The Best Things To Do In Manchester This Weekend

June 23, 2017

The weekend is finally here! Quaytickets has plenty going on to keep you entertained - below we explore a selection of the best events and days out Manchester has to offer.

Five-Star Theatre

Shirley Valentine has been a huge hit at The Lowry this week, with Jodie Prenger's performance inspiring rave reviews. Willy Russell's heart-warming classic was made into an Oscar-nominated film in 1982 and is now back on stage in a brand-new 30th anniversary production. Join bored Liverpool housewife Shirley as she makes a hilarious voyage of discovery to the sun-soaked beaches of Greece.

There are three performances left at The Lowry (one Friday, two Saturday) - be quick, tickets are selling fast!

Ghostly Tours

Fans of all things ghostly will love an evening with "ghost walker extraordinaire" Flecky Bennett. Flecky has been leading his award-winning Manchester Ghost Walks since 2009 and they just keep getting better - and spookier. A firm favourite among locals and visitors alike, the tours delve into the hidden backstreets and secret passageways of Manchester's historic city centre. Friday's Manchester Ghost Walk features the apparition of a Victorian policeman, visits to filming locations of Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes and concludes with a truly terrifying summoning of The Devil Himself!

The Saturday Ghost Walk sees Flecky take his intrepid guests on a paranormal tour of Manchester's canals featuring shocking stories of cholera, ill-fated ships, pauper's graveyards and the intriguing Hellfire Club.

Cabaret with a Twist

For something completely different, try the fabulous Lady Boys of Bangkok who will wow Manchester on Friday and Saturday with their final shows before their amazing "Who Rules The World!" tour moves on up to Scotland. The Sabai Pavilion on Deansgate offers an escape from the Manchester drizzle, welcoming visitors into a magical world of music, dancing, comedy, food and, of course, plenty of well-stocked bars.

The Lady Boys are a Manchester institution and are always at their best when in this part of the world. (If you're unsure of what to expect you can take a look at our review of an evening with the Lady Boys).

A Musical Treat

The hot ticket for music lovers is Mark Lewandowski at Altrincham's Cinnamon Club. The rising-star bassist brings together two of the most highly respected musicians on the UK jazz scene to explore the catalogue of one of the most nostalgic early innovators of jazz - the great Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller. They will be delving into Waller's music and bringing their own personal spin on his repertoire.

This intimate and humourous gig mixes the traditional with the modern and brings a little of 1930s Harlem into the 21st Century.

Something for the Kids

The stage version of David Walliams The First Hippo on The Moon plays the Quays Theatre at The Lowry this weekend. Walliams has taken the literary world by storm with his hilarious children's stories which have been translated into over 45 languages. He is seen by critics as the natural successor to Roald Dahl.

The First Hippo on The Moon is a fantastical space adventure aimed at children aged 3 and up. It follows the story of two enormous hippos and their even bugger dream - to make it to the moon. The explosively funny adventure features puppetry and music and is produced by the same teams behind productions such as War Horse, Adventures in Wonderland, Dr Suess' The Lorax and Raymond Briggs' The Bear.

Classics on the Big Screen

Stockport Plaza is arguably the finest picture house in the UK. This "super cinema" opened during the golden age of cinema in the 1930s and continues to show old classics and new releases on its huge screen. A hotly-anticipated Guillermo Del Toro marathon takes place in July, but before that audiences have the opportunity to enter the surreal and unpredictable mind of David Lynch with a screening of the seminal Blue Velvet.

This startling film from the creator of cult classics Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive features an alluring storyline which mixes the heartfelt and the horrific. When Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan - a.k.a. Twin Peaks' Agent Cooper) dsicovers a human ear in a field in his seemingly-normal hometown he is catapulted into a shocking and disturbing erotic murder mystery. His investigation leads him to a sadistic drug addict (Dennis Hopper) and a beautiful, deranged night club singer (Isabella Rossellini).

Don't miss this rare opportunity to experience a cult classic in a unique and historic cinematic atmosphere.

Full Steam Ahead

For the perfect weekend day out look no further than the East Lancashire Railway in Bury. The 12.5-mile heritage railway line runs through scenic and unspoiled countryside, with regular stops at villages and towns. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of regular special events including on-board dining, steam galas, childrens' fun days and the ever-popular "Rail Ale Trails."