We’re into our final full week of May now, and we just can’t believe how fast the month has gone.
Throughout the month of May so far, the Greater Manchester social calendar has featured the likes of foodie festivals, cultural celebrations, wholesome spring-themed events, and so much more… and thankfully, there’s loads more where that came from this week – especially as we’ve got another bank holiday weekend.
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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Brilliant Bodies Month
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 20 – Friday 31 May
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Brilliant Bodies Month / Credit: Science Museum Group
Fancy diving into the “gloriously gross” world of our brilliant bodies?
With schools across Greater Manchester breaking up for half term at the end of this month, and parents and carers gearing up to entertain the little ones, the Science and Industry Museum has a wide range of events and activities planned especially for the holidays.
The city’s most-visited museum is promising visitors a May half term “full of family fun” inspired by its world-first exhibition Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You.
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Find out more about what’s on at the Science and Industry Museum this half term, and the rest of the month here.
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Manchester Jazz Festival 2024
Manchester City Centre
Monday 20 – Sunday 26 May
Manchester Jazz Festival 2024 / Credit: mjf
mjf2024 is currently underway at venues and sites all across across Manchester city centre.
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After kicking off with a spectacular opening weekender at its vibrant First Street urban neighbourhood this past weekend, you can now make the most of a jam-packed programme full of events happening all throughout this week.
There’s nightly gigs at Matt & Phreds, events at RNCM, Stoller Hall, Forsyth Music Shop, St Ann’s Church, and The Carlton Club, and so much more, all before the festival closes out with an extended weekend-long party at Band on the Wall.
Manchester Green Spaces Trail / Credit: Carl Sukonik | Annapurna Mellor
Workers and visitors are being invited to discover some stunning outdoor spaces across Manchester city centre and beyond this summer.
Keen to get out and about on foot? Manchester has launched Manchester Green Spaces Trail – a brand-new walking trail celebrating the best green, blue, and outdoor areas the cities of Manchester and Salford have to offer.
Created in collaboration with Manchester tour guide, Jonathan Schofield, the walking trail is free to do and accessible via a downloadable map, and it features 16 garden and water spaces.
The Manchester College ‘Greater Mancunians’ Exhibition
Manchester Central Library
Monday 20 May – onwards
The Manchester College ‘Greater Mancunians’ Exhibition / Credit: Supplied
Photography students from The Manchester College are now showcasing their ‘Greater Mancunians’ project as part of a landmark exhibition at Manchester Central Library’s Main Exhibition Hall.
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.
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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.
NEW OPENING – Malibu Beach Club / Credit: Malibu Drinks
Malibu Drinks has just opened a pop-up outdoor lounge with a relaxed beach bar theme, bright decor, and an extensive summer cocktail list in Manchester.
The only official Malibu bar outside of London, and aptly-named ‘Malibu Beach Club’, the colourful pop-up has opened right in the heart of Manchester city centre on Great Northern Square, and you can expect cute and colourful aesthetics, an unbeatable beachy charm, quirky lanterns, and palm trees.
There’s also plenty of seating both in the beaming sunshine (… or when it arrives) or undercover and heated for when it inevitably rains.
Did you see that Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2024?
Everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West is already familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is and all the work it contributes towards conservation and protecting endangered species all across the world.
But now, it’s got itself a respectable new title to prove it, and it’s all thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews.
The world’s biggest travel guidance platform has named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year, with more than 11,000 ‘Excellent’ ratings.
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.
Disney’s smash-hit musical Aladdin is currently touring the UK for the first time ever, and the magic carpet will be landing here in Manchester for the summer from this week.
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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 will be taking 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 it’s set to be a seriously magical show.
Diecast is set to launch its huge outdoor beer garden for the summer this week.
‘Summer Town’ will be the biggest summer garden party space in Manchester once it throws open its doors this Thursday, with space for 800 revellers to make the most of the sunshine over the next few months.
Diecast’s famous daiquiris will dominate at Leno Ex Machina’s central bar, with up 49 flavour combinations pouring from their gigantic Bacardi Frozen Daiquiri machines, while at the centre of the garden is the brand-new ‘Barbecue Kitchen’, where you can took into burgers, chargrilled hanger steaks, hot dogs, kebabs, and chef’s specials while the sun shines.
Great Northern Warehouse is getting ready to kick-starting the summer season with the return of the annual Deansgate Mews Festival.
Now in its fourth year, and known for taking over Manchester’s hidden pedestrianised street that’s nestled above Deansgate, the popular festival is taking place this late May bank holiday weekend from Friday 24 – Sunday 26 May, and it’s FREE to attend with no tickets needed.
