Festivals & events in Manchester

The following are the pick of the annual events that happen in Manchester. Further information can be found nearer the time from flyers and seasonal guides available from tourist information centres, or www.visitmanchester.com.

January

National Winter Ales Festival

When 19-22nd Jan
Where The Venue
Website www.alefestival.org.uk/winterales
A selection of over 200 brews, with a good range of winter warmers.

Chinese New Year

When Jan/Feb
Where Chinatown
Website www.manchester.gov.uk
Fireworks and the Golden Dragon Parade enliven the city’s Chinatown.

February

National Squash Championships

When Early Feb
Where Sportcity
Website www.nationalsquashchamps.co.uk
England’s finest battle it out for the national title.

March

Manchester Irish Festival

When Early-mid Mar
Where Various locations
Website www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk
A two-week festival culminating in one of the UK’s largest St Patrick’s Day parades.

Viva! Spanish & Latin American Film Festival

When Mid Mar
Where Cornerhouse
Website www.vivafilmfestival.co.uk
Ten days of Hispanic film screenings, with a healthy selection of premières and previews.

May

FutureEverything

When Mid May
Where Various locations
Website www.futureeverything.org
Electronic, experimental music and arts, with international and local artists participating.

BUPA Great Manchester Run

When Mid May
Where City Centre
Website www.greatrun.org
The Great Manchester Run set up in 2003 and televised live on the BBC, this 38,000-strong race, held in May, has quickly become one of the most popular events in the British running calendar. Organised by the brains behind the Great North Run, Manchester was the natural choice to host a new 10k: the city renowned for football also excels in cricket, cycling, rugby – and running. And with a route typically taking in Manchester United’s ground, fleet-of-foot football fans get the best of both worlds.

The run attracts some of the world’s best athletes, with Haile Gebreselasse breaking records here since 2005. Even for the less energetic, the setting makes for a good day out. Both runners and spectators can enjoy the views at Salford Quays, with the route skirting the Imperial War Museum North. Strategically placed bands, classical musicians and DJs add to the atmosphere, while those wanting to make a weekend of it can watch their kids participate in the Junior Run at Sportcity on the Saturday, before making for the finish line themselves on the Sunday.

The only downside is the inevitable road chaos. If you’re planning on racing, ditch the car and take the tram, train or bus. And to make sure you get a place at the starting line, sign up for email reminders at www.greatrun.org as early as possible before the race – entry is by ballot, with places allocated in January.

Spinningfields

When Mid May-Sept
Where Screenfields
Website www.spinningfieldsonline.com
Free outdoor film screenings, with deckchairs and picnics available.

Spring Market

When Mid May
Where St Ann’s Square, City Centre
Website www.manchestermarkets.com
Specialist food, drink, plants and gifts.

Eurocultured Street Festival

When Late May
Where New Wakefield Street, City Centre
Website www.eurocultured.com
A mix of urban dance, street art, DJs and live music.

June

Screenfields

When (see May)

Manchester International Festival

When Late June-mid July (2011, 2013)
Where Various locations
Website www.mif.co.uk
Manchester International Festival, for years, Manchester’s global contribution to culture was largely based on three things: politics, football and music. That changed in 2007 when the city launched the ambitious – and often audacious – Manchester International Festival, a biennial arts bonanza that in its first year led Miranda Sawyer to describe Manchester as ‘the beating cultural heart of Britain’. Fast-forward four years and the festival shows no signs of slowing down. The 2011 line-up includes a new play by Victoria Wood, and the Hallé’s Mark Elder presiding over a ‘staged examination’ of Wagner’s four-opera Ring Cycle.

A few familiar faces are set to return too. Damon Albarn, the Blur and Gorillaz musician who lit the fuse beneath the inaugural festival with his circus- and opera-inspired Monkey: Journey to the West, presents a new work, as does the legendary performance artist Marina Abramovic. In 2009, Abramovic stripped the Whitworth Art Gallery bare before delivering an unforgettable four-hour incursion into performance art. This time, the performance is loosely based on her own life; it stars Willem Dafoe and ‘heavenly’ original music by Antony Hegarty. With each edition premiering around 20 new works, Manchester International Festival’s only real downside comes courtesy of its main selling point: it claims to be the only festival in the world that consists solely of new work – so you’ll see no old favourites here.

Because of this, ‘you can never predict what’s going to happen,’ says festival director Alex Poots, though with two successful festivals under his belt, it’s safe to assume that the 2011 affair will again demonstrate its by-now trademark mix of high art, entertainment and Mancunian flair. As an example – and perhaps one of the best events at the 2009 festival – was when Mercury Prize-winners Elbow teamed up with the Hallé. The subsequent gig at Bridgewater Hall left many in the audience on their feet, shouting for more. It’s this combination of the unexpected, the joyously Mancunian and the beautifully delivered that makes Manchester International Festival one of the city’s must-dos in 2011 and beyond.

Manchester Day Parade

When Late June
Where Deansgate, City Centre
Website www.themanchesterdayparade.co.uk
An exuberant street celebration of Mancunian pride.

