The World Cup may be over and the unusually hot weather might be turning, but there’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy. Here are a few things that are happening in Manchester over the next few months, if you’ve got some free time or a looking for a break from work?
Events & Festivals
Bee in the City 23 July – 23 September
Over 100 bee sculptures will be installed around the city of Manchester between July and September. Each bee, designed by a different artist, will celebrate Manchester from its industrial heritage to its vibrant music scene. You can follow the trail of bees around the city, taking in landmarks and undiscovered places.
Manchester Jazz Festival 20 July -28 July
Manchester International Jazz Festival is back. Listen to the best of the North West, European debuts and local artists.
Caribbean Carnival 11 – 12 August
The North West’s largest celebration of Caribbean culture returns this summer. Head to Alexandra Park for this vibrant event that includes music, costumes, dances, food, carnival queens and steel bands. If you go, make sure to have your camera ready. See the official website for more information.
Power Up at MOSI 3 – 19 August
Feeling a bit nostalgic? Power Up is back at the Museum of Science and Industry this summer. There are over 160 computer games on offer where you can play some of the most popular games from the past 40 years – from Pong to Super Mario. You could even finally bring football home on Fifa.
Banned Books & Alchemy
Visit the Anthony Burgess Banned Books exhibition running until 30 September. The exhibition will display the books that were confiscated by authorities from Burgess for being deemed as indecent or blasphemous.
The Alchemy of Colour exhibition is also still on at John Rylands until 27 August, where you can see the strange recipes that artist used to create some of the most vivid colours.
Out & About
Parks & Gardens
If you’re looking to get out of the city centre and explore further afield, why not visit some of the beautiful parks in the North West. Lyme Park, Dunham Massey and Alderly Edge are all around a 30 minute drive outside of the centre or approximately 1 hour by public transport. If the sun is still shining, take a look at some of the walking routes around Manchester, on the Visit Manchester website.
Markets
If you enjoyed the food market at the University on Tuesdays, why not check it out in its native home in Levenshulme. The market takes place most Saturdays and has a range of food and craft stalls. A bit further out are the Altrincham markets, taking place every week day (except Mondays) with a huge range of food stalls, florists, crafts and potters. The winner of an Observer Food Monthly Best Market Award – it’s definitely worth a visit.