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

Local Hip-Hop night Astroworld opened its doors last year, and in that short time they’ve already made an impression, with a raft of shows in the city alongside nights in Leeds and Liverpool. This Friday night, they’re kicking off 2020 with a free party at the multi-floor club venue YES. Expect a packed playlist of the very best rap and Hip-Hop from the past few years – everything from established names like Kanye, through to brand new voices like Roddy Ricch.

This weekend marks the opening of the MACFest, a two-week festival of Muslim arts and culture. The grand setting of the The British Muslim Heritage Centre in Whalley Range is a fitting location for this opening ceremony, which features and introduction from the Lord Lieutenant of Manchester Warren J. Smith. Highlights of the festival’s opening weekend include House of Wisdom – an exhibition charting the achievements of Muslim populations across the globe – and a performance from Blackburn-born comedian Tez Ilyas.

If one of your new year’s resolutions this year is to learn an instrument, then Partisan Collective is a great place to start this Saturday. Manchester’s New School of Music is hosting five hours of free piano lessons, courtesy of their expert tutors. It’s a great opportunity to have a little tinkle of the ivories, whilst finding out more about what the school does and the kinds of courses they offer.

Take things at a gentler pace this Sunday, with this free walk through Worsley Woods courtesy of the Salford Ranger Team. Leaving from Beesley Green Community Centre, the 6km walk takes you through the beautiful Worsley Woods: 30 hectares of woodlands just outside the M60 ring road. It’s free to attend, but the rangers will also be taking collections for Bolton Mountain Rescue.