All Weekend
Alternative Manchester Pride Festival 2020
This brand new, never done before Alternative Manchester Pride Festival promises something for everyone who plans to celebrate Pride at home in Greater Manchester and beyond this August Bank Holiday weekend.
Spanning three days across a spectrum of platforms such as online streams, radio, digital and social media and more, the Alternative Festival will feature exclusive artist performances,
The Alternative Manchester Pride Festival, sponsored by Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays, will feature free content that can be enjoyed by those who wish to celebrate from the safety of their own living rooms or gardens, or any other room at home!
Come As You Are Weekender at The Refuge
The biggest party of the year isn’t going to let some silly little COVID virus get in the way of everyone having a bloody good time. Oh no. A socially distanced safe gathering over 3 days and nights featuring the likes of Luke Unabomber, Gina Breeze, WIll Tramp, Paulette, High Hoops, Supernature Disco and loads more – all curated over by Cheddar Gorgeous and Anna Phylactic. It’ll be a good one this.
The Lowry Makers Market
The makers market over at MediaCity is back this weekend with a host of socially distanced fun. You’ll find the city’s best in artisan crafts and street foods, including some cracking cheeses that’ll make your cheese board the best in town. Perfect for a nice leisurely stroll.
Bank Holiday Weekend at Platt Fields Market Garden
This Bank Holiday weekend will see a host of events down at Platt Firleds, including a Market on the Green, ‘Pay-as-you-feel’ food, live music, DJs, picnic hampers, gardening workshops, supper clubs, mud pits, wines – basically LOADS.
MCR Queer Power @ Escape to Freight Island
There’s set to be a 5-day extravaganza over at Freight Island this weekend, with in-house drag, dining and DJ residency ‘Amuse Bouche’ – offering the city’s best performance talent and DJ collectives. Basically there’s LOADS on all weekend so you might as well head on down at some point.
The Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2020
The always impressive Bolton Food and Drink Festival will, naturally, be going virtual this Bank Holiday so there’s no need to lug yourself onto a train. Even though it’s online there’s still a packed programme of music, chefs demos, online markets and fringe events.
Creamfields House Party 2020
Ah, I bet you’re all absolutely gutted that Creamfields isn’t on this year. Well, fear not – they’re running a ‘House Party’ instead on Saturday and Sunday – so you can listen to all of that ‘noise’ from the comfort of your own home. There’s actually a pretty decent line-up on, including Pete Tong, Carl Cox, Faithless, Tiesto and loads more.
Thursday 27th August
Dining in the Dark
A weird experience we’ve already spoken about that answers the question you’ve always been wondering – what is it like to eat in the dark? There’s only one way to find out! Don your blindfold in the candlelight room and enjoy an enlightening experience.
There’s vegan, seafood or meat options available!
Book Now
Friday 28th August
Bollox Queer Pride at Freight Island
A Friday night Freight Island special which kick-starts the three day explosion of Manchester’s Queer Power. There’s DJs and live music from the likes of Zoe McVeigh, Beardre Barlow, Miss Laurie and loads more.
It’s completely free entry for this one but tables need to be booked in advance so be quick!
Social Avenue Presents: 90s Baby
I think the world peaked in the 90s didn’t it? Things have certainly got a hell of a lot worse since. Enjoy a throwback night to all things 90s for a socially distant music event in Manchester City Car Park! Tickets are £20.
Squawk Tap Takeover and Collab Launch @ The Beagle
Celebrating the launch of a beer brewed from Squawk in collaboration with Common, Port Street Beer House, and The Pilcrow. The new summmery drink, Tropical Sour is a 5% pineapple and passion fruit tropical drink. There’s also a choc and vanilla milk flavoured stout, and plenty of other bevvies to try. Order via the Common app to get it all straight to your table without having to speak to a soul!
