As if we've not been treated to enough already, it's almost time for another Bank Holiday weekend! This upcoming long weekend is set to be a busy and lively one with plenty of things going on both in the city centre and across Greater Manchester - with a host of food festivals , shows, gigs and events all taking place between Friday and Monday. Of course, one of the big highlights for this weekend will be the return of Manchester Pride . Hailed as one of the biggest LGBTQ+ celebrations outside of London, it's attended by more than 100,000 people each year and sees the city come together in unity to party and protest. There will be the popular parade running through the city on Saturday, which kicks off at around midday and is free to watch, and then there will be plenty of live entertainment and stunning performances from big names like Nelly Furtado, Billy Porter, Leigh-Anne and Olly Alexander at the new Mardi Gras stage at Mayfield Depot. Stay connected with our City Life newsletter here The Gay Village will, of course, also be getting in on the action with its very own party - featuring the likes of B*Witched, Danny Beard and Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge - whilst the bars and venues across Canal Street and beyond will be hosting their own festivities and stage surprises. But not everybody will be attending Manchester Pride, and that's fine. And there are still plenty of alternatives on offer with a good mixture of free and ticketed events. We're talking theatre shows, dance competitions, and even fan zones to watch the start of the Women's Rugby World Cup. We've rounded up some of the must-visit events taking place in Greater Manchester over the next few days for you to consider turning up for. As ever, it's always worthwhile checking details with organisers ahead of time as things can and often do change at short notice. A free celebration of Italian food and culture will be taking place in the city centre. Festa Italiana , running from August 22 to 24, will feature live music, food demonstrations, family-friendly activities and loads of traders to buy from. Founded by Maurizio Cecco, who is behind Manchester’s famed Italian restaurant Salvi’s, the ‘three-day foodie paradise’ will also include pasta-making workshops, free samples, and an Aperitivo bar. It will be taking place at Cathedral Gardens between 12pm to 9pm on Friday and Sunday, and 12pm to 10pm on Saturday. Turn up hungry! There is never such a thing as too many food festivals, and the Halal Food Festival is one that’s not worth missing out on. Held at the Trafford Centre from August 23 to 25, the event is set to be attended by over 15,000 people as they explore a range of street food vendors offering food inspired by delights from the likes of Turkey, Jamaica, China, Korea and America. There will also be an artisan market, offering clothes, jewellery and travel gear, as well as other surprises. Tickets, from £7, are available here and also include a Just Eat voucher. Stockport is offering up a chance to soak up the fresh air and explore the town centre with a fun trail of smiley faces to discover. Running until September 13, there are 15 playful sculptures to find - each has been reimagined by artists to represent different emotions, including adoration, confusion and surprise Led by Wild in Art, SmileyWorld and Totally Stockport, the fun trail will include visits to the likes of Merseyway Shopping Centre,Stockport Underbanks and Viaduct Park if you want to tick the entire list off as complete. You can find a trail map and more info here. The 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup will be kicking off on Friday (August 22) and is taking place in Sunderland - marking the fourth time the event has been held in Great Britain. 16 teams will take part in the month-long tournament, with this weekend marking an opening set of matches that will be screened live at the Fan Zone at Piccadilly Gardens . England will play the United States on Friday, with Canada vs Fiji, Australia vs Samoa, Ireland vs Japan, New Zealand vs Spain, France vs Italy and South Africa vs Brazil all taking place across Saturday and Sunday. The fan zone will be open from 11am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, and is free to attend. There will also be a range of activities for people of all ages, as well as food and drink stalls. Riverdance 30: The New Generation is a special anniversary tour marking 30 years since Riverdance was born. For the first time, the global cultural sensation will feature a ‘New Generation’ of performers who weren’t even born when the show first began - truly highlighting the significance and impact the Irish dance craze has had on people. The show will be taking place at the Opera House from August 23 to 27, so this weekend will be the ideal opportunity to see it in all its glory. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster , ATG or Live Nation. Manchester will be hosting the UK B-Boy Championships for the very first time - which will see the best crews and performers from more than 20 countries compete for coveted World Titles. The World Breaking Finals 2025 will be held at Aviva Studios on Sunday (August 24) and will feature 6x6 crew showdowns and solo battles in front of a panel of judges, as well as live DJs and MCs. The event will also feature an appearance from Manchester-based crew SMAC 19, who return as defending champions and are hoping to win the world crew title for the third year in a row. No pressure. More information and tickets, from £22.50, here . Dating back to 1950, the Irlam and Cadishead Festival is about to celebrate its 75th year. Running from August 22 to 25, the free community festival at Prince’s Park will feature a varied line-up of events and shows, including live music, street theatre and more. There will be a Sporty Saturday (August 23) event from 11am to 4pm, featuring the likes of walking football, tai chi, Morris dancing, tug-of-war and bowls. There will also be the Irlam Community Market on Monday (August 25) from 11am to 4pm featuring over 40 stalls selling all kinds of treats. The Monday night will then finish up in style with a big firework display. Join our Manc Life WhatsApp group HERE This bank holiday weekend will see a plethora of food and drink traders, celebrity chefs and live music acts descend on Bolton , ready to put on a show, with tens of thousands of people ready to flock