Free things to do this weekend ft. Sandbar, Future City + Northern Quarter Market

Spring has officially sprung – and thankfully this weekend there are quite a few high profile free events that should provide ample reason to get out from under our duvets.

Sandbar Birthday Beer Fesitval
We’ve already mentioned this one as part of our food and drink round-up, but it serves well in the freebie stakes too. Sandbar turns 19 this week, and in honour of nearing two decades on the scene, they’re throwing a big old party. Along with a dozen of the season’s best beers, you’ll also find performances from local bands Luna Marada and Playacting, plus resident DJs Hairbrain and Miller, who will all be on board to soundtrack the weekend’s antics.
Fri 13 & Sat 14 Mar, Sandbar, 120 Grosvenor Street, M1 7HL, 12pm – 12am, FREE, sandbarmanchester.co.uk

IRL: Bringing Computing into the Real World
As part of 2015’s Future City festival, BAFTA award-winning artist Seb Lee-Delisle has created PixelPyros (pictured) on the Piazza at MediaCityUK (6pm – 10pm, Fri 13 & Sat 14 Mar), which is a virtual pyrotechnics display projected onto a 60-foot screen. In addition to this, Seb will also be holding a free, interactive artist talk that explores the potential of computers when taken out of the office and out into the elements.
Fri 13 Mar, The Lowry’s Hexagon Room, MediaCityUK, Salford, 5.30pm – 6.30pm, FREE, www.quaysculture.co.uk

Northern Quarter Market
Manchester’s prolific Levy Market launches a city-centre spin-off this weekend, with the arrival of the Northern Quarter Market on Sunday. The three month pilot will see Hilton Street and Stevenson Square commandeered by around 30 stalls from the likes of Tatton Brewery, Bakerie, Savin Hill Farm, Ginger’s Comfort Emporium and a Jamaican barbecue from Soup Kitchen, along with a seating area complete with music by the team behind Kraak, Leonard Skully Records. Read our full preview here.
Sun 15 Mar, Sun 19 Apr & Sun 17 May, Hilton Street and Stevenson Square, Northern Quarter, 11am – 4pm, FREE, www.northernquartermarket.com, @nqmarketmcr

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