Free things to do in Manchester this weekend ft. Pakistan Mango Festival + more

Festa Italiana in Cathedral Gardens
For our first pick of free things to do in Manchester this weekend, we’ve got this free festival running in Cathedral Gardens. For three days, the gardens will play host to Festa Italiana – a festival of Italian food and culture, with treats and activities for all the family. Check out our full preview for more details.
Fri 13 Jun – Sun 15 Jun, Festa Italiana Bambini Cucuina, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, M4 3BG. 11am – 11pm, www.facebook.com

Pakistan Mango Festival at Albert Square
Another smaller festival will be taking place in Albert Square on Saturday, as the Pakistan Mango Festival comes to town. It’s organised by the Pakistani consulate and features stalls from many south asian food producers selling more than just mangos – but don’t worry, there’s plenty of mango too and plenty of free samples. There’s also live music and folk dancing, if you’ve had enough Vitamin C.
Sat 14 Jul, Albert Square, Manchester, M2 5DB. 12pm – 6pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Emmeline Pankhurst Statue Unveiling at St. Peter’s Square
This Sunday marks the 160th birthday of trailblazing suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, and to mark the occasion, there will be a new statue of her erected in St. Peter’s Square. The statue, designed by sculptor Hazel Reeves, depicts Pankhurst in a call to arms – a fitting symbol given the protests taking place this weekend. It will be unveiled by June Hutchins, the Lord Mayor of Manchester, and Pankhurst’s great granddaughter will also be in attendance.
Sun 15 Jul, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 5PD. 11am, www.womanchesterstatue.org

Creativity Against the Odds at Manchester Art Gallery
Also on Sunday, Manchester Art Gallery presents this on-off look at the world of the creative arts during wartime. The illustrated lecture, delivered by art historian Monica Bohm-Duchen, examines work produced by artists interned at POW camps and concentration camps during WW2, explaining how they continued to work despite limited resources and horrifying living conditions.
Sun 15 Jun, Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3JL. 2pm – 3pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk