1. Explore worldwide cuisines at Wythenshawe Park

Spring is back and with it comes exciting food festivals. Kicking off the warm weather season, the brand-new South Manchester Food Festival takes place this weekend, 18 and 19 May, at Wythenshawe Park. From the team behind the Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival, it brings you over 20 tasty international food stalls, live chef demos and artisan markets. Over the weekend you can expect some top live family entertainment and activities. Standard adult tickets are on its final release from £9.95.

2. Discover your inner artist at the Chorlton Arts Festival

Get the family together for nine days of artistic endeavours. Between the 17 and 26 May, the Chorlton Arts Festival will inspire you to make your own art with exhibitions, poetry readings, music and dance workshops and much more. This community led, volunteer run festival takes place across different venues in Chorlton promoting local talent and welcoming everyone to try their hand at a creative skill. Most of the events happening during the festival are free to attend.

3. Step back in time at Chetham’s Library

Known as the oldest public library in the English-speaking world and holding over 100,000 printed books, Chetham’s Library is packed with history. Inside the Library: Lives and Legacies gives you a glimpse of the lives of its librarians, all the way from 1653 until now. In this inside-look of the library’s inner workings, you’ll learn how the collections were built and how they are cared for. Taking place this Tuesday, 14 May, tickets for the session start from £11.

4. Show your support for Lancashire Thunder

Lancashire Cricket are launching a new event this week to encourage avid cricket fans and curious visitors to support Lancashire Thunder. This Sunday, 19 May, experience #BatForWomensCricket, an event packed with music, live entertainment, food and drink stalls and plenty of activities for the whole family. Club mascot Lanky the Giraffe will be around to meet the fans and you can even take part in a batting challenge to win a cricket bat signed by the team and meet the players after the match! Standard tickets for the event start from £5 and gives you entry into a draw for concert and match tickets.

5. Stroll through RHS Garden Bridgewater after-hours

A stunning new exhibition and fashion show will be on display in Salford this Friday, 17 May. The first RHS Garden Bridgewater late of 2024 is happening in collaboration with the Manchester Fashion Movement and the University of Salford to bring you a celebration of sustainable fashion in Horti-CULTURED: Growing a sustainable future together. Work from BA Fashion and Promotion students will take over the Potting Sheds through video and photography, with a catwalk show bringing the evening to an end. The event starts at 6PM and normal garden admission applies.

New Opening: Sephora at The Trafford Centre

Beauty enthusiasts rejoice, the first northern Sephora arrives in the city this week at The Trafford Centre! The huge 500 square meter store follows the two sites in London, and the opening has been highly anticipated as it brings to the city brand’s exclusive to Sephora including Glossier, Haus Labs by Lady Gaga and Makeup by Mario. The grand opening happens on Thursday, 16 May, and you can expect extra special surprises for the day!

There is no doubt Manchester craft beer is having its moment, and it will be further celebrated with the return of this all-inclusive festival in July. Now in its fourth year, the We are Beer Manchester Craft Beer Festival will take over Depot Mayfield on the 5 and 6 July and will have over 500 different beers on offer, including a selection of popular local breweries. All the beer is included with the festival ticket along with a festival glass you get to take home. Tickets for the event start from £40 and are available to book now.

What's On

Stay in the know with our 'What's On' guide for Manchester. Explore a curated selection…