From hands-on family activities and free children’s entertainment to seasonal dining offers and one of Manchester Pride’s most inclusive celebrations, Great Northern Warehouse is packed with reasons to visit throughout the summer.
Families can make the most of the school holidays at Little Northerners, where Fun Starts Fridays returns throughout August. Running every Friday from 1pm until 3pm, the free sessions are led by Great Northern’s on-site play specialist and feature a different hands-on theme each week, from active play and construction challenges to nature-inspired activities and messy creative workshops. There’s no need to book, with children of all ages welcome to join in.
Young explorers can also discover the Creatures of Cottonopolis nature trail throughout August. Collect a free activity pack from outside the Little Northerners playspace before following wildlife-inspired clues hidden around Great Northern, offering an easy way to keep little ones entertained while exploring the venue.
After working up an appetite, visitors can take advantage of a host of seasonal dining offers across Great Northern. At Italiana Fifty Five, children eat free throughout the school holidays from Friday 18 July until Sunday 31 August, with every paying adult entitled to one complimentary children’s meal. Pong & Puck is serving a weekday lunchtime deal of a whole pizza with a pint or soft drink for just £10, available Monday to Friday between 12pm and 3pm, while The Mews offers any sandwich for £6 every Friday lunchtime, with fries or a pint available for an additional £1.50. Meanwhile, Evuna is showcasing a menu of seasonal Spanish specials, including traditional salmorejo, seafood-filled squid rolls and chicken and black pudding skewers with cheese sauce.
The summer programme culminates on Saturday 29 August with the return of Proud Fest, a free celebration of LGBTQ+ families and their allies presented in partnership with Proud 2 b Parents. Running from 12pm until 6pm, the event features live entertainment, family-friendly performances, creative workshops, games, craft activities and dedicated play spaces throughout Great Northern. Visitors can also enjoy a unique bird’s eye view of the Manchester Pride Parade from the Proud 2 b Parents Viewing Area overlooking Deansgate, making Proud Fest one of the city’s most welcoming ways to celebrate Pride together.