What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 5 – 11 July 2021
Loads more going on across the region this week.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd July 2021 
Another new month is here, and summer is in full swing.
Britain’s rescheduled ‘Freedom Day’ is due to come around later this month, but until then, there’s plenty to be getting up to in our region.
We’ve put together another edition of our ‘what’s on’ guide for the city of Manchester and beyond this week.
Some of the events we’re going to mention here are completely free, others will set you back a few pounds, and most will need to be booked in advance – but all are COVID-secure in order to keep you as safe as possible.
Here’s a few of our top picks.
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Looney Tunes Street Art Trail
Manchester City Centre
Monday 5 July – 31 July
Have you seen that playful world of Looney Tunes has taken to the streets of Manchester?
Well, your eyes aren’t deceiving you.
11 of the most-beloved characters from the Looney Tunes series – including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Speedy Gonzales, Tasmanian Devil and more – have all been spray-painted at various locations across the city centre as part of an exploratory street art trail that’s aiming to welcome people back to the city post lockdown.
There’s also a family-friendly walking tour taking place, too, so you can see all the colourful characters popping up around the city.
You can find more information about the trail and artwork locations here.
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Beat the Frog
Frog and Bucket Comedy Club
Monday 5 July
Beat the Frog is the legendary amateur comedy night that takes place every Monday at Manchester’s iconic Frog and Bucket Comedy Club, and has helped to launch the careers of some of comedy’s biggest names – including Peter Kay, John Bishop, Johnny Vegas, Smug Roberts, and more.
At the start of the competition, three cards are handed out to lucky members of the audience, and up to 10 acts will then take to the stage and each try to do five minutes of material. If within those five minutes all three cards go up, then the act has lost and must leave the stage – but if the three cards stay down, that act has successfully ‘Beat The Frog’.
They are then invited back to the stage for a clap off at the end of the night – which will determine the overall winner.
It’s been named the “most unpredictable comedy night in the north”.
You can find more information and grab your tickets via the Frog and Bucket website here.
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RHS Garden Bridgewater
Salford
Monday 5 July – onwards
Have you had the chance to head to RHS Garden Bridgewater yet?
As many Greater Manchester residents will know, the opening of the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) newest £44 million garden attraction – which is located off Leigh Road in Worsley – has been delayed on a number of occasions due to ongoing restrictions amid the pandemic, but now it’s open for all to visit.
The 154-acre garden at the former Worsley New Hall estate is the biggest hands-on horticultural project undertaken in Europe since planning permission was granted in 2017.
It’s also the first ever RHS Garden to be located in an urban area in the UK.
You can find more information and grab tickets here.
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Box on the Docks
MediaCityUK
Monday 5 July – onwards
MediaCityUK’s popular outdoor dining concept Box on the Docks (BOTD) is welcoming customers back to its waterside ‘pods’ this week, with the collection of 30 sheds and greenhouses having undergone renovation from local artists.
An exciting range of residents have moved into the neighbourhood for the summer, along with beloved local eateries from across the region such as Grandad’s Sausages, I Knead Pizza, Bada Bing Deli and Batard Bakery.
You can find more information about Box on the Docks 2021 here.
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Runway Visitor Park
Manchester Airport
Monday 5 July – onwards
Manchester Airport’s tourist attraction Runway Visitor Park has officially reopened, with an exciting programme of activities on the cards this summer.
The airstrip-adjacent park is inviting visitors to take weekend tours of vintage aircraft – such as Concorde – board flight simulators, and gawp at classic vehicles as part of an upcoming events schedule, which is underway until September.
The programme features a wide range of highlights for history buffs and families alike, including historic vehicle club open days, an airport memorabilia fair, a military showcase, and so much more.
Live music performances have also been confirmed for the park’s memorabilia fair in July.
You can find more information here.
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DJ Paulette Presents Together
Homeground by HOME
Monday 5 – Friday 9 July
Renowned Manchester artist DJ Paulette is currently hosting a jam-packed show called Together on The Bruntwood Stage at HOME MCR’s brand-new, festival-style outdoor events hub, Homeground, and the weekly event is said to “shine like a beacon of hope into our community, social lives and calendar.”
From 5pm – 7pm every weekday evening, The Bruntwood Stage hosts a stellar array of talent old and new from Greater Manchester’s homegrown, rich, diverse, and musical heritage – including the brightest stars from the club, alternative, pop, RnB, soul, and electronic arenas.
You can find more information about the acts on this week’s lineup, and book your tickets here.
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Tatton Park Pop Up Festival
Knutsford
Monday 5 July – 29 August
There are 52 events for families and festival-goers to get stuck into at the Tatton Park Pop Up Festival this summer.
The outdoor boutique festival in Knutsford will feature 10 weeks of music and entertainment performances between right through until the end of August, with acts during the day suitable for children, while the party continues at night for adults.
Just some of the events include ABBA Mania – the world’s number one touring ABBA tribute – and live performances of science show Brainiac.
For the kids, there’s also Jurassic Earth – a unique, immersive dinosaur experience for all ages, combining animatronics, performances, and the opportunity to walk with a Triceratops, roar with a T-Rex, scream with a Spinosaurus and run with a Raptor.
You can find more information about the festival here.
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Totally Roarsome
Mottram Hall
Monday 5 – Sunday 11 July
Totally Roarsome took the region by storm last summer after it opened to the public following the initial lifting of lockdown restrictions in mid-2020, with visitors flocking from far and wide.
