BTTD 9-15 DEC

Still Life Drink and Draw & Flower Bouquet at Track Taproom

Tue 10th Dec, 2024
Track Taproom

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, Life Drawing With Hop host an arty social to get your creative juices flowing. Head over to Track Brewery’s brilliant taproom at the back of Piccadilly to draw from a curated, floral still life set up. All art materials will be provided and guests will also receive a mini floral bouquet gift at the workshop. For the peckish, Track’s great pizza offering Slice Culture has got you too.

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Stick Man at The Lowry

Tue 10th Dec, 2024 – Sun 5th Jan, 2025
The Lowry

Freckle Productions’ award-winning adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s fabulously Christmassy Stick Man returns to Manchester. From the team behind Zog, and Zog and the Flying Doctors, the show features a trio of top actors and is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and dancing. An absolute joy.

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David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) at Factory International

Tue 10th Dec, 2024 – Sat 25th Jan, 2025
Aviva Studios

Let iconic artist David Hockney take you on a personal journey through 60 years of his art in a vibrant, immersive exhibition. You’ll be able to experience his artwork like never before, with huge state-of-the-art projections and a revolutionary sound system. After opening at Lightroom in London to rave reviews, this is the first time the show has travelled outside of the capital. Get an insight into the legendary artist’s process as you journey through six different chapters of his work, seeing the room around you light up and change. Covering his work from Los Angeles to Yorkshire, and up to the present day in Normandy, the show is an incredible opportunity to get to know one of the great popular geniuses of the art world still experimenting with new technology to create beauty and wonder. With a specially composed score by Nico Muhly guiding your experience, enjoy the work of this legendary artist in a whole new light.

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Culture Club at Co-op Live

Wed 11th Dec, 2024
Co-op Live

Boy George and Culture Club embarked on a major UK and Ireland arena tour earlier this month, and will land in Manchester this week. The bona fide 80s icons will be celebrating their first two monumental albums, Kissing To Be Clever and Colour By Numbers, performing them in their entirety, and turning out hits like Do You Really Want To Hurt Me and Karma Chameleon. See them at Co-op Live in Manchester on Wednesday 11 December.

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Disney On Ice Presents Road Trip Adventures at AO Arena

Wed 11th – Sun 15th Dec, 2024
AO Arena

Don your Mickey Mouse ears and get to the AO Arena to experience the excitement of Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures. Let Mickey and his friends take you on a wild ride to your favourite Disney destinations. Perfect for all the family, enjoy an enchanting day out with the likes of Mary Poppins, Moana, Simba and many more in Manchester, from 11 to 15 December 2024.

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Bump(s) at 53Two

Wed 11th – Mon 23rd Dec, 2024
53Two

Head over to 53two theatre and arts space to see Bump(s), a heartwarming tale of life, ‘from birth to adulthood, the ups and the downs, the friends, the enemies, love, loss and all the things in between’. Expect live music and cosy, festive joy.

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Miners’ Strike 40th Anniversary Exhibition at the Working Class Movement Library

Wed 11th Dec, 2024
Working Class Movement Library

The Working Class Movement Library in Salford marks the 40th anniversary of the miners’ strike with an exhibition showcasing the widespread industrial action through artefacts, photos and poetry from its collections. Photographs by John Harris, who operated ‘behind the lines’ during the dispute, capture events from the strikers’ viewpoint. Almost all the poems were written by women during the strike, many of them miners’ wives, and published in works now in the library’s archive. Together, they provide a powerful insight into the strike from the perspective of those who were there.

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Christmas Wreath Making at Hot House

Wed 11th – Thu 19th Dec, 2024
Hot House

Get into the Christmas spirit with a festive wreath workshop at MediaCity. Head over to the Hot House where you can take part in the session, with materials and guidance provided, to make you own two layer wreath. Rag wreathing is a simple and relaxing craft but the results are stunning – perfect for your own front door or as a gift. Tickets are available for sessions on Wednesday 11 and 19 December.

