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With summer in full bloom in Costa del Manchester and the North, we round up our top alfresco activities to do with the family, while signposting exciting indoor offerings from our newly reopened venues.
Dino Kingdom in Wythenshawe Park invites archaeologists big and small to meet 100 towering, roaring prehistoric beasts, including an 18 metre-long Tyrannosaurus Rex!
For theatre lovers, Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre in Chester has a spectacular summer season underway, with one family highlight being The Jungle Book. We also recommend Grimm Tales in the wonderfully eerie Williamson Park and the Summer Shakespeare Festival, running for three weeks in Manchester city centre at the Great Northern Amphitheatre.
REFRACT:21 is now underway, with Waterside in Sale coming alive with a hand-picked programme of performance, including a host of lively shows for little ones and their grown-ups. Think theatre with live animation, interactive clown performances and music to get you moving.
On the festival front, meanwhile, be sure to check out Cheshire’s spectacular Just So Festival which really is one-of-a-kind and promises to be even bigger and even better as it returns this August. And over in Yorkshire, 5 on the Farm in Barnsley is offering families a taste of rural life with hands-on activities and furry friends to meet.
For lovers of literature, why not encourage the kids to take part in Manchester Libraries’ free Summer Reading Challenge, running for six weeks through the summer holidays, and open to all four to eleven-year-olds. Presented in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the theme is Wild World Heroes, focusing on the environment and nature.
And there’s plenty more to discover below, including the much-anticipated The Tiger Who Came to Tea and the adventures of Mog the Forgetful Cat at Z-arts, Chantry Dance’s striking ballet adaptation of The Little Mermaid at Waterside Arts, and trips on East Lancashire Railway’s Flying Scotsman.
There also continues to be a whole host of excellent online activities for little ones, ranging from a monthly morning protest song session with songwriter Matt Hill (expect tunes by the likes of Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan) to crafts with Early Years Atelier at The Whitworth.
Here are our picks
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1. Dino Kingdom
Image courtesy of Manchester City Council Dino Kingdom, Until 15 August 2021, from £13 - Book now
Calling archaeologists big and small! Dino Kingdom is taking over Wythenshawe Park and promises a meander with a difference. Prepare to meet an incredible 100 towering, roaring prehistoric beasts with your little ones in this one-of-a-kind magical kingdom.
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2. Grimm Tales: Witches, Wolves, Fairies and Frogs at Williamson Park
Image courtesy of The Dukes/ Williamson Park. -
3. Summer Reading Challenge with Manchester Libraries
Children's author and illustrator Rob Biddulph. Summer Reading Challenge at Manchester Central Library, Manchester, Until 18 September 2021, free entry - Visit now
Manchester Libraries invite all four to eleven year olds to join the free Summer Reading Challenge, running for six weeks.
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4. Just So Festival
Teneight Just So Festival at Rode Hall, Cheshire, 20–22 August 2021, from £20 - Book now
Just So Festival is back with bang for 2021 – promising a jolly knees up which is sure to entertain the entire family.
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5. The Jungle Book at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre
Image courtesy of Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre. The Jungle Book at Grosvenor Park, Chester, Until 30 August 2021, from £28 - Book now
A vivid new version of this charming story will swing into Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre this summer.
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6. Summer Shakespeare Festival at the Great Northern Amphitheatre
Image courtesy of Cream Faced Loons Theatre Company. Summer Shakespeare Festival at Great Northern, City Centre, Until 15 August 2021, from £1.00 - Book now
For three weeks this summer a brand new outdoor Summer Shakespeare Festival will descend on the Great Northern’s Amphitheatre, bringing a full programme of Shakespearean performances, family shows, interactive workshops and competitions to the beating heart of the city.
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7. The Tiger Who Came to Tea and The Adventures of Mog the Forgetful Cat
Z-arts -
8. 5 on the Farm Festival
Channel 5 5 on the Farm Festival at Cannon Hall Farm, 28–30 August 2021, from £24.95 - Book now
This three-day extravaganza manages to combine all of the best kids activities into one festival featuring famous faces from the tellybox, access to furry farm animals, and opportunities to meet much-loved cartoon characters from Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol.
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9. The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid at Waterside Arts, Manchester, 30 September 2021, from £13 - Book now
Head to Waterside Arts to experience Chantry Dance’s breathtakingly beautiful adaptation of The Little Mermaid.