Now at the new location of Mottram Hall, just over the border into Cheshire, Totally Roarsome features everything from dinosaurs, jungle animals and Arctic creatures, to superheroes, pirates and cartoon characters.
Tickets are priced at £7.95 per ticket (+ £1.50 booking fee, per transaction), and must be booked in advance online from the Totally Roarsome Facebook page.
You can find out more information, and book your tickets here.
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Euro 2020
Manchester City Centre
Tuesday 6 – Sunday 11 July
European football’s flagship tournament is heading into its final stages over the coming week – with the final set to take place on July 11.
Plenty of Manchester venues have been going all out for Euro 2002 this year, so if you’re looking for recommendations for some of the best spots to catch these last few matches, we’ve done the leg work for you.
You can find 20 of the best spots to watch Euro 2020 in Manchester city centre here.
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Snorkel with Sharks
SEA LIFE Manchester
Tuesday 6 & Thursday 8 July
SEA LIFE Manchester has launched a new snorkel cage experience that’s letting 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+ and includes a full briefing, introduction to the incredible creatures you can expect to see, and 20 minutes snorkelling in the purpose-built shark cage.
Tickets cost £40 per person, and the session can be booked for two to four people from the same household or bubble.
You can find more information and book your tickets here.
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Secret City
EventCity
Wednesday 7 – Sunday 11 July
Park N Party – the team that delivered both the sell-out successes of ScareCity, ChristmasCity and a number of other outdoor live events throughout 2020 – has launched a new venture titled SecretCity, and there’s a whole host of immersive drive-in entertainment events happening this week.
There’s screenings of cinema favourites including Dirty Dancing and Greece, as well as some scary flicks like Midsommar, Get Out and more all on show throughout the week.
Tickets must be booked in advance, and you can grab yours from £35 per car here.
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Use Hearing Protection
Science and Industry Museum
Wednesday 7 July – onwards
A special exhibition documenting the formation and early years of the iconic Factory Records has officially opened at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum.
Use Hearing Protection: The early years of Factory Records shines a light on the formative period for the Manchester label, disclosing lesser-told stories from family members, alternative voices and international collaborators.
The exhibition also examines the period 1978 to 1982, revealing how the label grew and thrived to give the city an authentic voice and distinctive identity, and visitors will be guided through the pre-Haçienda years to uncover the history of the label and how it earned its status as a catalyst for innovation through rarely or never-before-seen objects.
The first 50 artefacts from the official Factory Records catalogue are on display, including creations from Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column, and so much more.
You can find more information here.
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(A Kind Of) Summer Beer Thing
KAMPUS
Thursday 8 July – onwards
Common & Co has brought ‘(A Kind Of) Summer Beer Thing’ pop-up event to Manchester city centre’s newest canalside neighbourhood KAMPUS this month – hosting a wide selection of beers, wines and soft drinks on the waterfront.
Eight rotating taps of the “finest and most sessionable beers” will all be good to go – alongside natural wines, cocktails, softs, and snacks, with support from Salt Beer Factory and Sipsmith Gin.
Numerous pop-up tastings and weekend DJ sets will take place on the canalside throughout July – with Nell’s Ice Cream Sandwiches also up for grabs.
Tables will be for walk-ins only.
You can find more information about ‘(A Kind Of) Summer Beer Thing’ here.
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Manchester International Festival (MIF)
Manchester City Centre
Monday 5 – Sunday 18 July
The highly-anticipated return of Manchester International Festival is finally here, with a jam-packed lineup showcasing original new work from across the spectrum of visual and performing arts and music by artists from over 20 countries.
A 42-metre sculpture of Big Ben made out of political books in Piccadilly Gardens, a new film featuring Cillian Murphy, and a theatrical performance of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s essay about grief are among the standout works featuring at the festival.
Performances are taking place safely at both indoor and outdoor locations across Greater Manchester, including the first ever work on the construction site of The Factory – the landmark cultural space that will be MIF’s future home.
A “rich online offer” is also providing a window into the festival wherever audiences are, including livestreams and work created especially for the digital realm.
You can find more information about the exciting lineup of events for MIF21 here.
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OT Art Trail
Old Trafford
Monday 5 – Saturday 31 July
The OT Art Trail – which has been organised by OT Creative Space and is funded by Arts Council England – sees a number of local artists work together with members of the Manchester community to create six individual large scale murals which have been painted onto walls and building gable ends around the area, including in Seymour Park and Ayres Road.
The new murals have been added to the murals and artwork already seen around Old Trafford.
The several new street art sites are linked together via a downloadable audio tour, which is suitable for people of all ages.
Each mural centres around the theme ‘community togetherness and diversity’.
You can find more information on The OT Art Trail via the OT creative SPACE website here.
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Ancoats Pop-Up Market
Ancoats
Saturday 10 July
Nestled among the backstreets of Manchester and tucked into the courtyard of an old, red-brick historic mill, Ancoats Pop Up Market is a weekly-run market event which has teamed up with MUD (Manchester Urban Diggers) to supply the neighbourhood with a wealthy selection of fresh, organic and locally-grown fruit and veg, as well as dry goods.
The market also features Manchester-based stallholders serving speciality coffee, locally-brewed rum liquors, locally-sourced bakes and crafts, and more.
Street food and freshly-brewed coffee is also available while you browse.
You can find more information here.
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Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
