The busyness of August, and the hustle and bustle of the bank holiday weekend has been and gone… and a new month is now here.
But while the summer may have passed us by the blink of an eye, and the kids have officially gone back to school for a new year, that doesn’t mean the fun’s stopped, as there’s still loads of events happening in Greater Manchester to get stuck right into.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to choose, we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week.
Here’s our top picks.
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Operation Ouch!
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 4 September – onwards
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Operation Ouch! / Credit: Science Museum Group
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”.
In what is undeniably the stuff of dreams for cheese lovers, you can now take part in a cheese and wine crawl around Manchester city centre.
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The Manchester Cheese Crawl will take you around some of the cheesiest spots the city has to offer for two hours of non-stop cheese-related fun – including everything from blue cheese tasting, to cheese quizzes, competitions, and more.
Tickets cost just £25 each, and include cheese samples, optional bread and crackers, and some red wine to complement.
Manchester’s newest comedy festival is making a return to the city later this week, and there’s some massive names on the lineup set to bring the laughs.
After what was a smash-hit success in its inaugural year back in 2022, Laughterama is back in Manchester for more, and will once again be taking over the iconic Castlefield Bowl in the heart of the city centre – with multi award-winning comedians Adam Buxton, Ed Gamble, Sara Pascoe, and Alan Davies being just some of the famous names on this year’s jam-packed lineup.
Festivalgoers are in for an “explosive series of shows” from some of the hottest names on the comedy circuit.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie / Credit: ATG Tickets
The highly-anticipated 2023 UK tour of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is finally arriving here Greater Manchester this week.
Following a record-breaking three-year West End residency, sold-out UK & Ireland Tour, and an Amazon studios award-winning film, the smash-hit and critically-acclaimed musical is finally set to return to The Lowry stage this week.
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The musical tells the story of Jamie New – a 16-year-old living on a council estate in Sheffield who doesn’t quite ‘fit in’ and is terrified about the future, but is determined to be a star.
Fancy trying something new? Time to conquer your fears? SEA LIFE Manchester’s snorkel cage experience lets people get closer than ever have before to more than 1,000 creatures of the deep at the Trafford Centre-based marine life aquarium.
Snorkel with Sharks is a one-hour surface snorkelling adventure.
Suitable for swimmers age 10+, the session includes a full briefing, introduction to the incredible creatures you can expect to see, and 20 minutes snorkelling in the purpose-built shark cage.
Didsbury’s very-own cookery school, Food Sorcery, is hosting another one of its popular cookery workshops dedicated to all things pasta this Thursday.
During this three-hour class, you can learn everything about how to make Italy’s staple food by hand, from how to mix and knead pasta dough, to various different rolling techniques, filling, and shaping, all before the chef will demonstrate some sauces to go with it.
So roll your sleeves up and get ready to mix, knead, bash, squash, and shape the dough into spaghetti, farfalle, ravioli, and so much more.
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You can find out more information, and book your place here.
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The Manc Audio – DJ Set
Night & Day Cafe
Friday 8 September
The Manc Audio – DJ Set / Credit: The Manc Group | Pixnio
Not only has it been an absolutely belting year for music and gigs in Greater Manchester already, but it’s about to get even better.
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The Manc Audio will be heading back to Night and Day Cafe for our second DJ takeover.
Following the success of our first night standing behind the decks at the legendary Night and Day, we’ve kindly been invited back to do it all over again – with Mr. Audio, DJ Dean himself, set to return to the stage for his sophomore show this Friday.
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this week.
Taking place this Friday 8 September, 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.
The Manc has teamed up with KAMPUS, and we’re bringing you a massive silent disco in Manchester city centre this weekend.
Kicking off from 3pm, with some brilliant DJs on the lineup set to be spinning the tunes and battling it out to get you on the dance floor, The Big Kampus Disco is an all-day FREE event – with non-stop bangers, the biggest silent disco the city’s ever seen, and so much more.
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Think DJ sets, amazing live music, dancers, performers, and all the glitter.
Silent Disco tickets are £5 plus a £10 refundable deposit for the hire of the headphones, but the rest of the event free, so find out more and grab tickets here.
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ShinDigger x Reform Radio – A Decade in the Game
Cheetham Hill
Saturday 9 September
ShinDigger x Reform Radio – A Decade in the Game / Credit: Supplied
ShinDigger and Reform Radio are coming together to celebrate their joint 10th birthday with “a day festival like no other” this Saturday.
After starting their ventures together in the same co-working space back in 2013, the two businesses have co-produced numerous events over the years, but this weekend’s aptly-named ‘A Decade in the Game’ is by far their most ambitious collaboration at The Yard in Cheetham Hill.
You can expect plenty of live music, and exclusive back-to-back DJ sets curated especially for this event, as well as food vendors, market stalls, kids’ activities, and so much more.
