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Browse our things to do in August in Manchester and the North this August, to find a fantastic exhibition, live music performance or restaurant that interests you and/or your family, we have options for all ages.
Don’t forget to check out our guide to the August Bank Holiday.
Things to do in August
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Flying Fighters of Taiwan at HOME
A film season of epic sword-wielding warriors and spectacular wuxia action featuring acrobatic performance skills in fantastical historical settings.
Just So Festival 2022
Just So, the best family festival in the UK, returns in August. Expect woodland adventures, magical storytelling and outdoor arts and creative activities for families.
Identical at The Lowry
Taking place at The Lowry from Friday 19 August to Saturday 3 September, Identical reimagines the classic story of the identical twin girls separated at birth, who are (accidentally) reunited at a summer camp ten years later.
Fly With Me
Fly With Me brings communities, families and friends together to fly kites in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan.
The Tetley Makers’ Market: Sustainable Summer Edition
Join in the eco-conscious fun at the market’s sustainable summer weekend-long edition with workshops, delicious food, live music and local artists.
Gambit at St Ann’s Square
If you’re out and about on 20 August in Manchester city centre, keep your eyes peeled for Word of Warning and Proud & Loud Arts’ latest performance piece…
Box on the Docks presents Family Weekender
Keep the kids entertained for free at MediaCity, with entertainers, arts and crafts activities, live music and storytelling.
Heat at Chapeltown Picture House
Two of America’s finest, most charismatic film actors come together for the first time on screen in Michael Mann’s highly intelligent, stylish, violent thriller.
Peter Barlow’s Cigarette & Carcanet present… at The Pen & Pencil
Two of our favourite Manchester institutions – Peter Barlow’s Cigarette and Carcanet Press – are teaming up to present an afternoon of alternative poetries.
Perfume Genius at Manchester Cathedral
Perfume Genius heads to Manchester Cathedral in support of his excellent new experimental pop album, Ugly Season.
Dance in the Gardens at Sheffield Botanical Gardens
Experience Sheffield Botanical Gardens like never before with a unique open-air ballet and music experience.
Carcanet online book launch: Imperium by Jay Gao
Launching his first collection, Imperium, out now with Manchester’s Carcanet Press, poet Jay Gao will be chatting to Forward Prize-winning Will Harris.
Torrey Peters and Imogen Binnie at the Whitworth
Manchester’s independent gay bookshop Queer Lit has teamed up with The Whitworth to bring you an evening with novelists Torrey Peters and Imogen Binnie.
Festa Italiana at Cathedral Gardens
Festa Italiana Manchester is the country’s biggest festival designed to celebrate Italian food, drink and culture. Transforming Manchester city centre’s Cathedral Gardens into Little Italy once again from the 26th to 28th August.
The Godfather 50th Anniversary at Stockport Plaza
Francis Ford Coppola’s epic crime drama is back in cinemas, restored in 4K and re-released for its 50th Anniversary.
Geronimo Festival at Arley Hall
Head to the Geronimo Festival 2022 to experience children’s entertainment & activities, music, food stalls, camping, and loads of fun!
House of Cronenberg at Chapeltown Picture House
In honour of legendary director David Cronenberg’s return to the big screen, Chapeltown Picture House presents the ultimate body horror marathon.
The National and Dry Cleaning at Depot Mayfield
Indie rock stalwarts The National take to Depot Mayfield this August, joined by their 4AD label mates, Dry Cleaning.
Before Trilogy at Picturehouse at FACT
Richard Linklater’s evocative romance follows Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy characters across eighteen years and three acclaimed films.
Word Central with David Viney at Central Library
Manchester Libraries and Flapjack Press present Word Central, a free event every month featuring open mic performers and a special guest. Stepping up to the Word Central mic for August is David Viney.
Liverpool Theatre Festival at St Luke’s Bombed Out Church
Don’t miss this super theatre festival packed with live outdoor performances featuring musical theatre, drama, comedy, cabaret, opera, and children’s shows.
Still showing this month
Damien Hirst at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Experience YBA artist Damien Hirst’s towering and provocative outdoor sculptures at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
The Little Library in Spinningfields
Take your pick from The Little Library’s carefully curated collection of classics and new releases, adding a recently read book of your own as a replacement.
