Manchester’s fashionable King Street Festival returns this Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June, celebrating the city’s most iconic shopping street since the 1800’s.
The annual festival celebrates King Street’s timeless architecture and rich history with a glorious weekend filled with alfresco dining, live music, a pop-up gin bar, lawn games, family activities, historical tours, VIP shopping experiences and the return of the prestigious Manchester Flower Show.
The Manchester Flower Show
Transforming the street into a botanical paradise for its festival weekend, the Manchester Flower Show will see balconies, lamp posts, bus stops, shop windows and parking bays bloom with Flower Power themed floral installations from the region’s best floristry, produce and gardening talent, alongside a market of gardening products, outdoor accessories and flowers.
The show will double in size this year and will be supported by RHS Bridgewater, paying homage to the original Manchester Flower Show which began in 1955 and returned to the city last year after a 15 year hiatus.
Eating & Drinking
Visitors can also get into the festival spirit with a whole host of events, exclusive discounts and competitions throughout the weekend from King Street stores, restaurants and bars including alfresco dining at Tast and El Gato Negro.
Alongside a dedicated Gin Bar, the festival’s popular King Street Cocktail Trail is back with a range of summer cocktails created especially for the festival by King Street’s best bars and restaurants, priced at £5 each.
With a big focus on family-friendly activities for 2019, there’s lots to keep little (and big) kids busy. Fit for mini Kings and Queens, RHS Bridgewater’s floral crown making workshops will ensure everyone’s festival look is complete, plus there’s lawn games aplenty including giant chess, giant Connect 4 and jenga.
King Street is home to over 50 stores, restaurants and hotels including Boodles, DKNY, Belstaff, Virgin Money Lounge, Jigsaw, Kiehls, Cath Kidston, Rosso, King Street Townhouse and this year’s festival travel sponsor, Kuoni, who are offering the chance to WIN a 5* luxury holiday to Mexico.
The King Street Bandstand
The best jazz, swing, soul and folk combine to create the perfect summer soundtrack – each day from midday. Grab a drink from El Gato Negro or the pop-up gin bar and enjoy live music from the inimitable drag queen chatueuse, Vivienne, as well as Harvey Brittain, Yemi Bolatiwa, Helena Williams, Fifi La Mer and The Rubber Duck Orchestra.
This year’s festival also includes a special focus on Peterloo, two hundred years on, with historic tours by Jonathan Schofield and talks courtesy of Manchester’s Histories Festival.
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King Street Festival 2019
Date: Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd June
Cost: FREE
Follow @kingstfestival for event updates.
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