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10. Flying Scotsman at East Lancashire Railway
Nigel Valentine Flying Scotsman at East Lancashire Railway, 29 August–5 September 2021, from £12.4 - Book now
Celebrate steam’s golden age with a family trip on the Flying Scotsman this summer! A trip on the world’s most iconic locomotive makes for an incredible day out and is sure to excite rail enthusiasts big and small.
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11. ComedySportz
ComedySportz at Waterside Arts, Manchester, 11 September 2021, from £6 - Book now
Head to Waterside Arts for a comedy show with a difference! Suitable for children aged 7 and up, ComedySportz combines football, tennis, and theatre in a performance packed with plenty of gags.
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12. Doodle Den: Playful Protests Online
Doodle Den: Playful Protests at People's History Museum at People’s History Museum in Manchester, City Centre and online, Until 31 December 2021, free entry
Hunker down with blankets, cushions and whatever takes your fancy to create a Doodle Den and use the People’s History Museum’s online resources to creatively explore important topics including climate change, LGBT+ Pride and migrant rights.
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13. My First Protest Song with the People’s History Museum
People's History Museum
More in Families
Science Learning at Home with Jodrell Bank
Science Learning at Home with Jodrell Bank is a perfect way to keep children (and their adults) busy while learning from home.
Hidden Winter
Round the family up and head outside for this wonderful story walk adventure from Stand and Be Counted Theatre. Perfect for livening up a lockdown walk.
Top Secret: From ciphers to cyber security at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester
TOP SECRET: the Science and Industry Museum digs into the history of British national security over the last 100 years.
The Merry Wives of Windsor at Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre
Enjoy this hilarious Shakespearean comedy in the wonderful open-air surroundings of Grosvenor Park.
Counter-flow exhibition & ‘Identity Feet’ family-friendly creative workshops at People’s History Museum
Explore themes of identity and the migration, and partake in a series of family-friendly creative workshops.
Summer Bake Off at Manchester Jewish Museum
Get hands on with heritage and learn some new skills with the summer bake off at the Manchester Jewish Museum.
Counter-flow family friendly workshop: Identity Feet
Take part in a series of artist-led family-friendly workshops exploring themes of identity and migration at the People’s History Museum.
Vintage by the Sea in Morecambe: CANCELLED
Celebrate the brilliance of 20th century design, fashion, vehicles and entertainment at this award-winning festival set around Morecambe’s famous art deco Midland Hotel.
British Textile Biennial 2021 – across Pennine Lancashire
British Textiles Biennial 2021 has an impressive list of headliners, including Maxine Peake, Lubaina Himid and fashion designer Patrick Grant.
Culture Guides
Cinema in Manchester and the North
Hong Kong classics, a John Carpenter marathon and an obscene midnight movie masterpiece all feature in this month’s cinema guide.
Exhibitions
Tales of antiquity, cloud gazing, and a return to the forest all feature among this month’s hand-picked selection of exhibition highlights.
Literature
With August, the literature scene is promising some hot events, both online and in real life: with book launches, short story showcases, regular poetry chats, live readings and even an exhibition of word art…
Classical Music in Manchester and the North
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Food and Drink in Manchester and the North
A guide to Food and Drink in Manchester and the North, including plenty of new bars and restaurants and exciting new menus from old favourites.
Online events
Discover the best things to do online from the organisations we love in Manchester and the North.
Tours and Activities
Summer is here and we’re so excited to be out in the world touring, making, playing and doing all the things Manchester and the North has to offer.
Destination Guides
Related Guides
Food and Drink in Manchester and the North
A guide to Food and Drink in Manchester and the North, including plenty of new bars and restaurants and exciting new menus from old favourites.
Exhibitions
Tales of antiquity, cloud gazing, and a return to the forest all feature among this month’s hand-picked selection of exhibition highlights.
Theatre
As some of our favourite theatre teams head back into the rehearsal room, we take a look ahead to some of the performances we’re most looking forward to, as well as the outdoor theatre happening now.
Half Term
Half term fun here we come! Read through our specially selected family event line up and pick your personal favourites for some quality time together.
Things to Do in Manchester
There’s plenty of things to do in Manchester, from award-winning theatre and exhibitions to exciting food and drink offer and thriving literature and music scenes. Our guide to the best things to with your time in Manchester.
Music
Outdoor shows, candle-lit jazz gigs, boozy all-dayers. Manchester and the North’s live music scene is making up for lost time.
Things to do right now
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