The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 19-25 August 2024
Can you believe this our final full week of August?
As cliche as it sounds, time really does fly when you’re having fun, and that’s been massively evident with the range of events and activities in Greater Manchester‘s social calendar over the past couple of weeks or so while schools have been out for summer… but one of the busiest August weeks yet still awaits us.
With August bank holiday weekend coming up, you can expect countless new, returning, and annual events across the region this week.
If you’re 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.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Jurassic World: The Exhibition
Trafford Centre
Monday 19 August – onwards
A major Jurassic World exhibition that’s been mesmerising visitors all over the world has now arrived here in Greater Manchester for the summer.
Based on the beloved blockbuster film franchise, this official award-winning experience is one of the fastest-selling exhibitions in history.
Manc visitors will be able to walk through the iconic Jurassic World gates, explore some richly-themed environments, and encounter a life-sized Brachiosaurus, Velociraptors, and the most fearsome dinosaur of all, the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Find out more and grab ticket here.
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Did you know that the Science and Industry Museum is giving you chance to explore ‘ideas that chance the world’ this summer?
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 19 August – onwards
Keen to keep the kids both entertained and educated now that schools across Greater Manchester are out for summer?
With a couple of weeks of the school holidays still left to make the most of, and many parents, carers and guardians understandably starting to run out of ideas, the Science and Industry Museum is inviting locals down to experience the best of its jam-packed events lineup packed full of exciting exhibitions, hands-on activities, and so much more.
And the best part is, the majority of the programme is free to get involved with.
Find out everything happening here.
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Manchester City Summer Stadium Tour
Etihad Stadium
Monday 19 – Sunday 25 August
Fancy a tour around the Etihad? Summer couldn’t be a more ideal time to head on over there.
Voted not just in the top five stadium experiences in the UK but the 99th percentile of all reviewed Tripadvisor’s global experiences, Man City’s tours of their home ground and the wider Etihad Campus are literally some of the most highly-rated on the planet.
In fact, the club was actually awarded the Tripadvisor ‘Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best’ award in the category for the second time in three years.
Find out what makes these tours so special and book on one here.
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Batman Unmasked
Depot Mayfield
Monday 19 – Monday 26 August
Did you see that a huge Batman experience has now swooped into Manchester?
Having taken over Depot Mayfield in the city centre, and offering fans a chance to see real jaw-dropping props and costumes from the actual Warner Bros. archives, this exclusive event brings the cinematic world of Batman to life.
Through a series of themed rooms, exhibitions, and a comic book and gaming area, Batman Unmasked is packed full of items from this iconic character’s film history.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Chester Zoo ‘Afterglow’
Chester Zoo
Monday 19 – Sunday 25 August
Chester Zoo’s popular ‘after hours’ evenings are back once again this summer after they proved so popular in previous years.
Giving visitors the chance to explore the UK’s biggest charity zoo “in a whole new light”, the unique event series offers unlimited access to animal habitats, indoor areas, and restaurants after the gates normally close to the public, and if you missed out in the past, there’s even some new “immersive” features for 2024 too.
You can discover the zoo as the sun goes down with spectacular live entertainment, exciting games and activities, and delicious food and drink.
Tickets are on sale at 50% cheaper than a standard day ticket, and you can get them here.
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The Great Summer Social
Cheshire Oaks
Monday 19 August – onwards
Cheshire Oaks has brought its popular The Great Summer Social event back for another year, and there’s currently loads to get involved with while schools are out.
Not only is there a bunch of retail offers and promotions to make the most of, as well as free family-friendly interactive activities to get involved with too, but there’s also a big wheel, a mini golf course, a big screen showing sporting events, DJs blasting out tunes, and a wide variety of street food and drink vendors across the Designer Outlet.
Find out more here.
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Summer Scran Fest
Manchester Arndale
Monday 19 August – 1 September
Manchester Arndale’s Summer Scran Fest is back for 2024, and there’s loads of tasty food and drink offers to make the most of.
Running for a whole month until Sunday 1 September, there’s discounts on over 40 of the city centre shopping hub’s fan-favourite food and drink restaurants, cafes, and kiosks – including Tortilla, Pizzaluxe, Millie’s Cookies, Lazy Sundae, Boost, and Krispy Kreme – and you can tuck into everything from burgers and bagels, to doughnuts, smoothies, and so much more.
Pick up a voucher booklet from the stands located around the centre, or claim an offer in-store on your mobile.
Find out more here.
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Did you see that Manchester’s LEGOLAND Discovery Centre has launched half-price kids tickets over the summer holidays?
As the rising cost of living crisis unfortunately continues to make its impact felt across the UK, the popular Trafford Palazzo attraction wants local families to “say yes to real fun”, and is on a mission to help parents, carers, and guardians entertain their little ones as schools are out, all while keeping pennies in their pockets.
In a bid to make “money go further” and “memories last longer”, the family-friendly venue has slashed the price of a children’s general admission ticket from the usual £21.50 right down to just £10.75.
Find out more here.
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Bright Lights, Big Fun!
Trafford Centre
Monday 19 August – 1 September
The Trafford Centre’s massively-popular summer celebration is back, and tickets are only £2.50 each.
Back by popular demand for plenty of family fun, only this time with a new name, Bright Lights, Big Fun has seen a retro fairground and a massive 600sqm beach perfect for sunbathing and sandcastles pop up outside the Greater Manchester shopping centre, alongside a splash park with loads of water jets, and so much more.
