Free things to do this weekend ft. Bury Light Night, EventCity + Dashehra Diwali Mela

This week our roundup of freebies features several nods towards India, with various venues across Bury and Manchester’s own Albert Square celebrating Eastern culture. Complete this with a huge fashion event at EventCity and the weekend’s looking like a pretty big deal.

Bury Light Night (pictured)
This week it’s worth wondering out into Greater Manchester for Bury Night Light, an evening event celebrating the East. With authentic Indian music, traditional Bollywood dance, poetry, art trails, storytelling and markets, the event will spread across town with key arts and cultural venues and public spaces open to all, including Bury Art Museum, Bury Library, The Met, the Transport Museum and The Rock shopping centre. As well as all this, there will be atmospheric lights and projections bringing buildings to life throughout the night for a visual spectacular. See the full programme here.
Fri 10 Oct, Various venues across Bury, 6 – 9pm, FREE, www.facebook.com

Fashion and Lifestyle Exhibition at EventCity
It’s rare that events at EventCity are actually free, and when they are they can verge into the slightly obscure. Luckily this weekends’s Fashion and Lifestyle Exhibition is not just free, it also looks pretty good. With a turnout expecting to be in the 15k region, this high profile event will feature over 100 shopping stands, live demos from leading hair, cosmetics and skincare businesses, as well as designers from the fashion industry showcasing their SS15 collections on the runway. Entrance is free, and you can register for tickets here.
Sat 11 – Sun 12 Oct, EventCity, Sat 9am – 8pm; Sun 10am – 7pm, FREE, www.fashionandlifestyleexhibition.co.uk

Dashehra Diwali Mela
Incorporating music, dance, food and entertainment, the Dashehra Diwali Mela brings the festivals of Dashehra and Diwali to the heart of Manchester. Expect live bhangra and Bollywood music, dance, authentic Indian food and a whole host of stalls selling Indian clothes, jewellery, crafts and accessories. Entertainment-wise you’re getting a lantern procession, paper craft, Henna and immersive outdoor theatre created by Walk the Plank and Nutkhut, commissioned by Indian Association Manchester and supported by Arts Council England.
Sat 11 Oct, Albert Square, 11 Peter Street, M2 5QR, 2 – 9pm, FREE, www.dashehradiwali.co.uk