CANCELLED – King Street Festival

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

King Street Festival at King Street Manchester, City Centre 6 — 7 June 2020 Entrance is free

It’s hard to think of a more stylish area of Manchester than the dazzling King Street. And now one of the most anticipated events on the summer calendar, the King Street Festival, returns to celebrate the past, present and future of this iconic thoroughfare.

Taking place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June, this annual festival, organised by Manchester’s Business Improvement District (Manchester BID), celebrates King Street’s timeless architecture and rich history with a glorious weekend filled with alfresco dining, live music, a pop-up gin bar and cocktail trail, lawn games and family activities, historical tours, VIP shopping experiences and the return of the prestigious Manchester Flower Show.

The details of 2020’s festival are currently under wraps, but you’ll get a good picture of what’s in store by looking a last year’s offerings:

Of course, King Street is home to over 50 stores, restaurants and hotels including Boodles, DKNY, Belstaff, Jigsaw, Kiehls, Cath Kidston, Tast, Rosso, King Street Townhouse and Kuoni, who last year gave away a luxury 5* holiday to Mexico!

Food and drink lovers were able to enjoy alfresco dining at Tast and El Gato Negro, and gin tasting at Sam’s Chop House, while cocktail fans followed the ever-popular King Street Cocktail Trail, which returned with a range of summer cocktails created specially for the festival at Sam’s Chop House, Thomas’ Chop House, Tast, Miller & Carter, Kala and Mash Tun, for a mere £5 each.

2019’s festival also included a special focus on Peterloo, two hundred years on, with historic tours by Jonathan Schofield and talks, poetry and storytelling at the Manchester Histories Festival Soapbox. There was also a festival music stage with artists including Vivienne Lynsey, Yemi Bolatiwa, The Rubber Duck Orchestra, Helena Williams, Fifi La Mer and Harvey Brittain, and Dee Olares.

The Manchester Flower Show also transformed the area into a botanical paradise for the weekend, with balconies, lamp posts, bus stops, shop windows and parking bays blooming with floral installations from the region’s best floristry, produce and gardening talent, alongside a market of gardening products, outdoor accessories and flowers including stalls from Tib Street’s award-winning Flourish and indoor plant specialist Nonsense.

Other activities included free tote bag making with ethical brand Patagonia on Lower King Street, complimentary shoe shining at Loake and plenty of family-friendly activities for kids and big kids alike.

Check back here soon for the latest word on what’s on offer at 2020’s King Street Festival!

King Street Festival at King Street Manchester, City Centre 6 — 7 June 2020

Book Now

What's on: Families

OUTDOOR ART CLUB AT THE WHITWORTH
Until
ChildrensManchester
Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth

Enjoy fun and creative activities designed to encourage your little ones to play freely in the fresh air, while exploring nature and the outdoors with family and friends.

free entry
To The Lakes! at Wordsworth Grasmere
Until
ExhibitionsCumbria
To The Lakes! at Wordsworth Grasmere

Find out how the first tourists to the Lake District (a time before mobile phones, specialist clothing and TripAdvisor reviews) experienced the area, in this fascinating new exhibition.

from £6.00
Culture in South Lakes
Until
ExhibitionsCumbria
Culture in South Lakes

Not only one of Britain’s most picturesque national parks, the Lake District is also brimming with culture. Here’s what’s on over the next few months.

free entry

Culture Guides

Exhibitions

There's no rest for the art lover - this month brings outdoor sculpture, musings on water, political drawings and Liverpool Biennial 2023!

Music

We look towards a summer filled with quality festivals, from cultural behemoths to grassroots gems.

Winnie the Pooh at Manchester Opera House
Families

The sun has finally got his hat on! Enjoy our top picks of family-friendly events and activities, both indoors and outdoors.

Classical Music

Summer's classical music calendar is filling up nicely! Read our top picks of concerts happening in Manchester and the North.

Gerry Potter (credit Lee Baxter)
Literature

Books are big this summer, with festival readings, poetry slams, creative writing activities and famous faces all putting in an appearance.

Food and Drink

All signs point toward June being a scorcher of a month, so let’s take a look at all things summery food and drink.

Tours and Activities

From literary activities to brilliant independent shops, keep your minds and homes filled with the good stuff this month.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre

Check out our updated guide for lively theatre festivals, rip-roaring rooftop circus and dreamy outdoor shows.