There’s also a yummy selection of food and drink traders on site to take your pick from if you’re feeling peckish after getting stuck into some fun and games.
Find out more and get yourself some £2.50 tickets here.
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Summer of Play
Great Northern
Wednesday 21 August
Have you noticed an outdoor sandpit has popped up in Manchester city centre?
That’s right, Manchester finally has a beach – and families are invited down to Great Northern this Wednesday to make the most of it from 12pm-4pm for some child-led play, all facilitated by an onsite Play Specialist.
With 50-tonnes of sand, wooden logs, and plenty of buckets and spades, it’s the perfect spot for kids to have fun, and there’s no booking needed either, so you can just drop in.
Find out more here.
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Mahou & Salmon Guru Takeover
Finders Keepers
Wednesday 21 – Sunday 25 August
Manchester’s favourite waterside cocktail bar, Finders Keepers, is celebrating its first birthday in style by bringing an authentic taste of Madrid to New Islington Marina through a fiesta of takeovers from two of Spain’s most famous drink brands and venues.
From Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 August, the bar will first become a haven for the most popular beer in Spain, Mahou, and then on Sunday 25 August, world-class mixologists from Salmon Guru Madrid will take over for one day only, giving guests the opportunity to try drinks, mixes, and creations from bartenders who are officially at the top of their game.
It’ll be walk-ins only for the Mahou takeover, but you can find out more and book your table for the Salmon Guru event here.
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Did you see that the UK’s biggest social dog walking club has now launched in Manchester?
Dedicated to “bringing the UK’s dog lovers together”, Walkie Dogs has officially launched nationwide, and is already turning the popular Park Run concept into its very-own series of its very-own “bark runs”, with group walks will taking place up and down the country each week.
The first events in Manchester are happening over at Alexandra Park.
As part of the scheme, Walkie Dogs members will not only be able to embrace the outdoors and immerse themselves into the dog walking community, but they’ll also gain access to a variety of dog-friendly perks – including the ability to book onto weekly dog walks, and bespoke discounts on a range of products like dog staycations.
Find out more here.
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Manchester Pride Festival 2024
Manchester City Centre
Friday 23 – Monday 26 August
It’s finally Pride weekend.
Undoubtedly one of the most colourful, energetic, accepting, and highly-anticipated events in the Manchester social calendar every year, Manchester Pride Festival is back with a bang this August bank holiday weekend, and has been co-created in collaboration with the North West’s diverse queer communities to create a lineup that champions “representation, inclusivity, and community celebration” over the four-day extravaganza.
This year’s edition of the beloved Festival features an impressive lineup of famous names, the iconic Pride Parade, and so much more, as well as countless other fringe events and themed celebrations to get stuck into too.
Find out more about Manchester Pride Festival 2024 here, and learn about this year’s Pride theme and what it means here.
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Moovin Festival 2024
Stockport
Friday 23 – Sunday 25 August
Moovin Festival is back in the fields of Whitebottom Farm.
Widely-considered one of the region’s best music events, Moovin has gone from being “Manchester’s best kept secret”, to a staple in the calendar every year, and the boutique festival is set to take over the beautiful countryside in Etherow Country Park in Stockport once again this August bank holiday weekend.
This year’s lineup features returning favourites and some hotly-tipped newcomers, with headline performances from Leftfield, and legendary DJ Laurent Garnier, plus Sampa the Great, Erol Alkan, Crazy P, David Rodigan, and so many more.
Find out more about Moovin Festival 2024 here.
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Festa Italiana 2024
Cathedral Gardens
Friday 23 – Sunday 25 August
Festa Italiana is returning for its seventh year this August bank holiday weekend.
The UK’s biggest Italian food festival – which is the brainchild of Maurizio Cecco, who is the Neapolitan chef behind the beloved family-run Manchester restaurant group Salvi’s – is hosted annually in city centre, and is known and loved for bringing together some of the best food traders from all across Greater Manchester to Cathedral Gardens for a celebration of Italian food, drink, culture.
This year at the three-day free-to-attend event, you can expect a jam-packed lineup of delicious street food, artisan markets, cookery demonstrations, masterclasses, and more.
Find out everything you need to know about Festa Italiana 2024 here.
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Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2024
Bolton
Friday 23 – Monday 26 August
Bolton Food and Drink Festival returns this August bank holiday weekend.
The award-winning festival is the biggest of its kind in the North West, bringing together celebrity and regional chefs, cooking demos, live music, street entertainment, special events, and over 200 market traders.
Hosted right across the town centre, foodies can roam freely as they explore food stalls, bars, dedicated music stages, and plenty more at the free-to-attend festival.
Find out everything you need to know about Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2024 here.
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ManiFest
The Oast House
Sunday 25 August
Just as it always is, ManiFest is back for the August bank holiday weekend.
In case you haven’t heard, popular Spinningfields suntrap venue The Oast House hosts its very-own music festival every bank holiday throughout the year – with this weekend brining a lineup of live music from talented artists spanning the genres of rock, pop, soul, R&B, funk, disco, and blues.
There’ll be live DJ intervals, flowing drinks, and a feast of absolutely delicious street food to tuck into all night long.
Find out more this weekend’s ManiFest here.
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Featured Image – Festa Italiana | Manchester Pride | Chester Zoo