We’ve officially reached the final month of summer at lightning speed, meaning we have no other choice but to truly make the most of it. Sorry, bank balance. From epic events to get you on the dance floor to food festivals and a good dose of summery feels, here’s our guide of the best things to do in Manchester this August.
1. Try your hand at padel as the first indoor city centre padel club opens
The racquet sport padel is really having a moment, however this club from Pure Padel sets itself apart from others by being indoors – perfect for those rainy days in Manchester. Due to open this August in a former goods and distribution warehouse, Pure Padel Manchester will be based at Dutton Street in Cheetham Hill. The venue will offer six panoramic padel courts, a pro-padel shop, a bistro-style café and bar, fully equipped changing rooms with showers, plus a raised mezzanine viewing platform overlooking a show court.
2. Listen to Ed Sheeran’s top hits reimagined at this Candlelight tribute concert
Discover this captivating Candlelight tribute to Ed Sheeran for a memorable evening out in Manchester. The iconic singer is known for his distinctive voice and ability to create music that blends a wide range of music genres, including folk and pop. And now on August 10, fans have the chance to hear his songs reimagined by a skilled string quartet. From “Bad Habits” to “Perfect”, get reacquainted with Ed Sheeran’s famous discography at Manchester Cathedral.
3. Grab a spot at the Palace Theatre to watch 101 Dalmations
A new musical version of Dodie Smith’s classic book 101 Dalmatians will embark on a UK tour, coming to the Palace Theatre Manchester from 30 July 2024 – 10 August 2024. When fashionista Cruella de Vil plots to swipe all the Dalmatian puppies in town to create her fabulous new fur coat, there’s trouble ahead for Pongo and Perdi and their litter of adorable, tail-wagging young pups. This classic canine caper is brought to life on stage with spectacular puppetry, show-stopping choreography, hilarious songs and irresistible puppies – yes, real puppies! The production promises drama, action and a little bit of wholesome humour thrown in, on top of so much cuteness, of course.
4. Discover original props, costumes and vehicles from the Batman films at this exhibition
Take a trip to new exhibition Batman Unmasked located inside Manchester’s Depot Mayfield, which treats fans of the iconic DC superhero to a treasure trove of original props, costumes, vehicles, weapons and much more. You’ll be able to indulge in your love of all things Batman as you journey through themed rooms, channel your inner Bruce Wayne in the gaming area and even add to your collection with exclusive merchandise.
5. Be beside the seaside at the Trafford Centre’s giant beach
The Trafford Centre is bringing back its giant beach and splash park this summer along with its popular fairground – plus, it won’t break the bank. Following the success of last year’s Summer Daze event, the fun is making a comeback for the school holidays under the new name Bright Lights, Big Fun and promises “even more excitement”. Open until September 1, Bright Lights, Big Fun will boast a fantastic, family-friendly 600 square metre beach outside The Great Hall and more than 20 thrilling rides.
6. Head to this eco-friendly farm in Stockport for an epic weekend of live music
Moovin is one of the most sustainable music festivals in Manchester, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality. They say: “For the last few years, zero waste from the festival has gone to landfill, it goes to the tip, gets sorted into recycling as much as possible by a machine, and then the rest gets taken to a place where it is incinerated to produce energy and electricity.” 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.
7. Be bowled over by all the action with The Hundred at Emirates Old Trafford
The brand new sports competition The Hundred is heading to Manchester this August, bringing with it four weeks of spectacular entertainment and intense cricket action at the height of the summer. With two matches being held in August, the competition promises high octane men’s and women’s sporting action, live music, and a host of family-friendly entertainment. Emirates Old Trafford will host fixtures on August 6 and 11, with the Manchester Originals men’s and women’s teams taking on the likes of Oval Invincibles and Northern Superchargers.
8. Immerse yourself in yummy Italian grub at Festa Italiana
Big fan of Italian grub? Celebrate the beloved cuisine at this August Bank Holiday’s free Festa Italiana festival, which will see a number of local Italian traders take to Cathedral Gardens, serving up delicious grub, tasty aperitifs and insightful masterclasses. Stay tuned with the latest on the event updates here.
