s and 00s, bringing together some of the biggest names in dance music – with a seriously nostalgic lineup of legendary names like Fatman Scoop, Artful Dodger, D:Ream, and Sweet Female Attitude bringing the old school anthems to the main stage.
It’ll be a night full of your favourite Clubland Classics, and organisers are promising lots of “timeless tunes and fresh vibes”.
Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.
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FREAK Queer Rave
Progress Centre
Saturday 20 May
Manchester’s much-anticipated queer rave, FREAK, is having a day party at new open-air nightclub, Progress Centre, this weekend.
Celebrating LGBTQIA+ talents, showcasing the best of queer rave, and set to be one of the most exciting events in the city’s social calendar this spring, FREAK presents a line-up of exceptional artists, a Vogue workshop, and an after-party for those who want to keep on dancing until the early hours.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Great Manchester Run 2023
Manchester City Centre
Sunday 21 May
The Great Manchester Run is back for 2023 this week.
Taking over our city centre this Sunday, thousands of runners from all over the world will be hoping to set personal bests and raise money for worth causes as they complete 10k and half marathon circuits, but aside from that, the Great Manchester Run is known for being a party from start to finish for spectators too.
This year promises to be bigger than ever, with music zones, big speaker, and live bands at virtually every turn, not to mention roaring charity cheering squads and the incredible local support lining streets to cheer the runners.
It’s all set to be experience like no other, and you can find out everything you need to know ahead of the big day here.
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Featured Image – AJ Bell GMR | The Manc Group | Flashback Festival