Doki Doki – The Manchester Japanese Festival / Credit: Doki Doki
Doki Doki – The Manchester Japanese Festival is back once again for 2023.
Taking place from 11am onwards on Saturday 9 & Sunday 10th September at Sugden Sports Centre, Doki Doki celebrates both traditional and modern Japanese culture – with a wide range of panels, talks, demonstrations, themed events, and more taking place across the weekend, as well as plenty of food and retail traders on site too.
Tickets for the festival are available to buy at the door on the day, and you can find out more here.
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Green Island Festival
Hulme Community Garden Centre
Saturday 9 September
Green Island Festival / Credit: Green Island
This year’s third and final volume of the Green Island Festival returns this weekend.
With a lineup of underground, underrepresented, and emerging artists from all across the UK, and placing global sounds at the forefront, Green Island is a grassroots festival stripped back to its most authentic form with community at its core that’s made a name for itself thanks to “bringing an enriching music and cultural escapade for all ages”.
Taking place on Saturday 9 September from 1pm-9pm, the 500-capacity festival will once again transform Hulme Community Garden Centre’s flora paradise into an “arts mecca”.
Icelandic vodka brand Reyka will be creating the ‘Fire and Ice Oasis’ at The Oast House in Spinningfields this weekend, where you can plunge into an ice bath, sit back and relax, drink cocktails, and get a good scran in too.
Taking place from midday right through to 1am on both Saturday and Sunday, with ice baths open until roughly 7pm each day, ice dippers will be given a goodie bag and a free cocktail, and anyone brave enough to take the plunge will be in with a chance of winning a trip to Iceland itself.
In the evening, there’ll also be a fire pit to cosy round as you sip on your vodka that was made with glacier water in a distillery powered by geo-thermal energy from volcanoes.
Featured Image – Laughterama | ShinDigger x Reform Radio | Green Island
What's On
Icelandic airline offering incredible Northern Lights holiday experience including hotel, breakfast and tours
Danny Jones
Icelandair, the nation’s principal airline and proud flag carrier is offering an incredible package to holiday-goers this winter by giving them a chance to book their flights, hotel, breakfast, multiple unique tours and the opportunity to see the Northern Lights all in one affordable deal.
With the Northern Lights being one of the most magical tourist attractions in the world, its popularity only increases by the year and, as a result, so does the cost of going to see it.
That’s where Icelandair come in: the flight operator is offering Brits an amazing new package centred around the legendary natural light display at a discount. Trust us, you seriously want to consider snapping up this one whilst you can.
From this week, Icelandair is offering UK travellers a special package deal which includes a three-night holiday with return flights, a hotel room with breakfast and three unique and unforgettable Icelandic tours for just £459 per person.
(Credit: Icelandair)
This deal will see holidaymakers board an Icelandair economy flight from either London, Glasgow or Manchester Airport to the nation’s beautiful capital of Reykjavik, with a complimentary 23kg checked bag allowance, plus a 10kg in hand luggage allowance, your choice when it comes to where you want to seat, seat, on-board refreshments and a personal in-flight entertainment system.
For your accommodation, you’ll be staying at the four-star Hotel Island Spa and Wellness Resort, located right near the centre of Reykjavik and treated to breakfast every morning for two adults sharing a room. And then you get to make the most of what the country’s incredible landscape.
Onto the main event of your holiday: Icelandair’s Northern Lights experience is a breathtaking three-to-four-hour tour that allows you to see the glory of the incredible natural phenomenon with your own eyes.
As for the FlyOver Iceland tour, this unique experience is the ultimate flying ride which utilizes state-of-the-art technology to give you the exhilarating feeling of flight. During this virtual journey, you’ll experience the more remote but no less spectacular areas of Iceland through motion, wind, sound and even scents.
People wait their entire lives to experience the Northern Lights. What’s stopping you?
Last but not certainly least, you have the lava show, which is one of the top-rated attractions anywhere in Scandinavia, receiving numerous awards for innovation and educational value. You literally get to watch as they recreate a volcanic eruption and allow you to safely experience hot lava in close proximity.
Once again, all this is yours to enjoy from just £459 per person. We believe the phrase you’re looking for is ‘value for money’.
Available right now until 4 October 2023, you can book to travel to see Iceland and the Northern Lights from November 2023 right up until March 2024.
You book your flights HERE and find out more information about this incredible package via the Icelandair website.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 25 September – 1 October
Emily Sergeant
Autumn is here now that it’s time to wave goodbye to September and welcome October with open arms this week.
While summer may have passed us by in the blink of an eye, nothing can dampen the region’s spirit now that autumn’s here, and a new season doesn’t mean the fun’s stopped either, as there’s still loads of events happening in Greater Manchester to make the most of.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to choose, we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide this week.
Here’s our top picks.
