The free, family-friendly Manchester Day celebrations return for 2025 this July
Manchester Day 2024 in Manchester city centre(Image: Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)
This summer is looking to be one of the biggest the city of Manchester has seen in years. An estimated 1.3 million music tourists are expected with some of the biggest stars set to take to venues across the region.
With Parklife Festival, Oasis and a string of huge arena gigs lined up over the next three months, it makes sense that the theme for this year’s Manchester Day nods to the jam-packed musical schedule ahead.
Manchester Day, an annual family-friendly celebration will take over the city centre streets this July and organisers have confirmed this year’s theme, promising a ‘mammoth day of music-themed fun’.
Taking place on Saturday, July 26, the free event will see activities, events and installations take over the city from St Ann’s Square and Cathedral Gardens, to everywhere in-between.
Manchester Day 2024 took place in Manchester city centre(Image: Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)
Organised by Manchester City Council, regular partners and outdoor specialists Walk the Plank will be working with them on the programme for the day.
This year’s lineup will include the English National Opera teaming up with Manchester’s football fans and community choirs, West End show tunes, juggling drummers, and hip-hop wrestling.
There will also be two musical cats and a larger-than-life canary all in a giant birdcage, and plenty of chances for visitors young and old to get stuck in, or to try their hand at music-making and uncover potential hidden musical talents they didn’t know they had.
The day will also see a music takeover of the route from St Peter’s Square to the Cathedral, with families invited to take a musical meander through the city streets as a music-filled mini parade makes its way from the square, along Deansgate, to the Cathedral.
Manchester Day 2025 will be musical themed and takes place on Saturday, July 26(Image: Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)
The parade, which has always been a favourite of those who head down, will also feature two huge Griffins up front with fantastical birds and other winged creatures in tow.
The mini parade will be accompanied by the sounds of Brazilian-inspired brass from Jubacana, drumming from Manchester Dhol Players and a giant Dhol drum, along with the percussive rhythms of Manchester Batala, and performers from community groups across the city including the Anglo Filipino Club, the Hong Kong Cultural Community, Greater Manchester’s Youth network, Manchester’s Lithuanian Society and more.
Continuing the musical theme, Manchester Day 2025 will also feature strum-along ukulele sessions, spontaneous sing-a-longs, steel pan band dancing, and a bit of Ska for good measure, so there will be a lot going on for families to get get stuck into.
Councillor Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: “We’ve got a mammoth summer of live music coming up in the city this year which means it’s only right that we max out on the music for Manchester Day.
Manchester Day 2024(Image: Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)
“Everyone in Manchester loves music. Mancs have music in their bones, there’s so much talent here – we’re either making it or playing it.
“And that’s why everyone’s on the guestlist for this year’s Manchester Day to help us celebrate the music that Mancunians make best.
“We’ve got a fantastic day lined up so loosen up those vocal chords, grab a guitar, grab your granny, all the family, and don’t miss it!”
Manchester Day 2025 takes place on Saturday, 26 July. Events get underway at 12 noon with final encores at 5pm.