Free things to do to this weekend ft. Track Brewing Co, Thespianage + more

Rogue Christmas Jumble Sale
First up on this packed weekend is this evening art sale at Rogue Artists Studios. Rogue is home to over 90 working artists, many of whom will be exhibiting and selling works a this fair. Whether you’re looking to just see some art, or pick up a bargain, this is a great choice for this weekend (and not even your only art-buying opportunity). See our full preview for more information
Fri 16 Dec, First Floor Project Space, Rogue Artist Studios, 66-72 Chapeltown Street, Manchester, M1 2WH. Tel 0161 273 7492, 4pm – 9pm, www.facebook.com

Track Brewing Co Birthday Party
Sheffield Street’s Manchester Brewing Track turns two this weekend and to celebrate they’re hosting a two day brewery blowout. With food, booze and DJs all weekend long, there’s plenty here to get a serious party on. See our full preview for more details on the line up.
Fri 16 Dec – Sat 17 Dec, Track Brewing Co, Unit 5, Sheffield Street, Manchester, M1 2ND. 7pm – 11.30pm (Fri), 12pm – 11.30pm (Sat), www.facebook.com

Christmas Drinks With Friends at Koffee Pot
As their name suggests, party organisers Good Afternoon specialise in early doors entertainment and clubbing for those with a fixed bedtime. This Saturday, they’re taking over Oldham Street’s Koffee Pot for their event Christmas Drinks With Friends,  promising drinks, disco tunes and a massive Secret Santa. It’s like an office Christmas party, but without the risk of copping off with your boss.
Sat 17 Dec, The Koffee Pot, 84-88 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LF. 6pm – 11pm, www.facebook.com

Thespianage Improv at Gullivers
Theatre group Thespianage have six years of performance under their belts, and they’ll be bringing all that to bear this Saturday with this free improv show at Gullivers, featuring the usual mix of improv games and scenes, but with a festive twist. This is a real treat for fans of the medium, and a low risk entry point if you’ve never seen improv before. There’s also free party hats and mince pies to help get you in the Christmas spirit. Reserve a seat through Eventbrite.
Sat 17 Dec, Gullivers, 109 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LW. 7pm – 9.30pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Odd Bad Art Market at Beagle and Common
Another art market running this weekend, this time across two locations. On Saturday, you can catch the markets at The Beagle in Chorlton, and on Sunday they’ll be packing up and heading over to Common in the Northern Quarter. See our full preview for more details of the artsy produce on offer.
Sat 17 Dec, The Beagle, 456-458 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 0BQ, Tel: 0161 881 8596, 11am – 6pm, www.facebook.com
Sun 18 Dec, Common, 39-41 Edge Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1HW, Tel: 0161 832 9245, 4pm – 9pm, www.aplacecalledcommon.co.uk

Ken Loach Screening at Rethink Rebuild Society (pictured)
Long before winning the Palme d’Or, Ken Loach made Land and Freedom, a 1995 film about British volunteer fighters in the Spanish civil war: It’s a personal and deeply ideological tale that analyses political conflict through the lens of one man’s experiences. This screening at Longsight’s Rethink Rebuild Society – Manchester’s Syrian community organisation – is followed by a discussion of the conflict, and what it can teach us about Syria and contemporary wars.
Sun 18 Dec, Rethink Rebuild Society, Unit 7, Longsight Business Park, Hamilton Road, Manchester, M13 0PD. 6.30pm – 9pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk