What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 22-28 July 2024
Emily Sergeant -
18th July 2024 
Schools are nearly out, and summer is finally here.
It’s felt like it’s been a long time coming, but as little Mancs across our region break up for the school holidays this week, and July begins to draw to a close, it seems like the sunshine season has finally arrived… and the Greater Manchester‘s social calendar is packed full of festivals, cultural celebrations, and wholesome family-friendly events to celebrate.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? As always, 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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Dinosaurs in the Park
Heaton Park
Monday 22 July – 4 August
Manchester has now been transformed into “a palaeontologist’s playground”.
Back by popular demand, dozens of life-sized animatronic dinosaurs have descended on the grounds of Heaton Park for the summer, and this means our region has become the closest thing to Jurassic Park in real life.
Dino fans of all ages have the chance to get up close and personal with around 40 of the big beasts over the next couple of weeks.
Find out more and get yourself some tickets here.
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Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 22 July – onwards
More than 100 objects and stories collected during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic are now on display as part of a new exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum.
The groundbreaking new exhibition, titled Injecting Hope: The race for a COVID-19 vaccine, explores the worldwide effort to develop vaccines at pandemic speed, while uncovering the inspiring stories of scientists and innovators around the globe who collaborated to tackle the worldwide COVID-19 challenge along the way.
The best bit? It’s absolutely FREE to attend, and advanced tickets are available to book on the Museum’s website now.
Find out more and book tickets here.
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Batman Unmasked
Depot Mayfield
Monday 22 July – 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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Hairspray The Musical
Palace Theatre Manchester
Monday 22 – Saturday 27 July
One of the best-loved musicals of all time has just kicked off its UK tour here in Manchester.
Hairspray The Musical has taken to the iconic Palace Theatre stage for the week, and tells the timeless story of heroine Tracy Turnblad, who has “big hair, a big heart, and big dreams” and wants to dance her way onto national TV, and into the heart of teen idol Link Larkin.
When Tracy becomes a local star, she is able to use her newfound fame to fight for liberation, tolerance, and interracial unity in Baltimore… but the real question is, can she win equality without denting her ’do?
Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.
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Wild
Manchester Museum
Monday 22 July – onwards
A groundbreaking new immersive exhibition exploring our relationship with the natural world is now open at Manchester Museum.
‘Wild’ look at how people are creating, rebuilding, and repairing connections with nature, and how the natural world has traditionally been presented and idealised through Western art, as well as looking at some unique approaches to environmental recovery too.
The exhibition will also crucially look at how we can tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis by making the world more wild.
Find out more and grab your FREE tickets here.
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Did you see that John Rylands Library has been named one of the best free UK attractions families should visit this summer?
The historic Grade-I listed building on Deansgate in the heart of the city centre has claimed a coveted fourth spot on a new top 10 list, according to a new analysis of TripAdvisor ratings of free UK attractions.
With the summer break right around the corner now, plenty of parents, carers, and guardians across Greater Manchester will likely be looking for a ways to keep the kids entertained and educated while schools are out for six full weeks – especially ways that are Manchester weather-proof and don’t break the bank too much too.
In fact, internet searches for ‘free tourist attractions near me’ are said to have risen by +5000% over the past 30 days.
John Rylands houses one of the UK’s most unique collections of books and manuscripts, and was found to have an average five-star TripAdvisor rating of 75.2%, according to the study – with visitors describing it as “definitely worth the visit”.
Find out why it’s featured in the top 10 here.
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Manchester Green Spaces Trail
Manchester & Salford
Monday 22 July – onwards
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.
Find out more here.
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Kargo on the Docks
MediaCity
Tuesday 23 July – onwards
One of Greater Manchester’s best-loved outdoor dining concepts has returned for 2024, and there’s a proper tasty lineup of traders.
‘Kargo on the Docks’ – which is MediaCity‘s al fresco dining pop-up, in place of the former Box On The Docks – has had itself a bit of a “glow up” and has taken over the waterfront and gardens with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.
Find out more and see who’s pitched up here.
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Olympics 2024 – Official Team GB Fanzone
Spinningfields
Friday 26 July – 11 August
Manchester is one of a handful on UK cities chosen by Team GB itself to host an official Olympics fanzone with a big screen this summer, and the best part of it all is, it’s going to be free for everyone to enter and make the most of.
A big screen playing all the major sporting action and coverage highlights is being set up at The Lawn Club in Spinningfields.
This means that, for the next two weeks, sports lovers in the city centre will be able to tuck into an all-day food and drinks lineup, all while they watch the Games surrounded by other equally-enthusiastic fans.
Find out more here.
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Bright Lights, Big Fun!
Trafford Centre
Friday 26 July – 1 September
The Trafford Centre’s massively-popular summer celebration is returning this week, 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 will see a retro fairground and a massive 600sqm beach ready 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’ll 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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Red Rose Diner
East Lancashire Railway
Friday 26 July – onwards
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this summer.
Running on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the summer, 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.
Find out more and book here.
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Manchester Day 2024
Manchester City Centre
Saturday 27 July
The city centre is to be transformed into the “biggest-ever playground” for this year’s Manchester Day celebrations.
Manchester Day – which is often dubbed “the day summer officially starts” in Manchester, and undoubtedly one of the most vibrant and colourful events in the city’s annual social calendar – is back for a massive celebration of “all things Mancunian” this Saturday, and it’s all inspired by the international summer of sport.
The city’s streets and squares will be filled with FREE music, dancing, and interactive activities designed to “bring out the inner athlete” in visitors, both young and old.
Find out everything happening at this year’s event here.
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Red Bull Dance Your Style 2024 – UK Final
Freight Island
Saturday 27 July
The UK grand final of the biggest street dance battle event in the world will be taking place in Manchester this weekend.
Happening down at Freight Island this Saturday, renowned international mixed-style competition, Red Bull Dance Your Style – which has been running since 2019 – will celebrate the wide variety of impressive dance talent across the UK, and see dancers attempt to excite audiences with their interpretation of loads of different music genres.
Find out more and get tickets to the event here.
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Manchester Remembers 2024
Oldham Athletic
Sunday 28 July
Manchester Remembers is back with another celebs vs legends match in memory of all those affected by the Manchester Arena bombing this weekend.
After several successful events in previous years, the charity showdown is back for its third event and is returning to Oldham Athletic’s home ground, Boundary Park, this Sunday with a stellar lineup of famous names lacing up their boots to raise all-important funds for those sadly affected by the atrocity back in 2017.
It’s all set to be a real family-friendly event, with live music before kick off and during half-time, and plenty more planned to keep people entertained throughout the day.
Find out more and grab last-minute tickets to the match here.
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Stockport Krazy Races 2024
Stockport
Sunday 28 July
Krazy Races is coming to Stockport this Sunday, and that means you can expect fun, entertainment, and plenty of “wow, did they really just do that?” moments.
Thousands of spectators are set to descend on St Peter’s Square in the Greater Manchester town’s centre to cheer on the wacky and outrageous soapbox downhill racers in their carefully hand-crafted karts as they tackle the track of over 350m with chicanes, obstacles, water, and more.
Competitors will work their way through a knockout-style competition, with only the fastest 10 cars making it through to the final to battle it out to take home the winner’s trophy.
Find out more here.
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Featured Image – Supplied | Manchester City Council | Totally Stockport
