Great Northern presents a packed Bank Holiday weekend of Pride celebrations and late summer fun

This bank holiday, Great Northern Warehouse is stretching out the final days of Mancunian summer with a typically diverse and fun-filled programme of family-friendly activities, live music, Balearic blowouts and dining offers, with everything from Pride celebrations and tropical terrace takeovers to grassroots gigs and big screen blockbusters on hand across the last long weekend of the year.

For families looking to make the most of the last sting of the summer holidays, Little Northerners continues its Fun Starts Fridays programme on Fri 28 Aug, with the sandpit taken over for Create It, a nature-themed messy play session for little ones who like getting stuck in. Running from 1pm – 3pm and led by Great Northern’s on-site play specialist, the free sessions require no booking, with all ages welcome.

Over at ODEON Great Northern, families, couples and solo film fanatics alike can swap the bank holiday frenzy for a few hours of silver screen entertainment. Across sixteen screens, audiences can choose from the latest releases and ongoing epics, with animated adventures and family favourites alongside action, comedy and horror. ODEON is also part of the Great British Summer Savings initiative, with reduced child and family ticket pricing available for eligible performances until Tue 1 Sep.

On Sat 29 Aug, the famed Proud Fest returns for a free all-ages celebration of LGBTQ+ families, carers, children and allies. Running from 12pm – 6pm, the day-long festival features live entertainment, arts and crafts, interactive games, children’s activities and community stalls, alongside dedicated spaces for babies, toddlers and families. Visitors can also take in the Manchester Pride Parade from the Proud 2 b Parents Viewing Area overlooking Deansgate.

For a sophisticated late-night sojourn to the White Isle, Manchester235 is bringing the best of Ibiza to Vega Bar on Sat 29 Aug with a free party from 10pm. Expect pulsating floor-fillers, club classics and summer anthems as DJs keep the Balearic sunshine blazing into the early hours, with tickets recommended and entry reserved for over-18s.

Elsewhere, Malibu takes over the terrace at Impossible from Thu 27 – Sun 30 Aug, bringing a tropical medley of cocktails, BBQ food, games and entertainment to the bank holiday weekend. The activation ramps up across the Saturday and Sunday with a coconut shy, prizes, a Malibu terrace swing and photo opportunities, alongside DJs and a BBQ serving jerk chicken skewers, mango-salsa chicken burgers, grilled vegetable skewers and more.

Once again, Lions Den is dedicating the weekend to Manchester’s grassroots music scene with MCR1 Live Festival, running from the Friday through Sunday. The free three-day festival brings emerging artists, independent musicians and up-and-coming bands to the Sun Trap outdoor stage, with Another Day, Big Society, Ruby Joyce and Nick Shane among the names set to appear.

Pong & Puck are getting in on the Pride celebrations as always, with The Big Pride Bash returning on Sunday for an afternoon of bottomless brunch hosted by the inimitable Miss Ginger Hunter. Arrive from 12.30pm for a welcome Prosecco before settling in for two hours of bottomless fizz, spritzes, pints and Hooch, as well as music bingo, a loo roll runway and sharing pizzas for the table. Tickets are priced from £45pp, with the brunch running until 3pm.

If you’re looking to get the long weekend started a little earlier, The Mews is on hand with its Thirsty Thursdays offer: two-for-one on all draught drinks from 12-7pm. Head down on Thu 27 Aug for a pre-bank holiday drink alongside cheese, charcuterie and small plates ahead of the proper parties.

With family activities, inclusive Pride celebrations, live independent music, movie magic and free-flowing drinks, Great Northern Warehouse has this weekend’s summer swan song covered from Thursday through Monday.

Find out more about what’s on at Great Northern via the website.