9. See the city from a different perspective on a river cruise tour
Set sail from Salford Quays for an epic 60-minute journey down Manchester’s iconic Ship Canal and River Irwell on a specially-designed Dutch sightseeing boat, starting from the heart of Manchester. Witness the industrial heartland and historic monuments, including Stephenson’s railway bridge. You can also marvel at Manchester United’s stadium of Old Trafford and Imperial War Museum North from the water.
10. Enjoy cocktails and karaoke with a live band at Bunny Jackson’s this summer
Bunny Jackson’s is an all-American dive bar where you can watch weekly live music whilst enjoying a delicious Jack Daniel’s Apple serve. They also host bandaoke every Saturday, giving you the chance to belt out your favourite songs, accompanied by a live band. So if you’re ready to taste a different side of summer in Manchester, Bunny Jackson’s should be top of your list for a good night out – whether it’s with mates or dates!
11. Celebrate our city’s LGBTQ+ scene at Manchester Pride
Manchester Pride returns again this year from August 23 to 26, with a huge programme of events and activities planned to celebrate. Expect the usual party antics in the village, a stunning Candlelight Vigil, live music from the lieks of Rita Ora, Sugababes, Jessie J and more, and of course the parade to attend. Manchester Pride has revealed quite the line-up for this year’s Gay Village Party and it’s definitely worth getting excited about.
12. Watch Blossoms perform at Wythenshawe Park
Blossoms is returning to the city with a huge gig this August, which will be the biggest headline show of their career. Taking place at an all-day outdoor concert at Wythenshawe Park on August bank holiday weekend, the performance by Blossoms follows the successful debut event headlined by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, held at the park last year. Other acts joining Blossoms at Wythenshawe Park on August 25 include The K’s, Seb Lowe and recent ‘To Do List (After The Breakup) collaborator, Findlay, who will kick things off at Wythenshawe Park with her band TTRRUUCES.
13. Tuck into dishes at New Zealand brunch spot Caravan
Popular London all-day dining restaurant group and coffee roastery Caravan is opening its first site in Manchester in the St John’s district this August. With an award winning collection of restaurants across London, Caravan is renowned for its all day breakfast-to-cocktails offer, packed with vibrant, fresh ingredients; and exceptional coffee roasted in house. Guests can indulge in an eclectic, ‘well-travelled’ menu, spanning breakfast through to dinner with a brunch menu featuring fresh fruit and grain bowls to fry ups, all elevated with globally-inspired flavours.
14. Celebrate the bank holiday weekend at this free music festival at The Oast House
Following its success over the past bank holidays, Spinningfields bar The Oast House is bringing its brand-new music festival Manifest back to the city this August bank holiday weekend for its final summer instalment with a jam-packed line-up. Taking place on the large outdoor terrace at The Oast House on August 25, complete with a dedicated stage, Manifest will run from 1pm in the afternoon until late, with a packed roster of musicians lined up including bands, solo artists and duos taking to the stage throughout the day with interludes from resident DJs. Attendees can expect a party atmosphere all night and sounds of rock, pop, soul, R&B, funk, disco and blues.
15. Hit up Heaton Park for a huge food and drink festival
Following mega success back in Leeds, the North Leeds Food Festival is bringing back the Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival to Manchester for another year. Kicking off on August 3 and 4, Mancs will be able to enjoy a gastronomic gathering like no other, with tons of incredible activities and, of course, plenty of grub to get stuck into across the two-day event. The dog-friendly event will combine great food, drink and live music this summer, bringing with it an ocean of deck chairs where friends and family can gather for the occasion – while soaking up the summery atmosphere that will be accompanied by the scent of locally-made street food.
16. Explore the first of its kind SIX The Musical exhibition for free at The Lowry
A brand new exhibition inspired by SIX the Musical, Queens, has begun its reign at The Lowry in Salford. The free exhibition – curated by The Lowry – is the first of its kind and is produced with the support of SIX and its creators Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. Queens: The Exhibition features scripts, film and memorabilia from the creators, dazzling costumes from the production and plenty of immersive activities to get involved in.
17. Get a bite to eat at the Northern final of the British Street Food Awards
Part of the world’s largest street food competition, British Street Food Awards (BSFA) is set to bring the best of Northern street food traders to Manchester this month. The regional final is set to take place at none other than one of the city’s most popular hub for food, drink, and entertainment, Freight Island, on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August. The final sees some of the top street food traders compete for the British Street Food Awards ‘Northern Champion’ by showcasing their one killer signature dish to a panel of judges – with visitors also getting a taste and a chance to vote too.
