It might be nearing the end of summer but there’s plenty of events to soak up the last of the sunny days
The Late Summer Fete takes place in Sadler’s Yard this weekend(Image: Supplied)
Whether you can believe it not, we’re almost at the end of the school holidays, and those summer-soaked days. The season has been packed full of music festivals, food and drink celebrations and family-friendly activities, so it’s certainly been a summer to remember.
As we look ahead to the coming months, the return of festivities and big events like the Christmas Markets, it can all start to feel like things are closing in, especially as the light starts to fade earlier. But rest assured there’s still plenty to pack in before autumn gets into full swing – especially this weekend.
Autumn isn’t too bad anyway, not with the roast dinners, cosy pubs and country walks, and events like the Blackpool Illuminations, which will be switched on this weekend, are a good way to ease the transition between the seasons.
This week, we’ve cast the net a little further because not only will Blackpool be glowing this Friday night, but a host of aircraft will take to the skies above the Sefton coast too as the Southport Airshow gets underway.
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Closer to home there’s plenty to get stuck into as well, and we’ve pulled together a small assortment of suggestions below.
Didsbury Pride
Didsbury Pride is back for 2025 – people pictured here in 2021(Image: KBP)
If last weekend was all about Manchester, this Saturday attention turns to the suburb of Didsbury as it’s annual Pride celebration returns.
First founded in 2018, this year, the free-to-attend event, a grassroots community-led celebrity of LGBTQ+ inclusion and pride, will have a 1990s icon headlining – in the form of pop favourite Sybil.
The day starts with a “Rainbow Walk” through Didsbury setting off at 12pm from the Didsbury Pub, heading to Barlow Moor Road where the main stage, entertainment and food and drink will then be on through to 9pm on Saturday, and where there will also be an appearance from Coronation Street star Julia Goulding.
As well as the headline performance from Sybil at the finale at around 8.30pm, there will be performances from the Northenden Choir at 12.45pm, BATALA samba band at 2.30pm, Manchester Proud Chorus at 4pm, Didsbury Daytime Singers at 2pm, Manchester swing king Alexander Stewart at 3pm and an array of DJ sets across the afternoon.
Didsbury Pride takes place from 12noon to 9pm on Saturday, August 30.
Blackpool Illuminations
The Blackpool Illuminations will be officially switched on during a big music festival tonight(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
This Friday night the iconic Blackpool Illuminations return bringing dazzling displays to the Lancashire coast. Thousands are expected to turn up for the official Switch-On event which promises an evening of entertainment, celebrity guests, and the iconic installations.
The Illuminations are a beloved feature in Blackpool’s calendar and have been running every year since 1879. Today, the light displays stretch for six miles along the seafront.
For 2025, several new installations are making their debut, including the ‘Guardians of the North’ created by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen which will feature brand-new fire-breathing dragons that move around and interact with the Blackpool Tower’s iconic projection show.
This year the official Switch-On event will take place on Friday, August 29, but there’s plenty of time to see them as they’ll run until January 4, 2026. Start and end times vary throughout the season and you could find more details on the display times via the Visit Blackpool website.
Blackpool Illuminations are completely free to visit. Tickets have been allocated for the official Switch-On event, but if you did miss out there is a live screening zone on the promenade.
Manchester Psych Fest
Kurt Vile headlining the Manchester psych festival in 2022(Image: Hana Kelly)
The UK’s leading Psychedelic multi-venue music and arts festival, Manchester Psych Fest, returns this weekend. It takes place on Saturday, 30 August across various city-centre venues, with a whole host of acts on the bill.
Festival-goers will be able to catch acts like W.H. Lung, Jadu Heart, Tropical Funk Storm, George Clanton, Getdown Services, Goat and Nadine Shah, plus many more.
There’ll also be loads of art workshops, film screenings, activities and street food too, all centred around the city centre.
The multi-venue festival takes place at Manchester Academy, o2 Ritz, Projekts Skate Park, Gorilla, YES, Deaf Institute, Circle Square, Fac251, Sandbar, Lass O’Gowrie and The Bread Shed.
Tickets can be purchased via the Psych Festival website.
Southport Air Show
Southport Air Show returns this weekend(Image: Copyright Unknown)
This weekend a host of aircraft will take to the skies above the Sefton coast as Southport Air Show returns. Spectators can enjoy jaw-dropping aerial displays and have the chance to watch historic aircraft in flight.
While the Red Arrows will not be performing at the air show, there will still be many incredible displays taking place. Visitors can marvel at the likes of the RAF Typhoon, the Rolls Royce Spitfire, and the Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight.
Visitors can also check out the impressive Military Village, located on Marine Drive, where equipment will be displayed from the Armed Forces. Aviation fans will be able to get up close to a Replica Chinook Helicopter and even have the chance to climb aboard.
Tickets cost £12 plus a small booking fee. Children under 16 years of age go free of charge. You can purchase tickets in advance online or buy them on the day at the box office.
The Southport Air Show takes place on Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31. It will open at 10am and close at around 5pm.
Late Summer Fête
The Late Summer Fete takes place in Sadler’s Yard this weekend(Image: Supplied)
This weekend, the whole of Manchester is invited to Sadler’s Yard for its Late Summer Fête. Taking place on Sunday (August 31), those heading down can expect sponge stocks, bunting, baking, folk music, and your favourite childhood traditions – all blended together in this city centre spot.
This isn’t just any fête, it’s also a celebration of 10 years of Sadler’s Yard, the beating heart of Manchester’s NOMA neighbourhood. As of 2015, the yard was the city’s first public square built in a hundred years, named by public vote after James Sadler – balloonist, chemist, pastry chef, and first man (with a cat) to launch into the skies from this very neighbourhood.
In honour of this strange yet brilliant legacy, the Late Summer Fête will feature a cornucopia of vibrant activities, including bake sales, cookery demos, cat portraiture and the official public gathering of people named James – bring your James to claim a commemorative badge.
Throw in some Morris dancing and a tombola, and you’ve got yourself a proper day out. To get involved, walk, tram, drive, or cycle your way over to Sadler’s Yard, NOMA on Sunday 31 August, anytime from 11am to 4pm.
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