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Seasonal Guides
Festivals, shows, museums, and much, much more – there’s plenty of summer fun to be had for families in Manchester and the North, whatever the weather. Here are our top picks of some of the best indoor and outdoor family-friendly events and activities happening soon.
Festival lovers – rejoice! Geronimo Festival at Arley Hall is back! The festival described as ‘Glastonbury for Kids’ will feature an incredible array of fun and interactive family activities and events, food stalls, music, and camping, on 27-29 August.
For budding young musical piglets, head to Peppa Pig: My First Concert at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, taking place on 30 July, for a fun introduction to orchestral music.
Roald Dahl fans and creative souls will not be disappointed at The BFG in Pictures, a new, free exhibition based at Chester’s Grosvenor Museum, opening from 23 July – 2 October. This glorious, whizzpopping exhibition features a number of original Quentin Blake illustrations, first prepared by Quentin for Roald Dahl’s much loved and classic story The BFG.
For something a bit different, head to the thrilling Nickelodeon Experience at Heaton Park from 23-5 August, taking you on an immersive journey behind-the-scenes of your most-loved TV shows, including Paw Patrol, Henry Danger, Spongebob Square Pants and many more.
Looking forward to the summer months and into September, the festival we’ve all been waiting for is back, bigger and better than ever before. Are you ready for infinite fun that knows no limits? Science and space-loving families are invited to the Bluedot Festival 2022, which returns for its fifth year of awe-inspiring, inter-planetary fun and delight, on 21-24 July. Families who love the outdoors and digging in the sand can visit the Great Northern Sandpit, which is open throughout the entire summer, with 50 tonnes of soft sand, wooden logs, buckets and spades for digging and building amazing sandcastles.
Just So Festival returns this August with a weekend of wonderful treats and fun for the whole family. While in September our favourite nanny, Mrs Doubtfire, is taking to the stage at the Manchester Opera House, in a hilarious and touching musical comedy about family, love, and friendship.
Open all year round is the interactive Fairy Tale wonderland at Z-Arts, in an innovative and enchanting exhibition that takes children aged 0-8 and their grownups to a magical world, jam-packed with storytelling and immersive play. And if its a rainy day – which could be quite likely during a British summer, there’s loads of great indoor museums to visit, including the Science and Industry Museum and the National Football Museum.
Here are our picks
Geronimo Festival at Arley Hall and Gardens, Cheshire, 27–29 August 2022, from £20.00 - Book now
Geronimo Festival at Arley Hall is back! The festival described as ‘Glastonbury for Kids’ will feature an incredible array of fun and interactive family activities and events, food stalls, music, and camping.
Peppa Pig at the Bridgewater Hall at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 30 July 2022, from £15.50 - Book now
Introduce your youngest piglets to orchestral music the fun way: Peppa Pig: My First Concert at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester will have you snorting with joy and excitement in this a toe-tapping, fun-filled, interactive introduction to live orchestra, aimed for children aged 18 months and older.
The BFG in Pictures at The Chester Grosvenor, Chester, 23 July–2 October 2022, free entry - Find Out More
Roald Dahl fans and creative souls will not be disappointed at The BFG in Pictures, a new, free exhibition based at Chester’s Grosvenor Museum, featuring a number of original Quentin Blake illustrations, first prepared by Quentin for Roald Dahl’s much loved and classic story The BFG.
The Nickelodeon Experience at Heaton Patk at Heaton Park, Manchester, 23 July–5 August 2022, from £19.50 - Book now
Aimed at families with children aged 2-14, the thrilling Nickelodeon Experience at Heaton Park will take you on an immersive journey behind-the-scenes of your most-loved TV shows, including Paw Patrol, Henry Danger, Spongebob Square Pants and many more.
Families at Bluedot Festival at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, Macclesfield, 21–24 July 2022, from £59.75 - Book now
Are you ready for infinite fun that knows no limits? Science and space-loving families are invited to the Bluedot Festival 2022, which returns for its fifth year of awe-inspiring, inter-planetary fun and delight.
Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 16 July 2022, free entry - Visit now
Families of Manchester! Take a visit to the Outdoor Art Club at the Whitworth Art Gallery this summer, jam-packed with fun and creative activities designed to encourage your little ones to play freely while exploring nature and the outdoors with family and friends.
Outdoor Art Club at The Whitworth, Manchester, Until 16 July 2022, free entry - Visit now
Head to the Outdoor Art Club at the Whitworth for fun, 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.
Electric Gamebox at Manchester Arndale, City Centre, Until 22 October 2022, from £5.00 - Book now
Step into the Electric Gamebox in the Arndale Centre in Manchester for a totally new digital gaming adventure experience. You’ll be mind blown by this interactive, fully private high-tech digital room full of fun and immersive arcade-style games and challenges.
Families at the National Football Museum at National Football Museum, Cathedral Quarter, Until 1 December 2022 - Book now
The National Football Museum in Manchester boasts a variety of football-themed activities for people of all ages. Prepare for a day of football discovery, penalty shoot-outs, interactive play and much, much more.
Mrs Doubtfire at Manchester Opera House, City Centre, 2 September–1 October 2022, from £13.00 - Book now
A hilarious and touching musical comedy about family, love, and friendship, Mrs Doubtfire, based on the much-loved 1993 film featuring Robin Williams, is live on stage at Manchester Opera House this autumn.
There’s plenty of sunshine-drenched reading to immerse yourself in from established names and emerging talent, poets and prose writers alike, both in real life as well as online.
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Plan for July’s food and drink outings at some of the best restaurants and bars in Manchester and the North.
Let’s make the most of early summer, with this month’s selection of brand new art exhibitions from across the North!
Get out in the sun this month with tours and activities that will have you engaging positively with the climate, taking the plunge in Salford Quays and getting creative.