15 great things to do in Manchester this September

FOOTBALL WRITING FESTIVAL | Citywide | 30 August - 7 September

If you enjoy writing about The Beautiful Game as much as you do watching it, this one’s for you. A partnership between the National Football Museum, Waterstones and Hotel Football, the annual event draws some of the biggest names in football journalism - from Michael Calvin to Sid Lowe - to a city synonymous with the sport. Subjects span the fall of the House of FIFA to getting ahead in online journalism and the brutal football talent factory. Season passes are available, giving access to eight events for £45. Various times & locations; tickets from £3 at quaytickets.com

NEW NORTH AND SOUTH | Citywide | Until June 2018

From Rajasthani circus performers to hybrid species and Spider-Man, get ready for a South Asian takeover this month as New North and South hits museums and galleries across Manchester. The three-year project connects organisations in South Asia with those in North England; showcasing some of the best contemporary art from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the UK through a lively series of exhibitions and events. More info here. Various; check the website

FESTEJAR | Albert Square | 31 August - 3 September

Festejar stampedes back into Manchester this summer for live music, flamenco and ‘sangria in the sun’ (perhaps a little optimistic, but we’ll see). While they can’t promise the weather, they can guarantee a plethora of tapas, tortillas and paella - plus Spanish lessons, children’s activities and cooking demos. Music highlights include Ibiza chill with Miguel Manzano and a fiesta finale with Fisko and band. Sangria not your tipple of choice? There’s still plenty left in our top ten boozy fests. Albert Square, M2 5DB (11-11pm; free) 

RIVFEST | Warrington| Saturday 2 September

Maximo Park, Billy Bragg and Eliza and the Bear headline RivFest - a charity festival in memory of nineteen-year-old Viola Beach guitarist River Reeves, who was killed alongside his band mates and manager when their car careered off a bridge in Sweden last year. Following the tragedy, his father founded a namesake charity, which aims to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds as they pursue a career in the arts. All proceeds from the event - which also feature arts, crafts and street food - will go to the River Reeves Foundation, and regular free shuttle buses will run from Warrington Station. Priestley College, Loushers Lane, WA4 6RD (12pm-12am; child tickets £5, adult tickets £20 at pyramidparrhall.com)

MANCHESTER THAI FESTIVAL | Platt Fields Park | 2-3 September

Yet another cuisine-based festival makes its debut this year, as Magic of Thailand brings a two-day Thai weekender to Platt Fields Park. From Buddhist monks to Muay Thai boxing, Thai massage and, yes, ladyboys, some of the country’s best-known traditions will be joined by dance, music, fortune tellers and a children’s play area. Naturally, expect heaps of Thai food vendors and a beer garden too. There’ll even be an ‘I’m British, Get Me Out of Here’ eating competition… Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, M14 6LA (10am-7pm; tickets on the door or £4 at skiddle.com)

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS | Citywide | 7-10 September

England’s (free) countrywide heritage festival is back with over 5000 events and 2500 organisations, this year focusing on hidden tales and historical secrets. Marking the 65th anniversary of the trial of Alan Turing - the Wilmslow-born computer pioneer who was charged with gross indecency for being homosexual - RE-DOCK will create an immersive recreation as part of LGBTQ project Unsung Stories. Other highlights include a Victorian wife-selling on Little Underbank, guided tours of Strawberry Studios and Inspirational Woman workshops at The Pankhurst Centre. Various; use the search function to find what’s on near you

THE GREAT HUNGER | Chorlton Irish Club | Sunday 10 September

The Great Famine of 1845-52 was the most devastating event in the history of modern Ireland. In a country of eight million people, the Famine caused the death of at least one million, with around two million forced to emigrate. Timed to align with the National Famine event in Tipperary, Irish Mancunian’s commemorative afternoon includes: a film screening; verbatim accounts; the launch of Michael Sheehan’s book, detailing the stories of famine refugees in Manchester; and live performances of related songs, including Skibbereen and City of Chicago. 17 High Lane, Chorlton, M21 9DJ (2.30-5.30pm; tickets £8.80 at wegottickets.com).

NORTHERN LIGHTS CHARITY DINNER | The Lowry Hotel | Monday 11 September

Ten of the North West’s leading chefs - including Mark Poynton, Nigel Haworth and Paul Heathcote - will join industry charity Hospitality Action for a spectacular fundraising dinner at the five-star Lowry Hotel on 11 September, celebrating both the region’s culinary successes over the past two decades and Hospitality Action’s 180th birthday. With two chefs collaborating on each retro-themed dish, we’re predicting taste bud overdrive. And it’s for a great cause. More info here. The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Place, Chapel Wharf, Salford, M3 5LH (6-11.45pm; tickets £125 or £1200 for ten at hospitalityaction.org.uk). 

