As lockdown restrictions ease, we round up some of the most exciting events happening this July.
Jewish Manchester Tour | 2nd July | £11
The Manchester Jewish Museum has been closed for years for regeneration, but is finally reopening on 2nd July, and on that very same day New Manchester Walks is conducting a guided tour around Manchester’s old Jewish ghetto to teach about the history there. The tour will begin at Victoria station and then make its way around Strangeways, then Cheetham Hill, Hightown, Prestwich, and eventually Whitefield, and will discuss such personalities as former MP Robert Maxwell, German financier Nathan Meyer Rothschild, and political theorist Karl Marx.
The Main Event | 25th July | From £52.60
Fans of drag will be queuing out the door for tickets to this star-studded bonanza featuring the UK’s first drag supergroup: The Frock Destroyers. The group will be accompanied by the reunion of The AAA Girls and by ABCD, the most iconic top four to grace RuPaul’s Drag Race. Performing in the UK together for the second time ever, Adore, Bianca, Courtney, and Darienne will pull out all of the stops! The legendary duo Latrila – Latrice Royale and Manila Luzon – will also be making an appearance, as well as Victoria Secret, who will host her very own half-time show.
Manchester International Festival | 1st to 18th July | Events priced individually
Manchester International Festival will this year be a hybrid event – bringing together the virtual and real world – but that doesn’t mean any of its events are going to be any less vibrant. The festival will feature events such as the world premiere of film Laurent Garnier: Off the Record, with the star himself present and conducting a post-screening Q&A. There will also be a production based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Notes on Grief, a performance from indie artist Arlo Parks, and guided tours of Manchester exploring the city’s past, present, and future.
The Gin & Rum Festival | 23rd July | £15
Taking place in Manchester Cathedral, The Gin & Rum Festival is perfect for those with an enthusiasm for booze. Head to the festival and discover new favourites with samples from hand-picked guest distillers, treat yourself at the themed gin and rum bars, and let your hair down dancing to the resident DJ. The festival will also feature knowledgeable guides to steer you through the stalls, as well as talks and masterclasses from local, national, and international gin and rum makers.