Bank Holiday fun!
Can it really be the end of August? How did that happen? Just yesterday it seemed as though the summer was set to last forever!
As summer begins to cast a shadow, it’s time for one last throw of the dice. Here’s a round up of some of our favourite bank holiday events.
For more events keep checking our What’s On Calendar – we’re updating it all the time!
The Urban Market
Discover this urban foodie, creative, quirky hub in the heart of Salford. On 24th and 25th August, Greengate Square will become an unmissable destination, where you’ll experience inspiring food and craft artisans, musicians and performance.
Make it, Bake it, Grow it, Wear it, Eat it, Drink it, Love it!
For more information visit theurbanmarket.co.uk
Imperial War Museum
Saturday 24th August - Comic Character shows give visitors the chance to meet star athletes Mr Stretch and Mr Armstrong, who are on a mission to get the nation fit using only their enthusiasm and some PE kits rescued from lost and found and prima ballerinas Fifi Pavlova and Dame Margot Fondue.
Sunday 25th August - Commando Joe’s bring military inspired fun including an inflatable assault course, giant jenga and survival skills – for bigs kids and small kids alike.
Monday 26th August Billy’s War is interactive storytelling session about how sports and fitness kept him entertained during his Second World War evacuation adventure
Admission is free to the museum and all events are free.
Bolton Food and Drink Festival
This year’s food and drink festival takes place between Friday 23th August and Monday 26th August 2013. The main event on Victoria Square, in the heart of the town, is the live Rangemaster Cookery Theatre and a speciality market offering great food and drink produce.
There are five celebrity TV chefs performing live demos this year, Michael Caines, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, Aldo Zilli and James Martin.
Free live cooking demonstrations take place in the Market Place Shopping Centre and Bolton Market with great street entertainment popping up across the town centre. KRO Bar are returning, along with the Beer Keller to provide more opportunities to sit back and enjoy the great atmosphere and real ale.
Take the kids along to the new Children’s Food Emporium in Crompton Place Shopping Centre and they will be entertained with everything from food related stories to fun activities. In addition, there are some special treats with food and drink events at venues and restaurants across Bolton.
For more information, see boltonfoodanddrinkfestival.com
LGBT – Pride Festival 2013
The multi award-winning Manchester Pride returns this week in the annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life. There are four elements to Manchester Pride, beginning with Pride Fringe which runs throughout August and comprises of over 40 events across the city ranging from theatre and performance to art and culture.
The Pride Parade is held on Saturday 24th August and this year’s parade theme is ‘Acceptable in the 80s?’; touching on the decade’s relevance to HIV activism, Section 28 and iconic music and fashion. The parade route runs across the city centre and is watched by tens of thousands each year. Parade starts at 1pm.
The Big Weekend is held over four days where Manchester’s Gay Village becomes the focus for thousands of visitors to enjoy one of the best parties in the UK. Over the Big Weekend, visitors can:
- See live music acts and DJs in the outdoor area (including The Feeling, Misha B, Rowetta, The original Sugababes line up, Ren Harvieu, Kate Nash, Lucy Spraggan, Rylan and lot’s more)
- Be entertained by local bands and performances in Sackville Gardens.
- Visit the Village Markets to pick up a souvenir and check out the Lifestyle Expo where a number of community groups and traders will be on hand with expert advice.
The HIV candlelit vigil is the spiritual heart of Manchester Pride and is the culmination of the festival which takes place in Sackville Gardens. The vigil is a chance for people to remember and pay respects to those who have lost their lives to HIV.
Manchester Pride’s Big Weekend is a ticketed event and visitors need a wristband to gain access to the festival site. Wristband sales contribute to the fundraising effort that Manchester Pride makes to many LGBT charities.
For more information and to book your tickets go to manchesterpride.com
Manchester Craft and Design Centre
There’s plenty of creative crafty fun to keep both little and big hands busy at Manchester Craft & Design Centre.
There’s a whole host of FREE family friendly activities that will keep the kids happy over the long weekend.
All activities are linked to their current exhibition ‘Forming Words’ which showcases a selection of contemporary craft objects which have been inspired and informed by text.
DON’T FORGET THE GROWN UPS!
Alongside the activities MCDC will also be open for business as usual this Bank Holiday. So if it is shopping you are after MCDC is the perfect place, with a tempting array of craft, design, jewellery and ceramics from their talented makers.
For more information visit craftanddesign.com
MOSI
If you’ve not already been, visit the ‘Creating the Illusion: Animation in the North West’ Exhibition. Cosgrove Hall’s much-loved characters such as Toad and Chorlton puppets are on show as part of the first exhibition in MOSI’s new Highlights Gallery.
This small exhibition explores the history of animation in the North West, from the development of Magic Lantern projectors in the Edwardian era to modern computer generated images. Featuring objects from MOSI’s own collections, as well as loans from Brian Cosgrove, Barry Purves, ITV, and Altrincham-based Mackinnon and Saunders, it is sure to fascinate visitors of all ages.
For more information click here.
HOLI ONE Colour Festival – Heaton Park
The world´s most colorful event is coming to Manchester!
Inspired by the original Holi in India, the HOLI ONE Colour Festival travels around the world.
Thousands of people dressed in white, will come together to share music, dance and performance art. Colours are the central part of the Holi celebrations, adding life and vitality to the festival.
A special moment of the festival is the first count down, when festival goers throw their colour at the same moment. The sight of the festival is beautiful to watch, as people at this open-air festival are quickly covered in brilliant colours, and the air is filled with the clouds of bright powder.
The festival will host a line-up of some of the best established DJ’s in the country and a host of new DJ’s who are currently exploding onto the music scene.
For more information visit facebook.com/ManchesterHOLIONE
Rugby League Road Show at MediaCityUK
Watch the highpoint of the Rugby League season on the Big Screen with BBC Sport coverage of the Challenge Cup Final live from Wembley.
Join in the fun with a rugby league roadshow in the Piazza from midday – with mini-matches, skills challenges, music and more.Try your hand as a sports commentator with BBC Sport’s interactive challenge.
For more information visitsalford.info
Don’t forget to keep checking our What’s On Calender for more events.
Have a great August Bank Holiday weekend.
Alison x (your 4Manchester Women Editor)
Photographs: IWM North, MOSI, MCDC, Pride 2013, HOLI ONE, Bolton Food & Drink Festival.
This is not a sponsored blog post.