It’s time to get prepped, because We Invented the Weekend, the bold and imaginative free festival for the UK held in Salford, will be returning to Greater Manchester this weekend (June 15 and 16). The full programme for the 2024 festival includes the likes of CBeebies, Junior Art Battle, Community Clothing and We Get Creative Workshops, in addition to an unmissable Sunday afternoon set from Manchester’s favourite DJ Paulette.
After a hugely successful launch year in June 2023, which saw 60,000 visitors descend onto MediaCity and its neighbouring areas, We Invented the Weekend will once again transform Salford Quays with a programme of completely free performances and activities to celebrate what people get up to over the weekend.
In a very special, and very Salford, turn of events, folk legend Peggy Seeger will be debuting an abandoned verse of Ewan MacColl’s Dirty Old Town in a one-time-only performance at this year’s We Invented the Weekend, as part of a new BBC documentary, reclaiming the song for the city it was originally about; Salford.
The documentary, a collaboration between BBC Archive on 4 and We Invented the Weekend, will see Seeger and her and MacColl’s son, Neill MacColl, create a beautiful new orchestral version with the BBC Philharmonic in Salford for the first time − it’s truly not to be missed.
Wayne Hemingway, co-founder of We Invented the Weekend, said: “The concept of We Invented the Weekend is like none-other and based off the tens of thousands of people who visited on that wonderfully sunny, uplifting weekend last year, it is clear people are understanding the ethos and meaning of the festival.
“It is incredibly impactful to be able to put on We Invented the Weekend as a free large-scale event in the place where the weekend was created in 1843. The event doesn’t just celebrate what we all get up to at the weekend, but is a moment to also recognise the culture, heritage and legacy of Salford and Greater Manchester.”
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.
DJ Paulette said: “I am so excited to play at We Invented The Weekend – one of the ‘all are welcome’ high points in the Greater Manchester outdoor events diary. The ethos of this weekend is universally understood, it’s beautiful and it feels very special to know that it came from a Greater Manchester campaigning action.
“I can’t wait to come together with the community in June and celebrate all the amazing things people can get up to at the weekend!”
2023’s programme saw household names such as BBC, RHS, The Lowry and Science and Industry Museum, plus a host of local creatives and community-run organisations present over 200 free performances and activities which helped MediaCity achieve the highest footfall moment in its history. The festival also brought in over £3.2m to the local economy, so we’re excited to see what this year’s festival has to offer!