OK, you didn’t get your act together and sort out going to Parklife. The crucial thing is not to panic.
Parklife is the first of the summer’s major festivals, meaning that there are plenty of other options ahead of you, whether that means foody gatherings or smaller, more intimate events.
Here are some of the best options available this summer…
Bluedot - 20-23 July
In the shadow of the Lovell space telescope at Jodrell Bank, Bluedot brings together the mysteries of the heavens with the joys of the Earth, notably seeing the likes of iconic acts like Grace Jones and cult rock band Pavement. There will also be performances from Roisin Murphy, Leftfield and Young Fathers, as well as plenty of wellness type stuff, activities for kids and boutique camping.
Moovin Festival - 25-27 August
The last ever Moovin festival to happen at Whitebottom Farm, in the wonderfully picturesque Etherow Country Park, this should be a spectacular blowout. Pitching up to play will be the likes of Big Daddy Kane, Goldie, Todd Terry, David Holmes, Gilles Peterson and Laurent Garnier, alongside local heroes like Mr Scruff, Graeme Park, DJ Paulette.
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Pride - 25-28 August
The joyful celebration that is Manchester Pride is not only a reason to be hugely proud of our fine city, but an excuse to let loose for the whole of the bank holiday weekend. Dress up, hurl yourself headlong into the Village, take in the sound systems and gay pride celebrations around the world that Manchester does it the best.
MIF - 29 June-16 July
The biennial Manchester International Festival returns for 2023 with a wealth of landmark performances, from Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama who’ll be installing a mind-bending new exhibition of inflatable artworks in her largest ever immersive environment, to a mixed-reality performance of the music of the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. The festival will also be showing off its new home, Factory International.
Factoryinternational.org/mif23/
Góbéfest – 23-25 June
Experience the food and culture of the Carpathian Basin without the faff of travelling all the way to Transylvania. Góbéfest, the annual celebration of goulash, Romanian waffles, barbecued chimney cakes and palinka, the scorched earth fruit brandy, returns to Cathedral Gardens, with some traditional eastern European dancing thrown in too.
Summer Beer Thing Kampus - 30 June - 2 July
The little sister of the Indy Man Beer Con, the Summer Beer Thing will bring together some of the country’s most revered breweries for three days of joyous outdoor revelry in the gardens and bars of the Kampus development.
Manchester Craft Beer Festival - 21-22 July
Taking over the cavernous Depot Mayfield, the Manchester Craft Beer Festival boasts 65 breweries exhibiting more than 500 beers and ciders, from locals like Track, Marble, Pomona Island and Sureshot to Salt, Arbor, The Kernel and Deya. All drinks come included in the ticket price, and there’s food from the likes of Marley’s Tacos, Just Gyros, Tapas Altrincham and Halloumination.
Manchestercraftbeerfestival.com/
Heaton Park Food and Drink Festival – 12-13 August
You might have missed Parklife, but Heaton Park will be packed with international street food, artisan food traders, fabulous drinks, live music and family entertainment for the annual food and drink festival.
Festa Italiana - 25-27 August
Pasta, pizza, street food, live music, bars serving up spritzes, cooking masterclasses, demos, an artisan street market and all kinds of activities for kids too, the Festa Italiana is back in Cathedral Gardens this August. Not to be missed.
Green Island Festival - 17 June, 29 July and 9 September
This series of one-day festivals takes over the urban oasis of Hulme Garden Centre, with a host of fantastic DJs, live acts and food traders heading down, among them Ruf Dug, High Hoops, Chris Massey, Mixstress and Me Gusta. There will be DJ workshops too, provided by Reform Radio, and afterparties after each event taking place a hop away at the NIAMOS centre.
https://www.greenislandfestival.co.uk/
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