It’s official. We made it through a pretty grey and gloomy spring to the official start of summer: June, sweet June. With the promise of warmer weather comes an array of fun events and activities – including sports screenings, fun-filled festivals and so much more. Without further ado, here’s our guide to the best things to do in Manchester this June.
1. Get to know Manchester’s LGBT+ history in more depth on this walking tour
What better way to kick off Pride Month than discovering stories about Manchester’s LGBT+ heroes of both the past and the present? Led by Josh, who has an MA degree specialising in Manchester’s LGBT+ history and continues to work with LGBT+ oral histories, this tour is a blend of history, heritage, culture and fun. Discover iconic monuments, touching memorials, secret street art and legendary pubs to tell the story of how Manchester got so Queer.
2. Dance the day and night away as Parklife returns to Heaton Park
Parklife really needs no introduction, and the pop, house and dance festival is now synonymous with Manchester. This year will see the likes of Fisher and Chris Lake, Doja Cat, Disclosure, J Hus, Kaytranada, Becky Hill, DJ Peggy Gou, Four Tet, Anne-Marie, Sugababes and Camelphat. One to put in the global festival calendar, Parklife returns to Heaton Park in Manchester on June 8 and 9 to raise the game once again.
3. Tuck into bottomless Thai sweet and sour wings at The Blues Kitchen
The Blues Kitchen Manchester are heading into June with all-new bottomless Thai Sweet & Sour wings every Sunday with their legendary offer. From 12pm to 6pm, food lovers can tuck into unlimited wings for 90 minutes, flavoured in a sweet peanutty sauce infused with Thai aromatics, served with a sour mirin and sake dipping sauce. Available for a limited time only for just £14 per person, guests can pair the juicy wings with The Blues Kitchen’s iconic Southern-inspired small plates, cocktail and bourbon menus.
4. Paint the town fluorescent at this glow in the dark painting experience
Head to AATMA in Manchester if you’re after one of the most unique ways to spend your free time: a fun-fuelled art masterclass in the dark. Intrigued? Neon Brush invites friends to flex their art skills, creating unique works with glow-in-the-dark paint. You’ll be guided by a talented art facilitator, and there’ll be beer, wine, and soft drinks on hand to really get the creative juices flowing. And for those a little unsure, don’t worry: the room isn’t pitch black, it is low-lit with fluorescent colours.
5. Visit the pasta spot famed for its viral tiramisu drawer’s new location
Manchester is getting its very own Onda restaurant, and we’re ridiculously excited for that viral tiramisu drawer to hit the city once again − alongside its delicious pasta menu… of course. Having opened up temporarily as a new trader at Exhibition, and more recently at The New Cross, Onda (meaning ‘wave’ in Italian) is no stranger to Manchester. The modern pasta bar from the team behind Gooey has worked its way into the hearts of many Mancs, and if you’re a fan of their bakes, you’re likely to like this new foodie concept which is set to open its own location at Circle Square.
6. Listen to Coldplay’s greatest hits on strings surrounded by candles
Candlelight is celebrating Coldplay with a tribute inspired by the popular band’s greatest hits. Find your seat inside the extraordinary Manchester Cathedral and prepare to be dazzled by renditions of iconic songs, from “Fix You” to “The Scientist”. What better way to immerse yourself in soothing melodies and familiar rhythms than at an intimate concert bathed in the glow of countless candles?
7. Take a trip to Salford for as the free festival We Invented The Weekend returns
We Invented The Weekend will celebrate the joy of free time, treating guests to sports, music, comedy, theatre, dance, workshops, talks, food, charity, wellness, crafts and more. The two-day event will take place on June 15 and 16 in MediaCity and Salford Quays. Revellers can expect a specially curated programme of over 200 events and activities which will resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds, with unmissable headline moments scattered throughout the weekend celebrations.
8. Sip your way around the city on this craft beer walking tour
Calling all craft beer lovers! Prepare for things to get boozy as you hop along on this craft beer walking tour around Manchester. Sip on 10-12 beers (1/3 pints) of superb craft beer locally brewed in Manchester, with each one very unique. At each venue a brewer or a tasting expert will give the full lowdown on what makes these craft beers un-brew-lieveable. Get your steps in on this craft beer tour and be rewarded with an epic pint – what more could you want?
9. Witness the world’s top female riders as the Tour of Britain Women passes Greater Manchester
Warrington and Greater Manchester are set to host stages three and four of the inaugural 2024 Tour of Britain Women. Taking place from June 6 to 9, the race will see the world’s top female riders and teams go head-to-head across four tough stages of racing, in what will be the first major international stage race delivered by British Cycling Events. Riders will depart from the National Cycling Centre, the home of British Cycling, before taking in some of the region’s challenging climbs before they reach the finish line in Leigh, where the race winner will be crowned.
10. Discover Manchester’s literary heritage at this year’s Festival of Libraries
Celebrating Manchester’s literary scene, the Festival of Libraries returns taking over a number of libraries across will take place all over Greater Manchester. Running from June 12 to 16 all over the region, the festival 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. Plus, all of the events are free to attend.
11. Get a whole host of nostalgia at Irlam Live Festival
Irlam Live Festival is back for its eighth year, bringing three jam-packed days of nostalgia and fun to west Manchester. On May 31, Saturday 1 June 1 and 2, a huge line-up will be keeping crowds in high spirits at Prince’s Park in Irlam, nine miles west of Manchester city centre. With three very diverse days this year, you’re invited to get your dancing shoes on, pick your favourite day or get yourself a weekend ticket and do all three. You can expect plenty of tribute bands and the likes of Liberty X and The Venga Boys making a comeback.
