Free things to do this weekend ft. Dig The City, Castlefield Market, Piano Wire and Hemsley + Hemsley

Another weekend is upon us, but before you go and blow all of your hard-earned payday pennies, how about checking out some of these great free events taking place in Manchester?

Dig The City
Manchester’s urban gardening fest returns this weekend for another celebration packed with green-fingered fun. From talks, demos and fashion shows to street food and outdoor bars, there will be plenty on for you to get your teeth into – our free highlights include a talk with CBeebies’ Mr Bloom, an interactive paint garden and a pop-up orchard with The Moss Cider Project, or you can just simply stroll around town to see all of the gardens and displays that have cropped up for the week. Read our full preview here.
Fri 31 Jul – Thu 6 Aug, Various city centre locations, FREE entry, 10am – 8pm, www.digthecity.co.uk

Hemsley + Hemsley at Selfridges Trafford (pictured)
If you’ve not heard about the courgetti craze that’s been sweeping the nation, it’s quite possible you’ve been living under a rock (it’s spaghetti made out of courgette, by the way, and it’s an Instagrammer’s health fad dream). The Italians have been at it for a while, but it’s arguably these two sisters who have brought it to the UK’s mainstream attention, while making it all possible with the launch of their Spiralizer machine. They’ll be at the Selfridges Trafford Food Hall this Friday to show customers how to use the gadget, and will be signing copies of their recipe book, The Art of Eating Well.
Fri 31 Jul, Selfridges, Trafford Centre, M17 8DA, 12pm – 5pm, FREE, www.selfridges.com

Piano Wire at The Castle
Featuring members of The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, join Piano Wire this Friday as they bring their ‘The Genius Everywhere’ tour to Manchester’s Castle Hotel for a free gig. Support comes from Wigan garage-rock outfit TVAM, psych sounds from Manchester’s Hey Bulldog and local three-piece Deja Vega. For free entry simply click ‘attending’ on the event and like the BETA page, but head down early because once they’re full, they’re full.
Fri 31 Jul, The Castle, 66 Oldham Street, M4 1LE, 7.30pm, FREE (via Facebook), www.facebook.com

Castlefield Market
Castlefield Market returns this weekend for another fix of all things artisan. A huge indoor melting pot of unique antiques, arts, clothes, crafts and street food, this week you’ll find another cracking line-up featuring the likes of Osaka Jo’s Japanese, What’s Your Beef, Urban Jerky Co., La Casita, The Pizza Maker, Magpie’s Daughter, Ink Inc, Yellowfred Creative, Judith Wroe Vintage and many, many more. One of our favourite markets here in Manchester, it’s a good way to spend a Saturday.
Sat 1 Jul, Upper Campfield Market Hall, Liverpool Road/Deansgate, M3 4FN, 11am – 5pm, FREE, www.castlefieldmarket.org

Know of any good freebies coming up? Email jess at manchesterwire dot co dot uk with the deets.