The end of summer is nigh, and we’re so ready to make the most of it before it disappears for another year. From fun festivals to brand new experiences, we’ve rounded up the very best things to do in Manchester this September. Without further ado…
1. Witness a candlelit outdoor concert and spellbinding drone art show
Technology, art and music will work in spellbinding harmony at Manchester Barton Aerodrome on September 19 and 20. At the DroneArt Show, you’ll be able to lose yourself in the iconic melodies of classical pieces such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons or Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, as they are brought to life via spectacular art which illuminates the night skies. With over 500 drones creating these cutting-edge displays and thousands of glowing candles conjuring up a magical atmosphere, it is sure to be an unforgettable evening.
2. Gorge on clucking good chicken at the world’s largest wing festival
The world’s largest chicken wing festival, Wing Fest is returning to the city once more, but at a new location, to pay homage to one of the top poultry dishes. Taking place on September 19, 20 and 21 at Victoria Baths for the very first time, the venue will be transformed into a poultry eating, music thumping, axe throwing, beer and bourbon drinking space of epic proportion. Manchester Wing Fest will showcase a range of restaurants, street food traders and pop-ups, who will display their culinary talents and compete against each other over a whopping 100,000 drums and flats to decide who really makes the best wings in the UK.
3. Roll on the floor laughing at this hilarious comedy festival at Castlefield Bowl
Comedy fans rejoice, because a hilarious festival is returning to Manchester – and the line-up is absolutely stellar. A welcome addition to the Manchester festival scene (which is currently dominated by food and music), Laughterama is set to bring some of the UK’s top talent to one place – many of which you’ll likely recognise from Netflix comedy specials and hit shows such as Taskmaster.
4. See thousands of glowing lanterns at this magical water lantern festival
On September 20, watch Heaton Park transform as thousands of glowing lanterns illuminate the water of the region’s largest park. During this enchanting celebration, you are invited to decorate your lanterns with hopes, dreams, memories, or messages. As the sun sets, these personalised lanterns are released onto the water, creating a stunning and emotional display. Plus, a perfect photo opportunity! There are a variety of child-friendly experiences as well as local food trucks and live music, making it a perfect family day out.
5. Practice your swing at this new indoor golf bar with simulator bays
After proving popular in the likes of London and Dublin, a state-of-the-art indoor golf and shuffleboard bar is opening in Manchester this September. Known as Pitch, the new putting spot will open in Goods Yard, located in the St John’s area of Manchester, Pitch Manchester will feature 10 versatile Trackman golf simulator bays (five bays reserved for members only and five bays accessible for non-members) where you can practice your swing, alongside a custom club-fitting bay and shuffleboards. Each bay is equipped with Ultra HD Trackman golf bays with seating for up to 10 guests, including sofas, screens for viewing and bar service.
6. Tuck into a range of butties at this tasty festival dedicated to sandwiches
Whether you call it a sarnie, sandwich or buttie, a festival dedicated to the lunchtime staple is coming to Manchester this September. After great success hosting in London, ‘the UK’s ultimate sandwich celebration’, known as Sarnie Party, is heading North to Manchester for two delicious days of carb-loaded joy, juicy cross-sections and next-level fillings. Taking place on Friday 12th September and Saturday 13th September at Kampus, the sandwich celebration will bring the very best dough-obsessed chefs and sandwich makers in a showcase of the best sarnies since, well, sliced bread plus, it’s free to attend.
7. Decide the verdict in this immersive Jury Experience
You’ve probably watched more times than you can count someone shout “Objection!” during a tense courtroom scene on TV. Wielding the power of legal arguments can be pretty thrilling, to say the least. Now, it’s your chance to experience it firsthand at The Jury Experience. With incredible actors and an immersive set that pulls you right into the drama, you’ll step into the courtroom with a mission. Because here’s the best part: amidst a web of testimonies and heated debate, it’s up to you and the audience to deliver the final verdict.
8. 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.
9. See an enormous glowing sculpture of the moon at this 400-acre parkland near Manchester
A huge, six-metre replica of the moon is heading to a stunning 400-acre parkland just south of Manchester this autumn. Created by renowned UK artist Luke Jerram, the extraordinary artwork, known as Museum of the Moon, will be displayed in the Glasshouse at Alderley Park in the parkland from September 1. The Museum of the Moon will be free to view at Alderley Park near Macclesfield (just a 50-minute drive from Manchester city centre) and observe throughout the month. The end of the installation will be celebrated with the family science and tech event, SciTech Extravaganza, returning for its second year on September 20.
11. Blow off some steam by hurling black puddings at Yorkshire puds
Forget wellie-wangling, it’s all about black pudding-lobbing. Taking place in Ramsbottom on September 14, the annual competition that is the ancient grudge between Yorkshire and Lancashire will play out. Hurling black puddings at a pile of Yorkshire puddings on a 20-foot high plinth, competitors have three turns in an attempt to knock down as many Yorkshire Puddings as possible (they are arranged in a pile of a dozen) and must throw underarm from a purpose built stand called the oche located on Bridge Street. Expect a lively, fun atmosphere and hundreds of puddings!
