Festivals
Whatever the time of year, Manchester is buzzing with activity, including festivals.
Film Festivals
Manchester is home to an ever growing number of film festivals. They vary from events showcasing local talent to larger scale international festivals.
Manchester Film Festival, usually in June, and the Salford Film Festival fit into the local talent category.
The Commonwealth Film Festival features screenings of films from the Commonwealth Nations and often includes guest appearances from famous directors.
The Kinofilm Manchester International Short Film Festival has been running since 1996 and plays host to a collection of short films from around the world.
Multi-Cultural
As one of the most multi-cultural cities in the country, Manchester has a proud history of festivals celebrating its diverse cultural mix. Festival Europa, in spring, is a big event, while the parade and fireworks during Chinese New Year in Chinatown is a must!
Rusholme is home to one of the biggest Eid celebrations in the UK, while Manchester's St Patrick's Day festival in March is always enjoyable!
Lesbian/Gay
Manchester has a vibrant lesbian and gay scene, perhaps the biggest in the North. The city is home to Queerupnorth, Europe's largest and most celebrated lesbian and gay arts festival, and Pride, which attracts over 50,000 visitors each year.
Quirky One-Off Events
Recent one off events include: Eurocultured street festival of art, live music, dance, and street performance; the festivals of Catalan and Thai cultures; or CowParade, a large scale public display of cow-inspired art installations.
Performance
There's an annual free festival of street performance, comedy and mime, theatre and dance all over the streets of Manchester, usually in May. The Manchester Poetry Festival and Mind Body Spirit Festival are also not to be missed.