The brilliant weather over the past week certainly leaves us optimistic for the coming months, and for those of you staying in Manchester over summer, there is a lot to be excited about! This summer will hopefully be very different from the last, as despite continued restrictions and safety measures, shops, bars and other attractions are once again open to the public. Here is just a selection of events that may help you to pass the time and unwind after a difficult year…
Manchester International Festival: 1-18 July
From music and film, to art instillations, food and family theatre, the Manchester International Festival has something for everyone’s tastes. It brings together artists from different backgrounds and across the spectrum of performing arts, visual arts and popular culture to host events across the city. See what’s on and how to get involved.
Sounds of the City
Sounds of the City is well established as a core part of Manchester’s lively music scene. Hosted at Castlefield’s Bowl, the 2021 line-up boasts some impressive names such as DMA’s, Lewis Capaldi and Kaiser Chiefs. If you’ve hated not being able to attend festivals and gigs over this past year, this is the perfect event for you to get your groove on and unwind with friends in the city.
Grayson’s Art Club
Celebrating the art of lockdown, this much anticipated exhibition hosted by Manchester Art Gallery chronicles the very personal and emotive experiences the British public faced in a year of lockdowns. Entry to the exhibition is free, and so is a perfect way to spend an afternoon in the city. Click here to book your time slot and find out more.
Manchester Pride: 27-30 August
A street party to remember, Manchester Pride celebrates equality, community, culture, history and art. This world-renowned event takes places in Manchester’s Gay Village, and offers multiple events, parades, vigils and forums across the August bank holiday weekend that aims to support and empower the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
Community Festival: online between 18 and 20 June
For this year’s Community Festival, we’ve teamed up with Manchester Museum, the Whitworth, John Rylands Library and staff and students from across the University to create a series of fun and exciting digital events, aimed at families, schools and local communities. Whether you are young or old, interested in science or art, want to gets hands-on or just share some fascinating stories, there’s something for everyone.
4TheFans Manchester Fan Park
So many of you will have missed live sporting events this year, and so the launch of the Manchester Fan park is an exciting step forward, allowing football fans to safely come back together and reconnect with both the sport and the electric big-game atmosphere. Just in time for the Euro 2021 tournament, this is the perfect excuse to stay in the city over summer.
The Lawn Club
New for the summer of 2021, The Lawn Club in Spinningfields is perfect for anyone wanting to go out but who may still be feeling anxious about maintaining social distance. You can hire private Pods and Lawn Houses so that you and your mates can enjoy some food and drink in the sun together while feeling secure. Head to their website to find out more and book a table.
Whether you’re going home or staying in the city, take some time to relax and unwind. As always, stay safe, and make sure you get regularly tested on campus to keep our community healthy and to ensure a smooth transition into the next phase of the Roadmap out of lockdown. Stay up to date with government guidelines so you know what you can and can’t do, and make sure to be considerate of your neighbours and the wider community when out celebrating.