12. Celebrate the season of apples at Dunham Apple Festival
‘Tis the season for apples and down in Dunham they’re hosting an apple festival to celebrate. Think: apple picking, pressing your own juice, cider tasting (including a special Festival Blend made from last year’s apples), and loads of orchard fun just outside the city. Hop aboard the wagon train and take a leisurely ride through the picturesque 30-acre orchard or enjoy some high-flying fun on the farm’s bouncing pad. The organisers of the Dunham Apple Festival have also added adult-only sessions with cider boards and wood-fired garlic bread – ideal for a proper autumn day out.
13. Be transported to 1920s New Orleans at The Jazz Room
Experience the essence of jazz at The Jazz Room, a 60-minute show at Band on the Wall that captures the soul of New Orleans. Set in a 1920s-style street bar, the event features a curated setlist of jazz classics that take audiences on a historic and musical journey, from songs that set the scene to jazz hits that topped the charts. To really get in the mood, enjoy a drink while listening to legendary tunes like Hello Dolly and When The Saints Go Marching In.
14. Celebrate Oktoberfest at at this beer-fuelled festival at Albert’s Schloss
Dust off the dirndls and tighten the lederhosen – Oktoberfest is back, and Manchester’s beloved Albert’s Schloss is set to host the UK’s biggest bier-fuelled celebration outside of Munich. Kicking off from Saturday 20 September, to coincide with the original Oktoberfest festivities in Munich, and what’s even better, the party continues for three full weeks through to Sunday 12 October. The Bier Palace will be offering three weeks of unique Bavarian brews, delicious new dishes, and non-stop live entertainment that will have you dancing on the tables all night long. What’s more? Albert’s Schloss Oktoberfest is open to all, no tickets required.
15. Party the night away as the Warehouse Project returns for 2025
The time has come once again when we gear up for one of the most exciting music events in the country here in Manchester: The Warehouse Project. As we inch towards autumn, an incredible line-up has been revealed for the first shows to grace Depot Mayfield from September, and the 2025 season is shaping up to be the best yet. This year, the WHP25 calendar features several Concourse Only shows. As part of a growing movement towards deeper audience connection, shows held exclusively in the Concourse will fully adopt a ‘no phones’ policy.
16. Visit Rochdale to see international artists paint murals live across the town
Rochdale is set to become Greater Manchester’s most colourful canvas, as internationally acclaimed artists descend on the town between September 7 and 14, bringing large-scale artworks inspired by Rochdale’s history, people and culture to life across the town centre. International artists on the line-up include Insane51, Onur, Smug1, SecaOne, AYLO, Epod, and Lei Mai. The festival invites the public to watch the rare, large-scale murals being created in real time by the artists, as well as enjoy free family-friendly activities and attractions such as BMX stunt shows, street art workshops, a live graffiti jam, pop-up galleries, artist talks, live music, and more on Saturday 13th September.
17. Take part in Japan Week with hundreds of Japanese performers and traditional tea ceremonies
An international cultural festival featuring hundreds of Japanese performers showcasing traditional Japanese culture is set to take over Manchester during the first week of September, after the city was chosen last year to host Japan Week 2025, a prestigious annual event taking place in a different world city each year. The festival is being held across multiple iconic Manchester venues from September 4-9, showcasing traditional and contemporary Japanese culture through arts, music, fashion and sports. From traditional tea ceremonies and calligraphy, to music, arts and grass roots cultural exchange, there will be plenty of events and activities for people of all ages to enjoy and appreciate.
18. Witness the return of Manchester Fashion Week
After a decade-long hiatus, organisers of Manchester Fashion Week have confirmed that the event will return to the city this September. Manchester Fashion Week will run from September 9th to 11th with the main event being centred around the St. John’s area. The event’s official hub will be located at the newly-refurbished Campfield – one of the city’s most exciting cultural venues and previously home to the Air and Space Hall of the Science and Industry Museum. The inaugural pilot will be industry-led, with public experiences and cultural events popping up in Manchester throughout the month of September.
19. See artists compete with paint live on stage as Art Battle returns
Art Battle, the high energy event that pitches 10 artists against each other in unusual venues for a competitive live art showdown with big audiences, is returning this September. This time, Art Battle heads to Stockport with a Back-to-School theme and unprecedented access to a magnificent Grade II listed building ahead of its redevelopment by Cityheart. Battling it out in the round with 30 minutes on the clock, 10 of Greater Manchester’s top painters, illustrators and street artists will go head-to-head against each other. Each will be given a blank canvas to create a masterpiece will crowds watch the action before crowning the champion for the night. The immersive event will feature local DJs and food traders such as Sticky Fingers and Café San Juan, as well as pop-up bars from Runaway Brewery, Stockport Gin and Cherry Jam.
20. Enjoy the last of the Manchester summer
Most importantly, if there’s one thing we should all do this month – its make the most of any sunshine we’re blessed with before it’s gone for another year!