Itinerary Planner

Abandon Normal Devices Festival, the UK’s only roaming digital culture, film and art festival, will take place around the waterways of the Manchester Ship Canal and Mersey River in May. Parr Hall will celebrate its 125th birthday in September with a week of special events inside this beautiful building. And the annual autumn arts festival will return including an exhibition by the artist Susan Stockwell and a site-specific dance performance by Company Capri.

Head to Memorial and Lyceum Squares to see breathtaking contemporary light installations whirl around the urban landscape. In previous years, works by Double Take Projection and ArtReach included the tale of a magical fairy played out on the venerable sandstone walls of the Municipal Building. The mesmeric kaleidoscope of colourful lights will be accompanied by street performers such as Spark!, who dance and drum to the rhythm of changing illuminations.

Take little ones on a lantern procession and see their jaws drop at the spectacle of giant walkabout puppets, while fireworks crackle and bang, showering stars overhead. If there’s a chill in the air, grab a hot chocolate in the winter market and take a rousing ride on the funfair. This dazzling rainbow is sure to brighten up your night and warm your heart.