Manchester is set to be busy this weekend with flower shows…
Manchester Flower Festival takes place this weekend (Image: Carl Sukonik | The Vain Photography)
The May Bank Holiday weekend is finally here. While the blissful weather we’ve been enjoying may taper off slightly over the next few days, there’s plenty of events to head to, and a few showers surely won’t put a dampener on them.
It’s been a busy few weeks here in Manchester, with Bruce Springsteen in town, Eurovision parties and a very special motorcycle ride which saw 300 vehicles and their drivers take part in a route between Salford and the St John’s neighbourhood in the city centre.
Looking ahead to the next few days, there’s new openings to check out, exhibitions to explore if the weather turns, and a range of festivals from neighborhood takeovers to flower shows.
With a strong mix of big events happening, we’ve rounded up a few in case you needed some inspiration for your bank holiday plans.
Manchester Flower Festival
he Manchester Flower Festival(Image: Fabio De Paola)
Manchester will blossom this weekend as the much-anticipated Manchester Flower Festival returns with a blooming brilliant line-up of installations and events from Friday 23 to Monday 26 May.
At the heart of the festival is the spectacular Floral Trail, which winds through the city centre with nine professionally designed installations celebrating Manchester’s identity and its connections with global cities. There will also be a Festival Zone, a Floral Marquee, and a Flower Market.
Selfridges will also take over Exchange Square with a flower pop-up, live entertainment, flower stall and food and drink pop-ups.
Visitors can also take part in a Cocktail Trail, and there’s a Cut & Craft Champagne Bar, where guests can indulge in Moët & Chandon Champagne, refreshing Rosé, indulgent slushies, and handcrafted cocktails in a luxurious pop-up Moet bar on New Cathedral Street.
The Manchester Flower Festival, Manchester city centre. Friday 23 – Monday 26 May.
Step inside a Lowry painting
The new 360 immersive art experience of Going to the Match as part of the Lowry Theatre’s 25th anniversary(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Right now, there’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of LS Lowry’s iconic work over at Salford Quays. Visitors now have the chance to walk inside a giant recreation of Lowry’s 1953 masterpiece Going to the Match – one of his best-loved works – and it’s completely free.
As part of the experience, the Salford artist’s iconic matchstick men and women come to life and walk across the large exhibition space, fully transporting you back in time. With a soundtrack narrated by Bolton TV star Sophie Willan, visitors will get to learn all about the iconic portrait.
While you’re over that way, you can also check out ‘Stories – Brought to Life’, the first immersive art experience of a UK national collection. Running until Sunday 31 August at MediaCity, the experience brings the stories of David Bowie, Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela, Amy Winehouse and William Shakespeare to life in stunning detail.
Housed within a big-boxed building in the heart of the MediaCity piazza, the 10,000 sq ft state-of–the-art digital gallery follows on from similar experiences from the likes of Van Gogh and David Hockney that have toured Manchester recently.
There is also a three-day Makers Market happening across the weekend with stalls, live music and facepalming for kids at the Quayside Media City Shopping Centre.
Quayside Media City, Salford, M50 3AH
Grab a pint at Stockport’s brand new beer hall
The multi-storey Stockport venue will feature locally brewed pints, frozen margaritas, an outdoor terrace and state-of-the-art sound system(Image: Supplied)
On a sunny weekend, Stockport’s Underbanks have become the place to head for a cold one, bite to eat, and a all-night street party. Joining the esteemed crop of restaurants, bars and cafes in Stockport’s Old Town will be ‘Underbank’, a brand new beer hall, margarita bar and sound-system venue.
The venue comes from husband-and-wife duo, Des and Nina O’Malley, who own Nook, a neighbourhood cafe bar in Heaton Moor, and will open in phases across multiple floors in the striking red sandstone building, and boast two entrances connecting the market square with the vibrant Underbank strip.
Those heading down can expect locally brewed pints from the likes of Runaway and Pomona, frozen mango margaritas, a front terrace just in time for summer, and a custom Void sound system.
A soft launch for Underbank will take place across Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May. As part of their soft launch, while they train the team, people can join them before 8pm on Saturday 24 or Bank Holiday Sunday and get 50% off their bill if they follow them on @theunderbank on Instagram.
Underbank will be open Thursdays to Sundays every week from midday to 1am.
The Good Yard Party
Good Yard Street is a hidden sun-trap spot in Manchester City Centre(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Manchester’s has a number of beer gardens and places to soak up the sun – when it comes out – and a recent addition is The Good Yard at St John’s. Looking onto Aviva Studios and just over the road from Spinningfields, the outdoor plaza will host an all-weekend event with DJ’s and entertainment right through the weekend.
Looking out onto the square, Caravan and Trading Route are throwing a four-day Yard party in the heart of Manchester’s reimagined creative quarter. You can expect ‘beats, bevs and big energy’ as DJs take over the terrace.
After a post-work pint on Friday, from Midday on Saturday punters can head down for an all-day session (well until 9pm), followed by a 12-6pm session on the Sunday.
Goods Yard St, Manchester M3 3BG
Deansgate Mews Festival
Deansgate Mews festival takes place this weekend (Image: Supplied)
Great Northern Warehouse is kickstarting the summer season with the return of free annual Deansgate Mews Festival. Located on Deansgate Mews, Manchester’s hidden pedestrianised street nestled above Deansgate, the festival will take place from 23-25 May.
Artists performing Mews Fest this year include indie rock band Strawberry Lemonade, rock band Delights, plus many more. The AO Arena’s funding ensures all acts are paid to play over the weekend. Artists performing will also be offered opportunities to sell their merchandise over the weekend.
Along Deansgate Mews, local restaurants and bars will have outdoor seating for visitors to enjoy al fresco drinking and dining all weekend too.
Added to the mix will be the Mini Mews Festival in the atrium with Little Northerners meaning families wanting to enjoy the music will also be able to keep children entertained.