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Oktoberfest 2023
Albert’s Schloss
Monday 25 September – Tuesday 3 October
Oktoberfest 2023 / Credit: Albert’s Schloss
It’s that time of year again… Oktoberfest is back in Manchester for 2023.
This celebration of German heritage translates across the globe, and Albert’s Schloss in the heart of the city centre is at the helm in Manchester for the seventh year running, with the fun having well and truly kicked off in style with the tapping of the first keg, and the festival now well underway.
Expert biers, bratwurts, the sound of Albert’s Oompah band, and plenty of the usual Albert’s Schloss debauchery.
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”.
Did you know you can get a pass to visit loads of National Trust sites across the UK for FREE this autumn?
Autumn in Greater Manchester is a wonderful thing, and and our region is filled with places to appreciate the beauty of this much-loved season – but if you were looking for a reason to travel a little further afield to experience everything nature has to offer and see the leaves change colour, then it doesn’t get much better than this.
This is why the National Trust wants to give people the chance to “experience the awe of the season” at no extra cost.
Autumn at the National Trust / Credit: National Trust
The pass allows free entry for two adults and up to three children, one adult and up to four children, or just two adults on their own.
Find out more about how to claim the limited-time offer here.
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Richard Kelly: A Time and Place
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Monday 25 September – late October
Richard Kelly: A Time and Place / Credit: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Some rarely-seen photos of Amy Winehouse have just gone on display in Manchester to mark the late singer’s 40th birthday this month.
The exclusive images of the legendary vocalist are forming part of an exhibition showcasing work by critically-acclaimed music photographer Richard Kelly that’s currently happening down at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the city centre.
Following its unprecedented popularity, the exhibition‘s stay in our city has been extended, and will now be running until the end of October.
If you’ve somehow not had the chance to watch Barbie yet, then how does seeing the movie of the summer in IMAX sound?
Manchester’s largest city centre cinema inside Printworks is screening Greta Gerwig’s masterpiece in limited-edition IMAX for just one week only.
That’s not all either, as on top of enjoying Barbie in all its ultra-high-definition glory, and seeing Margot Robbie steal the show as she stars in the titular role, alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken, and a massive ensemble cast of some of Hollywood’s biggest names, fans will also be treated to some bonus post-credit footage during their screening too.
Glitzy Japanese and Brazilian fusion restaurant Sakku Samba in Spinningfields is hosting a dining experience with a difference this weekend.
Back by popular demand, the ‘dine in the dark’ experience sees guests blindfolded for the duration of their meal, and gives them the chance to suspend one of their senses for an evening as they tuck into a wide range of delicacies from a three-course secret menu.
With offerings available for meat eaters, pescetarians, and vegans, there’s something for everyone.
MCR Student Social / Credit: Jason Lock (via Manchester Arndale)
MCR Student Social is back once again this week with unmissable offers to celebrate.
Taking place on Thursday 28 September, there’ll be discounts of up to 30% off in more than 120 stores for students within the Manchester Arndale, including Levi’s, Harvey Nichols, River Island, Monki, JD, Mango, Superdry, Kick Game, Jack & Jones, Office and Schuh.
On top of that, hospitality venues including Urban Playground (where you can have a go at ITV’s hit show The Cube), Immersive Gamebox, Archie’s, Krispy Kreme and Barburrito will have up to 50% off.
Fancy trying out some new bars, and restaurants that have opened in Greater Manchester this month?
Now autumn is technically here, we’re ready for lots of cheese, red wine, gravy, roasts and all the good things that come out of the kitchen once the weather gets a little bit cooler.
September has also brought a host of new bar and restaurant openings.
Some of the year’s most hotly-anticipated new venues are throwing open their doors this month – with MediaCity’s giant new food hall Kargo MKT, Manchester’s only 2D Japanese cartoon cafe, Waku Waku, and new station-side craft beer bar Victoria Taps being just a few of the highlights.
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.
Trafford Centre is turning 25 years old this month.
The UK’s third-largest shopping centre has been a one-stop-shop for Greater Manchester residents, and people visiting the region alike for well over two decades now, so what better way to mark this major milestone birthday than with a proper fashion and musical celebration?
How does an hour-long gig full of feel-good throwback tunes sound? Even better if we said it’ll headlined by iconic 90s pop girlband B*Witched?
What about if we said it’s completely FREE too? Well now it’s unmissable, if you ask us.
The Dachshund Pup Up Cafe is back in Manchester this weekend.
After what can only be described as a smash-hit success when it first visited our city back in 2018, the dachshund pop up cafe – or we should say ‘pup up cafe’ – is returning this Saturday, and is set to fill popular venue Lola Lo with hundreds of sausage dogs.
The whole venue has been secured so the dogs are able to roam free and enjoy some wholesome fun in a safe space.
Emily Sergeant -
1st September 2023 