There’s set to be something for everyone of all ages across the three-day event, and festivalgoers are being promised a “lively outdoor celebration”, with lots of live music and entertainment, shopping from a variety of stalls offering products from talented traders and local artisans, and some seriously-good food & drink to tuck into.
Manchester Flower Festival 2024 / Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester will become one of the most picturesque places in the UK this bank holiday weekend.
That’s because the city is getting all dressed up in celebration of the annual Flower Festival, which is back by popular demand for its seventh year, and this means that plants and flowers will be seen covering landmark buildings, shop windows, doorways, balconies, statues, fountains, and more for as far as the eye can see.
There’s also a ‘Manchester Icons’ floral trail, and visitors are being told they can expect to see 10 glorious displays inspired by Manchester-born figures, music icons, and even legendary buildings created by local artists, gardeners, and flower enthusiasts.
Find out more about everything happening at this year’s Manchester Flower Festival here.
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Vintage 1940s Weekend
East Lancashire Railway
Saturday 25 – Monday 27 May
Vintage 1940s Weekend / Credit: ELR
Fancy stepping back in time? The Greater Manchester public is being invited to “dig out your gladrags” and head on down to East Lancashire Railway (ELR) this late May bank holiday weekend, as an ‘immersive’ 1940s-themed weekend is back by popular demand.
The Vintage 1940s Weekend been an absolute hit in previous years, and has always been one of the heritage railway’s most popular events.
You can expect an exciting programme of live music all throughout the three-day weekend, as well as food, fashion, and memorabilia of the 1940s being brought to life.
Freight Island’s Spring & Summer Festival Season 2024
Depot Mayfield
Saturday 25 May – onwards
Freight Island’s Spring & Summer Festival Season 2024 / Credit: Freight Island
In case you missed it, Freight Island has announced a huge lineup for its Spring/Summer season, with a free-to-attend festival series.
The huge urban street food and entertainment destination, located at Depot Mayfield just beyond Manchester Piccadilly, is now back open in full swing, and is promising its most electrifying season yet throughout this spring and summer.
David Rodigan, Greg Wilson, Crazy P (DJ set), and Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip) are just some of the names on the lineup over the next few months.
Flashes Festival of Nature 2024 / Credit: Wigan Council (via Facebook)
Flashes Festival of Nature is one of Wigan’s best-loved and most wholesome events, and it’s returning for 2024 this weekend to coincide with the National Nature Reserve Week.
Taking over the popular nature reserve, Pennington Flash, on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May from 11am through to 3pm, the free two-day festival is all about helping Wigan residents reconnect with nature through a wide range of fun and interactive activities – including workshops, wildlife themed art stalls, eco crafts, and more.
Find out more about everything happening at the festival this year here.
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Great Manchester Run 2024
Manchester
Sunday 26 May
Great Manchester Run 2024 / Credit: Great Run Company
The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run is the city’s original and best-loved running event, and it’s back for another year this weekend.
Taking over the city centre this Sunday 26 May and set to be “an experience like no other”, thousands of runners will be hitting the streets in an attempt to complete either the world-famous 10K or half marathon routes… and not only that, but in true Mancunian style, it’s also set to be a party from start to finish.
There’ll be a high-energy soundtrack, live music, and entertainment zones at every turn, plus some of the loudest and most enthusiastic local support seen anywhere in the UK.
You can find everything you need to know about the Great Manchester Run 2024 here.
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Featured Image – Science Museum Group | The Manc Group | Great Run Company
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 17 – 23 August 2026
Emily Sergeant
Wow, August is really proving to be an eventful month so far, isn’t it?
Sure, last week we may have had a solar eclipse and another heatwave to contend with, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t loads happening across Greater Manchester this week. If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though, no worries, as 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 are featured.
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Summer Scran Fest
Manchester Arndale
Monday 17 – 31 August
Summer Scran Fest / Credit: The Manc Group | Supplied
Looking for the best foodie deals in Manchester city centre this summer? We’ve got you covered. Summer Scran Fest is back at Manchester Arndale, bringing a month-long celebration of tasty food, refreshing drinks, and unbeatable offers.
Running right through until the end of the month, there’ll be discounts across 30+ restaurants, cafes, kiosks and leisure venues, all under one roof – from big-name chains, to local indies.
Manchester City Stadium Tours / Credit: The Manc Group
If you’re looking for something to do this summer, did you know you can currently get 15% off Manchester City’s tours of the Etihad Stadium?
You’ll get to walk in the players’ footsteps down the tunnel, sit in Enzo’s seat, get pitchside, see the Domestic Double Winners’ trophies, and loads more. Plus, from 17 August, you’ll be able to see City’s brand-new dressing room too.
Manchester is bringing 14 weeks of free activities for children to parks across the city this summer.
Thanks to additional Council funding that was allocated earlier this year, Manchester’s biggest-ever Parktastic programme has now launched – expanding from the summer holidays alone to include after-school sessions before schools break up, activities throughout the holidays, and even sessions continuing into September.
Back by popular demand and aimed at children ages six-12, Parktastic offers sports, games, arts and crafts, dance, drama, nature activities, storytelling and messy play.
Sessions are free, no booking is required, healthy snacks are provided, and children can simply turn up and join in.
Get ready to spend the summer in space, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced its summer events programme and it’s full of free interactive events and activities to get involved with these next six weeks.
From live space shows and giant rockets, to tinkering activities Martian discovery trails, and the chance to visit the blockbuster exhibition Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos if you haven’t already, budding astronauts are in for a summer to remember.
By far one of the stand-out free events this summer is the arrival of 30-foot-tall rocket ship, Skybolt 2 – hosted by Manchester-based aerospace company, Starchaser.
Find out more and book tickets for your visit here.
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Forest Tubing
Zip World Manchester
Monday 17 August – onwards
Forest Tubing / Credit: Supplied
Thrill seekers, this one’s for you – as Zip World Manchester has launched its new Forest Tubing experience, and it’s bringing the UK’s longest outdoor tubing slide is coming to Heaton Park.
The new family‑friendly outdoor adventure gives visitors the chance to soar along two slides, winding through woodland at one of the largest parks in the North West.
Suitable for children aged four and above, visitors can book an hour-long session – with unlimited rides during that time slot – and either ride solo, or share the experience with fellow adventurers.
The huge new MCR Made exhibition by incredible local artist Stanley Chow has now taken over Manchester Arndale.
Running through until the autumn, shoppers and locals will be able to admire 13 portraits of Manc icons, which measure up to six-metres in length – whether it’s Oasis legends or Suffragettes, football heroes or creative pioneers.
The gigantic inflatable portraits are suspended right across the iconic shopping centre for an art trail that celebrates the figures who have shaped the city.
there’s loads happening across Greater Manchester these next few weeks. If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though, no worries, as 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 are featured.
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National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails
North West
Monday 17 August – onwards
National Trust x Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails / Credit: James Dobson | Annapurna Mellor
National Trust and Pokémon have teamed up for an exclusive trading card game and immersive trail.
The partnership is set to bring together the places the National Trust cares for and Pokémon’s spirit of play and discovery.
Exclusively designed for the National Trust, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trails are going to be running throughout summer at 14 National Trust places nationwide, combining ‘imaginative play’ with ‘gentle physical activity’ inspired by Mega Evolution Pokémon.
Find out where to get involved and book tickets here.
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Pride Fringe
Manchester City Centre
Thursday 20 August – 1 September
Pride Fringe / Credit: Supplied | Jason Lock Photography
Of course, we all know Manchester Village Pride will be returning for 2026 over the August bank holiday weekend, but aside from the official festivities around the Village, an extensive new Pride Fringe event is also taking place for the first time this year.
You can expect an exciting mix of LGBTQIA+ arts, culture, live entertainment, family events, food, drink and shopping experiences.
On top of that, the city’s hotels will also be joining in the celebrations – with dedicated Pride packages, parties, free gifts, and discounts this month.
You can find out everything happening these new few weeks here.
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Red Rose Diners
East Lancashire Railway
Friday 21 August – onwards
Red Rose Diners / Credit: ELR
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is currently hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this summer.
Running on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the year, 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.
On a budget and need somewhere to take the kids to eat for £1 or even FREE over the summer holidays?
In case the ongoing heatwave didn’t remind you, summer is in full swing and so are the school summer holidays.
If you’re after ways to enjoy some quality family time without having to break the bank, we’ve found lots of places where kids can eat for £1 or free – 15 of them, to be exact.
So, whether you’re in the mood for a hearty Italian, a bit of brekkie, or even a big Greek feast, just because you’re on a budget shouldn’t mean you have to limit your and your family’s taste buds.
It’s strawberry season, and Kenyon Hall Farm has officially opened up its strawberry fields (plus plenty of other pick-your-own produce) for the season for you to frolic amongst, with loads of summer treats in its cafe and award-winning farm shop too.
Strawberries have been growing at Kenyon Hall Farm for nearly 50 years now, and it’s proven as popular ever since.
Did you know that Go Ape now runs adult-only sessions?
We nipped over to Go Ape at Rivington as we heard you can now act like a big silly kid there without having to share anything with actual children.
It’s one of the region’s top attractions for good reason, giving you a chance to clamber and fly through the treetops on a sky-high obstacle course, and now every Thursday and Friday evening, you can escape your work inbox and switch it out for a maze of ziplines, ladders, swings, and more.
