School’s finally out for the summer, so get ready for the ultimate weekend of family fun with Manchester’s very own One Big Summer Weekend. This weekend, Manchester’s Business Improvement District (BID) is bringing together the best of the city’s summer festivals, including The Manchester Picnic, Manchester Jazz Festival and the city’s first Clownfest for a big family weekend. These exciting events will be taking over Exchange Square and St Ann’s Square, alongside street entertainment in Manchester’s shopping district for a weekend full of food, music and entertainment.
The popular Manchester Picnic will be returning for its seventh year and is serving some of the city’s finest street food alongside tastings and demos throughout the weekend in St Ann’s Square. Families can also sit back and relax in a deckchair and enjoy the music from the main stage of the Manchester Jazz Festival. Ideal for the kids, some of the UK’s top clown performers will be descending on the city to spread mirth and laughter.
The festival this weekend will be taking place in a unique Omnitorium – a 100 seat vaudevillian tent that can be found in Exchange Square outside Selfridges. In and around the area, there will be performances to suit all tastes, including family friendly shows, activities, walkabout street theatre and adult shows in the evening.
Neighbouring retailers will also be joining in with Manchester’s One Big Summer Weekend with special in-store events, special tastings and deli stands.
Plan your family day out at Manchester’s One Big Summer Weekend with the below order of events:
The Manchester Picnic
Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 July, 10am – 6pm
St Ann’s Square
You will not be disappointed by the street food line-up, with delicious wood-fired pizzas from I Knead Pizza, fusion tacos inspired by world flavours from No Tacos and classic Spanish tapas from Lunya. Those with a sweet tooth will have their cravings satisfied by The Waffle Shack and Ginger’s Comfort Emporium. There will also be a bar serving a selection of local beers, gin and prosecco whilst one of the city’s finest coffee stops, Rapha will be serving coffee, tea, soft drinks and cakes.
Saturday 29th July
10am – 2:30pm: The Manchester Picnic tastings and demos.
2:30pm – 4pm: Manchester Jazz Festival presents Lucy Mae.
5pm – 6pm: Manchester Jazz Festival presents Umbrellabird.
Sunday 30th July
10am -1 pm: The Manchester Picnic tastings and demos.
1pm – 2:30pm: Manchester Jazz Festival presents Hillary step Quartet.
3:30pm – 5pm: Manchester Jazz Festival presents Nag Champa.
Clownfest Manchester
Saturday 29th July, 10:30am – 10:30pm
The Omnitorium, Exchange Square
Adult tickets: £6.50 – £8. All family shows: Pay what you want (PWYW) basis
10:30am – 11am; 12:30pm – 1pm: Little Wonder (PWYW). Suitable for families.
Walkabout: Waggledance Walkabout.
11:30am – 12pm; 3pm – 3:30pm: Cyril the Squirrel (PWYW). Suitable for children aged 3+ and families.
1:30pm – 2:30pm: Captain Cauliflower and Marvin the Mischievous Moose (PWYW). Suitable for children aged 5+ and families.
4:30pm – 5:30pm: Pudding & Lulu. Adults (£6.50).
6pm – 7pm: Roisin and Chiara: We Are Not Afraid. Adults (£6.50).
7:30pm – 8:30pm: The Establishment: Eton Mess. Adults (£6.50).
9pm – 10pm: Red Bastard: Lie With Me. Adults (£8).