Northern Quarter Taster Walk with Manchester Food Walks
We are lucky to be spoilt for choice when it comes to fresh, delicious and independent food choices in the centre of Manchester. Nowhere is this presence felt more than in the Northern Quarter. Join John Ryan on this taster walk as you eat your way through the back streets learning about the local history and culture as you go.
Skyliner: Alternative Tours of Manchester
Join Skyliner for the anti-tour of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. The route interrogates current developments in the city as well as visiting the area’s most notable pieces of street art.
What is Manchester Art Gallery? at Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery reopens with a thought-provoking new exhibition that delves into the history of the public institution and its role within the city.
Families at the National Football Museum
Bring your football-loving family for a visit to England’s one and only national museum for football, with activities for families available throughout the museum.
Book sale at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and award-winning garden is a must-see, with the famous book sale every second Sunday of the month throughout 2022.
Embroidery with Sara Dennis at Lancaster Castle
Learn embroidery in a fun and relaxed environment with the BBC’s Sara Dennis at Lancaster Castle’s famous Witches Tower.
Graffiti at Zap Graffiti
Liverpool’s Zap Graffiti teaches all the basic skills and techniques you need to make a street-style creation you’ll be proud of.
Blacksmithing at Forge Four
This beginners workshop will teach participants the traditional skills associated with blacksmithing, in the ‘Steel City’ of Sheffield.
Stone carving at West Riding Stonecarving Association
The West Riding Stonecarving Association is dedicated to keeping the art of hand-carving stone alive and bringing it to the general public.
Textile taxidermy with Jaki Bogg at Craven Arts Studios
Head to Skipton’s Craven Arts Studios to create a unique mounted animal head for your home with local textile artist Jaki Bogg.
Candle making at Cheshire Workshops
Try your hand at candle making with the experts at Cheshire Workshops, this fun and creative skill is suitable for all ages.
Pottery at Earth Pig Pottery and Fine Art in Buxton
Try your hand at pottery at Earth Pig Studio in Buxton’s Green Man Gallery; a longstanding community arts hub, shop and gallery.
Eat The City – Scranchester Tours
Satisfy your hunger for knowledge as well as lunch with Scranchester’s food tours of the city centre. You may discover a new favourite hidden gem or learn a bit more about the cultural or historical significance of the food you eat all the time.
Silence – Alone in a World of Wounds at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Stop and spend an hour or two with this special creation, nestled within a stand of birch trees beside Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Upper Lake.
Glass fusing at Glassmonkey Studio
Come and experience the magic of fused glass at Glass Monkey Studio in Burnley, where workshops cater for all levels and abilities.
Making silver stacker rings at The Old Granary
One of many workshops hosted by local jeweller Helen Drye, here you’ll learn the technical skills required to make a chic stacker ring.
Knittaz with Attitude: Yarnbombing at Upside Down Coffee
Knitting, crochet, yarnbombing and contemporary needlecraft. Not a workshop as such but a ‘learning’ social with Knittaz with Attitude.
At Home with the Pankhurst Family at the Pankhurst Centre
The Pankhurst Centre’s new permanent exhibition offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of the people behind the iconic Pankhurst name.
Still Parents: Life After Baby Loss at The Whitworth
This constituent-led exhbition is the first of its kind and offers an intimate snapshot of grief, life after baby loss and the importance that creativity can have in the process.
Albert Potrony: EQUAL PLAY at BALTIC, Gateshead
Artist and educator Albert Potrony sets out to explore non-gendered and non-prescriptive modes of childhood play in a major new exhibition at BALTIC.
Electric Gamebox at The Arndale
Get ready for an immersive, digital, gaming adventure at the Arndale Centre in Manchester.
Tours in Chester
Roman Soldiers, blue badge holders and Medieval Longbowman walk the streets of Chester sharing their passion for history with a wide selection of tours in Chester.
2022 Banner Exhibition at People’s History Museum
The 2022 Banner Exhibition 2022 at the People’s History Museum will take you on a journey through the history of rights and equality via its dazzling collection.
The People Of
Experience Northmoor Road as you’ve never heard it before, The people of is a sound walk that encourages you to look beyond the surface of a community.
Sounds of Nature at The Stoller Hall
The Stoller Hall has taken Sound of Nature as its new programming strand for 2022, with the aim of connecting audiences with nature through music.
