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. See the magnifique show Moulin Rouge! the Musical in Manchester on its first ever world tour
Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory, as Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film Moulin Rouge! The Musical comes to life on the Manchester stage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. A celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is more than a musical — it is a state of mind. The first ever World Tour of multi-award-winning hit stage show Moulin Rouge! The Musical, will come to the Palace Theatre Manchester with performances from Wednesday 20th August.
2. Watch the Women’s Rugby World Cup at Salford Community Stadium
The Women’s Rugby World Cup is back and this time it’s being held all across England, including at Greater Manchester sports ground, Salford Community Stadium. A number of the tournament‘s group stage matches will be hosted at Salford including Australia vs Samoa and Scotland vs Wales on August 23 as well as Canada vs Wales and Scotland vs Fiji on August 30. Tickets start from as low as £10 to watch two games, plus you can choose to enjoy the best seats in the house with RWC Experiences, the official hospitality programme by World Rugby and STH Group, which includes access to an exclusive private suite, drinks reception, complimentary bar and post-match food and drinks services.
3. 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 and a new summer activity zone – plus, it won’t break the bank. Following the success of last year’s event, the fun is making a comeback for the school holidays under the name Summer Fair. Open until August 31, Summer Fair will boast a fantastic, family-friendly 600 square metre beach outside The Great Hall and more than 20 thrilling rides.
4. Listen to some of the best hits from Queen and The Beatles at this Candlelight tribute concert
Why choose to celebrate just one of the most legendary bands of all time when you can celebrate two? Candlelight invites fans of Queen and The Beatles to take a load off and listen in amazement as a talented string quartet performs “Here Comes The Sun”, “Another One Bites the Dust”, “All You Need Is Love”, and more. “Let it be” an unforgettable experience to add to your live music wishlist.
5. Be bowled over by all the action with The Hundred at Emirates Old Trafford
The 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 four 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, 11, 17 and 24, with the Manchester Originals men’s and women’s teams taking on the likes of Oval Invincibles, Northern Superchargers, Southern Brave and Birmingham Phoenix.
6. 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.
7. Celebrate our city’s LGBTQ+ scene at Manchester Pride
Manchester Pride returns again this August, 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 likes of Olly Alexander, Leigh Anne 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.
8. Take part in the Black Unity Bike Ride through Manchester
The Black Unity Bike Ride, the UK’s carnival on bikes, has announced a new five-year partnership with London Marathon Events (LME) that will see the event expand to two new UK cities – Manchester in 2025 and a third ride will be coming to a major UK city in 2026. Founded as a community-led movement in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd in the USA, the Black Unity Bike Ride (BUBR) attracts more than 1,800 participants annually in a ride across London that is suitable for all and celebrates Black joy, empowerment and unity. Manchester will host its first ever Black Unity Bike Ride on Sunday 17th August (Marcus Garvey’s birthday) which will start and finish in Alexander Park in Moss Side and feature a 12-mile ride through the city. It will mirror the success of London’s inaugural BUBR by creating a vibrant, festival feel with music throughout, ride leaders and a food and vendor village in Alexander Park which will celebrate the Black community.
9. Try the cult L.A. born fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken
Dave’s Hot Chicken, the cult L.A. born brand which has received investment backing from the likes of rapper Drake, is set to open a new spot on August 8 at Printworks Manchester. The brand hopes to create “a full-on sensory trip”, where music, light and fried chicken will come together to create a high-voltage experience. The Manchester site’s menu will include Dave’s signature Sliders and Tenders, which can be doused in Dave’s sauce, as well as their signature Nashville-style hot chicken – served in seven spice levels from “No Spice” to “Reaper” – plus irresistible sides like cheese fries, pickles, kale slaw and mac ‘n’ cheese.
10. Taste your way around 100 stalls at the Halal Food Festival
Celebrating what this city has to offer when it comes to halal dining, is a brand new food festival set to make its return to Manchester on August 23 and 24. With over 100+ exhibitors, street food vendors, 4 indoor arenas and an outdoor fun fair, festival-goers can expect a tasty weekend. The Halal Food Festival will feature street food vendors representing countries from across the globe, ensuring a wide variety of tastes and ingredients.
11. Watch Superbad at an immersive eat-along screening
Taste Film is a great option if you’re looking for something to do with your pals or partner, with or without alcohol. Pairing brilliant food with iconic on-screen moments, Taste Film is truly a feast for all the senses. Giving a whole new meaning to ‘watch what you eat’, the immersive experience combines two of life’s greatest joys: food and film. If you’ve ever found yourself wanting to reach out and grab a bite of whatever’s on screen, then you can do exactly that, with this month’s movie being Superbad. Expect the happiest meal of all (no toys included), laundry liquor, tiramisu, and more shenanigans.
12. 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 24, 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.
13. 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 2 and 3, 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.
14. Watch some razzle dazzle as Chicago heads to The Lowry in Salford
The multi award-winning musical Chicago, will come to The Lowry, Salford from Monday 25 to Saturday 30 August – and we can safely say, we’ve had it comin’. Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines.
15. Visit Manchester’s newest food hall, House of Social
A brand new food hall, House of Social, with a collection of five independent kitchens, is set to open in the First Street area of Manchester this August. The kitchens include pizza pros Dough Religion, cult London brand Burger & Beyond, Curry Mile legends Mughli, OK Taqueria from the team behind Gooey & Evelyn’s, and Choi Wan, offering a modern take on traditional Hong Kong cuisine.
16. Celebrate the magical world of LGBTQ+ film and television at SCENE Festival
This August, the City of Manchester will welcome SCENE, a glittering LGBTQ+ Film and TV festival. Showcasing the magic of LGBTQ+ Film and TV, SCENE will light up the city from August 15 to August 21, extending the vibrant spirit of Manchester Pride Festival. A diverse array of events from screenings to panel talks will be hosted in iconic venues across the city, including HOME, New Century Hall, Vue cinema at Printworks, Cultplex and Aviva Studios.
17. 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.
18. See vintage vehicles and live demonstrations as Emergency Services Day returns
The North West’s biggest celebration of the emergency services is set to make a welcome return to the Trafford Centre on Thursday 7th August. Running from 10am – 4pm, this free family-friendly event promises a full day of excitement, education and entertainment, with up to 100 emergency service vehicles, live demonstrations, and interactive displays offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the lifesaving work carried out across the region every day.
Taking place on car parks 10 & 11 outside The Great Hall, the event will welcome personnel from over 50 organisations, including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service, Greater Manchester Police, British Army, RNLI, and many more. Both modern and vintage vehicles will be on display, giving visitors a fascinating insight into how the emergency services have evolved over the years. Families can also enjoy a host of additional attractions, including meet-and-greets with Fireman Sam, free face painting, fairground rides, ice cream vans, balloons, and live performances from local choirs – a fun-filled day for all ages.
19. 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 1 to August 17, 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.
20. 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 9 and 10 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.
