Manchester is gearing up for its busiest weekend of the year, with a bumper few days’ worth of events looming.
Around 300,000 people will descend on gig venues and festival sites across the city this weekend, as some of the world’s biggest artists perform on our home turf.
At the Etihad Stadium, Ed Sheeran will be performing four shows in a row, while American rockers The Killers take over the enormous Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
Then the AO Arena will host superstar Alicia Keys on Saturday, and Heaton Park will once again be taken over by Parklife festival.
TfGM has urged people to plan their journeys to and from concerts well in advance, as transport links throughout Greater Manchester will be extremely busy.
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Tens of thousands will attend Parklife festival at Heaton Park. Credit: Parklife
Commuters are being encouraged to avoid Great Ancoats Street and the Mancunian Way after 3pm on both Thursday and Friday, when the crowds will start to head towards the Ed Sheeran gigs.
The Metrolink is also expected to be very busy on the Bury line – TfGM says that more than half of Parklife attendees use public transport to get to the festival site and back each day, and although a lot will opt for the dedicated shuttle bus service, many will pile onto the trams.
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People should avoid travelling in the Bury direction towards Heaton Park between 10am and 3pm, and then back the other way after 9pm, on Saturday and Sunday to dodge the pre- and post-festival rush.
Trams on the Altrincham line, which services Emirate Old Trafford Cricket Ground, are also expected to be busy on Saturday from 5pm.
The Killers and Ed Sheeran are both performing in Manchester this weekend
Those with tickets for The Killers are encouraged to also use Firswood and Wharfside tram stops (on the East Didsbury/Airport line and Trafford Park line respectively) and walk the short extra distance to the venue.
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If you’re heading to one of these massive events this weekend, you’re urged to plan ahead, allow plenty of time, check the last tram and train times, and have a back-up plan in case of any disruption.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says it’s working with operators and partner agencies to boost services as much as possible.
That will include extended running hours and extra double trams on the Bury and Altrincham lines.
Sacha Lord, co-founder of Parklife and Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser, said: “This is an incredible few days for Greater Manchester as we welcome some of the world’s biggest acts back to our city-region.
“We’ve all been waiting for these moments for some time, and we are expecting the region to be incredibly busy. I would encourage everyone attending events to plan their travels – both to and from concerts – in advance.
“Although the evenings are lighter, I would always urge caution if walking home, and encourage fans to check last tram and bus times. Please stay vigilant and help keep each other safe.”
People are urged to avoid Bury-bound trams while the Parklife crowds head to the festival.
Superintendent Andy Sidebotham, GMP’s gold commander for this weekend’s events, said: “This weekend will see thousands of people visiting and staying in the centre for what will be a busy weekend for all emergency services and our partners across the region.
“We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable weekend and music-goers should expect to see police officers on the ground in and around the events and will be on hand to help anyone who needs it. We’ve been working alongside partners for months for these events and our main aim is as always, to keep everyone safe.
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“Those planning to visit or live nearby are asked to be patient when travelling to and from the events as there will no doubt be an increased amount of traffic. Public transport is expected to be very busy and we would ask that people follow the messages and advice from our colleagues at TfGM, and that those attending plan their journeys accordingly.
“As always, we’re thrilled to welcome thousands back to the city centre and hope that everyone attending the concerts and Parklife festival this weekend have a safe and good weekend.”
Stephen Rhodes, Customer Director at TfGM, added: “With extremely high and potentially record numbers of people expected to be travelling on the network this week, I’m appealing to all our passengers to take extra care when using the network and to look out for your friends and other people around you.
“We’re encouraging people making shorter journeys to think about walking and cycling where possible.
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“I would strongly encourage anyone travelling by bus, tram or train during the coming weekend to use contactless payments where possible in order to help keep queues moving. When paying by contactless on Metrolink, please remember to touch-in and touch-out with the same device on the smart readers at the start and end of each journey, and Metrolink will work out the best fare for you.
“We are constantly updating the customer information available on our website and across our social media channels to help people make informed journey choices; to save them time and avoid disruption to their journey.”
TfGM’s travel safety tips for this weekend in Manchester
Keep a suitable distance from the platform edge other than when boarding a tram
Taking extra care of yourself or others if under the influence of alcohol
Walk, instead of running, when on-stop and getting on/off trams
Watch where you step and take care while using your mobile
In the lead-up to the events TfGM is running a social media campaign featuring some of the artists that are due to perform reminding people to stay safe around trams.
Temporary Metrolink stop closures on Saturday and Sunday
Exchange Square – closed at 12pm, reopens 9pm
Shudehill – closed from 6am, reopens 9.30pm
Market Street – closed from 6am, reopens 9.30pm
Piccadilly Gardens – closed from 3pm, reopens 9.30pm
Heaton Park – closed from 6pm, reopens following day
For live travel updates please follow @OfficialTfGM or visit tfgm.com.
What's On
Forget pub crawls – you can now go on a guided cheese crawl around Manchester
Thomas Melia
Manchester is a foodie’s paradise and with so many options at hand why not break it down into individual food groups – starting with the dairy crowd pleaser, cheese.
Long gone are the draining pub crawls of the past, it’s time to make way for the new pioneer in the world of adventurous crawling, ‘The Manchester Cheese Crawl’.