to the borough for the huge food and drink celebration. With this year's Bolton Food and Drink Festival featuring top chefs Marco Pierre White and James Martin, artisan markets and a range of Manchester cover bands, its set to be another exciting bank holiday weekend. Michelin-starred chef, Marco Pierre White's appearance marks his first ever appearance at the UK’s biggest event of its kind , as the festival celebrates its milestone anniversary. Elsewhere, there will also be a number of food and drink stands, a Faulty Towers dining experience, wine tasting and afternoon tea event. There' loads for families too with a Festival Garden with loads of nature-based fun and activities for children; chef-led sessions for aspiring cooks; and a teen zone and family zone at Elizabeth Park. One of the largest Pride events in the country, the event see tens of thousands head to the city across the August Bank Holiday weekend. Manchester Pride 2025 will feature some new additions and tweaks to previous years , with the inclusion of new stage areas which will host some of the biggest names in music. The festival will still include many of things that have made it popular, including the parade through the city and the Gay Village Party. The new Mardi Gras area will host the likes of Olly Alexander, Nelly Furtado and Little Mix star Leigh-Anne across two days, alongside special guests and big-name performers. Meanwhile, a number of free and family-friendly events will take place - including the Proud Fest, which will feature plenty of activities and playful spaces designed with children in mind. There will be a number of Pride-themed events taking place across the weekend too, including 53Two's pub quiz (Reserve a quiz table at info@53two.com for teams of up to 6 people) with regular host, Dr Q! on Saturday as well as Albert Schloss' Bank Holiday weekender from Thursday to Monday. You can find everything you need to know about Manchester Pride 2025 here. This summer, BOX Deansgate has been holding their Sundown Sessions – hosting some of the region’s top local talent alongside unmissable sporting events and ice-cold drinks. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday (and Sunday, for bank holiday weekend only) throughout the summer, the sports bar is playing host to a rotating line-up of top local artists performing live against the backdrop of the city. Providing the ultimate day out, BOX has also recently launched a new food and drinks menu at both bars, featuring unbeatable deals, including bottomless brunch, £7 cocktails, £5 pints and an £8 lunch deal. 125 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BY. New steak and seafood joint Cut & Craft will be hosting its famed bank holiday bottomless brunch with a special twist this August. On Sunday, 24 August, guests can enjoy 90 minutes of non-stop Whispering Angel Rosé, Moët & Chandon Champagne - or both. Options include a bar table with bottomless drinks or a restaurant table with a brunch dish included per person. The brunch menu includes the likes of Flat Iron Steak & Chips, Halloumi, Steak or Prawn Fajitas, and Grilled Peach Salad. Whispering Angel only ticket price: £55 bar table, £75 restaurant table. Champagne and Whispering Angel ticket price: £80 bar table, £100 for restaurant table. Tables can be booked from 1-3pm on 24 August. 125 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BY. Meanwhile, Manchester lagerhouse and rotisserie chicken specialist Trading Route has launched a bottomless brunch that we can all get behind. Forget the mimosas and poke bowls and think lager - and plenty of it. Taking place on Saturdays from 23 August, lager lovers will get 60 minutes to down an unlimited supply of Trading Route’s signature freshly poured foamy pints. Served alongside the beer, there’s a choice of Trading Route’s focaccia sandwiches. For backdrop, there will also be be DJs spinning classic house and disco tunes. All for the bargain price of £28. Advance booking is highly recommended with bottomless brunch servings from 12pm – 5pm each Saturday (from 23.08.25). Tickets can be booked via Skiddle. Lager, Lager, Lager joins a bumper bank holiday weekend line-up at Trading Route which kicks off on Thursday 21 August with a bangin’ happy hour which will include £4.80 pints, cocktails at £8.50 and a carafe of wine for £12.50. On Friday 22 August, Manchester’s longest running club night Funkademia will taking over the venue from 5pm, while Saturday sees the launch of Lager, Lager, Lager. On Sunday, Trading Route’s legendary Sunday roasts are a showstopper with Rotisserie chicken or beef to choose from, free corkage on wines bought from the Trading Route store and DJs playing. And on the Bank Holiday Monday, there’s 50% off rotisserie chicken when you book in advance. 1 Goods Yard St, Manchester M3 3BG. On Saturday, Live Band Karaoke takes place at Nell's Altrincham , giving you a chance to join the band and become the lead singer. From 8pm until 10pm, there will be a four-piece band called SoulFood (Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Drums) and three lots of 30 minutes sets including classic karaoke bangers and singalongs for those coming along to get involved in. Those taking par will receive a free beer/ shot after singing too, so there's at least some incentive for getting up on stage and singing your heart out. 2 George St, Altrincham WA14 1SG. This August Bank Holiday, The English Lounge proudly unveils 20/20 Comedy, a bold new weekly format launching on Friday 22 August 2025, curated by Tuesday Tony, Manchester’s longest-running open mic host. The concept? A one-hour headline comedy set in an intimate upstairs room for just 20 seated guests, followed immediately by a free-entry open mic comedy night open to all. With 25 years hosting Manchester’s most iconic open mic night - originally at The Thirsty Scholar and now at The Grosvenor - Tuesday Tony (aka Tony William Bolton) is a central figure in the city’s grassroots performance scene. He’s known for creating a platform that’s nurtured thousands of musicians, comedians, and poets, and now brings that same passion to a premium Friday format that blends professional acts with community spirit. The launch event takes place on Friday, 22 August from 8pm until 9pm. Tickets cost £22.50 including booking fee (advance and on the door – limited to 20 seats). The open mic comedy is free entry. 64-66 High St, Manchester M4 1EA.