Free things to do in Manchester this weekend ft. Strange Stars + more

GRUB’s 4th Birthday at Fairfield Social Club
Our first pick of free things to do in Manchester this weekend is this birthday party at Fairfield Social Club. GRUB Food Fair has been in business for four years now, and to celebrate they’re doing what they do best, and putting on a food fair packed with all the top booze and street food the city has to offer. Already confirmed are dim sun kings Oh/Mei/Dumpling and Latin american pop-up Yakumama, and Runaway Brewery will be selling a limited supply of special birthday brew. It pays to swing by early too: The first 200 people to drop in before 5pm can take part in the tombola with guaranteed prizes.
Fri 26 Oct, Fairfield Social Club, Archway 6, Temperance Street, Manchester, M12 6HR, 12pm – 10pm, www.facebook.com

Ciné Transe 18 at NIAMOS
This Saturday and Saturday you can catch two screening sessions at NIAMOS, a grand old arts theatre in Hulme. The films are all made by graduates of Manchester University’s School of Visual Anthropology, featuring some of the brightest and best minds in Ethnographic Art and documentary film making. The screenings are flexible, allowing you to watch as many or as few pieces as you want to engage with, and each screening is accompanied by a Q&A. No ticket is required, and you’re encouraged to just drop by the venue as you please.
Sat 27 Oct & Sun 28 Oct, NIAMOS Radical Cultural Arts Centre, Warwick Street, Manchester, M15 5EU,11am – 9pm, www.cine-transe18.com

Strange Stars at Burgess Foundation (pictured)
On Saturday, American science fiction author Jason Heller comes to the International Anthony Burgess Foundation to talk 1970s music, and its obsession with space. Paying special attention to the work of David Bowie, Heller takes you through the music, films and books that helped shape the popular conception of space in late 20th Century. This is bound to be a fascinating talk, and copies of his book on the subject will also be available to purchase on the day.
Sat 27 Oct, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, 3 Cambridge Street, Manchester, M1 5BY, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Last Weekend of Manchester Science Festival
Manchester Science Festival draws to a close this weekend, so if you’ve not already got stuck in to the fun, this Sunday is you very last chance. We’ve already run down our top 5 picks of the festival, but two free things you can check out this weekend are Distortions In Spacetime at The Science and Industry Museum, and Preventing Extinction at the Great Northern warehouse.
Until Sun 28 Oct, Various venues, www.manchestersciencefestival.com

Monster Invasion! at City Centre
You may have already noticed the spooky inflatables popping up all over the city centre, but if you haven’t then this is you last chance to see them. Visit Manchester have helpfully provided a map, so you can go monster-spotting before they’re taken down on Monday. See our full preview for more details.
Until Sun 28 Oct, City Centre, www.visitmanchester.com