12. Get into the football spirit by watching the Euros
Kicking off from June 14 in Germany, the UEFA Euros tournament is back with England playing against Serbia on June 16 as part of the group stages. Could this be England’s year? Fans can luckily watch all of the football action across Manchester as a number of bars and venues will be showing the matches on the big screen.
13. Enjoy music, art and food at this festival held in a Manchester garden centre
Celebrating all thing music and arts, Green Island Festival is small but mighty, presenting a three-part series of day festivals and afterparties in Manchester, with line-ups that place underground, underrepresented, emerging artists from across the UK and global sounds at the forefront. The 1,000-capacity festival will see Hulme Community Garden Centre’s flora paradise transformed into an arts mecca, housing several stages. The festival also announced an exciting expansion as they add cultural institution NIAMOS to the festival’s fabric. The festival will span across summer and early autumn, with the first chapter kicking off on June 15.
14. Celebrate Red Light’s first birthday with cocktails and plenty of tunes
After a booming first year of service on Little David Street at Kampus, Red Light is welcoming regulars and newcomers alike for a first birthday party, on June 1, in association with Flash, pioneers of the iconic Ibiza party scene. Taking over for a street party, guests can expect expertly crafted Red Light cocktails such as summer classics including Aperol Spritz and Daiquiris and some Red Light party treats such as Frozen Irish Coffee and Pink Picantes. Tunes will be provided by Guy Williams, founder of Flash, a concept event part-inspired by the infamous Manchester gay party Flesh, where Williams DJ’d at in the mid-nineties. Flash is currently housed at Pikes in Ibiza, an institution dating back to 1980.
15. Shuffle on over to a new, high-tech shuffleboard bar
A brand new bar is shuffling into Manchester this June which combines high-tech shuffleboard with striking interiors, gorgeous cocktails and delicious sharing dishes. Known as Electric Shuffle, the sleek venue is set to open its doors on June 21 and promises “a social experience like no other”. Mancs can expect addictive and high-energy games, semi-private shuffleboard areas dotted around a stylish art-deco-inspired central bar, DJ sets, an impressive cocktail list and a mouthwatering menu of small plates and sourdough pizza.
16. Celebrate the city’s history at Manchester Histories Festival
The multi award-winning Manchester Histories Festival is returning this June for its ninth edition. The free four-day festival, taking place between June 6 and 9, will be celebrating the city’s histories and will be full of events for everyone. The packed programme includes four new music World Premieres, walk-about performances, family crafts workshops, live music, comedy, and public talks. Over 50 history and heritage stalls will be at the event showcasing eclectic, historic, quirky, diverse, and fun entertainment.
17. Explore Manchester Museum’s newest exhibition, Wild
Coinciding with World Environment Day on June 5, a new exhibition known as Wild will arrive at Manchester Museum, which explores our relationship with the natural world and unique approaches to environmental recovery. The exhibition will look at how people are creating, rebuilding, and repairing connections with nature, and how we can tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis by making the world more wild. Visitors will be introduced to five wild places across the globe and hear a diverse range of voices, with the exhibition featuring an immersive installation, audio, film and interactive elements, alongside natural history collections and artworks.
18. Listen to disco classics live at Poynton Party in the Park
Poynton Party in the Park returns on June 8 and it promises to be the biggest since the annual fundraiser was launched more than 20 years ago and will be headlined by disco superstars Odyssey. The band, who formed in New York in the 1970s, will perform all their biggest disco classics live including top five hits Native New Yorker, Inside Out, disco anthem Going Back to My Roots and the UK number one Use it Up & Wear it Out. The one-day festival will also feature lots of new and exciting additions for 2024 including traditional funfair rides for all ages, alongside an extended showcase of the amazing local food and drink in the area and a new VIP area offering premium seating, table service bar and exclusive meet and greet opportunities.
19. Head to Aviva Studios for a spectacular celebration of Manchester’s QTIPOC talent
Factory International is hosting three nights of runway performances showcasing the city’s underground clubland and nu-wave cabaret scene curated by director and choreographer Darren Pritchard and long-time collaborator Rikki Beadle-Blair. House of MCR, which will take place from June 20 to June 22, is an exuberant celebration of Manchester’s QTIPOC (Queer, Trans and/or Intersex Person of Colour) community, taking elements from international underground subcultures and bringing them to a giant runway stage in the huge Warehouse space at Manchester’s Aviva Studios. 27 QTIPOC performers from Manchester’s nightlife scene will take to the stage each night, competing in six categories: We Dress, We Sing, We Dance, We Strip, We Lip Sync and We Are Family. For the final category, performers will be joined on stage by members of their chosen or biological family as a closing expression of unity, love and solidarity. No night the same, the audience will decide who comes out on top.
20. Have a laugh at new comedy festival A Lovely Weekend
Production company A Lovely Time have put together an audacious line-up of television names, internet sensations and hotly tipped newcomers for a weekend of brand new comedy shows in the heart of Manchester, called A Lovely Weekend, at new arts venue Fairfield Social Club. This weekend of fresh off the printer comedy will be opened with a gala show on Friday 7 June, hosted by Amy Gledhill (Would I Lie to You?), alongside work-in-progress performances from Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees such as Phil Ellis (Icklewick FM, BBC Radio 4), Olga Koch (Live at The Apollo), Paddy Young (BBC New Comedy Award Winner) and Chris Cantrill (Avoidance).