Forget Black Friday as it’s all about Mad Friday. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it may sound, in fact, it marks the start of Britain’s proper Christmas party season. And to start as we mean to go on the adaptive venue hidden in plain sight on Dantzic Street, Love Factory, is hosting the session to end all sessions with a free Mad Friday Christmas party. Yes, FREE.
Taking place on December 16 at Love Factory, located behind Manchester’s landmark N.O.M.A. and a short 10-minute walk from Manchester Victoria, the Mad Friday party will run in split shifts- 5pm to 8pm and then 8pm to 11pm, both hosted by Mrs Claus. The immersive Christmas show at Love Factory will have some of Manchester’s leading creatives and cultural practitioners, with state of the art visuals and effects set to be in play for the duration of the night, helping add a little magic to proceedings.
A packed music programme has been put together, too, with Manchester’s critically acclaimed contemporary Ceeow bringing the full GreensKeepers band experience to Love Factory. Their exclusive live performance will see familiar and not-so-familiar winter anthems deconstructed, rebuilt and worked into fresh festive funk. Setting an example for Christmas songs without the cheese, it’s expected to be a memorable set.
Elsewhere, DJs will take to the Love Factory booth, with some of the city’s most esteemed tastemakers primed to deliver a soundtrack that perfectly marries fun with forward-thinking. Those who prefer a little silliness with their seasonal soirées are still well catered for, though, with private karaoke suites available on the mezzanine level. Bookable for groups between 10 and 30 people, whether you’re a vocal talent or not, it’s a great spot to take in all the action on the dance floor and bars below.
Bringing the booze and no office Christmas party drama (fingers crossed), suffice to say, there’ll be plenty of it- booze that is. Each session kicks off with a Happy Power Hour, with cut price drinks on offer for the first 60-minutes. That means pints and Prosecco at £2.50, and shots at £1.
Plus, the Love Factory Mad Friday Christmas event will be supplying plenty of food too. Attendees can expect vendors such as the impeccably stuffed pies by Ate Days A Week, where — among other things — you’ll find Pulled Turkey, Sausage Stuffing and Pig-In-Blanket nestled under the crust.
Tickets for the early and late sessions are completely free, meaning it’s best you move fast. There’s also the option to pay £5 and enjoy a drink on arrival, plus this ticket helps Eat Well MCR provide a quality meal for someone experiencing homelessness at Christmas. Find out more here.