What's On
UK’s largest Italian food festival is coming to Manchester this weekend and it’s FREE
It’s all happening at Festa this weekend…
Manchester is in for a treat this bank holiday weekend with the return of the UK’s biggest Italian food festival.
Described as ‘the country’s most exciting and vibrant festival of Italian food, drink and culture’, Festa Italiana is a unique celebration of the very best of Italian culture, and will once again be gracing Manchester’s Cathedral Gardens for the August bank holiday weekend.
The festival found life five years ago by the family-run Italian restaurant group Salvi’s, and was quick to grow in popularity, with over 38,000 people visiting during last year’s event alone.
And this weekend, a number of the festival’s most popular faces will be returning alongside some exciting new additions.
Here’s what’s on the line-up….
Festa Italiana
Festa’s famed cooking masterclasses
To kick start the festivities on Friday August 26th, there will be a cooking masterclass from Festa founder Maurizio Cecco and his daughter Sienna at 1:30pm, while the team from I Sapori di Corbara Tomatoes will be flying in from Naples for a talk on their brand and products at 2:30pm.
At 3:30pm, Giulia Martinelli of The Pasta Factory will be showcasing her best pasta-making techniquies and, at 4.30pm, the Luxardo Maraschino team will guide guests through the versatility of their cherries in desserts and drinks. And to round up the day at 5.30pm, there will be a Campari cocktail masterclass.
The following day on Saturday August 27th, there will be a Pasta Masterclass from Maurizio Cecco at 1:30pm, followed by masterclasses and book signings from Gennaro Contaldo, UK brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano at 2:30pm. Then, there will be a meet-and-greet with celebrity chef Aldo Zilli at 3:30pm, and at 4:30pm, the Aperol team will be talking you through the methods behind some of the most loved Italian drinks.
Sunday 28th August will see masterclasses and book signings from Giancarlo Caldesi at 1:30pm, while Gennaro Contaldo will be back at 2:30pm. Great British Bake Off 2021 winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno will be looking after things at 3:30pm and at 4:30pm, there will be a very special pizza making masterclass by the team from Pizzeria Da Michele.
Festa Italiana
Carmela Sereno Hayes will also be hosting ‘Carmela’s Kitchen’ across the entire weekend, with free drop-in sessions teaching pasta loving adults and kids alike how to make the perfect – and most beautiful – pasta.
Festa Italiana Feast at Festa Marquee
On Saturday 27th August, there will be an intimate chefs’ table dinner featuring top class Italian celebrity chefs, Gennaro Contaldo, Giancarlo Caldesi and Aldo Zilli, hosted and cooked by Maurizio Cecco, with fresh pasta made from scratch by Carmela Serano Hayes (Carmela’s Kitchen).
Guests will dine with the legendary Italian restaurateurs and will be able to engage in conversations about Italian food, drink and culture throughout the feast.
The evening will be toasted with a Gin Mare drinks reception, and Italian wine will flow throughout the delectable four course meal, with all drinks for the evening included in the ticket price.
Get tickets for the Festa Feast here.
Festa Italiana
Food
It wouldn’t be an Italian festival without good food, would it?
Over the course of the weekend, returning Festa favourites Café Cannoli will be selling delicious cannoli made using authentic ingredients imported directly from Sicily, local lads Paul and Mike from I Knead Pizza will be bringing their wood fired oven along to serve up their highly acclaimed Neopolitan pizza, while Lucky Mama’s will be serving extruded pasta with fresh homemade sauces.
Proove will also be joining the line-up with their authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, T’arricrii will bring the essence of Sicily to Cathedral Gardens with their mouth-watering arancini and Fritto Misto, while Manchester’s very own Pasta Factory will be serving up a menu of simple, authentically Italian fresh pasta.
Café Azul will be serving up Kickback Coffee, hot and cold drinks, snacks, cakes and grilled paninis all weekend long, while Destination Doughnut will be dishing out delightful doughnuts described as: light, airy and the perfect balance of sweetness.
Festa Italiana
Also on the bill, the driving force behind Festa Italiana, family run Salvi’s will be selling sweet treats and branded Salvi’s delights from their Deli.
Drink
Festa Italiana’s famous Festival Bar will be making its grand return, and will showcase incredible signature serves across the weekend, including the perfect serve Gin Mare Capri and Gin Mare. Birrificio Angelo Poretti will also be bringing its craft Italian beers served from its Airstream Bar.
The Aperol Spritz Bar will be doing exactly what it says on the tin by serving up everyone’s favourite Italian summer refresher while the Main Festival Bar will be bringing you all of the Italian classics including Gin Mare, Gin Mare Capri, Luxardo, Aperol Spritz, Italian craft beers, Ponte Prosecco, the very best Italian wine and soft drinks.
