What's On

The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 16 – 22 January 2023

Emily Sergeant - 13th January 2023

We’re already half way through January, and the events calendar across Greater Manchester is really starting to fill up now.

While January can often be considered a quiet month, the new year has brought a fresh start, and with that, all sorts of different activities to be getting up to this week, so once again, 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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Backyard Cinema

Depot Mayfield

Monday 16 January – onwards

Backyard Cinema has extended its stay on the rooftop at Depot Mayfield through January.

The huge immersive cinema event first opened in October and was only meant to stay in town for 10 weeks, but has added screenings all the way through to 25 January.

Its January dates will come with a January deal price tag too – screenings on Wednesday and Thursday will be half price, while Friday, Saturday and Sunday screenings will be charged at the current off-peak price.

Film fans will be able to see new blockbusters like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Matilda the Musical on the big screen, all while they watch from custom-made beanbag chairs.

Find out more and grab tickets here.

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Winter at the Science and Industry Museum

Science and Industry Museum

Monday 16 January – onwards

Exhibitions that explore the power of music, and give you the chance to try out an interactive “hands on” gaming experience are just some of the activities on offer at the Science and Industry Museum this winter.

The award-winning museum is inviting people to take a journey from the Sun back to the Earth in a brand-new science show led by the museum’s team of expert Explainers, while standout exhibition, Turn It Up: The power of music, is a world-first event giving those curious the chance to explore the science of music’s mysterious hold over us through a series of “immersive musical experiences and interactive activities” at a specially-commissioned ‘musical playground’.

There’s also still time to head on down and check out the stand-out interactive gaming experience, Power UP, and so much more.

Find out more about what’s on at the Science and Industry Museum here.

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PUSH Festival 2023

HOME MCR

Friday 20 January – Saturday 18 February

PUSH Festival returns this week for HOME MCR’s annual celebration of North West creative talent.

Over four weeks, HOME’s stages, screens, and spaces will be dedicated to showcasing fantastic works from around the region, as well as offering opportunities for creatives to meet industry professionals, share ideas and inspiration, and develop their skills.

This year’s festival will showcase newly-commissioned works across a range of art forms, including theatre, digital work, visual arts, and cinema.

The festival will also include a series of workshops and other artist development opportunities.

Find out more and grab tickets here.

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Winter Beer Fest 2023

GRUB

Friday 20 – Sunday 22 January

The much-loved Winter Beer Fest is back by popular demand for 2023, and is taking over GRUB’s award-winning space in the Green Quarter to Manchester beer lovers the chance can sip creations from some of the best local breweries.

Running from Friday 20 – Sunday 22 January, over the course of the three-day festival you can expect there to be plenty of local brews to taste test – with brewery bars coming courtesy of some of the region’s best like Unbarred Brewery, Rivington Brewing Co, The Runaway Brewery, Squawk Brewing Co, as well as over 30 guest taps too.

If you’re not a big beer lover, you can also expect a street food market, a mulling bar, pop-up tasting events, and so much more over the extended weekend.

Find out more here.

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Chinese New Year 2023

Manchester City Centre

Saturday 21 – Sunday 29 January

It’s Chinese New Year 2023, and as always, Manchester has a whole week of celebrations lined up to mark the occasion.

After the city’s annual celebrations for Chinese New Year – also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival – have been on a slightly smaller scale over the past couple of years due to COVID restrictions, the festival is back in full swing in 2023, and includes the long-awaited return of the city’s legendary Dragon Parade.

Thousands of red lanterns will also be adorning the city’s streets, and visitors can also expect the chance to take in some spectacular live performances, feast on authentic street food, and a make the most of a funfair.

Find out about the celebrations lined up for Chinese New Year 2023 in Manchester here.

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Coffee Lovers Class

Food Sorcery

Sunday 22 January

Didsbury’s very-own cookery school, Food Sorcery, is hosting a special class where you can learn some fun facts and even a little bit of science about coffee.

During this three-hour session that’s suitable for all abilities, you’ll learn the differences in techniques used to make the perfect coffee, find out what’ll work best for you at home and how to use all the kit that you bought and have tucked away in the back of the cupboard.

There’ll be plenty of opportunities to practise your skills and even try a little latte art to impress your friends too.

You can find more information, and book your place here.

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Fancy making the most of all the January deals, discounts, and offers in Manchester’s cafes, bars, and restaurants?

January is typically a time when many vow to change their eating habits, but even the most committed dieter should be tempted by these Manchester restaurant deals, discounts and offers.

Whether you are starting a new diet, ditching alcohol, or trying out Veganuary, that’s no reason to stay at home.

Not when you’ve got January dining (and drinking) offers floating around like this.

From half-price burgers to burritos, small plates, Sunday roasts, and more, we’ve rounded up some of the best Manchester January restaurant deals to take advantage of in 2023.

You can read our list here.

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Is a trip to the theatre on the cards this year?

Greater Manchester has firmly earned itself a spot as a place for world-renowned touring theatre productions to make a stop off at.

While the past couple of years amid and post-pandemic may have hit the theatre pretty hard, it’s a beloved industry that has now well and truly bounced-back – with the region’s three main theatres, Palace Theatre Manchester, Opera House Manchester, and The Lowry, all having welcomed some absolute show-stopping productions last year.

And 2023 is set to be absolutely no different – with award-winning musicals, family-friendly plays, inventive dance productions, and more on the agenda.

You can read our round-up of the best productions in 2023 here.

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Keen to challenge yourself in 2023?

A lot of us will already have our New Year’s resolutions picked out and lined up.

But if you’re really up for a test this year, then how do you fancy taking a freezing cold dip all in the name of raising funds for a worthy cause next month?

One of Manchester‘s most iconic and longest-standing charities, We Love MCR Charity, is hoping to get hearts racing with an exhilarating cold water immersion dip in Sale Water Park near Valentine’s Day this year, and you can now stick your name down to take part.

Daredevil Mancs taking part will be raising funds for the 25-year-old charity’s work supporting ambitious communities and young people across our region.

You can find out more here.

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Greater Manchester’s gigs and festival scene is absolutely thriving in 2023, want to get in on the action?

There’s absolutely no stopping the music industry in 2023, with some of the world’s biggest names playing some of the world’s bigger gigs right here in Greater Manchester.

Venues from the AO Arena to Heaton Park to the Etihad Stadium are filling up with amazing live shows in the coming 12 months, and just looking at how busy June will be (again) is enough to make your head spin.

For a lot of the bands heading out on tour this year, it’s their first big run of live dates since pre-COVID, and if those ticket sales have been anything to go by, audiences are absolutely desperate to get back to live music.

You can read our round-up list of the biggest gigs in 2023 here.

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Featured Image – Science Museum Group | CityCo & ManchesterBID | GRUB