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Olfactive O Sip and Scent Masterclass at Harvey Nichols

Wed 11th Dec, 2024
Harvey Nichols

Discover Olfactive O’s innovative scents at Harvey Nichols’ Sip & Scent Wine Tasting event on 11 December. The workshop will celebrate the launch of the brand’s newest scent Floral Smoke, which is exclusive to Harvey Nichols. Each Olfactive O scent is created in the UK in partnership with a secret perfumer, trained in the Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, and using the finest aromatic materials and botanical essences. At the event, Olfactive O’s owner and founder Olivia will take you on a sensory journey, sampling her perfumes alongside Harvey Nichols wine expert Natasha who will guide you through an array of wines that match the scents. Tickets are £30 per person, including a tasting of seven wines and light nibbles. £20 of the ticket is redeemable on Olfactive O products purchased at the event.

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Artist Social at Aviva Studios

Thu 12th Dec, 2024
Aviva Studios

Calling all artists across the city, come and meet fellow artists at Factory International’s Artist Social, hosted by Corey Brown. Pop by the Social, grab a pizza and socialise with fellow artists from across Greater Manchester. Whether you’re an emerging DJ, already getting work commissioned or you’re an established artist, the Artist Social will have something for you.

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Small Fry Festive Social at The New Cross

Thu 12th Dec, 2024
The New Cross, Salford

The lovely team at Small Fry invite creatives to join them for an evening of festive celebrations to end the year on a high. The Small Fry Festival Social will host a relaxed evening at The New Cross to catch up with creative pals, old and new, over a beer or soft drink. There will also be festive activities to get involved in and a raffle with some fun prizes to be won.

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Print Social at Pottery Corner

Thu 12th Dec, 2024
Pottery Corner

Join Pottery Corner in Chorlton for a fun and friendly Print Social pop-up workshop this week. The perfect opportunity to unleash your creativity and connect with fellow enthusiasts, no experience is necessary at this event and everyone is welcome.

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Christmas Carols in the City at Manchester Cathedral

Thu 12th Dec, 2024
Manchester Cathedral

Manchester Foundation Trust Charity welcome guests to Manchester Cathedral for their annual Christmas Carols in the City event on Thursday 12 December. In support of NHS Manchester hospitals, celebrate the festive season in style in the beautiful surroundings of the Cathedral, with carols sung by local choirs and students from Manchester Grammar School, Manchester High School for Girls, The Hammond and Withington Girls’ School. The evening will be hosted by local favourites Mike Toolan and Corrie star Jennie McAlpine and is suitable for all ages.

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A [FESTIVE] Wine Tasting at PINK

Fri 13th Dec, 2024
Hilton House

Head over to PINK in Stockport for a festive wine tasting. Hosted by Daniel Waite, try different wines including sparkling, rich reds and crisp whites that will perfectly pair with festive feasts. The tasting at PINK is a relaxed, informal way to learn a few things about good wine and good food.

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Club Coco: Coco María at Band On The Wall

Fri 13th Dec, 2024
Band On The Wall

Coco María brings her beloved Club Coco night back to Band On The Wall in the Northern Quarter on Friday 13 December 2024. Expect a night of forward-thinking electronic, future Latin, jazz, samba and all sorts of rarities. Support comes from Cosmo Sofi and Nossa!

Infrared 1st Anniversary at Amber’s

Fri 13th Dec, 2024
Amber’s

Infrared celebrate their first anniversary with a huge show at Amber’s, the brand-new club at Circle Square. Showcasing the best of the city’s underground talent, Infrared pushes boundaries and shapes the future of Manchester’s electronic scene. The night will be headlined by UK garage legend Wookie, whose two-step classic Battle and remixes for the likes of MJ Cole and Sia helped shape the future of UK garage and bring it to the mainstream.

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The Twang at O2 Ritz

Sat 14th Dec, 2024
O2 Ritz

The Twang celebrate the 15th anniversary of their album Jewellery Quarter with a string of dates across the UK. The band will be performing the album in full for the very first time, including tracks that have never been played live before. You can catch them at Manchester’s O2 Ritz on Saturday 14 December.

Festive Wreath Workshop at Frog Flowers

Sat 14th Dec, 2024
Frog Flowers

Get into the Christmas spirit, be the envy of your neighbours this festive season and adorn your front door with an original Winter wreath, all created by you. Combine textural foliage with an abundance of fragrant dried fruits and cinnamon, colourful bows and festive accessories to create eye-catching, festive designs. Whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist at heart, try your hand at creating your own design as the team at Frog teach you all the industry secrets and techniques you’ll need to feel confident and creative. All the materials you need for your wreath will be provided alongside a glass of Prosecco and a mince pie to fuel your creativity.

