10 fun things to do in Greater Manchester in July

July’s calendar is packed with festivals, sports and live music, meaning summer is in full swing. There’s no shortage of things to do in Greater Manchester this month, whatever the weather in July.

This year marks a summer of sport, with the Euro finals on July 14th, Wimbledon returning to our screens once again and the Paris Olympics starting on July 26th. Fortunately, there are plenty of places you can gather to get in on the action in the coming weeks.

When it comes to festivals and celebrations, Greater Manchester has quite a few. Stop by the Mayfield Depot for the Craft Beer Festival or venture into the city center and join the celebrations for Manchester Day on 27 July.

READ MORE: Where to watch Euro 2024 in Manchester – the best sports bars, pubs and fan zones in the city center

If the weather turns, head to Batman Unmasked, an immersive exhibit full of memorabilia and props from the Warner Bros. movie. Read on for more amazing things to do in Greater Manchester this month.

Manchester Craft Beer Festival

Summer is synonymous with festivals of all shapes and sizes, so why not head to Mayfield Depot for the Manchester Beer Festival on 5-6 July? Back for its fourth year, it promises to be “bigger and better” with extras this year, including expert-led talks, tastings and tours.

Dedicated to the celebration of craft beer, it will include four sessions that take place over the two days. With over 65 breweries from Manchester, the rest of the UK and the world lined up and over 500 beers to taste, there is something for every palate.

Standard entry tickets are priced at £57 and a group offer saves £5 per ticket when you buy 4 together, bringing the cost down to £52. Your ticket includes all your beer – so there’s no limit to the drinks you try – a special festival beer glass and access to festival talks, tastings, tours, the Food Block Party and live music.

City Sounds at Castlefield Bowl

Sounds of the City is back at Castlefield Bowl again, with some of the biggest names in music playing across multiple nights in the heart of the city. It runs over two weekends, with Avril Lavigne kicking it off on July 3rd and Hacienda Classical closing on July 13th.

The lineup also includes The National, Fatboy Slim, Jungle and Manic Street Preachers and Suede. There are still a few tickets available, which you can find here on See Tickets.

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Offering a new approach to cricket, The Hundred returns to Emirates Old Trafford this summer, offering “fast-paced, action-packed” sport and an “electric atmosphere”. The 100-ball match ensures maximum excitement with both the women’s and men’s teams.

Our home team Manchester Originals will play at Old Trafford for four matches in July and August. There will also be live music, with performers at the Manchester matches including Darla Jade, Corella, Nxdia and Michael Aldag. Tickets are available here.

First Manchester Cocktail Week

Whether you prefer a pina colada or a daiquiri, we can all agree that a cocktail is perhaps the most summery drink out there. So it’s only fitting that the first ever Manchester Cocktail Week takes place this month from 12th to 21st July.

Cocktail enthusiasts can enjoy a mix of experiences and exclusive offers in a 10-day extravaganza taking place in some of the city’s best bars, pubs and clubs, including The Alchemist, Menagerie, Dirty Martini and Cloud 23, to name a few.

Anyone with a Manchester Cocktail Week wristband will be able to take advantage of the many delicious discounts that will be available throughout. Some venues will be offering cocktails from £5, while others will have discounts on food bills, two-for-one drinks and more. Early wristbands are priced from £5.95 plus booking fee and the final release is £9.95 plus booking fee. All bracelets can be purchased online here.

Classic car boots for sale

Hosting its first event north of London, the Classic Car Boot Sale will take place at Media City on July 20 and 21, celebrating “classic vehicles, vintage fashion and second-hand design and homewares”. This isn’t just any old boot though, as it will feature street food served from classic vans and DJs playing everything from rockabilly to Garage and 60s Beat, to reggae and ska, Glam Rock, Northern Soul, Punk, Disco, 80s electronica with a bit of easy listening and library thrown in for good measure.

Classic car enthusiasts will have their vehicles on display, while there will also be daily rides from scooter and motorcycle clubs and classic bikes. As well as the sale from the cars, there will also be a ‘suitcase sale’ section where those with smaller collections can sell vintage suitcases throughout the weekend.

Celebrate Manchester Day

Manchester city center is set to be transformed into the ‘biggest playground ever’ for this year’s Manchester Day, a free, family-friendly event that sees the streets and squares filled with music, dance and activities. Taking place on July 27, this year’s theme will be ‘Let the Games Begin’, inspired by the summer of sport.

Visitors can expect mind-blowing acrobatics and pop-up shows in the most ‘unlikely places’ around town in a full day of free events. People can also participate with a vintage fair, a hook-a-duck challenge and a “real reality” arcade with addictive games. There will also be live music and spotting challenges, including a pop-up running track.

Concerts at Robin Park

There’s no shortage of opportunities to experience live music outdoors in Greater Manchester this month, with Wigan’s Robin Park hosting a series of concerts between 17 and 21 July. X-Factor 2012 winner James Arthur will open on Wednesday July 17, supported by Gabrielle and Scouting. for girls.

On July 18, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will take to the stage, while The Lathums will perform on July 19 with several special guests. Richard Ashcroft will close the weekend with two nights of guest artists. There are still tickets available at Ticketmaster here.

Immerse yourself in the world of Batman

Fans of the iconic superhero Batman can immerse themselves in the character’s cinematic world at a new exhibition opening hosted by Depot Mayfield. Featuring items from the Warner Bros archives, it will open on July 16 and run until August 26 before heading to London’s Covent Garden in September.

Fans will be able to explore an extensive collection of original props and costumes from Warner Bros. superhero films, from 1989’s Batman, where Michael Keaton played the Caped Crusader, to his latest outing, The Batman, in 2022 , where Robert Pattinson took on the iconic role.

Navigating through a series of themed rooms, visitors will venture into the fictional world of Gotham City. Guests will admire the stunning costumes worn by iconic actors such as Robert Pattinson, Christian Bale and Michael Keaton, alongside props, memorabilia and even original vehicles. Tickets are available here.

Watch a summer of sports

2024 is a summer of sport, with two more weeks of Euro matches taking place in the first half of July, along with Wimbledon. Then, at the end of the month, the Paris Olympics will begin, with the opening ceremony on July 26.

You can catch Euros at numerous locations around town, including Diecast, Refuge and the Roxy Ballroom. The Lawn Club in Spinningfields is among the screening venues for Wimbledon and the Olympics on its giant 13ft screen. Food and drink sharing options will also be available.

Go to a concert and more at Co-op Live

After a bumpy start, Manchester’s music news venue is fully up and running with more incredible acts set to take to the stage at Co-op Live this month. Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks will bring her solo tour on July 9, while Kings of Leon will perform on July 10.

American rapper Megan Thee Stallion will entertain Manchester audiences on July 14, while singing sensation Billie Eilish will perform across several nights. But on Saturday, July 27, the venue will host something a little different – it’s the first sporting event, UFC 304, with two British champions defending their belts.

Welterweight champion Leon Edwards title shot against longtime rival Belal Muhammad in a highly anticipated rematch. The co-main event sees interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall take on No. 4-ranked Curtis Blaydes, two years after they first met. Tickets are available here.

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