This month, as well as a host of festivals for different interests, Manchester has got you covered with events that will get you moving, creating or exploring.
Parties and Gigs
Alongside Sounds of the City and and Bluedot Festival, there are plenty of gigs happening this month. On 5 July, there is the Hooch Comedy Club for live stand-up in the Northern Quarter. Hope Valley Presents HIP HOP is taking place nearby on the 7of July, championing local talent. If you’d like to get your groove on but are avoiding large, in-person events, the Diana Ross & The Supremes – Motown Music History Livestream on 8 July could be a great event for you. Finally, most of us are excited for Barbie coming to screens this month and to celebrate, The Deaf Institute are hosting a Barbie Party on 29 July.
Creative
If you’re looking for something to spark your creativity this month, there’s a bookmaking and writing workshop on 1 July at Stockport Central Library or life drawing + wine and tapas in the Northern Quarter on 4 July, and if you like board games, there’s the Art Hall Board Games Social in Media City on 5 July.
To meet other creative people, there is the Craft and Flea Market at The Depot Mayfield on 1 July, or the Arc Centre are putting on Arty Socials at Hat Works every Friday in July. For writers, there are several workshops on writing food happening at the Portico Library, a trans and queer writing group and book club at The Whitworth, 6 July, as well as the Festival of Writing at The Guild for Lifelong Learning on 8 July.
Outside
If you’re trying to find ways to make the get active outdoors this July, have a look at the Hosted GM Ringway Walk from Manchester City Centre to Sale Water Park on 15 July, the (almost) 7 mile walk is a great way to stay active, see some of Manchester’s sites and meet new people. If long walks are not your thing, have a look at the Yoga in the Garden events at Platt Fields Park, each Friday of the month. From wild wanderings through green spaces, to activities and workshops exploring the unique qualities of fungi, plus a wild picnic in the park, this Engaging with Nature in the City event at Peel Park on 13 July is not one to miss. Plus, if you’d like to know more about plants, the Tree Walk in The Carrs Park on 16 July or Friday Gardening Volunteer Sessions at Peel Park might be right for you.
As it’s Pride month, there are a few LGBTQ+ specific events this month to make the most of the sunshine. There’s the Queer Out Here Lyme Park Ramble on 16 July, an LGBTQ+ Manchester Walking Tour on 8 July and Sparkle Weekend is taking over Sackville Gardens 8-9 July, to celebrate trans lives and gender diversity.
Jobs and Volunteering
There a big Manchester Job Fair at Old Trafford on 5 July, as well as Careers Service events on campus and online on 4July. If you’re looking for things to boost your CV or ways to give back, there’s also the Volunteer Fair on burton Road on 30 July.
Sport and Movement
Take advantage of two free exercise classes happening this month – on 8 July in Stockport, there’s a day of Body Balance classes and more or as part of their Feel Good Summer events, The Refuge is hosting Yoga with Emma on 15 July on their roof.
For LGBTQ+ people, Studio25 have salsa classes every Thursday in NQ and for Women of Colour, there’s 5-aside football at Alexandra Park, every Monday in July.
Make sure to also check out what’s on at Sports Manchester this Summer.
Culture
From talks and tours to art and books, there’s a lot of cultural events happening this July. For those interested in talks, there are a couple of really interesting events happening, including the Organisations of Hope Symposium on 13 July. The symposium explores how creative health is accessed and understood in communities and how it can be better supported in the broader health and social care landscape.
In addition, there is The Innocence Project event on 4 July, the project is a pro-bono organisation helping the wrongfully convicted and promoting positive change in the justice system. If you’re interested in sustainability, there’s The Sustainability Show, 8-9 July, as well as the Sustainable Futures Seminars happening in July.
If you would like to attend a free tour of the city, there are three great tours to choose from, including the Jewish Manchester Tour, The Pankhursts of Manchester/Suffragette City tour and the Marx & Engels in Manchester tour.
For art and book lovers, there is an illustrated art history talk at the Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery on 2 July, discussing the Pre-Raphaelites ad well as a tour of the (Un)Definining Queer Exhibition at The Whitworth on 9 July. Manchester Libraries Festival at The Portico Library on 19 July is excellent for book lovers, while The Working Class Movement Library is hosting the Northern Poets Society on 6 July.