Saturday 29th August
Record Store Day 2020
Due to the fact that everyone was stuck in their houses back when the original RSD was supposed to be happening, they moved it to the end of August and here it is. It’s actually the ‘first’ RSD of the year, with another one in October – so this weekend you’ll see the first drops of exclusive RSD vinyls and plenty of queuing at your favourite record shops. Best bet – head on over to Wilderness in Withington and have a thoroughly enjoyable day.
Manchester Union Lager Tap Room
The Manchester Union Lager crew will be opening up their Tap Room this Saturday and if you book a table with us – you’ll also get yourself 4 FREE CANS to take away with you. It’s great down there – they’ve got outside seating and best of all – the lager is as fresh as you’ll ever get it.
Manchester Vegan Market
Expect more than 80 vegan stalls throughout the day down at Bowlers near the Trafford Centre, most of them offering samples, products, workshops, advice and loads more. Entry is £5 and 100% of ticket money goes to animal welfare charities as the festival is fully volunteer run.
Drive-In Cinema
Fun for all the family, opt for Trolls World Tour, Grease, The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Saturday. Or go for Bridesmaids, Dirty Dancing or The Invisible Man on Sunday!
Tickets are just £25 for a car. Tune into the Cinema’s radio to get the sound straight to your car. Take your own picnic or opt for food and drink to be delivered to your car.
Sunday 30th August
FREE Camden Beer at Cane & Grain
I’ve heard it on the grapevine that Camden Brewery will be heading down to Cane & Grain this Bank Holiday Sunday and they’ll be offering up some FREE pints. I don’t know what time it’ll be at but it’ll definitely happen at some point. The perfect excuse to sit outside and enjoy yourself for a few hours then.
Superbia Sunday
Part of the Alternative Manchester Pride celebrations, our friends over at Superbia will be taking over the Sunday with a host of events over the course of 3 hours. Specialising in arts and culture from the LGBTQ++ community, the programme will see a Superbia Gallery, a presentation of 6 Short Films, Artists in Conversation and more.
Veuve Clicquot Bank Holiday Brunch with the Queens @ Peru Perdu
A Veuve Clicquot brunch here as Peru Perdu host a day of food, fizz and 2 fabulous drag queens to entertain you all. DJ Hattie Pearson will also be on the decks plating disco, funk, old school RnB and Hip Hop.
The Tatton Social @ Ashley Hall
Ashley Hall will be hosting a family-friendly event this Bank Holiday Sunday featuring street food, fairground rides, craft stalls and loads more. If the weather is decent then it should be the perfect opportunity for you to give your annoying little kids something to do and not trash the house.
Monday 31st August
Escape to Freight Island Homoelectric Balearic Takeover
Brand spanking new to Manchester is Escape to Freight Island and they’re playing host to Finest favourite, Homoelectric for a huge socially-distant bank holiday.
It’s set to be very different to normal with strictly no ravers or misbehavers. AND you’ll be able to take your kids or dogs!
It’s just a fiver per person and you can book up to six people on your table which you can keep for two hours and 45 mins, plenty of time to drink and eat to your hearts content.
Glegan Tea Party at GRUB
If you fancy something a bit more civilised how about an extra special gluten free and vegan afternoon tea to celebrate the bank holiday?! They’ll be a huge spread of snacks, sandwiches, quiche, cakes and scones. Of course there will be unlimited tea as well.
Tickets have to be purchased in advance, for £20 on Eat Out to Help Out.
Tribeca Record Fair
If you’re looking for some new vinyl to add to your ever expanding collection, Tribeca on Sackville Street will be hosting a Record Fair this Bank Holiday Monday. Taking place from 10am – 4pm, it seems highly likely that there’ll be some little hidden gems in there – oh, and the bar is open also. So have a bev on me.
Eat Out to Help Out
It’s the final-final day of Eat Out to Help Out so get your arse off the sofa and get out there to support your local businesses. Don’t just stop there though – once it’s over you can still go out and spend money in all of these places, in fact, I actively encourage it.