Less than an hour from Manchester, you’ll find what is essentially a gigantic floating bouncy castle which makes for an incredibly silly afternoon out.
At Wild Shore Delamere you can take on slides, monkey bars, ninja jumps, tyre runs, and plenty of other opportunities to slip and spectacularly fall into the lake. And if you don’t fancy wiping out in front of a lake full of children, there’s also paddleboarding, wakeboarding, open-water swimming, and even a lakeside sauna.
If you’d prefer to say on land, how about a shopping trip?
You already know Cheshire Oaks is the ultimate shopping destination, but have you seen its summer transformation yet?
The huge designer outlet has areas like a summer chill-out zone, its rooftop bar Under The Oaks, fairground rides, and absolutely loads more, plus kids eat free deals at restaurants across the village. That’s in addition to the big-name stores packed with summer essentials, the huge kids’ play area, and photo opps like murals and a massive floral installation.
NEW OPENING – La Chouquette / Credit: The Manc Group
La Chouquette is one of Greater Manchester’s top bakeries.
A proper little taste of France in the middle of Didsbury, it’s always got queues down the street for its incredible croissants and bread loaves, and now it’s time for a new chapter – a major expansion at last.
Catrina and Flo have spent the last couple of months expanding the bakery into the unit next door, and the new space is magnifique.
Manchester has bid farewell to the iconic Salvi’s as we knew it, and welcomed in a brand-new concept.
At Amò, you can sit on the sunny terrace with a spritz, grab a £10 lunch deal, or cool off with their viral frozen caffe crema. The team have kept as much of the good stuff from Salvi’s as possible, but in a newer, fresher space.
And they’re keeping it in the family too, as they’ve handed the reins over to daughter Sienna on Deansgate Mews.
We’re deep in the school holidays now, and if you’re running out of things to do, don’t worry as we’ve got you covered. To make life even easier, all the activities are accessible by the Bee Network AND they’re tried and tested by us, so we can guarantee you’ll love them.
A massive board game festival, with more than 700 games to choose from, is returning to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
It’s happening again – the Manchester Board Game Festival is back in town for the weekend, with more games than you could ever imagine.
Manchester-based table tops events company, Dungeons & Flagons, proudly own one of the UK’s largest board game libraries, boasting an incredible collection of more than 700 board games – and luckily for us, they’re running yet another festival this August.
Across the three-day festival there will also be a selection of bookable sessions including RPGs, tournaments, seminars, playtests and interactive experiences, in addition to live entertainment, giant games and lots of other fun-filled activities.
In the Demo Zone, publishers including Hachette Board Games UK and Mindclash Games will share new titles, while the Playtest Tables allow attendees to trial upcoming games and provide feedback.
There will be an interactive performance of “Into The Autumn Realm,” hosted by Edinburgh Fringe favourite Ed Jollyboat, alongside a range of charity fundraising activities such as a pub quiz, bingo and tombola, with some amazing prizes.
While the Geek Fayre marketplace will be home to a whole host of independent stalls selling board games, dice, artwork, accessories and all kinds of gifts to treat yourself or that gamer in your life.
A massive board game festival, with more than 700 games to choose from, is returning to Manchester
The festival aims to unite hundreds of game-lovers, whether you make it a day trip with friends or you come solo, Dungeons & Flagons pride themselves on their inclusive and accessible atmosphere, designed to accommodate players of all abilities with approachable volunteers on site, Library Bees teaching games, demonstrations and plenty of beginner-friendly sessions helping newcomers feel right at home.
What’s more, this August, Dungeons & Flagons are introducing Solo Gamers Meet Ups, which are sessions split into light, medium and heavy strategy groups, purposefully designed to connect solo attendees and allow players to get stuck straight into a game. So fear not – if your mates aren’t as into it as you, there will be plenty of other gamers to play with.
James Oxley, organiser of Manchester Board Game Festival, shared “The summer festival is always one of my favourites. We tend to welcome lots of people travelling from further afield during the holidays, so it’s always great to see plenty of new faces alongside our regular community. The Manchester Conference Centre is a brilliant venue for the summer too, with its aircon & outdoor courtyard giving us the chance to bring along our giant games and make the most of the sunshine. We want people to feel welcome and leave having discovered something new.”
No matter whether you’re brand new to board gaming or you’re a seasoned professional, head on down to Manchester Conference Centre at Pendulum Hotel and join in on this weekend of fun.
Festival Dates and Times:
Friday 28 Aug: 3am – Midnight
Saturday 29 Aug: 10am – Midnight
Sunday 30 Aug: 10am – 8pm
Both weekend or day tickets are available to buy HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
16th May 2024 