Family-friendly events
Let’s Grow Allotment – brought by Ben Faulks, the co-creator and presenter of the award winning CBeebies brand Mr. Bloom’s Nursery – delivers a truly unique experience by combining the core themes of Mr Bloom’s Nursery with the shows of Ben’s theatre company ‘Plunge Bloom’.
Championing nature, nurture, wellbeing, and imaginative play, with a deftness of touch that leaves an indelible impression upon audiences of all ages.
Festa Italiana
There will also be the a pop-up allotment by Let’s Grow Nannies, which will offer parents a mix of gardening and childcare. The show takes place in a charming pop-up allotment which serves as an interactive play space hosted by two Let’s Grow Nannies with their family of baby fruits and vegetables.
The Let’s Grow Allotment show runs at 1pm, 2.30pm and 4pm each day across the weekend.
Music
Music and Festa Italiana go hand-in-hand and, this year, Compagnia Sole Luna will be flying over from Naples to bring the city’s traditional folk music to Manchester. There will also be a full line up of local artists and bands including the city’s best loved opera singer The Manchester Tenor, while DJs will be spinning records each night.
Festa Italiana will take place at Cathedral Gardens from Friday August 26th to Sunday August 28th, 12pm – 11pm every day.
Find out more here.
What's On
Boom Battle Bar: Ultimate games destination for perfect birthday, stag do or work party
Boom Battle Bar has got it all!
If you’re stuck for somewhere to go this Christmas party season, or for any birthday, stag or hen do, or even a regular weekend with your mates, we’ve got the perfect spot.
Boom Battle Bar is a massive games bar in the Printworks, with axe throwing (£45 – £80), shuffleboard (£15 – £25), augmented reality darts (£40 per lane), beer/prosecco pong (£30 per table), and even karaoke booths (£6 – £9 per person).
Manchester’s Finest Group
They also do a bottomless brunch at weekends, alongside a street food offering, including halloumi fries, parmesan and truffle mac and cheese bites, chicken tenders, wings, loaded bacon parmesan fries and dirty BBQ loaded fries.
There’s an impressive array of drinks as well, with cocktails like the Basic B*tch, Honey It’s Time To Party, and GOAT Punch, as well as plenty of beer, wine and even big sharers.
Get yourself booked in HERE.
What's On
The Cube Live adds three exciting new games for the perfect team day out
Everything you need for an incredible day out
Urban Playground has taken things to the next level, revealing three brand new games for thrill-seekers to sink their teeth into.
The Manchester Arndale entertainment venue, which is already home to an impressive array of games, has added even more fun to the line up.
From mini golf to arcade games and loads of food and drink, Urban Playground has everything you need for an incredible day out.
Manchester’s Finest Group
They’ve now added three new games to The Cube Live experience, ahead of the upcoming Christmas party season.
‘Pass’, ‘Exit’ and ‘Locate’ are the three new nail-bitingly tense games, and you’ll recognise them all from TV.
In Pass, two players rapidly weave a foam brick back and forth between free-standing poles, avoiding knocking the poles over as they go – requiring agility and great communication.
Exit sees two players work together manoeuvring a ball out of a maze testing their patience to the max.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Lastly, Locate is a single player game where players must memorise an illuminated white square’s location, before placing a block on it while blindfolded.
They’re all deceptively straightforward, while also fiendishly addictive, and perfect for a team day out.
Get booked in HERE to try the new games for yourself.
What's On
MTV to take over Manchester for 2024 EMAs with week of events
The MTV EMAs are coming to Manchester for the first time ever
MTV Music Week is coming to Manchester later this year, to showcase the best of our emerging artists and favourite venues.
The event will take place across some of Manchester’s most loved venues between November 5th and 9th, and will feature homegrown artists, performances and industry workshops.
It’s all leading up to the 2024 MTV EMAs, which will be taking place at Co-op Live on November 10th.
MTV franchises will take centre stage, including MTV Push Live, Club MTV and YO! MTV Raps.
Dead Pony
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, added: “Our music scene in Manchester is the stuff of legend and we’re known the world over for our brilliant musicians and iconic venues.
“MTV Music Week will be a great showcase for our city and the stage is set for an incredible Manchester music takeover.
“A boost for the industry, our economy, and fantastic opportunities for some of our best homegrown artists as well as unforgettable performances for audiences to enjoy. We’re excited, can’t wait.”
