In many ways, 2022 has been a difficult year. The cost of living crisis, war in Ukraine and political turmoil closer to home have caused anxiety and uncertainty for scores of people.
But the past year has - in some ways - served as an opportunity to embrace and be thankful for the things we do have.
There’s a lot to be grateful for, and, in the same breath, there’s also a lot to look forward to in 2023. We’ll be hoping the women’s football team can continue their Euro’s success at the World Cup, celebrating Eurovision in Liverpool, and watching Elton John headline Glastonbury.
READ MORE: Historic pub in Cheshire's "prettiest village" to become destination foodie inn
Here’s just some of the many things coming up this year, both in Greater Manchester and further afield.
First Summer in Mayfield
The start of the year can be quite a gloomy time for many people. As we try to commit to our New Year’s resolutions for more than just a week, we’re faced with cold weather, dark mornings and even darker afternoons. But, in the form of a delicate white flower, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
Snowdrops, which can be found in meadows, parks and woodland areas, signify the start of things to come. Many see the first glimmer of snowdrops, which tend to flower between January and March, as a sign that warm weather is just around the corner.
The flower has such significance to the weather that scientists even rely on snowdrop sightings to help monitor climate change, due to the connection between temperature and its arrival.
Keeping on a nature topic, this year will mark the first summer in Mayfield Park. Manchester’s first city centre public park in 100 years opened in September but, as a result, just narrowly missed out on the summer season.
To make up for that, many will be hoping to flock to the 6.5-acre park, which features open green spaces, adventure play areas, cycling and running routes, stepping stones and unique vantage spots of the river Medlock, during the warmer months.
And twelve points go to…
Eurovision will make a welcome return to the United Kingdom this year in what is sure to be a huge occasion. Due to the ongoing Russian invasion, last year’s winner Ukraine is unable to hold the event so Liverpool is stepping up to play host.
It will be the ninth time that the UK has hosted Eurovision and the first since 1998. With the fabulous Sam Ryder brilliantly representing the country and coming second in the contest last year, we’re hoping to keep up the momentum on home turf and score well again.
The contest will be held at the Liverpool Arena, and will consist of two semi-finals on May 9 and 11, followed by the grand final on May 13. Those unlucky enough to bag tickets will, of course, be able to watch proceedings on TV or in the many bars and clubs around the country.
“100% faithful”
Speaking of TV, it feels like British TV has really had a power moment in 2022.
The comedic genius of Big Boys, the heartbreaking high school drama of Heartstopper, the twists and turns in Daisy May Cooper’s Am I Being Unreasonable, and the deceptive stakes of Claudia Winkleman’s brilliant The Traitors have all kept us glued to our screens this year and could all be making comebacks this year.
We’ve already started the year with the welcome return of Happy Valley and the latest season of The Apprentice kicking off later this week, but there’s plenty more British TV on the way in 2023. Delights to look forward to include Sir David Attenborough’s Our Planet II, the third season of Top Boy, Sex Education's Ncuti Gatwa’s debut as Doctor Who, and Lily Allen’s TV acting debut in Sky’s Dreamland.
A Manchester institution
Manchester Museum will reopen its doors this year following the completion of a huge £15 million transformation project.
The museum, which is recognised as one of the largest university museums in the UK, has been shut since August 2021 while the ambitious renovations were undertaken. But on February 18, the doors will open again with new exhibitions and plenty more space to roam.
A new South Asia Gallery, in partnership with the British Museum, will be the UK’s first permanent space to explore the lived experience of South Asian diaspora communities. In addition, there will be a new Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery, the Belonging Gallery, a brand new Dinosaur display and a blockbuster Golden Mummies of Egypt exhibition.
75 years of progress
This year will mark the 75th anniversary of both the founding of the NHS and the arrival of the Empire Windrush, which brought hundreds of people from the Caribbean to the UK.
The significance of both Empire Windrush and the birth of the NHS remains just as strong today as it did in 1948. Together, they helped create the very multiculturalism, inclusivity, and multitude of benefits we have as a country today.
As we start the year with a health service struggling with demand, it feels apt to recognise what we have and what we can do to help things tick along nicely.
Taking to the stage
Many are hoping that 2023 will be the true welcome return to live music and theatre, with a number of shows rescheduled due to the pandemic finally set to take place.
In Manchester alone, we’ll see the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Lizzo, Coldplay, Shania Twain and Blink-182 all take to the stage, while Peter Kay will continue on with his mammoth comeback tour.
Theatre classics including The Lion King, The King & I, Mamma Mia and Dirty Dancing will all be taking place across Manchester throughout the year, alongside the likes of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Six, The SpongeBob Musical, and Take That musical Greatest Days.
In June, we’ll see the return of Parklife at Heaton Park on the 10th and 11th, while the end of the month (21-25) will see Glastonbury take place. While the full line-up for the huge UK festival hasn’t yet been unveiled, we know that Elton John will headline the Sunday night in what many believe might be his last UK tour date ever.
Other festivals taking place across the UK this year include Download Festival in Derby, Leeds Festival, Dorset’s Camp Bestival, Creamfields in Liverpool and Lytham Festival, which is set to feature Lionel Ritchie and Jamiroquai.
Manchester International Festival will also return in 2023, taking place from June 29 to July 16.
Click here for a roundup of the best gigs, festivals, musicals and events to look forward to in Manchester in 2023.
New places to party
This year will see the opening of Co-op Live, the UK’s largest live entertainment arena. The £365 million venue, located in east Manchester, will welcome up to 23,500 fans to more than 120 events each year.
In addition, Manchester’s new flagship art centre Factory International will open in June. Situated on the site of the former Granada TV Studios, the venue is anticipated to attract up to 1.15m visitors a year.
There will also be a host of new bars and restaurants popping up across Manchester. North Brewing Co are launching North Taproom over on Oxford Road; a Northern Quarter drinking den dubbed a 'love letter to Manchester’, and a Beech Road cocktail bar from the team behind Tariff & Dale are amongst just a handful of those set to open very shortly.
A coronation fit for the King
The coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will take place on Saturday, May 6.
Following the Queen’s tradition, we will be given a bank holiday to celebrate the unique occasion. The bank holiday will take place after the event on Monday, May 8. Just like we saw during the Platinum Jubilee, plenty of people will be making use of the historic weekend by hosting all kinds of fun events and street parties.
Dates for the diary
We’ll start things off quite nicely with Chinese New Year on January 22, with parades, celebrations and a whole host of fun events taking place in Manchester and across the country.
The Manchester Marathon will take place on April 16, while thousands take part in either a 10k or half marathon as part of The Great Manchester Run on May 21.
Manchester Pride will once again take place in the city-region in August, with similar events taking place up and down the country from May onwards.
Following their historic Euros win last year, the whole of the country will be anxiously hoping the England women’s football team can replicate their success at the World Cup, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand in July.
Other sporting events include the Six Nations rugby championships in February, the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley in May, Wimbledon and the Formula 1 British Grand Prix in July, the 2023 Rugby World Cup in September and the 2023 Cricket World Cup, which takes place in India in October.
Let's go, 2023
With all of this in mind, 2023 could be a truly great year for both Manchester and beyond. But, through thick and thin, the M.E.N. will be there for you whatever happens.
What are you most looking forward to in 2023? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more of today's top stories here.
READ NEXT:
