What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 21 – 27 August
Emily Sergeant -
18th August 2023 
Can you believe this is our last full week of August? Where’s the time gone?
This month – and unfortunately, what we’ve had of summer too – has been and gone in the blink of an eye, but we still have one more week to fully make the most of it and get stuck into the wide range of events happening in Greater Manchester, especially as one of the busiest and most jam-packed bank holiday weekends is upon us.
Think festivals, family-friendly activities, foodie feasts, immersive experiences, exhibitions, and so much more.
If you’re stuck for choice, we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week – so here’s our top picks.
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The Great Frogtastic Invention Trail
Stockport
Monday 21 August – onwards
Stockport’s beloved giant colourful frog sculptures have returned.
Following the undeniable success of previous art trails in both 2019 and 2021, the Stockport Frogs are back for a brand-new adventure this summer, with 19 multi-coloured amphibians having hopped onto podiums across the town centre.
This year’s trail is themed all around ‘Frogtastic Inventions’, and will see frog-spotters of all ages get to make their way around the town centre on what’s set to be an “educational, engaging and vibrant” outdoor adventure.
Find out more here.
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Operation Ouch!
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 21 August – onwards
A brand-new exhibition is currently having its world premiere at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, and it’s giving families the chance to “dive headfirst into the digestive system” and “travel like a poo”.
The new blockbuster exhibition, Operation Ouch!, is based on and will see the award-winning CBBC children’s TV series brought to life.
Visitors can expect interactive experiences, amazing objects from the Science Museum Group’s collection, and appearances from world-renowned doctors who will be on hand to guide audiences through this “lively, interactive, and playful adventure to better understand our brilliant bodies”.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Summer Daze
Trafford Centre
Monday 21 August – onwards
Summer Daze is back and better than ever at the Trafford Centre this summer.
Running all summer long right the way through until early September, Summer Daze is home to a massive 600sqm beach for sunbathing and sandcastles, and not one but two “thrilling splash parks” with loads of water jets outside the shopping centre.
Not only that, but there’s also a retro funfair with over 20 fairground rides, and you can also take part in crafting workshops and face painting, and catch costume characters, live music, and entertainment.
Find out more here.
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The Capri Beach Club
Exchange Square
Monday 21 August – onwards
A pop-up beach club has appeared right in the heart of Manchester city centre, and it’ll transport you straight to the Mediterranean.
The Capri Beach Club – which has appeared at Exchange Square outside Selfridges – has been kitted out with cabanas, boardwalks, swing chairs, and even real sand, and it promises to recreate the ambience of a real Capri beach club.
There’s a DJ playing chilled-out beats from the 80s up to the latest chart-toppers, plus resident saxophonist Elliot Slater, who has graced the stages at some of the biggest clubs in Ibiza.
As you lounge back on luxury seating, you can work your way through the summer cocktail list that includes Aperol spritzes, margaritas, bellinis, and espresso martinis, and then grab a bite to eat from the range of street food vendors.
Find out more here.
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Fancy trying out some new bars, and restaurants that have opened in Greater Manchester this month?
How is it August already? Somehow, this summer has felt like the shortest one yet, but no matter if you’re feeling a bit meh about this wonderful British summertime, as there’s always food to turn to in Greater Manchester – and that, as we know, makes everything better.
Failing that, there’s always a drink. Or a few.
As we do every month, we’ve rounded up the best new bars and restaurants opening in Greater Manchester this month, and there’s some really good ones to look forward to, so you can find out where to put on your list here.
Also, if you’re looking to keep your spending within a budget, check out our round-up of some of the best food and drink deals to take advantage of this month here.
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DEAL – Free Hot Drink and Carrot Cake for £3
Housing Units
Monday 21 – Friday 25 August
Failsworth’s beloved home department store Housing Units has an unmissable ‘coffee and cake’ deal on at its in-house restaurant this week.
Shoppers can take a break by heading to The Wickentree Restaurant and Cafe 1974 – which are both located within the specialist store that’s known and loved for its extensive range of furnishings and accessories for bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms – to grab a hot drink and a delicious slice of carrot cake for just £3.
With the deal available all week, its the perfect time to make the most of it as the Summer Clearance Sale also finishes on bank holiday Monday.
Find out more here.
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Backyard Cinema: Miami Beach
Depot Mayfield
Monday 21 August – onwards
Backyard Cinema is back in Manchester for the summer, and has created a Miami Beach rooftop experience that’s transporting people back to the 1980s.
The immersive cinema experience has taken over the roof of Depot Mayfield and transformed the industrial space into Miami Beach – using 30 tonnes of sand and signature palm tree cocktails to create the UK’s largest pop-up beach.
The summer-long series will include cinematic parties and screenings of major summer blockbusters, plus sing-alongs and loads more, all with sand between your toes and ultra-comfy seats.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Lip Sync Showdown
Printworks
Wednesday 23 August
Printworks is preparing to celebrate Manchester Pride with its first ever Lip Sync Showdown this Wednesday at the city’s “favourite adult playground”, Bingo Balls.
Free to attend but raising funds for George House Trust and Manchester Pride Community Fund via donations, the Lip Sync Showdown will be led by four epic drag artists – Barb, Imani Versace, Goodie
Magnum, and Violet Vogue and promises an unforgettable night of performances and lip-syncing battles to an outrageous lineup of pop classics, power ballads, and guilty pleasures.