MUSIC MATTERS: DAVE HASLAM PRESENTS | Selfridges | 12 September - 5 October

As part of its new Music Matters campaign - a series of events championing UK music - Selfridges hosts four discussions with iconic local DJ and author Dave Haslam this summer-autumn. ‘Dave Haslam Presents’ will see the Hacienda regular quiz Cerys Matthews from Catatonia, Brix Smith Start from Brix & The Extricated, Mike Joyce from The Smiths and Bernard Butler from Suede. Selfridges, Exchange Square, Corporation Street, M3 1BD (6.30pm; tickets £11.04 at selfridges.com) 

HEAD FOR THE HILLS | Ramsbottom Cricket Club | 15-17 September

Another appearance for Maximo Park now, who headline the renamed Ramsbottom Festival alongside Beth Orton, The Stranglers, Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), Manchester band Dutch Uncles and the Neville Staple Band. Art highlights include acrobatic storytelling by Pif-Paf Theatre, an interactive retro cinema experience by Ecstatic Cinematic, children’s theatre from award-winning company Fine Chisel and Aidan Moesby’s installation, Between Stillness and Storm. Ramsbottom Cricket Club, Acre Bottom, Ramsbottom, BL0 0BS (Fri 5-9pm, Sat-Sun 12-10pm; tickets from £10 at headforthehills.org.uk)

WAREHOUSE PROJECT | Citywide | 16 September - 1 January

The legendary Manchester club night returns to its spiritual Store Street home with an impressive line-up featuring the likes of Annie Mac, Jax Jones and Craig David. There’ll also be sets at Albert Hall - including Gorgon City and Disciples - plus the biggest Levelz show yet at O2 Apollo. While NYE and NYD at Store Street have yet to be announced, no doubt some of dance’s biggest names will be descending on the former air raid shelter for Warehouse’s 2017-18 finale. Various; check the website

UNTOLD: THE DANIEL MORGAN MURDER | The White Hotel | Thursday 28 September

For the second instalment in its ‘The Art of Crime / The Crime of Art’ series, The White Hotel’s Austin Collings hosts an evening with journalists Peter Jukes and Deeivya Meir, creators of the number one hit podcast UNTOLD: The Daniel Morgan Murder. In 1987, Private investigator Daniel Morgan was brutally murdered in a South London car park. He was said to have been close to exposing police corruption. After five failed investigations, 30 years later the case remains unsolved. This is not a whodunnit. It’s a story about the biggest cover-up in the history of British police, and how they got away with it… The White Hotel, Dickinson Street, Salford, M3 7LW (7-11pm; tickets £5 at seetickets.com)

OXJAM FESTIVAL | Northern Quarter | 29-30 September

Celebrating the local music scene and fundraising for the global, poverty-fighting work of Oxfam, Oxjam is back for more jamming in the NQ - with venues this year including Jimmy’s and Favelas. If punk metal’s more your thing, this year also sees the return of Deadbolt Festival (Oxford Road area, 30 September - 1 October), with more than 60 bands over six stages and a series of afterparties. Acts this year include Oceans Ate Alaska, WSTR and Continents 

Various; check the website

MANCHESTER FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL | Citywide | 29 September - 10 October

As Manchester’s restaurant scene continues to explode like Bruce Banner into The Hulk, it’s unsurprising that MFDF attracts hungry hordes numbering over 90,000. First conceived to ‘show the rest of the nation there was more to Manchester dining than the stereotypes that existed at the time’, it has since morphed into a culinary showcase of much worldlier proportions - much like the city’s hospitality scene itself. Highlights for 2017 (its 20th year) span bespoke menus to live cookery theatre and the popular Festival Square; full line-up here. Various; check the website

BATTLE ROYAL | Albert Hall | Saturday 30 September

Art Battle returns for its ultimate contest this month, with the ten winners competing for the Champion of Champions crown. Watch painters, illustrators, tattooists and street artists go head-to-head - with just 30 minutes to create a live masterpiece - in what has been described at the city's most energetic art event; selling out everywhere from skate parks to theatres and warehouses since its conception in 2013. Alongside live music, we’re also told to expect some ‘unexpected shenanigans.’ Let the battle commence… Albert Hall, 27 Peter Street, M2 5QR (7-11pm; tickets £16.75 at skiddle.com)