Free things to do in Manchester this weekend ft. Joey Yu + more

Rogue Artists’ Studios Open Weekend
Our first pick of free things to do in Manchester this weekend is this open event at Rogue Artists’ Studio. All weekend, The Openshaw studios will be showing off their new premises and the new art being created within. Check out our full preview for more details.
Fri 5 Oct – Sun 7 Oct, Rogue Artists’ Studios, 4 Barrass Street, Higher Openshaw, Manchester, M11 1PU, 6-9pm (Fri), noon-5pm (Sat/Sun), www.rastudios.co.uk

Joey Yu at Harvey Nichols (pictured)
On Saturday, department store Harvey Nichols presents this artistic event in conjunction with the CFCCA. London-based illustrator and animator Joey Yu will be displaying new work in the Cathedral Street store, and will also be taking part in a ‘live portrait demonstration’ where she will be creating brand new works in her own inimitable style live on the shop floor. If you can’t catch the demonstration, Yu’s work will be on display until Monday.
Sat 6 Oct, Harvey Nichols, 21 New Cathedral Street, Manchester, M1 1AD, 11am- 6pm, www.cfcca.orrg.uk

Dreams and Nightmares at Levenshulme Old Library
Levenshulme Old Library will be taken over on Saturday by discussion group The Mary Quaile Club, who’ll be tackling the topic of feminist utopias and dystopias in 20th Century literature. Check out our full preview for further information.
Sat 6 Oct, Levenshulme Old Library, 28 Cromwell Grove, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3QB, 2pm, maryquaileclub.wordpress.com

First Chop Takeover at Band on the Wall
Also on Saturday, Eccles-based brewery First Chop is swooping down upon beloved music venue Band on the Wall. Our extended preview has the full lowdown, but in short the brewery will be filling the legendary music venue’s taps with their vegan, gluten free beer and they’ll even be giving away some free sups.
Sat 6 Oct, Band On The Wall, 25 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JZ, Tel: 0161 834 1786, 4pm, www.bandonthewall.org

Design Manchester Opening Weekend
This weekend marks the start of the annual Design Manchester festival, and we’ve already put together a definitive top 3. This opening weekend, you can catch a protest art event at Manchester Art Gallery, ongoing exhibitions at all major galleries, and Breaking News 3.0 – an installation from artist Patrick Thomas in the windows of Northern Quarter art shop Fred Aldous.
Sat 6 Oct – Thu 18 Oct, Various venues and times, www.designmcr.com

Last Weekend of MFDF 2018
As one festival opens, so another one closes. The Manchester Food & Drink Festival will be shutting its doors for another year this coming Monday, so this weekend is really your last opportunity to capture the taste of the city. Amongst the big-ticket events, there’s also plenty of gratis gluttony to be enjoyed around the festival hub in Albert Square, alongside free live music and DJs until late in the evening. This closing weekend also offers up bake sales, a gin bar and exclusive wine selections courtesy of the specialist sommeliers at Vin Van Voom.
Until Mon 8 Oct, MFDF Festival Hub, Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5DB, www.foodanddrinkfestival.com