Bringing the best of music, food, drink and culture (whatever it is that floats your boat!), the 2024 schedule is looking pretty packed this year, and we have a feeling it’s gonna be a pretty special season. From food-filled havens to some of the biggest music events around, here’s our guide to the best festivals in Manchester to attend this summer.
Music festivals in Manchester
1. Parklife, Heaton Park – 8th & 9th June
Considered one of the most noteworthy music festivals in the Manchester calendar, Parklife is always a weekend of fun. With many house, dance and techno acts having top billing, it’s a festival with a difference that provides all the comforts of your usual music festival, including street food, great drinks and more popular acts on the main stage. Past Parklife lineups have included the likes of Stormzy, The 1975 and Annie Mac, and of course, this year’s roster is one to look forward to. Find tickets here.
2. Manchester Jazz Festival – 17th – 286h May
The city’s longest-running music festival, Manchester Jazz Festival returns this 17th – 26th May, covering some of the city’s favourite venues, previously including Escape to Freight Island, Matt & Phreds, St Ann’s Church, Band on the Wall, NQJazz@The Yard and Forsyths. Ticketed events will be going on around the city, and you can monitor the full programme and grab tickets for Manchester Jazz Festival 2024 when they come out here.
3. Moovin Festival, Stockport – 23rd – 25th August
Moovin is one of the most sustainable music festivals in Manchester, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality. Of course, it’s first and foremost a music festival, and the growing list of local and acclaimed artists is pretty impressive for the little farm. The likes of Craig Charles, Hacienda legend DJ Paulette and Graeme Park were on the lineup last year, ensuring a day full of dancing and fun for all the family, which is sure to be replicated this year. Find tickets here.
4. Creamfields North, Warrington – Thursday 22 – Sunday 25 August
Creamfields is one for the ravers, bringing the biggest names in house, trance and electronic music to Warrington. The likes of Calvin Harris, David Guetta and Peggy Gou have previously filled the field with banging tunes, and a crowd to dance with all weekend long, so anticipation for the line-up is building.
It’s one of the Manchester music festivals taking place on August bank holiday weekend, so choose wisely and hope for the best weather possible – it’s always a toss up. Find limited resale tickets here.
Arts and culture festivals in Manchester
5. Manchester Literature Festival
Manchester Literature Festival mainly takes place in the autumn, but some events are set to happen earlier in the year. One example of an event that is part of the festival is a live Q&A with American Senator and past Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, speaking about his book ‘It’s OK To Be Angry About Capitalism‘. The festival celebrates all things literary, in the home of some of the most important literary characters and settings in the world, from novels and short stories to poetry and spoken word. Find tickets to individual events here.
6. The Manchester Flower Festival – 24th – 27th May
Now in its sixth year, Manchester’s floral takeover attracts tens of thousands of additional visitors to the city centre and launches the summer event season in the city. Taking place across the late May Bank Holiday weekend, Manchester Flower Festival transforms the city centre with themed decorations and green installations, alongside live music, entertainment, alfresco food and drink, talks, demonstrations and workshops. Take a stroll around and drop in and out of local street vendors at the festival, only paying for what you choose – which can be nothing at all!
7. Manchester Festival of Libraries – 12th – 16th June
The Festival of Libraries will celebrate the literary scene that Manchester has to offer, running from Wednesday, 12th – Sunday, 16th June all over the region. It will be full of exhibitions, performances, talks, workshops and art installations that all reflect Greater Manchester’s huge pride in its libraries and their value to their communities. The events are scheduled to take place in the whole of Greater Manchester and every one of them is free.
Community festivals in Manchester
8. Didsbury Festival – 8th June
A wonderful festival for all the family in and around South Manchester, Didsbury Festival is an annual shindig full to the brim with fun, live music and activities for all the family. The festival includes a carnival procession and wonderful stalls boasting local produce and artists, as well as face painting and dance performances from local schools and musical groups. Fancy dress is Didsbury Festival’s bread and butter, as well as exhilarating funfair rides and attractions, perfect for a family day out, so keep an eye on the social media channels for more information closer to the time.
9. Góbéfest – June
This June, Góbéfest, a huge celebration of Székler culture, is coming to Manchester, bringing food, drink, live folk music and dancing to Cathedral Gardens. There, Mancs can learn more about the Székler people, while enjoying native grub such as langos, Romanian sausages (also known as mititiei), grilled pork steaks, Hungarian honey bread and more. Find out more here.
10. Manchester Pride – 23rd – 26th August
The LGBTQ+ community and its allies can celebrate equality at this August bank holiday‘s Manchester Pride festival – which will involve the iconic parade, Village party, touching vigils to those who have lost their lives to HIV and AIDs, and of course the much-anticipated Pride Live concerts. The city will stand together against discrimination while celebrating the liberation movement and Manchester Pride charity. Find out more and get your tickets here.
Food and drink festivals in Manchester
11. Manchester Craft Beer Festival – 5th & 6th July
Taking place over two days in July, Manchester Craft Beer Festival will pop up at the historic Depot Mayfield – which has been recently redeveloped as an urban events space, attracting huge events such as Warehouse Project as well as screening sports matches. And now, beer lovers will get the chance to enjoy the much-loved venue as it’s filled with over 50 world-class breweries offering a taste of their fantastic craft beers.
In addition to a whole fleet of breweries to get familiar with – including Pomona Island, Manchester Union Brewery, Queer Brewing, Siren Craft Brew and more – guests will be treated to DJ sets yet to be announced. Of course, you’ll need something to balance out all that beer, which is why there will be a variety of the North West’s finest chefs, restaurants and popups on hand to help line your tums throughout the event. What’s more, all your beer is included in the price of the ticket! Get tickets here.
12. Heaton Park Food and Drink Festival – 3rd & 4th August
Following the first-ever Heaton Park Food and Drink Festival success, this year’s festival will land in Manchester between the 3rd and 4th August this summer, bringing tons of delicious Northern grub to one space. Boasting live music, tons of activities and, of course, plenty of food to go at, guests will be able to try out new cuisines made by talented street food vendors and shop delicious baked treats and more. Find out more here.
13. Festa Italiana – August
Salvi’s Festa Italiana is expected to return this August, bringing an infusion of Italian culture to Cathedral Gardens. Like years before, the free festival will consist of an array of fantastic local Italian food traders, alongside live music, masterclasses, and an array of one-off special events. Stay tuned for more details and follow their social media channels.
Also published on Medium.