Robert Indiana: Sculpture 1958-2018 at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
A major exhibition of Robert Indiana’s sculptures and two-dimensional work will adorn the rolling hills and Underground Gallery of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Victoria Baths Guided Tour
Victoria Baths Guided Tours are back again after a winter break. Uncover the history of one of Manchester’s iconic treasures through the stories of bathers who once flocked there.
Jill McKnight: Desire Lines at Leeds Art Gallery
Leeds-based artist Jill McKnight presents a new body of work: Desire Lines, exploring the physical and metaphorical paths Leeds residents have taken across generations.
Nomadic Beers: Brewery Tour
Join gaffa Katie for a tasty venture into Nomadic Beers vegan brewery where you’ll learn about the brewing process as well as sampling the final products.
Fairy Tales at Z-Arts
Z-Arts presents Fairy Tales, an enchanting exhibition that takes children aged 0-8 to an interactive Fairy Tale wonderland.
Sheila Hicks: Off Grid at The Hepworth Wakefield
The Hepworth Wakefield presents the work of Sheila Hicks, one of the world’s foremost artists working with textiles, fibre, colour and form.
Emii Alrai: Future Collect Commission at The Hepworth Wakefield
Emii Alrai will present a new commission at The Hepworth Wakefield that imitates archaeological artefacts and intertwines Iraqi oral histories and mythologies from the Middle East.
Mounira Al Solh: A Day Is As Long As A Year at BALTIC, Gateshead
‘Mounra Al Solh: A Day Is As Long As A Year’ will explore migration, memory and storytelling in Al Solh’s upcoming show at the BALTIC, opening the gallery’s 20th anniversary programme.
The Vasseur BALTIC Artists Award 2022 at BALTIC, Gateshead
The Vasseur BALTIC Artists’ Award 2022, in its third edition, will gather the work of some of the most exciting international artists working today, exploring themes of ancient mythologies, contemporary politics and ecology.
Kunichika: Japanese Prints at Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight
‘Kunichika: Japanese Prints’ at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight showcases the work of one of the most important printmakers of the 19th century in Japan.
Refractive Pool: Contemporary Painting in Liverpool at Walker Art Gallery
‘Refractive Pool: Contemporary Painting in Liverpool’ at Walker Art Gallery celebrates local talent with an exhibition of paintings by 21 Merseyside artists alongside a publication.
Simple Nutritional Cooking Sessions
Learn a series of healthy, cheap and heart warming dishes in this new series of cooking sessions based in Wakefield.
Radical Landscapes at Tate Liverpool
Tate Liverpool’s summer show ‘Radical Landscapes’ delights with a fresh, rebellious and thoroughly modern look at the subject of landscape via a display of over 150 works, spanning a century of landscape art that falls far from the traditional.
Gathering Downstream at Quarry Bank
The former cotton mill of Quarry Bank is currently home to ‘Gathering Downstream’, an exhibition exploring the site’s legacy of the industrial revolution alongside environmental change and disruption.
Bubu Ogisi: I am not myself at The Tetley
The practice and rituals of masquerading are the focus of Bubu Ogisi’s new show ‘I am not myself’ at The Tetley, exploring tradition, spirituality and bodily consciousness.
The Tudors: Passion, Power and Politics at Walker Art Gallery
A treat for the eyes and curious minds, the Walker Art Gallery’s spring exhibition of Tudor portraits is sure to delight audiences.
British Art Show 9
The major touring exhibition of the country’s most exciting contemporary artists is coming to Manchester’s art venues in May 2022.
Leeds Craft Cider Tour
Sample the best artisanal ciders, (and an intriguing Perry) Leeds has to offer in this new Craft Cider Tour.
One Man, Two Guvnors
The hilarious smash hit comedy One Man, Two Guvnors explodes into the North West this summer in a brand-new production.
Barbara Nicholls’ watercolours and ‘Dovetailing’ at Windermere Jetty Museum
Barbara Nicholls’ grand watercolours and the collaborative project ‘Dovetailing’ are on display in Cumbria this summer, right by the beautiful Windermere.
