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The Manc -
25th March 2020
The Manc -
25th March 2020 What's On
A massive board game festival, with more than 700 games to choose from, is returning to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
It’s happening again – the Manchester Board Game Festival is back in town for the weekend, with more games than you could ever imagine.
Manchester-based table tops events company, Dungeons & Flagons, proudly own one of the UK’s largest board game libraries, boasting an incredible collection of more than 700 board games – and luckily for us, they’re running yet another festival this August.
Across the three-day festival there will also be a selection of bookable sessions including RPGs, tournaments, seminars, playtests and interactive experiences, in addition to live entertainment, giant games and lots of other fun-filled activities.
In the Demo Zone, publishers including Hachette Board Games UK and Mindclash Games will share new titles, while the Playtest Tables allow attendees to trial upcoming games and provide feedback.
There will be an interactive performance of “Into The Autumn Realm,” hosted by Edinburgh Fringe favourite Ed Jollyboat, alongside a range of charity fundraising activities such as a pub quiz, bingo and tombola, with some amazing prizes.
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While the Geek Fayre marketplace will be home to a whole host of independent stalls selling board games, dice, artwork, accessories and all kinds of gifts to treat yourself or that gamer in your life.
The festival aims to unite hundreds of game-lovers, whether you make it a day trip with friends or you come solo, Dungeons & Flagons pride themselves on their inclusive and accessible atmosphere, designed to accommodate players of all abilities with approachable volunteers on site, Library Bees teaching games, demonstrations and plenty of beginner-friendly sessions helping newcomers feel right at home.
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What’s more, this August, Dungeons & Flagons are introducing Solo Gamers Meet Ups, which are sessions split into light, medium and heavy strategy groups, purposefully designed to connect solo attendees and allow players to get stuck straight into a game. So fear not – if your mates aren’t as into it as you, there will be plenty of other gamers to play with.
James Oxley, organiser of Manchester Board Game Festival, shared “The summer festival is always one of my favourites. We tend to welcome lots of people travelling from further afield during the holidays, so it’s always great to see plenty of new faces alongside our regular community. The Manchester Conference Centre is a brilliant venue for the summer too, with its aircon & outdoor courtyard giving us the chance to bring along our giant games and make the most of the sunshine. We want people to feel welcome and leave having discovered something new.”
No matter whether you’re brand new to board gaming or you’re a seasoned professional, head on down to Manchester Conference Centre at Pendulum Hotel and join in on this weekend of fun.
Festival Dates and Times:
- Friday 28 Aug: 3am – Midnight
- Saturday 29 Aug: 10am – Midnight
- Sunday 30 Aug: 10am – 8pm
Both weekend or day tickets are available to buy HERE.
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Featured image: Supplied
What's On
Manchester announces its first-ever Pride Fringe event with community celebrations all over the city
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is getting ready for a city-wide Pride celebration this month.
Of course, we all know Manchester Village Pride will be returning for 2026 over the August bank holiday weekend, but aside from the official festivities around the Village, an extensive new Pride Fringe event has been announced – with a programme featuring everything from a film festival and shopping events, to live performances, family-friendly celebrations, and more.
Alongside comedy, club nights, exhibitions, and walking tours, venues across Manchester will also come together for a month-long celebration.
You can expect an exciting mix of LGBTQIA+ arts, culture, live entertainment, family events, food, drink and shopping experiences, giving visitors even more reasons to make a weekend – or even a week – of it.
Many of these events will be raising vital funds for local LGBT charities, and on top of that, the city’s hotels will also be joining in the celebrations with dedicated Pride packages, parties, free gifts, and discounts this month.
Pride Fringe will be led by the return of the week-long SCENE Festival.
Back for its third year and kicking off from Thursday 20 August, SCENE will be bringing together some of the biggest names in TV, film, and queer culture for eight days of screenings, panels, live comedy, parties and premieres across 10 Manchester venues – and this year, it’s the festival’s most star-studded programme to date.
Some of the other highlights on the programme include a selection of Pride-themed walking tours and guided trails.
At the forefront of this is a a guided walking tour led by local playwright and tour guide, Chris Hoyle of What’s The Story?, exploring the stories that have shaped Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community.
From Victorian drag balls and the birth of Canal Street, to the Campaign for Homosexual Equality and the city’s iconic Pride Parade, the tour uncovers the people, places, and moments that have helped make Manchester one of the world’s leading LGBTQ+ cities.
Manchester Arndale and Afflecks will also be hosting their own Pride-themed shopping events and workshops, while Aviva Studios, The Refuge, Freight Island, Kampus, and Fairfield Social Club are among the dozen independent venues throwing their own parties.
Families can also head to places like Manchester Central Library and Great Northern Warehouse for storytimes, craft sessions, entertainment, and other child-friendly events.
Read more:
- Manchester Pride WILL return for 2026 – including the parade and party
- Council plans 14 weeks of ‘free fun’ for children across Greater Manchester this summer
- Manchester Village Pride reveals first wave of artists for 2026 with ‘historic’ fair pay union agreement
Pride Fringe will be running from Thursday 20 August, right through to 1 September in some cases, and you can find a full list of events here.
Featured Image – Supplied
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