July

Screenfields

When (see May)

Manchester International Festival

When (see June)

Family Friendly Film Festival

When Mid July
Where Various locations
Website www.familyfriendly.org.uk
A fortnight of U-rated films and workshops.

Theatre Festival

When Mid-late July 24:7
Where Various locations
Website www.247theatrefestival.co.uk
New and original theatre performed in venues across the city.

RHS Flower Show

When Late July
Where Tatton Park
Website Tatton Park www.rhs.org.uk/tatton
Horticultural heaven, over ten days.

Manchester Jazz Festival

When Late July
Where Various locations
Website www.manchesterjazz.com
Popular festival featuring around 50 bands in indoor and outdoor venues, over two weeks.

August

Screenfields

When (see May)

Manchester Pride

When Mid-late Aug
Where Gay Village
Website www.manchesterpride.com
Ten days of floats, parades and parties.

September

Screenfields

When (see May)

Warehouse Project

When Late Sept-1 Jan
Where Store Street Car Park (beneath Piccadilly Station)
Website www.thewarehouseproject.com
Since 2006, if you asked for the ultimate Manchester clubbing destination, you likely got one answer: the Warehouse Project. Its phenomenal success – it was voted best UK club by Mixmag in 2007 – propelled it from its original venue into a vast disused space in the underbelly of Manchester Piccadilly station.

This 2,000-strong party kicks off for only 12 weeks a year (Sept-Dec), culminating in an explosive New Year’s Day finale, yet creates a storm of anticipation. Tickets for the Friday and Saturday sessions (until 6am), and midweek gigs, run about £20 and sell out fast.This sweaty cavern is a far cry from the glitz and glamour at other clubs. The walls are sticky, the toilets little more than portaloos and, bizarrely, there’s a burger van parked in the smoking area.

The underground, industrial feel of the venue evokes an unlicensed rave, but with three bars selling an array of cocktails, sweaty ravers downing bottles of water Ibiza-style, an awesome sound and light show, and top DJs on the decks, the atmosphere is electric. And it’s growing: 2010 saw a larger chill-out area equipped with deckchairs, squishy beanbags and even a cinema screen. The line-up included US hip hop legend MF Doom and brooding Mancunian star Ian Brown. For an authentic taste of Manchester nightlife, WHP is unmissable.

October

Warehouse Project

 When (see Sept)

Asia Triennial Manchester

When Oct-Nov (2011, 2014)
Where Various locations
Website www.asiatriennialmanchester.com
City-wide exhibitions and events that showcase South Asian art.

Dashehra Diwali Mela

When Early Oct
Where Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield
Website www.indianassociation.org.uk
Bhangra, Bollywood, dance, food and fireworks.

Manchester Food & Drink Festival

When Early-mid Oct
Where Various locations
Website www.foodanddrinkfestival.com
Ten days of gourmet activity, with food markets, celebrated chefs and restaurant events.

Manchester Literature Festival

When Mid-late Oct
Where Various locations
Website www.mlfestival.co.uk
Ten days of literary delights.

In The City

When Mid Oct
Where Various locations
Website www.inthecity.co.uk
Mix with the pros as they try to spot music’s next big thing.

Manchester Fest Market

When Mid Oct
Where St Ann’s Square, City Centre
Website www.manchestermarkets.com
A dozen days of local, sustainable and speciality foods.

Manchester Science Festival

When Mid Oct
Where Various locations
Website www.manchestersciencefestival.com
Over 200 events, from walks and demos to comedy and stargazing.

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

When Mid Oct
Where Spinningfields
Website www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk
Annual exhibition of gifts, jewellery, fabrics and furniture from the UK’s brightest designer-makers.

Manchester Comedy Festival

When Late Oct
Where Various locations
Website www.manchestercomedyfestival.com
Two weeks of up-and-coming stand-ups, as well as big-hitters.

Manchester Blog Awards

When Late Oct
Website www.manchesterblogawards.com
Long-established showcase of the city’s online writing talent.

Buy Art Fair

When Late Oct
Where Spinningfields
Website www.buyartfair.co.uk
Commercial contemporary art fair that attracts big-name and emerging artists and features more than 80 galleries.

Grimm Up North

When Late Oct
Where various locations
Website www.grimmfest.com
A smörgåsbord of horror, gore and sci-fi films and related spooky events.

November

Warehouse Project

When (see Sept)

Asia Triennial Manchester

When (see Oct)

Christmas Lights Switch On

When Mid Nov
Where Albert Square, City Centre
Website www.manchester.gov.uk

Un-convention

When Mid Nov
Where Various locations
Website www.unconventionhub.org
Salford music industry festival that’s as appreciated by music-lovers as it is by music-makers.

Manchester Christmas Markets

When Mid Nov-late Dec
Where Albert Square and St Ann’s Square
Website www.manchestermarkets.com
Stocking-fillers, glühwein and festive food at the North West’s biggest, oldest and best Christmas markets.

Exposures

When Late Nov/early Dec
Where Cornerhouse
Website www.exposuresfilmfestival.co.uk
Four days of screenings by the UK’s very best student filmmakers.

December

Warehouse Project

When (see Sept)

Manchester Christmas Markets

When (see Nov)