Shifting Perspectives at Leeds Art Gallery
Leeds Art Gallery’s exhibition ‘Shifting Perspectives’ invites viewers to examine their own perspectives around identity and representation of African, Caribbean and Asian communities, via the medium of art.
Charmaine Watkiss: The Wisdom Tree at Leeds Art Gallery
Artist Charmaine Watkiss celebrates the resilience and wisdom of Caribbean women across generations in her show ‘The Wisdom Tree’ at Leeds Art Gallery.
Emily Hesse: The Witches’ Institution (W.I.) at The Tetley
Emily Hesse imagines what a cultural institution run by a community of witches would look like for her brand new show ‘The Witches’ Institution (W.I.)’ at The Tetley.
PIVOT: Editions at Castlefield Gallery
Castlefield Gallery is offering affordable editioned work by five artists based across the North West, whether you’re looking for new original art to own, or just keeping up to date with the preoccupations of contemporary artists today.
Brick by Brick at Ferens Art Gallery
Brick by Brick at Ferens Art Gallery is an exhibition that brings together work by international artists, designers and photographers who use LEGO® bricks as their medium or inspiration and create striking, thought provoking and often humorous artworks.
Carolina Caycedo: Land of Friends at BALTIC Gateshead
‘Land of Friends’, Carolina Caycedo’s first major survey in Europe, gathers work from the artist’s 20 years of making, and focuses on environmental justice, energy transition and cultural biodiversity, with the addition of a brand new commission.
The Lost Words at Quarry Bank
Robert McFarlane and Jackie Morris’ spell book is brought to life in a special new artist trail which brings to life the language of the natural world.
Canoeing and Kayaking on the Mersey
Experience the River Mersey from a more intimate perspective with canoeing and kayaking trips from Venture Out.
Janine Burrows: Table to Tide: A Yorkshire Conversation at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Table to Tide: A Yorkshire Conversation is Janine Burrows’ very intimate exhibition created especially for Yorkshire Sculpture park.
The Great Northern Sandpit
Head to the Great Northern Sandpit in Manchester this summer and expect hours and hours of free entertainment for children.
Recollections May Vary at the Mental Health Museum, Wakefield
Inspired by the museum collection of objects and documents related to mental health, ‘Recollections May Vary’ gathers the work of 12 artists, resulting in a powerful display of very personal responses.
James Fox: Something in Common at Blackwell, the Arts & Crafts House
Gentle protest with the use of crafts and questioning public land access rights will be the focus on James Fox’s new exhibition ‘Something in Common’ at Blackwell, the Arts & Crafts House in Cumbria.
Jaume Plensa: In small places, close to home at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
The much-loved sculptor Jaume Plensa’s drawings are on display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Weston Gallery and 18th century chapel, revealing his preoccupation with the human condition, and community.
Summer of Love at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
‘Summer of Love’ at YSP is a series of events celebrating human relationships, love and community, with all of its complexity and nuance.
Inspired by Lady Lever at Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight
Port Sunlight’s exhibition ‘Inspired by Lady Lever’ aims to reveal a little more about the lady herself, with the help of valuable artefacts, while celebrating 100 years of history at the Lady Lever Art Gallery, and the life of the woman it is named after.
Temporary Atlas: Mapping the Self in the Art of Today at MOSTYN
‘Temporary Atlas: Mapping the Self in the Art of Today’ at MOSTYN gallery is showcasing the work of 17 artists, focusing on maps and mapping as a way of recording experience and challenging the traditional concept of cartography.
Creative Connections Sheffield at the Millennium Gallery
Teaming up with the National Portrait Gallery, Creative Connections Sheffield showcases the fame that the city has to offer through a set of powerful portraits.
Romeo and Juliet at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre
Don’t miss one of the greatest love stories ever told when it comes to Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre this summer. Theatre and fresh air. Perfect.
Playtime: Summer Family Activities at The Whitworth
Get creative and explore the art of play at The Whitworth this summer.
Power UP at the Science and Industry Museum
Families of Manchester! Do you just LOVE gaming? This summer, head to Power UP at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester for an out-of-home, extraordinary gaming experience like never before.
Are You Messin’? at the Bluecoat
The Bluecoat’s new display ‘Are you Messin’?’ is a place of inspiration, art and most importantly play, for the youngest visitors and their families.
