Festivals, foodie fairs and fight night at Albert Hall
Apparently it’s August (I know, we can’t believe it either) and that means one thing: festival season 2024. So, what's on in Manchester? Whether you’re looking for thumping basslines or traditional bao buns, there’s a weekend for everyone. From Happy Place, Ferne Cotton’s feel-good weekend to Moovin, Stockport's answer to Tomorrowland, you don’t have to leave Greater Manchester to get your festival fix.
Read on for all the best things to do in Manchester this August. Heads up: you’re going to be busy.
Build Manchester: Skate Festival
27 July - 8 August
Factory International and adidas Skateboarding are working together to deliver a 12-day skate festival right here in Manchester. Whether you know your trucks from your tailslide, or the closest you’ve been to a board was a high score on Tony Hawk: Pro Skater, they’ve got options for you. With a dedicated skate school, workshops, demos and DJ sets, it’s finally time for you to master that kickflip.
Heaton Park Food Festival
3-4 August
Heaton Park Food Festival is back. Dig into over 85 different market traders, live music and culinary talks at the North’s foodie favourite weekend. Whether you’re ready to live out your own episode of The Bear at their Live Cookery Theatre (YES, CHEF) or you’re more into the sampling, there’s something for everyone.
Looking to bring some sous chefs with you? There's also a packed itinerary for under 12s.
Glove Up
10 August
We've always thought Manchester's Albert Hall would make a brilliant venue for boxing. Like a Northern version of London's York Hall, it's intimate but grand - perfect for a night of up-close, fierce fighting action where everyone gets a great view.
At this charity fight night from Glove Up, they'll make the most of the stunning setting with a line-up of explosive boxing bouts mixed with live performances from Studio 54-inspired La Discotheque. What's more, the fighters are all everyday Manchester people (who've been training their butts off for this) and they're doing it to raise money for an excellent cause - the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. If you love the excitement of fight night - adrenalin, glamour, music and good craic - grab one of the last remaining tickets.
Great British Garden Party
Sadler's Yard, NOMA
Saturday 10 August
NOMA is taking part in The National Garden Scheme's annual fundraiser event, with stalls, tours, workshops and music from 11am to 5pm.
Family friendly and free to attend, with no ticket or booking required, the event will be raising money for Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Parkinson’s UK, The Queen’s Nursing Institute and Carer’s Trust.
The FestiDale in Rochdale
Kingsway Park High School
8-18 August
Discover The Den, an eco-friendly mobile theatre that will be hosting this year's FestiDale. With a pay-what-you-can model, each production, workshop and activity is open to all ages. From puppet performances for under 10s to South Asian storytelling and rhythms, The Den is (quite literally) delivering an all-singing all-dancing line-up.
Puppy Yoga with PAW Yoga
Manchester City Centre (Venue sent by email)
11 August
You know how you’ve always wanted a puppy? But your (partner/ mum/ concerned friend) wouldn’t let you? Enter Puppy Yoga. With petting time set aside and the excuse that it’s a legitimate exercise, you can enjoy an hour of stress-free stretching and sobbing over just how cute Dachshunds are.
Romeo+Juliet
12-17 August
Live out your own Romeo+Juliet fantasy (minus the tragic parts) and discover Baz Luhrmann's acclaimed 1996 cult classic, screened under the stained glass windows and candle-lit aisles of Albert Hall. Joined by a live choir, you can sing along to the iconic soundtrack at this limited-edition Backyard Cinema spectacular.
SIX
13 August - 1 Sept
After a smash-hit West End run, SIX is making its royal return to The Lowry. Follow the six wives of Henry VIII as they sing their way through tales of historical heartbreak. With a host of awards behind the performance (twenty-six to be exact), catch SIX until September 1st.
SCENE Festival
Multiple locations
16-22 August
Celebrate seven days of LGBTQ+ film and TV with Manchester’s brand-new SCENE festival. From screenings of Queer As Folk (with appearances from writer Russell T Davies) and a 1999-themed after-party to a dynamic workshop at YES that’ll help you sell your own script, it’s not an event to be missed.
British Street Food Awards
17-18 August
The British Street Food Awards are upon us and traders up and down the country are battling it out for the best dish. Luckily for Mancunians, the regional final is set to take place at Freight Island. Want to be ahead of the foodie game? Discover the next ‘Northern Champion’ as they showcase their signature dish to a panel of judges.
