Summer time is here! Hopefully, the sun will be shining on Greater Manchester this year to give families plenty of time to enjoy the great outdoors. Our region is lucky because we have so many stunning nature reserves, parks and green spaces to explore and feel connected to nature. We’re surrounded by gorgeous scenery and there are plenty of places for little ones to play and learn all about the environment around them.

However, sometimes it’s nice to have an outdoor activity that can get you all out of the house, explore somewhere new and feel at one with nature. Come rain or shine, Greater Manchester has an eclectic mix of outdoor activities that will entertain the whole family.

Here is a roundup of all of the wonderful family-friendly outdoor events happening across the region throughout the summer holidays:

Summer Holidays at RHS Bridgewater

RHS Bridgewater will be buzzing this summer, as there are plenty of family friendly activities taking place all centred around insects. Inspired by animated series Lloyd of the Flies, the team at RHS Garden Bridgewater need you to help Lloyd and his friends find his way to The Grand Bug & Pest Hotel, with an interactive app-based AR bug hunt and family-friendly activities all summer long. Activities include story sessions, animal encounters from ZooLab, model making, welly walks, animation workshops and so much more. There’s something for kids of all ages! It’s a great way to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors and learn more about the creepy crawlies that are so crucial in keeping nature alive. Learn more.

The Tiger who Came to Tea and Mog at Tatton Park

This summer, Tatton Park is celebrating beloved children’s author Judith Kerr with two family-friendly trails dedicated to two of her classic books. Firstly, the fun and interactive The Tiger Who Came to Tea adventure trail will take over the spring gardens until Sunday 3 September with trail packs costing £2 alongside garden entry. It’s a brilliant chance to engage with nature and bring to live one of your kids favourite stories.

If that’s not enough, Mog the Forgetful Cat needs your help completing her farmyard chores and navigating the maize maze. Follow Mog’s trail through the farm with plenty of activities along the way. Trail packs cost £2 each and farm entry applies, but please remember the farm is closed on Mondays to avoid disappointment. There will also be a lot of Judith Kerr themed activities taking place throughout the summer so keep an eye on Tatton Park’s website for more. Learn more.

Feel Good Family Picnic

The organisers behind Rochdale’s Feel Good Festival are back with a day full of fun activities, performances, music, sports and shows for children of all ages. Bring your picnic and get ready for a day of free family fun. Staged in four Rochdale parks over the school holidays, The Feel Good Family Picnic will take place in Falinge Park (Rochdale) on Tuesday 25 July, and then Limefield Playing Fields (Middleton) on Wednesday 26 July before moving to Harehill Park (Littleborough) on Thursday 27 July. The final stop will be Queen’s Park (Heywood) on Friday 28 July. Events will run from 11am to 4pm. Learn more.

Manchester Day on Holiday

Get ready to pack your bags, because this year Manchester Day is taking you on holiday on Saturday 29 July. The city centre will be taken over by a special summer’s day that will captivate families and friends for free. Performers, musicians and even animals will take over the city streets in a day like no other. Rumour has it there’s going to be a helter-skelter on Deansgate, a bandstand and dancefloor in St Ann’s Square with some of the UK’s best street acts and performers. Bring your packed lunch or grab a snack from the food and drink stalls, chill out on a deckchair and embrace the Costa Del Deansgate for one day only. Learn more.

Oldham’s Summer Beach 2023

The popular Oldham Summer Beach is back for 2023 in a celebration of seaside fun in the heart of Alexandra Park. Manchester may have everything except a beach, but with this incredible family fun event, you sure will feel like you’re at the seaside. There’s going to be a mega decked beach sandpit with deckchair seating, daily beach games and treasure hunts, huge inflatables and rides, a clowns cave with daily magic shows and even some special guests at weekends. Of course, there will be plenty of food and refreshments to help you make a day of it. The Summer Beach Event 2023 runs from Monday 31 July to Sunday 3 September and is open from 11am to 6pm daily. Learn more.

Adventure Kingdom at Uppermill Park

From Friday 11 to Monday 14 August Oldham’s Uppermill Park will be hosting a super family fun day with a huge array of inflatables and rides as well as food and drink stalls to entertain the whole family. From 11am to 6pm, the adventure kingdom gives kids a chance to get outdoors and enjoy a good old fashioned play. Learn more.

Stalybridge Street Fest

On Friday 14 July, Friday 11 August and Friday 8 September, the much loved Stalybridge Street Fest is back on the menu. With great street food and drink traders alongside musicians and activities, this family-friendly event is a great excuse to explore Stalybridge and its surrounding countryside. Running from 5pm to 9pm on the second Friday of every month until the end of the year, this artisan market organised by Tameside Council couldn’t be a better place to stop and grab a bite to eat after exploring. Learn more.

Robin Hood Outdoor Theatre

This summer, Bury’s Holcombe Hill and its stunning views will be the backdrop to an unforgettable outdoor theatre production. We couldn’t think of a better place to set the scene for a classic tale like Robin Hood!

Bring your own seating (whether that’s a picnic blanket or camping chairs), make sure you’re prepared for all weather and get ready for story time as you watch the tale of Robin Hood come to life before your eyes. The show runs for 1 hour and 50 minutes so make sure you pack a picnic, although there is food, tea, coffee and soft drinks available on site. Learn more.

Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival

Heaton Park’s Food and Drink Festival is back for 2023 and you’re in for a feast! On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 August, one of the region’s biggest green spaces will be taken over by free cookery demos, an artisan market, live entertainment and music. There will be plenty activities to keep little ones entertained from a fun fair and shows to a mobile farm. This free festival celebrates the best of independent food and drink with tasting sessions and street food from across the world. Whatever your tipple or whatever tickles your taste buds, this is a great day out that the whole family can enjoy. Best of all, it’s free! So head to Heaton Park for great food and drink, family fun and the chance to dance your socks off in the great outdoors. Learn more.

Bolton Food and Drink Festival

Speaking of food festivals, the 18th edition of the infamous Bolton Food and Drink Festival will return on the August Bank Holiday weekend. From Friday 25 to Monday 28 August 2023, renowned celebrity chefs from James Martin to Gok Wan will take to the streets of Bolton to serve up some deliciously good expertise. The streets of Bolton are waiting for you, and they’ve never tasted so good. The whole family will love soaking up the fantastic atmosphere of the North West’s largest food festival with four days packed to the brim with food and drink, cookery demos, markets and brilliant live music and entertainment for little ones and big kids. Learn more.

Luna Outdoor Cinema at Tatton Park                        

Nothing says summer like sitting back and enjoying a film surrounded by nature. This year, Tatton Park is once again hosting Luna Outdoor Cinema for four nights between Friday 25 and Monday 28  August. You can catch screenings of Pretty Woman, Top Gun: Maverick, Mamma Mia! And The Great Gatsby with the stunning backdrop of Tatton Park’s parkland and estate. What could be a better treat this summer? Learn more.

GM Ringway

Why not explore the entire city-region and the stunning scenery it has to offer this summer holiday with the GM Ringway? Greater Manchester’s newest walking trail explores the green spaces, waterways and countryside of all ten boroughs through one beautiful 300km route. The low-impact trail allows communities to access every borough’s stunning landscapes and heritage, giving you a new appreciation for Greater Manchester’s scenery. Best of all, all stages of the trail are designed to be reached by public transport making it an even more sustainable day out. For accessibility, the route can be broken down into shorter walks which may be better for little hikers and that make the most of public transport options. Alternative routes will be available where the landscape isn’t suitable for walkers of all abilities.  

Northern Roots

This summer why not visit Northern Roots in Oldham? The UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park is already open for exploration, with a new visitor centre, shop, café, learning space, swimming pond, natural amphitheatre and large market garden all set to open later this year. Northern Roots is helping the people of Oldham get back to nature, in this glorious 160-acre site just 30 minutes from Manchester City Centre. This community project is harnessing urban green space to benefit people, the planet and the place. Visitors can grow crops, learn about bee-keeping and animal husbandry, and enjoy mountain biking, plus there will be outdoor events to keep everyone entertained throughout the year.

To find out about more indoor and outdoor events taking place across the region, visit our What’s on Page or look through our ideas and inspiration. 

To find more activities and days out to fill the summer holidays, check out our Things to Do page or our other Summer Holiday blogs.