18. Enjoy a summer of sport by watching the Olympics on the big screen
The summer of sport continues as the biggest sporting event on the planet has come around again. The Olympics are taking place across the Channel in Paris this year, and although it’s a relatively easy journey for us Brits, it’s safe to say the majority of us will be watching from home. However, if you fancy catching rhe sporting action with a drink or two, there are a number of places to watch the Olympics in Manchester.
19. Celebrate the magical world of LGBTQ+ film and television at SCENE Festival
This August, the City of Manchester will welcome SCENE, a new and glittering LGBTQ+ Film and TV festival. The weeklong event will kick off with an exclusive opening night featuring a
celebration panel and after-party to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the influential drama Queer as Folk. The series, which spotlighted Manchester’s Canal Street, will be celebrated with appearances from writer Russell T Davies, executive producer Nicola Shindler and actress Denise Black. Showcasing the magic of LGBTQ+ Film and TV, SCENE will light up the city from August 16 to August 22, extending the vibrant spirit of Manchester Pride Festival. A diverse array of events will be hosted in iconic venues across the city, including HOME, The People’s History Museum, New Century Hall, and the Gay Village.
20. Nibble your way around the city with the Manchester Cheese Crawl
If you camembert the thought of not doing anything this weekend then this is one of the tastiest things to do in Manchester to get involved in. Manchester Cheese Crawl gives cheese lovers the opportunity to discover some of the delicious dairy delights that can be found around the city. This two-hour walking tour will take you around Manchester’s cheesiest spots: meeting cheese mongers, tucking into cheese and crackers (and just maybe a bit of vino) and, of course, being treated to a fantastic selection of cheese-based puns.
21. Visit Chester Zoo after hours to see nocturnal animals in action
Chester Zoo’s much-loved ‘after hours’ event will be making a return this summer following its success over the past two years. If you’ve ever wondered what the animals get up to at one of the UK’s biggest zoos then Afterglow at Chester Zoo allows you to witness nocturnal wildlife first-hand – better still, tickets are up to 50% cheaper than your standard day ticket to the zoo. Running from August 13 to August 25, Afterglow at Chester Zoo includes games and activities alongside witnessing sights of the zoo’s many nocturnal animals who’d usually be hiding throughout the day.
22. Head north of Manchester for the Prestwich Pride weekender
Prestwich Pride has announced its biggest and most vibrant line-up for this year’s event set to take place on August 9-11, promising an electrifying array of events, showcasing the diverse and inclusive spirit of the LGBTQ+ community. The weekend will kick off on the Friday with a fabulous Drag Quiz hosted by The Fat Britney at Macca’s Bar, then on Saturday you can join the Manchester Frontrunners for an exhilarating Park Run at Heaton Park welcoming members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies of all running abilities. There will also be family fun at Prestwich Con Club with Born to be Wild Child, an event packed with entertainment and activities for children and parents alike. The party kicks off at 2pm with an eclectic mix of northern queer performers taking over all three floors at Cuckoo, with everything from DJ sets, live singing and drag performances, then as the sun sets, the party continues into the night with neighbourhood DJs Love Hangover, providing the closing set at The Goods In.
23. Visit NOMA for the Great British Garden Party
On August 10, Plant Co-operative CIC are welcoming everyone down to Sadler’s Yard for a NOMA-supported big garden party to raise money for charity and celebrate the NOMA gardens. The Great British Garden Party is an annual event organised by the National Garden Scheme who are one of the UK’s most well known and loved institutions. To celebrate the occasion, NOMA will be hosting a street party with cake sales, workshops, raffle and garden tours around the NOMA estate plus activities from The National Trust, The RHS, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Cloud Gardener.
24. Feast on plenty of Thai food at Platt Fields Park
A two-day Thai festival by Magic of Thailand is heading to Platt Fields Park on August 10 and 11 where attendees can experience the taste of Thailand. Treat yourself to a weekend where you can challenge your taste buds and feast your eyes on world class food and performances. The festival starts with a traditional food offering to Buddhist monks and entertainment throughout the day including traditional music and dancing, Muay Thai boxing, Ladyboy show, Thai beer garden, Thai food and produce stalls, Thai massage and children’s play area.