Offering visitors the chance to explore trains hauled by three iconic mainline steam locomotives, East Lancashire Railway’s Legends of Steam is running from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 March, with various departure times between Heywood and Rawtenstall stations. Why not complete your experience with fine dining on board a beautifully restored carriage at the black-tie Legends of Steam Dining Experience? Tickets for the Legends of Steam event start from £34 when purchased online, with bookings for the formal dinner starting at £110.

From Friday, 15 March, make your way to ODEON Great Northern and enjoy a sensational programme of national and international films. Now celebrating its 10th edition, the Manchester Film Festival will be showing shorts and feature films, including UK and world premieres, until Sunday, 24 March. For selected screenings, take part in Q&As and hear from the talented Directors and cast of these incredible films. Tickets for individual screenings start from £8 or take advantage of the value passes from £30.

This Wednesday, 13 March, use your lunch hour to watch an awe-inspiring performance by The Hallé Orchestra. Taking the stage at Hallé St Peter's, the orchestra’s cello section will perform Rossini, Villa-Lobos and Sollima in an intimate setting in Hallé Cello Octet let by Nicholas Trygstad. The performance has a runtime of 60 minutes, starting at 1PM. Standard tickets start from £16.50.

One of the biggest tattoo shows in Europe takes over Manchester Central this weekend, 16 and 17 March. The 12th edition of the Tattoo Tea Party welcomes 350 talented tattoo artists showcasing their individual styles and taking part in competitions including Best of Day and Best of Show. Tattoo enthusiasts can pre-book appointments with the artists or browse around for their favourite style on the day. Alongside the colourful ink displays, there will also be plenty of stalls to shop and live entertainment across the two days. Tickets start from £24.45 online.

MadLab has taken over Stockport Museum with a festival that celebrates the digital and creative arts. This Saturday, 16 March, you can take part in a workshop on addressable LED technology and get some coding skills at this Make Stuff event. The festival is on until Saturday, 30 March with plenty more events to satisfy your digital curiosity. Tickets for the Intro to Addressable LEDs event start from £3.

A brand-new Italian restaurant and bar has landed at INNSiDE hotel on First Street. Celebrity Chef Gino D’Acampo has brought his new branch to the city with a menu serving up small plates, antipasti, Neapolitan pizza and a speciality grill along with ‘at-table’ theatre dishes. The two new bars at Gino D’Acampo Manchester offer signature and Italian cocktails - including the classic Aperol Spritz and the iconic If My Grandmother Had Wheels - as well as international wines and artisan beers.

A classic Disney film arrives on the stage of Manchester’s Palace Theatre this May for 7 weeks of magic performances. Disney’s Aladdin will be on between 22 May and 7 July 2024 and features the film’s iconic songs One Jump, Friend Like Me and A Whole New World, and original songs written for the stage musical. Book now to discover the story of Aladdin, Jasmin and Genie in this mesmerising production that has already captivated the hearts of over 14 million people around the world.