Find out more and book tickets here.
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You, Me and the Balloons – Late Night
Factory International
Friday 25 & Saturday 26 August
New late-night tickets for Yayoi Kasuma’s giant polka-dot inflatable art exhibition in Manchester have been made available after what was an undeniably successful run as part of this year’s jam-packed Manchester International Festival programme.
Tens of thousands of people made their way to see the major new installation by celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, and it’s fair to say they were left mesmerised by the jaw-dropping spectacle.
‘You, Me and the Balloons’ gives visitors the chance to “immerse themselves in Kusama’s psychedelic universe”.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Manchester Pride Festival 2023
Manchester City Centre
Friday 25 – Monday 28 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.
Organisers of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charity say this year’s edition of the iconic Festival features the most inclusive roster of local and international queer talent to date, and if that wasn’t brilliant enough as it is, there’s also countless other fringe events and themed celebrations to get stuck into.
Find out more about some about the Manchester Pride Festival lineup here, or take a look at some of the family-friendly Pride-themed fringe events happening here.
Keen to learn about this year’s Pride theme and what it means? Find out more here.
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Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2023
Bolton
Friday 25 – Monday 28 August
Bolton Food and Drink Festival returns this August bank holiday, as the internationally-acclaimed event celebrates 18 years in the town.
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.
Running through the long weekend and hosted right across the town centre, foodies can roam freely as they explore food stalls, bars, two dedicated music stages, and plenty more at the free-to-attend festival – while special events on this year’s lineup including a bottomless brunch, comedy dining experiences, and a one-time DJ set from TV personality Gok Wan.
Find out everything you need to know about Bolton Food & Drink Festival 2023 here.
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NEW OPENING – NERF Action Xperience
Trafford Palazzo
Friday 25 August
Greater Manchester is set to become home to the UK’s first indoor NERF activity centre.
It’s been a long time coming, after it was revealed that plans for the new immersive experience were submitted back in 2021, and construction was subsequently put on hold, but the UK’s – and Europe’s – first official NERF Action Xperience is opening its doors at Trafford Palazzo this Friday.
No matter whether you’re a superfan or a NERF newbie, visitors of all ages will get the chance to “live out their ultimate NERF adventures” at the new purpose-built activity centre.
Find out more about the grand opening here.
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NOMA Saddle Up
Sadler’s Yard
Saturday 26 August
The NOMA neighbourhood is hosting its annual Saddle Up event this Saturday.
The free-to-attend family-friendly event is returning for the sixth time, and is ready to kick-start the summer with a brand-new theme of old time fun in the Wild (North) West, but with the same promise of live music, great food, themed drinks, and creative workshops for the whole family to enjoy.
There’ll be games and drop-in workshops for all ages throughout the day, as well as a range of delicious dishes to took into – with all proceeds going to the Eatwell Manchester charity.
Find out more here.
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Festa Italiana 2023
Cathedral Gardens
Friday 25 – Sunday 27 August
Festa Italiana is returning for its sixth season this August bank holiday weekend.
The UK’s biggest Italian food festival 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 – which is the brainchild of Maurizio Cecco, who is the Neapolitan chef behind the beloved family-run Manchester restaurant group Salvi’s – you can expect a full day dedicated to outstanding female cooks, a grand dining experience curated with Italian brewery Poretti, and so much more on the lineup.
Find out everything you need to know about Festa Italiana 2023 here.
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ManiFest
The Oast House
Sunday 27 August
The final ManiFest of 2023 is happening this Sunday.
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.
As always, 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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Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Wythenshawe Park
Saturday 26 August
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds are playing a massive homecoming gig this Saturday.
The music legend and former Oasis songwriter and guitarist is heading back to Manchester for his first headline show here since 2019, and will be taking to the stage alongside his band at Wythenshawe Park – which is set to be the first major outdoor concert hosted in the park.
There’s some massive support act joining them too the band too, with both Primal Scream and Future Islands confirmed to play.
Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.
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Moovin Festival 2023
Stockport
Friday 25 – Sunday 27 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 Laurent Garnier, house music mainstay Toddy Terry, and local legend Mr Scruff.
Find out more about Moovin Festival 2023 here.
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Kids Cinema Club
MOTLEY Manchester
Sunday 27 August
Looking to keep the kids entertained while enjoying a meal out?
MOTLEY Manchester, which is the restaurant inside YOTEL on the corner of John Dalton Street and Deansgate, has launched a brand-new Kids Cinema Club running every Sunday throughout the school summer holidays.
Screenings of much-loved Disney classics like Encanto and family favourites like Sing are being shown inside the hotel’s plush and comfortable karaoke room, with the experience also including a free kids’ meal and complimentary popcorn – making it the perfect choice for parents keen to enjoy an afternoon relaxing.
Find out more and book here.
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Amphitheatre Yoga
Great Northern
Sunday 27 August
Great Northern is hosting another one of its free outdoor yoga sessions this Sunday.
No matter whether you’re an experienced Yogi, or you’re just looking to improve your skills, these sun-kissed Amphitheatre Yoga sessions taken place outside the front of the iconic Warehouse, and suitable for the whole family to get stuck into – with yoga mats provided.
Taking place this bank holiday Sunday from 11-11.45am, sessions are free but interest must be registered and places must be booked in advance.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Featured Image – Manchester Pride | MIF | Moovin