Manchester Swimrun
Chorlton Water Park
18 August
ÖTILLÖ, Sweden might have started the Swimrun trend, but if you want to save on the airfare Manchester is hosting its own MSR. For the fearless among us, a Swimrun includes 1,500m of open water swimming and 10.5km of trail running. If that hasn’t immediately put you off then you can sign up for the challenge over on USWIM: the team behind Dock 9, Salford Quays.
My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?)
19-25 August
While you might only know Rob Madge from his viral TikTok videos, he’s taking to the stage to recreate his legendary Disney parade. Join him for a joyous autobiographical story that celebrates queerness, acceptance and Aladdin (NOT Ursula).
Northern Magic Panel
Waterstones Deansgate
22 August
What does illegal magic trade, sea creatures and a set of rival assassins have to do with Manchester? Join five debut fantasy authors at Waterstones Deansgate for a panel talk about blending the North West into their magical tales. Discover a whole new world of stories and ask any burning questions about their writing process.
MOOVIN Festival
Whitebottom Farm
23-25 August
Now in its seventh year, Moovin Festival is back. Throw some shapes with the likes of Leftfield and Mr Scruff at the gorgeous Whitebottom Farm. Bored of basslines? Moovin also offers funk, soul, reggae as well as the odd yoga class. Keen? You’ll have to move fast as tickets are in limited supply.
Northenden Fringe Festival
The Cringlewood Club/Lounge About/The Players Theatre
22-25 August
This collaborative festival organised by Manchester tech and music companies Skiddle, GigPig, Modern English, SODA, Louder Than War, Manchester District Music Archive, and Music Evermore, has been created to support grassroots music and venues. Just a stone's throw away from Wythenshawe Park, you can double up your bank holiday weekend of entertainment with exciting live performances from Andy Bennet (Ocean Colour Scene), Jimi Goodwin (Doves) and Aziz Abrahim (The Stone Roses) to name but a few.
Kicking off the event on 8 August, Pete Doherty of The Libertines fame will be performing a special intimate set alongside other artists on his label Strap Originals.
Festa Italiana
Cathedral Gardens
23-25 August
From the owner of Salvi’s comes Festa Italiana, a love letter to Italy. While you probably won’t be mistaking Victoria Street for Venice anytime soon, Festa Italiana is bringing pasta-making classes, live music, demonstrations and all the pizza you can eat to Cathedral Gardens. Bringing in over 40,000 Mancs last year, this year is expected to be bigger than ever.
New Order
24 August
For the first time in three years, New Order are returning to their roots in an all-day homecoming concert at Wythenshawe Park. The outdoor gig has an incredible support line-up including Johnny Marr and Róisin Murphy.
Blossoms
25 August
Join Stockport’s Britpop darlings, fresh off their Glasto set, for a one-day-only outdoor gig at Wythenshawe Park. Supported by Irish rock band, Inhaler and Merseyside’s own The K’s, it might be your last chance to catch Blossoms before they jet off for their US tour.
Cheshire Fest
Capesthorne Hall in Macclesfield
31 August
Looking for a more relaxed festival experience? Look no further than Cheshire Fest. Nestled within the lush Cheshire countryside you can spend the weekend at their Wellness Village (packed with guilt-free gin and tonics, massages and yoga) or explore intimate acoustic performances in their Live Lounge. But, for those who prefer bass to boosting their vitamin intake, you can check out TOWIE star Mark Wright, who’ll be DJing over the weekend.
Manchester Psych Fest
Multi-venue festival (see where's involved)
31 August
The UK's leading Psychedelic multi-venue music and arts festival returns to Manchester for another year of epic live performances, film screenings and great scran. This year's lineup includes BC Camplight, The Horrors, Pigsx7 and Temples to name but a few.
Explore the city one music venue at a time and discover your new favourite artists - please note that some venues are suitable for those aged +14 whilst others are strictly 18 and above.
Happy Place Festival
31 August
As August wraps up you might need a bit of respite before the back-to-school madness begins. Enter Happy Place Festival. The brain-child of Fearne Cotton, Happy Place Festival is an uplifting, immersive weekend of wellbeing. With talks from the likes of Gary and Emma Neville, Olivia Attwood and Gemma Merna, plus live music and yoga, it’s the perfect place to wind down your summer.
Entries compiled and written by Charley Moore
Want to loop us in on the best things happening this month? Email Charleym@confidentials.com
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