With all that Valentine’s Day spending on chocolates, cards and dinners—we’ve figured you might need a little break from the outgoings this week.

From free feature screenings in indie cinemas to a celebration of International Mother Language Day 2022 down at the Poetry Museum—we’ve got you covered to bring on the week of love in style with the best free events happening in Manchester.

Here’s the rundown…

Pride in Protest | Terrace NQ | Tues 15 Feb | 7pm-9pm

Head to Northern Quarter hotspot Terrace NQ this Tuesday for a crafty evening of statement placard making. Led by the LGBT Foundation, get stuck into your activism as you design and paint cards, banners and punchy placards.

With all materials included, this is a great opportunity to meet the local LGBTQ+ community and allies while learning some of the rich histories behind the protest.

43 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1NA, Tel: 0161 819 2345
Buzzin' Sounds | GRUB | Wed 16 Feb | 7pm-10pm

Get yourself over to the coolest spot on Cheetham Hill for a mid-week open mic night at GRUB.

Featuring six stellar acoustic sets from Manchester-based musicians and a whole host of independent beers to wash back GRUB’s great selection of street food, this is the perfect way to break up the working week and soak up some of the local music scene.

50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill M4 4HF, Tel: 0161 302 3084
LGBTQ+ Social | People's History Museum | Wed 16 Feb | 10am-2.30pm

Explore the LGBTQ+ history of Manchester this Wednesday over at the People’s History Museum for a fun and informative social covering the politics, culture and legacy surrounding the community.

A perfect place to connect with the local LGBTQ+ scene and their allies along with free coffee and cake to fuel the afternoon—what’s not to love?

Left Bank, Manchester M3 3ER, Tel: 0161 838 9190
International Mother Language Day | Manchester Poetry Library | Sat 19 Feb | From 11am

The city’s first-ever poetry library invites you to a jam-packed day all about celebrating the magic of words for this year’s International Mother Language Day.

With three incredible events starting in the morning featuring the work of Lydia Hounat, Debjani Chatterjee, Simon Fletcher, Basir Sultan Kazmi, Laura Tohe and Chris McCabe—this programme is sure to get you into the booming poetry scene of the city.

Cavendish Street, Manchester M15 6BG, Tel: 0161 247 2000
Feature Film Screening | Chapeltown Picture House | Sat 19 Feb | 6pm-10pm

Coming straight from the Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival 2022 is Brett Gregory’s brilliant new feature film, Nobody Loves You and You Don’t Deserve to Exist. Set in a dystopian Manchester, the plot follows a grieving English teacher and his journey in recovering fragments of his shattered self as a boy, teen and man through the various landmarks of the city.

Calling all cinephiles, actors, filmmakers and anyone who just fancies some cracking independent cinema—this one is definitely the one for you.

50 Red Bank, Manchester M4 4HF, Tel: 0161 302 3084
Mon 14 Feb - Sun 20 Feb
Words:
Rhiannon Ingle
Published on:
Sun 13 Feb 2022