Free things to do this week ft. Improv, Chronarium + more

Olympic Heroes Parade
The thrill and spectacle of the Rio Olympics seems like a distant memory now, but you can relive all the glory on Monday afternoon. Our olympic and paralympic contenders will be making their way through the streets of Manchester city centre for a heroes parade. You have to book in advance if you want to get a good vantage point to see the athletes: Check out our full preview for more information on how to book.
Mon 17 Oct, Manchester city centre, M60 2LA. 4.30pm, www.manchester.gov.uk

Circus of Improv at Bandit, Mugger & Thief
Local improv group ComedySportz certainly provide no shortage of events, with a wide range of gigs and courses in Manchester and beyond. This free improv jam show at Canal Street’s Bandit, Mugger & Thief is one of their best offerings. More relaxed and less structured than your average improv course, it nonetheless gives a newbie a cost-free way of getting to grips with the basics, and soon you’ll be riffing and yes-anding your way to comic bliss. It’s also hosted by local comic Kate McCabe, who’s basically as good as they come.
Mon 17 Oct, Bandit, Mugger & Thief, 1 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3EZ. 7.30pm – 9.30pm, www.facebook.com

Ideas Worth Fighting For at People’s History Museum
Twelve artists have come together for this week-long exhibition at The People’s History Museum, set to coincide with Design Manchester 2016. They’ve been invited to produce pieces – painting, sculpture and even banners – around the theme of ‘things worth fighting for’. See our full preview for more information on this exhibition.
Mon 17 Oct – Sun 23 Oct, People’s History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3ER. Tel: 0161 838 9190, 10am – 5pm, www.phm.org.uk

Chronarium Sleep Lab at Arndale Centre (pictured)
Another festival running this month is Manchester Science Festival, featuring a packed programme of free and ticketed events- you can even see our top free picks right here. As part of the festival, they’ve assembled a public sleep laboratory at The Arndale Centre: The Chronarium – originally commissioned for Singapore’s FutureEverything festival last year – uses light and sound to reset your rhythms and help push you towards a deeper, more peaceful sleep. At the very least, it should give a few minutes of stolen relaxation amongst the hubbub of Manchester shopping. You can’t book in advance, but swing by on the day to see if they can find you a snoozy slot.
Thu 20 Oct – Sun 30 Oct, Manchester Arndale, Market Street, Manchester, M4 1AZ. www.manchestersciencefestival.com