The remainder of Covid-19 restrictions in England have now been removed and you should take a personal approach to your Covid-19 safety and the safety of others around you. However, please remember that in certain settings, such as on TfGM Metrolink trams, face coverings are still a requirement, and other venues may politely request you to wear a face covering and practice social distancing for the time being.    

Bolton Food and Drink Festival

1. Tempt your tastebuds at the Bolton Food and Drink Festival 

The Bolton Food and Drink Festival brings its 16th festival to the town this Bank Holiday Weekend, with a line-up that includes chef demonstrations, markets, family entertainment, live music and street entertainment – all for free! Celebrating the best food and drink from Bolton and beyond, visitors can enjoy dedicated seating areas and plenty of space to wander the markets – plus live cookery demonstrations also available to watch live online.  

2. Join in the Pride celebrations as the city supports the LGBTQ+ community 

This weekend sees the return of Manchester Pride Festival after a one year hiatus, with events happening across venues from Friday 27 to Monday 30 August, including in The Village, Sackville Gardens (home to the Gay Village Party and Candlelit Vigil), and Homeground, this year host of Pride Live.  

There are also loads of alternative events happening across the city, including Escape to Freight Island’s programme of Pride events with Homoelectic and a screening of iconic LGBT+ film Paris is Burning; The Refuge hosts its famous Come As You Are party with live performances all weekend from Manchester DJ’s, The Sunday Boys choir, and House of Ghetto; and at Ducie Street Warehouse the “Something for Everyone” weekender features a plethora of performers, artists, and world-renowned DJ’s, plus a drag brunch and a special collective with Kiss Me Again DJ’s. Rainbow dogs and their owners can also come together for a celebration at Angel Meadow park with Pooches of Pride; and at Manchester Museum, three iconic drag queens from The Family Gorgeous, showcase collections in a fabulous way with a free event before the museum closes its doors until 2022. 

3. Enjoy a two-week live music takeover at Burrs Country Park  

The inaugural Burrs Live – by The Met brings a festival atmosphere to Burrs Country Park this summer with two weeks of live music, community events, family fun and artisan food in the great outdoors, starting on Friday 27 August. The opening weekend is packed full of live music on an outdoor stage, with performances from the world’s premier Beatles tribute, The Bootleg Beatles, folk supergroup, Show of Hands, and one of the biggest success stories in British theatre history, The Magic of Motown. 

4. Open air cinema returns to Tatton Park with blockbuster films 

The Luna Open Air Cinema under the stars is returning to Tatton Park from Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 August with a line-up of classic and feel-good films to make your summer. Alongside great food, a full bar (with click and collect service), optional seating upgrades, the giant screens will be showing Rocketman (26th), Dirty Dancing (27th), The Greatest Showman (28th), and Star Wars: A New Hope (29th). 

5. Italian cooking festival takes over Cathedral Gardens 

Inspired by Manchester’s Italian heritage, Festa Italiana is bringing its much-loved weekend-long festival of food, drink and culture back to Cathedral Garden’s, following a popular event in 2019 that attracted over 30,000 people. The free event runs from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 August, with live cookery demonstrations from top Italian chefs, and food stalls from popular Italian restaurants including Sicilian NQ, Pasta Factory, I Knead Pizza, and many more! 

+ Book Now – Manchester Literature Festival reveals Autumn line-up 

Manchester Literature Festival returns from 9-17 October 2021 with a dazzling live events programme packed with award-winning writers and musicians including Bobby Gillespie, Tracey Thorn, Andrew O’Hagan, Paul Morley and Bernardine Evaristo. Many of the events explore the worlds of writing, creativity, identity, friendship, and music from very personal viewpoints, taking an in-depth look at the characters behind the public-facing performers. Further Festival events will be announced in September and following the success of the 2020 online festival, a digital programme of events is also planned for November 2021.