There’s always lots of food and drink options flowing throughout our bubbly city spanning all cuisines and cultures so it comes as no surprise that the latest way to experience Manchester is via cheese, a staple of many citizens’ diets.
On the tour, there will be insider knowledge on-hand as you wander the streets and sample the creamy delights, assisting you with any dying queso queries and pecorino ponders that you need to get off your chest.
There’ll be plenty of familiar independents on the Manchester Cheese Crawl, including Northern Soul’s impressive grilled cheese sandwiches as well as more traditional cheese samples.
How could this experience get any better I hear you ask, how about a free glass of fizz to accompany those already impressive cheese selections? Yes please!
Guests can expect to sample some of Manchester’s dairy delights while being directed by some of Manchester’s top cheese connoisseurs that are the real big cheese.
Groups who take the tour aren’t just treated to food and drink, they also receive free entertainment from their food guides who are prepared to make you chuckle with their incredible humour.
The Manchester Cheese Crawl will feature plenty of bites for curd nerdsA selection of dairy heaven displayed on a wonderful variety cheese board.Credit: Unsplash
Previous visitors have commented on their experience while taking the tour sharing the names their groups received with highlights such as ‘Shaken not curd’ and ‘Three blind mice’.
They really are serious about their cheeses, another previous visitor who went on the tour revealed their guide even had a name that perfectly fit the occasion, ‘Mel the babybel’.
It’s sure to be a fantastic day with games and activities planned for all as you walk between the shops landmarked on the cheese-filled route.
Everyone on the tour also gets a small taste of the high life as they are treated to a Lancashire cheese handmade by a local star and celebrity.
Starting at the Richard Cobden Statue and finishing on the always vibrant Tib Street, a quick google search reveals this walk isn’t too strenuous taking only 12 minutes but with many cheeses to get your whiskers on it will probably take around an estimated two hours to tackle.
Running this Saturday 16 November and planned to continue until November 2025 and beyond, you’d be emmental to miss out on this cheesy adventure.
If all this cheese talk has left you dreaming about your next foodie fix, tickets for ‘The Manchester Cheese Crawl’ are on sale and available here.
Featured Image: Unsplash
What's On
Rochdale’s incredible fire festival will bring blazing sculptures and fiery displays to town this month
Daisy Jackson
Rochdale will be filled with dazzling pyrotechnic displays later this month when the Ignite Fire Festival returns to town.
The spectacular free event will see the gardens opposite the Rochdale Town Hall – which reopened to the public earlier this year – transformed with fiery displays, blazing sculptures and illuminated installations.
The smash hit event debuted last year, attracting more than 10,500 people, and this year’s will be even bigger with three nights of magical family entertainment.
And the festival will culminate on the Sunday with the Rochdale Christmas lights switch-on.
Ignite Fire Festival comes from Walk the Plank, the outdoor arts specialists behind some of the UK’s biggest and best outdoor arts events, who have called upon artists and pyro technicians to create the many installations on show.
Between 5pm and 8pm each night, visitors will be able to walk past fire-based sculptures like goblets of fire, a daisy chain of flaming flowers, a fire bird with blazing eyes, and smaller birds circling a flaming nest – to name just a few.
There’ll also be sculptures that twist, flap and erupt with balls of fire, and ‘In The Balance’ will be a festival highlight, where rotating globes of flame seemingly defy the laws of physics.
Ignite Fire Festival is back in Rochdale this month. Credit: Supplied
Each evening, a fire drawing designed and made by local residents will be ignited alongside flaming hot performances from some of the UK’s top talent including Flame Oz – a thrilling fire dancing and juggling show.
There’ll also be performances from Liverpool’s Bring the Fire Project, local favourites Skylight Circus Arts, and street theatre and interactive arts group Travelling Light Circus.
Visitors should look out for Drum Machine, a 20-strong drumming collective, The Fire Man Dave performing a live fire show with fire eating and juggling, and Astro Aliens, a trio of cosmic beings that will entertain all ages.
The incredible event, sponsored by car supermarket The Trade Centre UK, is set to take place between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 November.
Ignite Fire Festival takes place in the gardens opposite the Rochdale Town HallThere’ll be performers as well as pyrotechnic sculptures. Credit; SuppliedIgnite Fire Festival is back for a second year. Credit: Supplied
After exploring the gardens, you’ll be able to pick up hot food, mulled wine and other seasonal drinks served each night.
On Sunday, Father Christmas will be in town to switch on the Christmas lights at 5.30pm in front of the town hall.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Last year’s Ignite Fire Festival and Christmas Light’s Switch On was a fantastic event and an instant hit with audiences from across Greater Manchester.
“It’s an exciting and unique event and the perfect addition to our big switch-on, providing family entertainment across the weekend.”
Mark Bailey, founder and owner of sponsor Trade Centre UK added: “Our partnership with Ignite Fire Festival and the Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch On is a fantastic opportunity to give back to a community that has welcomed us so warmly.
“At Trade Centre UK, we believe in more than just selling cars; we believe in being part of the fabric of the local area. Supporting events like this, which bring people together to celebrate in the heart of Rochdale, aligns perfectly with our core values of community and connection.”
The event is free, and no tickets are required. Ignite is organised by Rochdale Borough Council in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op, a ‘Creative People and Places’ programme, funded by Arts Council England.
Find out more and plan your visit to Ignite Fire Festival HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
9th June 2022 