Lungiswa Gqunta: Sleep in Witness at The Henry Moore Institute
Don’t miss the work of multimedia artist Lungiswa Gqunta at The Henry Moore Institute, in ‘Sleep in Witness’, her largest show to date. Using an established set of powerful, personal motifs, Gqunta’s work focuses on colonialism, its violence and legacy, while also leaning into themes of resistance and collective healing.
Little Women at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre
The treasured story of the March sisters will be reimagined for the stunning setting of Chester’s open air theatre this summer.
Forget Me Not exhibition at Manchester Poetry Library
Forget Me Not is a new exhibition exploring the relationship between poetry and pictures in Victorian and Edwardian greetings cards. The show aims to provide a snapshot of the Laura Seddon Collection, brimming with over 32,500 examples of 19th-century greetings cards and one of the largest and most comprehensive sources for their study.
Rachel Goodyear: Stirrings at Salford Museum & Art Gallery
Salford Museum & Art Gallery presents a ‘homecoming’ exhibition – the first major solo show in the North by the Salford-based, internationally renowned artist Rachel Goodyear.
Shakespeare North Playhouse Opening Season
Launching with a glorious weekend of free festivities (15-17 July), check out Shakespeare North Playhouse’s spectacular opening season.
Summer Fun in Gaskell’s Garden
Elizabeth Gaskell once wrote: ‘Every Plant that Peeps up is a Treasure’, when talking about her garden in Manchester, and this Summer, families are invited to experience this treasure for themselves. Summer Fun in Gaskell’s Garden is launching on Wednesday 20 July, running until Sunday 4 September
One Man, Two Guvnors at Theatre by the Lake
Offering a hilarious mix of slapstick, laugh-out-loud moments and a live skiffle band, this is a brand new production of the West End hit. Don’t miss out.
Emma Rodgers: Wunderkammer at Williamson Art Gallery
‘Emma Rodgers: Wunderkammer’ at Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead takes audiences into the world of the artist’s fantastical creations.
My Garden, My Sanctuary at FACT Liverpool
Visit the tech-enhanced environments of ‘My Garden, My Sanctuary’ where wellness, water and K-pop all intertwine to create the summer exhibition at FACT.
The Jungle Book at Williamson Park
The enchanting backdrop of Lancaster’s Williamson Park will provide a magical and leafy setting for this outdoor walkabout performance.
Stig of the Dump at Grosvenor Open Air Theatre
A revival of Grosvenor Park’s sell-out, critically acclaimed production of the classic tale of a boy’s friendship with a mysterious caveman.
Picture This at The Lowry
This summer, the Lowry is celebrating children’s books with a wonderful exhibition of illustrations and an exciting accompanying events programme for the whole family.
The BFG in Pictures at Grosvenor Museum
The BFG in Pictures is a new, free exhibition based at Chester’s Grosvenor Museum, opening from 23 July – 2 October.
High on Hope at Cross Lane Projects
Visit Kendal’s Cross Lane Projects for High on Hope, a memorial exhibition for the revered contemporary artist Gerard Hemsworth (1945-2021).
Summer Tours at the Leeds Discovery Centre
Join Leeds Discovery Centre for their fascinating summer tours, and see artefacts from the Leeds Museums and Galleries collection.
Pool Arts: Random Acts of Kindness at HOME
HOME welcomes Pool Arts’ Random Acts of Kindness, a project that allows artists to share their work as an act of connection with audiences.
reDiscover/ Wim Wenders at Picturehouse at FACT
A six film retrospective dedicated to acclaimed New German Cinema icon, Wim Wenders.
The Gruffalo at The Lowry
Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s well-loved picture book.
The Wizarding Adventure at East Lancashire Railway
Families: Get ready to climb aboard the spell-binding steam train for a magical Wizarding Adventure at East Lancashire Railway.
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Father’s Day
This year’s Father’s Day is Sunday 19th June. Get out and about and spend some quality time with the old man in Manchester.
International Women’s Day in Manchester and the North
Here’s a rundown of the most eye-catching events happening on and around International Women’s Day in Manchester and the North.
Toward the Unknown Region – RVW150 at The Bridgewater Hall
The Hallé and the BBC Philharmonic are joining forces to offer a unique Mancunian tribute to Ralph Vaughan Williams at 150.
Spring Bank Holiday
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