As we head into October, summer is officially over and done with – but fortunately, there are a wealth of things going on both in person and online for people to get involved with. We’ve rounded up the best free things to do in Manchester this week, including the opening night of a brand new exhibition from AIR gallery and an open mic at The Old Abbey Taphouse. Read on to find out more…

Virtual Tour of a Wildlife Friendly Farm | Mon 28 Sep | 6pm - 7pm

This virtual tour will take you around a wildlife friendly farm near Wigan. Jenny from Fir Tree Community Growers will share her top tips for growing your own vegetables in a sustainable and wildlife-friendly way – and you can take it all in from the comfort of your own home.

Untold | Manchester Camerata | Thu 1 Oct | 8pm - 8.30pm

Manchester Camerata, in collaboration with United We Stream, bring the first episode of their brand new film series directly into your home. Untold features work from poet Jackie Kay, with music from John Harbison, Haydn, Arvo Pärt, and R. Strauss. The first episode, Caroline, gets up close and intimate in how it tells its story – this is unmissable for anyone interested in contemporary, creative storytelling.

Drawing Beyond Itself | AIR Gallery | Fri 2 Oct | 6pm - 10pm

Altrincham’s AIR Gallery is showcasing a new exhibition of eclectic art exploring drawing in the expanded field, with work from 20 UK artists. For their opening night, they’ll have live performance, music, drinks and more. Tickets are free but you do need to book due to their limited capacity.

AIR Gallery, 30 Grosvenor Road, Altrincham WA14 1LD
Flat Instance | Mirabel Studios | Sat 3 Oct | 11am - 5pm

Mirabel Studios are launching a new Soft Spot show from artists Babs Smith, Owen Herbert and Ben Allan, with work exploring object translation, instances of time and material processes. The show is called Flat Instance and will be exhibited on Saturdays between 11am and 5pm – but you can arrange to see the work outside of their normal hours by contacting the gallery for an appointment. Their capacity is limited and the gallery request that you wear a mask when visiting.

Mirabel Studios, 16 Mirabel Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M3 1PJ
Open Mic | The Old Abbey Taphouse | Sun 4 Oct | 2pm

The Old Abbey Taphouse have a fun and friendly open mic on Sunday afternoons, making it the perfect place to grab some brunch and check out some local performers. Plus, if you book a table in advance, you get a free drink with your brunch order – what’s not to like?

The Old Abbey Taphouse, Guildhall Close, Manchester M15 6SY
Mon 28 Sep - Sun 4 Oct
Words:
Amy Callaghan
Published on:
Mon 28 Sep 2020