Things to do in Manchester during the Easter 2025 bank holiday weekend

From Irish variety shows to concerts from Sean Paul, there's lots going on

Easter is almost upon us and with that comes an extended four-day Bank Holiday weekend for some of us.

With Good Friday (April 18) and Bank Holiday Monday (April 21) nicely book-ending Easter Sunday, it’s a chance for many of us to let our hair down, meet up with friends, go see a show, or just take a well-earned sit down break.

But if you do want to fill out your calendar with things to do, there are plenty of events, shows, club nights and parties taking place across Greater Manchester across the weekend - with tickets still on sale for many places.

We’ve already rounded up some of the more family-friendly things to do across the Easter holiday here, which includes exhibitions and egg hunts. But there’s plenty more going on - including shows from Sean Paul and Peter Hook, punk festivals, board game parties and comedy nights.

Here’s our round-up of some of the best things taking place this Bank Holiday weekend. As usual, it’s always worth checking details with the official organisers and ticket providers in advance as things can often change without notice.

WAKE

Thursday, April 17 - Monday, April 21 at Aviva Studios

An ‘electrifying’ Irish variety show, featuring aerialists, tap dancing, cabaret, slam poetry and pole dancing will be taking place at Aviva Studios this weekend.

Based on the Irish funeral rite, the show takes a unique journey through grief and liturgy through the form of a wild (and loud) party. There will be singers, bands, dancers, performers and choreographers taking the lead in the show spectacular.

Tickets, from £10, available here.

Easter at Diecast

This Easter, Diecast is throwing a five-day weekender full of round-the-clock entertainment and mouth-watering eats.

From Wednesday, 16 April through Sunday, 20 April, visitors can expect high-energy nights, dazzling performances, and a feast of food and drink specials designed to supercharge your Easter break.

On Friday there will be a fire-grilled BBQ in the garden plus plenty of daiquiris and a glittering takeover of club Leno by fabulous performers. Saturday, there's bottomless brunch, an immersive Saturday night party, house band and aerial performers.

And for a chilled Easter Sunday, there's roasts all day, a string quartet and live entertainment.

51 Ducie St, Manchester M1 2JQ

Manchester Punk Festival 2025

Friday, April 18 - Sunday, April 20, Manchester city centre

Punks at the ready! The volunteer-led Manchester Punk Festival will be taking over multiple venues across the city centre for three days featuring over 140 bands.

Now in its tenth year, the acclaimed festival, which was recently named the Best Small Festival of the year at the UK Festival Awards, will be heading to venues including Gorilla, YES, The Bread Shed, The Union and Rebellion.

Headlining are Philadelphia legends The Menzingers, with Minnesota’s Dillinger Four as well as California’s Strung Out and Death By Stereo, Bristol’s grunge-tinged Grandma’s House and Liverpool’s gothy Coughin’ Vicars also appearing on the line-up.

More info and tickets can be bought here.

Mary Poppins

Until May 17, Palace Theatre

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down as Disney's acclaimed musical adaption of Mary Poppins comes to Manchester in time for Easter.

Taking place at the Palace Theatre until May 17, the classic tale of P.L. Travers' favourite nanny features magical choreography, incredible stage effects and plenty of unforgettable songs. Tickets from £39.50 here.

Manchester Desi Bank Holiday Weekend Special

Saturday, April 19, The Manchester Lounge

An ‘upmarket and elegant’ celebration of Asian Bollywood, Bhangra, Afrobeats, RnB and garage is coming to Manchester on Saturday night.

Featuring a 50k sound system, DJs, VIP booths, video walls and state-of-the-art club lighting, the event from Apnabeat will run from 10pm to 3am with tickets starting from just £6. Tickets here.

Fat Tony’s Full Fat Fest

Saturday, April 19, Freight Island

DJ legend Fat Tony will be bringing along some of his finest friends in music for his own festival vibes at Freight Island.

With a line-up including Catz n Dogz, Tete Bang, Tonnic, J Walks, Indira, Josh Walker, and Mark Ashley-Dupe, the 'massive Easter Weekend daytime show' will run from 12pm to 7pm and is strictly 18+ only. Tickets start from £20 and can be bought here.

Easter Bank Holiday Day Fiesta at Revs de Cuba

Saturday, April 19

Revolución de Cuba in Manchester will host an Easter Bank Holiday Day Fiesta on Saturday (April 19) in their downstairs club space.

Running from 2pm to 9pm, the event will feature live music, DJs, entertainment and just general good vibes. Tickets start from just £4 too. You can buy yours here.

Central Cee at Co-op Live

Saturday, April 19

British rapper Central Cee will be bringing his Can’t Rush Greatness UK tour to Manchester’s Co-op Live on Saturday (April 19).

The MOBO Award winner is known for hits including Doja, Commitment Issues and Obsessed With You. His debut album went straight to the top of the charts earlier this year. Tickets, from £42.50, here.

BRUNCH IT OFF! - A Taylor Swift Tribute Brunch!

Saturday, April 19, ON Bar

If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, then the perfect event for you is taking place within Manchester’s Gay Village on Saturday.

ON Bar will host a Taylor-themed brunch with a tribute act ready and raring to belt out all the hits. Running from 4pm to 8pm, the full choreographed show will include 1.5 hours of bottomless brunch alongside some delicious brunch snacks.

In-between performances from Taylor Sparks and a team of dancers, there will be a playlist belting out more Taylor songs than you can possibly imagine. Tickets are £45pp here.

Peter Hook & The Light

Saturday, April 19, Victoria Warehouse

Peter Hook and his band are set to play Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse on Saturday night.