The full line-up for MTV Music Week:
Tuesday November 5th
MTV Gonzo on Tour | Rebellion | 7.30pm – 10.30pm
“MTV Music Week kicks off at alternative music venue Rebellion with the epic indie and alternative music show MTV Gonzo on Tour. Bringing together some of UK’s best emerging indie rock bands and artists under one roof, the night will feature a line-up of exciting breakthrough artists including post punk trailblazers Dead Pony.”
Wednesday November 6th
MTV Push Live | Soup | 7pm – 10.30pm
“Ready to introduce fans to the hottest new breakthrough artists across Manchester’s thriving music scene, Wednesday will see MTV Push Live head to the award-winning live music venue, Soup. Featuring a co-curated line-up from Manchester music initiative Beyond the Music, the night will include unmissable performances from LARKINS, Phoebe Hall and more. The event sees the continuation of MTV Push and Beyond the Music’s partnership, which is set to kick-off with a team-up at Beyond the Music’s annual festival in October. At the festival, attendees will enjoy an MTV Push Live stage, plus MTV-curated panels.”
MTV x Ramona Radio Rave | Ramona | 7pm – 12am
“On the same night, Ramona will welcome some of Manchester’s hottest emerging dance music talents, with sets from Chunky, Ms Dee and Sno as part of a Ramona Radio MTV Takeover.”
Phoebe Hall
Wednesday November 6th – Friday 8th
MTV EMA: 30 Years | Aviva Studios, home of Factory International | 10am – 8pm
“For music fans looking to reminisce and take a trip into the MTV EMAs’ legendary history, the MTV EMA: 30 Years exhibition will run at Manchester’s arts and culture venue Aviva Studios, home of Factory International. Featuring images from all past editions of the MTV EMAs, curated from Getty Images’ archive, the exhibition celebrates the artists, performances and pop culture moments that have created a cultural legacy for generations of fans across the globe.”
Thursday November 7th
MTV Push Live | Band On The Wall | 7pm – 11am
“MTV Music Week continues with MTV Push Live at Band On The Wall, hosted by the electrifying Manchester DJ duo Shimrise. Delivering an evening featuring the city’s most exciting breakthrough talent, fans can expect a series of unique performances from alt-pop musician Nxdia, singer-songwriter Nina Cobham and R&B Soul artist Rumbi Tauro.”
MTV Presents: Piri & Tommy | New Century | 7pm – 11pm
“MTV Presents: Piri & Tommy arrives at New Century for a night of uplifting drum and bass, inspired by the UK’s student basement club culture. The pair, who first formed the band during COVID, were last year included in MTV Push’s Top 10 Artists list and made the longlist on BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2023. Piri & Tommy’s latest track ‘99%’ marks the group’s first release in a year.”
Shimrise
Friday November 8th
Yo! MTV Raps: NQ Rated | Freight Island | 7pm – 11pm
“The show that first gave rap and hip hop a global stage, YO! MTV Raps comes to Freight Island for an exclusive YO! MTV Raps x NQ showcase. A must-see live music experience, the Manchester label behind the acclaimed Northern rap scene has partnered with MTV to host a line-up including headliner Nemzzz, 163Margsand more.”
Saturday November 9th
MTV x Homobloc Brunch Royale | DieCast | 12pm – 3pm
“Those looking for the perfect Homobloc pre-party need look no further, as the storied LGBTQ+ event teams up with MTV for a mega brunch party at DieCast. Expect a spectacular show featuring special guests and led by some of Manchester’s most celebrated Queens Banksie & Lil, and a battle on the catwalk from Ghetto Fabulous presenting Black Peppa, Coco Canell, Shanika Sunrise & Verry Cherry, soundtracked by Gaydio’s Jackie P & Gina Breeze.”
MTV x Homobloc | The Roof Terrace at Depot Mayfield | 4pm-11pm
“Continuing the Homobloc celebrations, MTV is also hosting The Rooftop at Manchester nightlife institution Depot Mayfield featuring stage collaborations with local LGBTQ+ parties Homoelectric and Make Me Feel. Artists appearing across the roof terrace stages include Nicky Siano (Studio 54), Prosumer, ShyOne, Grove b2b Tash LC, Ruby Savage and local favourites Meme Gold and Kath McDermott, plus a fabulous collection of queens.”
Club MTV Presents: salute | Hidden | 10pm – 4am
“A pivotal city in the dance music revolution, Manchester’s cutting-edge dance scene is renowned across the globe, and what better way to close the week-long city takeover than with a night that celebrates one of the city’s most exciting emerging DJs, plus mega headliner salute. Named ‘Best Club’ in DJ Mag’s Best of British Awards in 2023, Hidden has become a staple in the Manchester clubbing scene and the premier destination for electronic fans.”
You can grab tickets HERE.
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