There are some famous faces heading into town, as well as dancers, drummers, football fans and rum enthusiasts
Manchester Day is back and takes place in the city centre this Saturday(Image: Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)
Let’s face it, whether you like it or not, Manchester is on a little bit of an Oasis comedown right now.
Having hosted the local band for five nights across almost two weeks, it seems a little weird to no longer have the Gallagher’s faces plastered around every corner of the city centre.
But that’s not to say we are being denied any more big events and festivities in the city. This week alone, we’ve had four shows from Billie Eilish at Co-op Live and we have shows from Peter Kay and Drake in the pipeline, as well as the return of Manchester Pride in a little over a month’s time.
With us now being in school holiday territory, there are also a host of family-friendly things taking place, like the LOWRY 360 and Quentin Blake and Me exhibitions at The Lowry, as well as the Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum.
But what about this weekend? Well, it’s another fun-filled two days with a host of festivals, conventions and events taking place across Greater Manchester, including the return of Manchester Day and celebrations for the Euros finals.
Manchester Comic Con will celebrate all things pop culture at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre(Image: Manchester Evening News)
If you’re looking for some last-minute suggestions on things to do on Saturday and Sunday read on as we may have you covered. As always, it is worth checking details with the official organisers beforehand as things can, and often do, change at short notice.
Manchester Day
The annual celebration of all things Manchester returns to the city centre on Saturday featuring a Mini Parade, live entertainment and a collaboration between football and opera.
Manchester Day will this year take on a music theme, celebrating the city’s summer of big gigs. The Saturday event will kick off at 12pm at St Peter’s Square with a parade of more than 400 participants including dancing birds, live bands, fantastical creatures and community groups.
Across the day there will also be dhol drummers, hip-hop wrestling, community choirs and a unique Perfect Pitch event where more than 250 football fans and choir members from Bury, Manchester and Wigan will perform football chants and operatic repertoire.
Full line-up and locations can be found here.
Manchester Rum Festival
Also taking place on Saturday in the city centre will be the Manchester Rum Festival.
Featuring more than 50 different rum brands from around the world, the one-day festival will take place at New Century Hall.
Throughout the day there will also be a series of ‘Rum Ramble’ events, featuring discussions from some of the leaders of the rum industry across the world, including a talk from Lexi Davies, who is an ambassador for Mount Gay, which is the world’s oldest running rum distillery.
Manchester Day will feature dancers, drummers and performers across the city centre(Image: Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)Comic Con Manchester
Stars from the world of cartoons, anime, TV and film will join forces for a weekend of pop culture fun at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre on Saturday and Sunday (July 26-27).
Amongst the names to be attending are Sean Astin, who has appeared in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Stranger Things and The Goonies, and Oscar Isaac, from the recent Star Wars Trilogy, Moon Knight and Dune. There will also be Neil Fanning, the voice of Scooby-Doo in the live action films, and the one and only Dogpool, AKA Peggy, from Deadpool & Wolverine.
Alongside the chance to get photos and signatures from celebrities, the event will also feature interactive workshops and panels, as well as cosplay contests, family-friendly activities and plenty more. Tickets, from £12.10, can be bought here.
UKTTA Tattoo Convention
From one convention to another, the UKTTA will feature more than 400 different tattoo artists and traders at Depot Mayfield on Saturday and Sunday (July 26-27).
A fixture in the midlands since 2023, the event is heading to Manchester for the first time and will include food and drink vendors, craft stalls, live entertainment, and some of the region’s best tattoo artists.
There will also be the debut of the UKTTA Manchester tattoo industry awards, where a panel of expert judges will recognise the best work done over the weekend across 15 different competition categories, including the honour of being named best tattoo and a £2,000 prize.
Tickets are £25 per day, or £40 for a weekend pass available here.
Manchester Rum Festival will be taking place in the city this Saturday(Image: Manchester Rum Festival)Cheer on the Lionesses
The UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 final will take place in Switzerland on Sunday afternoon and it’s a big one – with England and Spain vying for the top place.
The final will be screened at venues across the city, including Freight Island and the AO Arena, where fans can cheer on the action on the big screen with friends.
Freight Island’s free event will kick off from 5pm, and tickets can be secured here. The AO Arena will also screen the match, as well as host a fan zone from 4pm. Tickets, from £9, can be bought here.