Hooky will perform New Order’s 2001 album Get Ready in full, which was dedicated in memory of Rob Gretton, the manager of Joy Division and New Order, who died in 1999.

The music legend will also perform some of the biggest and most important songs from New Order and Joy Division’s vast back catalogue. Tickets, from £43.50, can be bought here.

Bottomless Board Game Brunch

Sunday, April 20, GRUB

Not after a late one on Easter Sunday? GRUB will be hosting a bottomless board game brunch featuring four hours of party board games and 90 minutes of fizz, mimosas, beers and cider.

Tickets are £22.50 each, but if you just want to come for the board game shenanigans then you can get a ticket for £9.50. The event will be running from 1pm to 5pm. Tickets here.

A Knight's Tale

Until May 11, Manchester Opera House

A musical based on the hit 2001 movie A Knight's Tale is receiving its world premiere in Manchester.

Now being held at the Opera House until May 11, the comedy-musical show will feature songs from the likes of Queen, Destiny’s Child, Bonnie Tyler, and David Bowie. It will star the likes of Emily Benjamin, Max Bennett, Andrew Coshan, Emile Ruddock, Oliver Tompsett and Meesha Turner.

Tickets, from £15, available here.

Sean Paul and Ashanti

Sunday, April 20, AO Arena

Two R&B legends will be performing at Manchester’s AO Arena on Sunday night.

Dancehall star Sean Paul and songstress Ashanti will be joining forces for a joint gig in the city featuring some of their biggest hits, including Temperature, Get Busy, Baby Boy, Foolish and Rain On Me.

Tickets from £69.25 are available here.

Afters at Amber's: Easter Special

Sunday, April 20

Manchester’s newest nightclub Amber’s will be hosting its first Easter special club night. Amongst a number of events, its Easter Special event on Sunday night will feature an unannounced line-up matched with a state-of-the-art club system.

Tickets are just £6 including a booking fee and can be bought here. Event set to run from 8pm to 4am.

Chris McCausland:

Sunday, April 20, The Lowry

Strictly Come Dancing winner and comedian Chris McCausland will be bringing his Yonks! Show to Manchester on Sunday night.

Taking over The Lowry, the acclaimed show has been billed as ‘another masterclass in stand-up comedy that has literally been yonks in the making’. Tickets, from £39.50, here.

Burna Boy at Co-op Live

Monday, April 21

On Monday (April 21), Nigerian singer Burna Boy will be playing at Co-op Live.

The acclaimed musician, who has been previously named by Rolling Stone as one of the 200 greatest singers of all time, is gearing up for the release of his eight studio album, No Sign of Weakness, later this year. Tickets from £81.95 can be bought here.

Vintage Gene's at Wallop Prestwich

New vintage pop-up shop, Vintage Gene's will be hosting a free event at Wallop, Prestwich this Bank Holiday Friday.

A lovely way to spend Good Friday, the event is for family, friends and vintage-enthusiasts, and Vintage Gene's will be hosting a variety of sustainable-focused businesses who encourage mindful shopping and quality products.

Hosted in the outdoor beer garden of Wallop, music will be provided throughout the day by vinyl DJs and drinks will be flowing with the bar's quality craft drink selection.

Wallop, 403 Bury New Road, Prestwich

Grab a £1 coffee from new coffee shop Grind in the city centre

Grind is preparing to open in Manchester this summer, which will be their first café outside of London. To celebrate, they’ll be giving out £1 coffees over the Easter weekend.

Coffee lovers can head down to St Anne’s Square where the iconic Grind pink coffee truck will be parked from Thursday 17t until Saturday 19 April, dishing out £1 cups of their speciality-grade coffee and some extra treats along the way.

The Manchester Grind café will open in June, just off Peter Street, in the brand new St Michael’s development.

Free pizza slices at Nell's in Altrincham

Nell's New York Pizza and Bar arrived in Altrincham almost 5 months ago - bringing their famous thin, big and crisp pizzas with them.

They're celebrating their first Easter weekend as part of the community by giving away 150 slices of their massive 22'' pizza to the first 150 people to grace their gorgeous sun trap terrace on Good Friday.

The giveaway will start from 12pm, and lucky visitors will also be able to get their hands on plenty of vouchers and Nell's goodies too.

Nell's Altrincham, 2 George St, Altrincham WA14 1SG

Middleton Pace Egg Play on Easter Monday

The Middleton Pace Egg team will, once again be performing their traditional Easter Mumming Play in pubs around the town on Easter Monday. This year will be their 59th and they'll be colleting contributions for the Christie Hospital to help in their cancer research.

Performances will include a noon performance at The Edgar Wood noon; The Old Roebuck at 12:30pm; The Britannia Inn at 1pm; Harbord Harbord (Wetherspoons) 1:30pm; The New Inn at 2:00pm; Ye Olde Boar’s Head at 2:30pm and The Ring O’ Bells at 3pm.

Following the final performance of the day, there will be Egg-Rolling on the hill beside the parish church, opposite the Ring O’ Bells. Children (of all ages) are invited to bring along their decorated hard-boiled eggs to take part n this ancient tradition.

Ramona Big Birthday Weekender

This April, Ramona turns four — and they’re going big. What started as Detroit-style pizza slinging from a derelict MOT station has become one of Manchester’s most beloved spots for vibes, eats, and beats.

To celebrate, they are throwing a big birthday weekender over the bank holiday weekend, which means five days of non-stop party vibes, bottomless booze, and unbeatable music.

Head down, Friday to Sunday (18–20 April) from 12–5PM for 90 minutes of bottomless booze.