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What's On

Everything happening for Pride in Manchester this weekend

Here’s what you need to know

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@manchesterpride / Instagram & @therefugemcr / Instagram

It’s the August bank holiday weekend, and Manchester’s Pride Festival is officially upon us.

Sadly, the iconic Pride Parade has been cancelled for the second year in a row as a result of Covid-19 restrictions –  but regardless of that, Manchester has still pulled it out of the bag with a ton of exciting and eclectic events happening across the city to celebrate our LGBTQ+ community.

Here’s what’s on…

Manchester Pride Festival

@manchesterpride / Instagram

Let’s start with the big one: The annual Manchester Pride festival will be taking place from August 27th – 30th. 

A huge number of artists are on the bill to perform over the weekend: While the artists for Friday are yet to be revealed, Saturday will see the likes of Sigala, Annie Mac, Katy B, Example, La Discotheque and Anton Powers.

On the bank holiday Sunday, Zara Larsson, Ella Henderson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Black Betty and Sian Bennett will be taking over the stage, along with a whole host of other exciting acts.

The roots of Manchester Pride and the Festival are firmly in the heart of Manchester’s world-famous Gay Village, who will of course be hosting four days of celebrations with performances, markets and parties alongside the festival.

Click here to buy tickets.

Affleck’s Palace Pride Garden Party

@afflecks_manchester / Instagram

Manchester’s famed indie emporium recently announced that they will be throwing an epic Pride Garden Party. Taking place this Saturday, August 28th, the party will be acknowledging the theme for this year’s Pride, ‘The Garden of Freedom’ by encouraging all guests to attend in fancy dress.

There will also be drag DJs spinning tunes throughout the day along with a number of Drag Queens roaming Affleck’s itself, providing fun and flamboyant entertainment to the masses.

The independent traders within Affleck’s will also be joining in with the festivities and will be offering promotions to customers to celebrate the Pride weekend. Affleck’s very own Gay Pride Shop – which is the biggest LGBTQ+ shop in the UK – stocked with over 4,500 items, including Pride essentials such as flags, face paints and fans.

Affleck’s Palace, 52 Church Street, M4 1PW
0161 839 0718

Escape to Freight Island LGBTQ+ takeover

@escapetofreightisland / Instagram

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday August 25th, Escape to Freight Island will be hosting an epic six-day long party in celebration, described as an ‘explosion of queer power.’

A whole array of exciting events are scheduled for the celebration, including the likes of Club Orchestra, who will be performing pride anthems, Amuse Bouche bringing their usual fun, House of Ghetto, and Creatures of Catharsis back with Performance is Power, alongside plenty more wonderful events across the week.

The event is ticketed per day and booking in advance is strongly recommended. However, walk-ups will still be available for 25th – 30th August. Get your tickets here.

Escape to Freight Island, 11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ.
escapetofreightisland.com

Ducie Street Warehouse ‘Something for Everyone’ Pride Programme

Ducie Street Warehouse

Ducie Street Warehouse is throwing a huge LGBTQ+ friendly programme featuring a plethora of performers, artists, characters, and world-renowned DJs for five days over the course of the August Bank Holiday – from Thursday August 26th to Monday August 30th.

Their in-house resident Mix-stress and Friends will be kickstarting the event on Thursday, while Kiss Me Again will follow to curate a weekend of parties from LGBTQ+ collectives and DJs from Manchester and beyond. 

On the Saturday, there will be a drag brunch hosted by Sink the Pink DJs which will be dedicated to introduce Ducie Street Warehouse and Native Manchester’s charity partner, akt; with a donation of £5 from every brunch booking going to the charity. 

Ducie Street Warehouse, Ducie St, Manchester M1 2TP.
0161 503 9460
duciestreet.com

@therefugemcr / Instagram

Refuge ‘Come as You Are’ Party

The Refuge’s annual celebration of music, love and inclusivity will be kicking off with live performances, DJs and events from Friday afternoon right until the early hours of Monday. 

There’s a huge list of performers including the enigmatic House of Ghetto, The Family Gorgeous and tonnes of world-class DJs.

The event description reads: “These full-venue takeovers incorporate the beautiful space in all its glory, from the intense outdoor atmosphere of Waterhouse Way, to the warm surrounding of the Public Bar, and the heads-down spiritual melting pot that is the Basement.

“The Come As You Are Weekenders, especially around Manchester Pride, have developed an electric reputation throughout the UK and has become synonymous with a special and unique togetherness that only Manchester can magic from its people.”

No bookings needed, simply turn up as you are.

The Refuge, Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA.
0161 233 5151

‘The Most Depressing Pride of Your Life’ at YES

@isthisyourchild / Instagram

YES will be hosting a very unusual but very needed ‘break-up disco’ on the Bank Holiday Saturday where guests will be encouraged to come and purge their old relationships out on the dance floor with the help from a playlist of love songs and power ballads.

They’ll be focussing on the heartache, trauma and pain of the saddest songs ever written so if that’s your bag, get on down. Tickets are only £6 and it’s on til 3am. Buy tickets here.

YES, 38 Charles St, Manchester, M1 7DB.
0161 273 2725

@ezraandgil / Instagram

Ezra & Gil Pride Special

Everyone’s favourite Northern Quarter brunch haunt will be hosting their debut Pride party on Sunday, August 29th. 

The cafe has secured a number of impressive acts and performances, including Belinda Scandal, a live DJ set and a live violinist for their outdoor seating area.