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GREY GOOSE® Lates presents… Oliver Dollar at Exhibition

Sat 14th Dec, 2024
Exhibition

Setting up in the 360 booth at Exhibition for the final GREY GOOSE® Lates event will be Berlin house music maestro Oliver Dollar, feted for releases on labels like Radio Slave’s Rekids and Green Velvet’s Cajual, as well as the mighty Defected. He’ll hit the decks alongside Exhibition resident DJs IVES. This crop of club nights at the Peter Street bar and food hall is part of a series in conjunction with GREY GOOSE® Vodka, with exclusive events taking place at top venues around the UK. As well as sterling tunes and top flight guests behind the turntables, there will be a range of innovative Grey Goose cocktails on offer. As an added bonus, each ticket includes a welcome Grey Goose martini cocktail, ensuring a great start to the night.

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Sylk Store’s December Open Studio

Sat 14th – Sun 15th Dec, 2024
Sylk Store

Manchester-based vintage and designer brand Sylk Store host another exclusive open weekend at their studio. Relax and browse vintage and designer clothing, try everything on in their private fitting rooms and take in the city views. Guests can shop new-in pieces, before they go live on the website, and preview new stock coming soon. There’s no need to book an appointment, the studio is dog friendly, and there will be Sylk Store assistants on hand to answer any questions. SYLK is a unisex vintage and designer store which has a focus on minimal, timeless and classic styles. The small team specialise in Italian vintage and designer brands such as Christian Dior, Burberry, YSL & Armani.

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Beaches & Cream Christmas Shopping

Sat 14th Dec, 2024
Beaches & Cream

Beaches & Cream open up their studio doors on Sunday 14 December for a special Christmas shopping event. Head over to their Stockport space for a festive filled day featuring hand made products from local and independent businesses. Founded by Gabrielle Ball in 2019, Beaches & Cream features carefully crafted eccentric pieces. The luxury dreamlike collections include jewellery, bags, hats, clothing and homeware.

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Latin Roast Dinner at Las Bombas

Sun 15th Dec, 2024
Las Bombas

Latin American eatery Las Bombas in Irlam do Sundays with a twist. Enjoy a special Latin Roast Dinner on Sunday 15 December and choose from dishes including roast beef picanha, crispy pork belly and Peruvian chicken thighs served alongside birria beef gravy and chilli and garlic roasties. This place is La Bomb (sorry).

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Festive Happening at Albert Hall

Sun 15th Dec, 2024
Albert Hall

The ever-popular Festive Happening by Manchester Camerata bring some Christmas cheer to the Albert Hall this December. The performance will take the crowd on a musical journey that celebrates the true spirit of the season, an event for the whole family. The orchestra will be joined by AMC Gospel Choir, one of the UK’s top live performance Gospel choirs. Kick off the holiday season in style with the show on Sunday 15 December 2024.

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An Afternoon with Andy Mitten at Urmston Library

Sun 15th Dec, 2024
Urmston Library

Join the team at Urmston Library for an afternoon with Manchester United author and journalist Andy Mitten. The event will see Andy talk about his new book Bring On United, which chronicles United’s journey through the noughties. There will be an opportunity to ask him questions about his career and get your book signed on the day.

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Gather Round at The Refuge

Sun 15th Dec, 2024
The Refuge

The Refuge invite you to indulge in the Christmas spirit with their Gather Round programme every Sunday. Head over to the historic city centre venue with your nearest and dearest for their weekly festive choir sessions every Sunday. Enjoy performances from some of the best local collectives including Choirs Manchester, Alty Voices, Chorlton Sings and Sale Sings.

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Festive Tales by the Fire with Blossoms’ Tom Ogden and Sam Buckley
at Where The Light Gets In

Sun 15th Dec, 2024
Where The Light Gets In

Join the team at Where The Light Gets In on Sunday 15 December for an afternoon of festive storytelling with Tom Ogden, lead singer of Blossoms, and Chef Sam Buckley. They will bring the magic of Christmas alive with wintery tales for children and families. Enjoy mulled cider, hot chocolate, and WTLGI sweet treats as they share their favourite Christmas stories.

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