The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 6 – 12 September 2021
We’ve waved the hustle and bustle of a busy August goodbye, and September is finally here.
So to usher in the new month, we’ve put together a fresh edition of our ‘what’s on’ guide for the city of Manchester and beyond this week, and we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits you could be getting up to.
Some of the events we’re going to mention here are completely free, others will set you back a few pounds, and many will need to be booked in advance.
Plenty are still taking COVID-safety measures to give you peace of mind though.
Here are our top picks.
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Gratitude
St Peter’s Square
Monday 6 – Sunday 12 September
A spectacular new art installation honouring the NHS and key workers has now arrived in Manchester city centre, and this is your last week to catch it.
‘Gratitude’ is a collection of 51 uniquely-painted human form sculptures that are all designed by individual artists, and curated in partnership with creative ambassador Dame Zandra Rhodes.
The free-to-visit installation – which will be accompanied by a selection of stories recorded by a host of well-known local voices (including Christopher Eccleston, John Thompson, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Shobna Gulati) – will be on display at St Peter’s Square, and enclosed by mirrors on two sides to create reflections.
Manchester artists Lei-Mai LeMaow, Guy McKinley, Fernandes Makes, and Jodie Silverman are among the acclaimed UK artists taking part.
You can find more information here.
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Beat the Frog
Frog and Bucket Comedy Club
Monday 6 September
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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I’m A Celebrity… Jungle Challenge
MediaCityUK
Monday 6 September – onwards
The highly-anticipated Salford Quays adventure attraction based on ITV’s popular survival reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has now opened to visitors.
The I’m a Celebrity… Jungle Challenge – which was first announced back in April – welcomes fans into the wilderness and invites them to “navigate a series of fun-filled physical challenges inspired by the blockbuster ITV show”.
Located at MediaCityUK, the attraction features a variety of familiar vantage points and landmarks – including the Main Camp, the Throne and, of course, the Winner’s Bridge.
You can find more information and book tickets here.
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Sixes
Corn Exchange
Monday 6 September – onwards
The “world’s first immersive cricket experience with hospitality” has now arrived at Corn Exchange with the opening of Sixes Manchester.
A social cricket sports bar kitted out with three state-of-the-art cricket nets available to hire for 30, 60 or 90 minutes, as well as a champagne bar, a 70-seater dining space and an open kitchen, Sixes offers the chance to swing for the boundaries whilst enjoying a wide selection of high-quality food and drink.
The opening of this new Manchester venue coincides with an exclusive game at Sixes called ‘The Hundred’ – which is named after the 100-ball cricket tournament taking place for the first time this summer.
You can find more information about Sixes Manchester here.
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OT Art Trail
Old Trafford
Monday 6 September – onwards
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 here.
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Snorkel with Sharks
SEA LIFE Manchester
Tuesday 7 & Thursday 9 September
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 £120 and sessions can be booked for up to four people.
You can find more information and book your tickets here.
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Use Hearing Protection
Science and Industry Museum
Wednesday 8 September – 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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At Home With The Pankhurst Family
Pankhurst Centre
Thursday 9 & Sunday 12 September
A new permanent exhibition has been unveiled at the Pankhurst Centre.
Having been temporarily closed since the first lockdown was announced all the way back in March 2020, the museum and birthplace of the Suffragette movement has started to welcome the Greater Manchester public back through its doors for “a brand new visitor experience”.
At Home with the Pankhurst Family explores the lives of the Pankhurst family in a participatory and immersive way, which includes the chance to visit the parlour where Emmeline Pankhurst called the first meeting of what would come to be known as the suffragette movement.
Entry to the museum is free, with a suggested donation of £5.
You can find more information here.
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Parklife 2021
Heaton Park
Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 September
Manchester’s biggest annual celebration of music, Parklife, is returning to Heaton Park on the slightly later dates this weekend, following a year of cancellation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The star-studded lineup of acts was unveiled earlier this year, with multi-award-winning rapper Dave set to headline the bill in an exclusive UK festival appearance for 2021.
Megan Thee Stallion will also be making her Parklife debut and will be joined by some of the finest grime, rap and hip-hop artists including Skepta, AJ Tracey, slowthai, Burna Boy, and Mist.
There’s also a stellar selection of world-class DJs, drum and bass artists and more.
Find more information here.
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Ancoats Pop-Up Market
Ancoats
Saturday 11 September
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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