For more information and updates, visit their website.

Ezra & Gil, 20 Hilton St, Manchester, M1 1FR.

What's On

Huge beer festival with more than 500 different varieties coming to Manchester

Can’t wait for this!

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Manchester Craft Beer Festival

Manchester Craft Beer Festival is back for another year, bringing with it more than 80 breweries and 500 different beers to sample.

The fourth edition of the festival will be taking place at Depot Mayfield on Friday July 5th and Saturday July 6th.

Cloudwater, Track, Marble, Northern Monk, Bundobust, Sureshot and Seven Brothers will be there to represent Manchester, alongside other UK stalwarts like Deya, Verdant, Siren and Leeds’ North Brewing Co.

Manchester Craft Beer Festival


Heritage breweries like Timothy Taylor’s, Chouffe and Timmermans will also be there, as well as international breweries from the US, Greece, Spain and Australia.

There will also be some great food options to line your stomach, including bao buns, crispy chicken and katsu tater tots at Bone Daddies, as well as Almost Famous, Bundobust, MorMor and Voodoo Rays.

Manchester Craft Beer Festival


Greg Wells, director of Manchester Craft Beer Festival, said: “It’s been a disheartening year for Manchester’s beer scene so far with closure of the beloved Indy Beer Con Fest and the unsuccessful debut of the International Brewing and Cider Festival, but we’re pleased to announce our return and bring more of what has been loved in the past three years.

“With even more breweries and experiences on offer and larger capacity this year, we’re buzzing to be back to satisfy all the beer lovers out there.

“The addition of a complimentary trade session to our programme is all about promoting this world class beer city and a small gesture to support all the incredible people who work across the drinks and hospitality industries.

“We all have a mutual understanding of the hardships our industries have faced in recent times so we thought it’d be a nice gesture to get everyone together for the love of drinks, food and music to celebrate beer and ourselves!”

Manchester Craft Beer Festival


The entry price includes all your drinks throughout your session, as well as festival glass and access to all the events happening.

And as it’s on during the Euros, it will be screening the football too.

Day tickets cost £57 per day session – with a discount for four tickets – or £145 for the whole weekend. Grab tickets HERE.

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What's On

New makers market with everything from dog accessories to house plants and jewellery coming to Manchester

Get this one in your diary!

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Supplied

A brand new makers market is coming to Manchester this late May Bank Holiday weekend, with something for everyone.

Taking place at New Jackson – a new urban neighbourhood located at the southern gateway to the city – Manchester Made Market will be held on Saturday May 25th and Sunday May 26th.

Over the two days you’ll be able to browse a selection of local artisanal traders and small businesses from across the region.

Supplied


There’ll be everything, from food produce, homewares, crafts and creations to dog accessories, house plants, jewellery and homemade soap.

Among the traders will be Manchester and Cheshire-based florist and floral artists Dot & Flora, graphic artist Ablott MCR selling music prints, HGT with crochet fashion and homeware designs, and artisan candlemakers Leaves and Prickles.

Elsewhere, there will be essential oils and other treatments from Grounded Wellness, permanent jewellery from Sealed Links, and desserts from Cake With Heart.

Supplied


There will be plenty of street food options to keep you topped up while you shop, including The Wild Grill, Food Sorcery, Salvi’s and new favourite Medlock Canteen.


Neighbourhood Brew will be supplying some great drinks as well.

Supported by Renaker, the market is free, but you can upgrade your experience with a limited, free VIP ticket with access to the dedicated bar area.

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What's On

Manchester Flower Festival returns with tributes to Sarah Harding and Caroline Aherne

It’s taking place later this month!

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The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival

The legendary Manchester Flower Festival is returning to our city later this month, complete with pop-ups, installations and tributes to some local icons.

Taking place over the late May Bank Holiday, the event will be headlined by its ‘Floral Trail’.

This year’s theme is Manchester Icons, with a host of names past and present being honoured in flower form, including the late comedy legend Caroline Aherne, pop star Sarah Harding and suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.

The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival

Collaborating with Manchester illustrator Stanley Chow, floral designer Liv Woodward will create a portrait of Caroline Aherne at the Floral Marquee on New Cathedral Street, using sustainably sourced plants and flowers.

Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding will be remembered in a ‘tribute garden’, sponsored by the AO Arena, with visitors able to donate to the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal by scanning the QR code at the display.

The homage to Pankhurst has been created by female-led Decordia, featuring an ornate wooden Manchester Town Hall-inspired planter with sashes, posters and colourful icons, alongside a wicker figure of the suffragette herself.

This can be found at the corner of Cross Street and King Street, adorned with purple, green and white plants – the colours of the suffragette movement.

The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival

Other local legends will also be honoured with their own installations, including Happy Mondays vocalist Rowetta and iconic Manchester brewery Boddingtons .

Fringe events will be taking place too, at locations including Northern Quarter art shop Fred Aldous, The Bridgewater Hall, the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and the National Trust’s Castlefield Viaduct.

Selfridges Exchange Square, El Gato Negro, Tast Catala, Franco Manca, Grand Pacific Manchester and Urban Playground will also be taking part, with alfresco dining, festival-related dishes and cocktails.

The Vain Photography / Manchester Flower Festival

Now in its seventh year, the Flower Festival, which is put together by Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, with live entertainment, workshops, and arts and crafts markets.

It all happens from May 24th to May 27th – head over to the website HERE to find more information.

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