2018 MANCHESTER EVENTS CALENDAR & KEY RETAIL DATES Manchester’s Business Improvement District, the Heart of Manchester BID, brings together more than 400 retailers and businesses. We host and support a calendar of public events to attract visitors into the city centre. JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER KEY DATES Valentine’s Day 14 February Mother’s Day 11 March St Patrick’s Day 17 March St George’s Day 23 April Eid al-Fitr 15 June Father’s Day 17 June Eid al-Adha 22 August Halloween 31 October Diwali 7 November Black Friday 23 November Christmas BANK HOLIDAYS New Year’s Day Tuesday 1 January Good Friday 30 March Easter Monday 2 April Early May Bank Holiday 7 May Spring Bank Holiday 28 May Summer Bank Holiday 27 August Christmas Day Tuesday 25 December Boxing Day Wednesday 26 December SCHOOL HOLIDAYS February Half-Term 17 – 25 February Easter Holidays 30 March – 15 April Summer Half-Term 26 May – 3 June Summer Holidays 21 July - 2 September Autumn Half-Term 20 - 28 October Christmas Holidays 20 December – 2 January BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT EVENTS (Run by the BID on your behalf in Manchester’s retail district. Talk to us about how to get involved) Chinese New Year Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 February MCR Student Social Thursday 26 April Mystery Shopping visits (all month) The King Street Festival Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 June Mystery Shopping Awards Bee in the City Saturday 28 – Sunday 29 July MCR Student Social Tuesday 25 September Halloween in the City Saturday 27 – Sunday 28 October MAJOR MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE EVENTS & FESTIVALS Manchester Arena Strictly Come Dancing 27 - 28 January Palace Theatre Shrek The Musical 16 - 28 January Manchester Arena Lady Gaga 6 February The X Factor 20 February Palace Theatre Flashdance 12 - 17 February Thriller Live 19 - 24 February Manchester Irish Festival 2 – 18 March Manchester St Patrick’s Parade Sunday 11 March Manchester Arena Elbow 4 March Paloma Faith 8 March Stereophonics 9 March Sam Smith 27 - 28 March Palace Theatre The Sound Of Music 13 - 17 March Miss Saigon 21 March - 12 May St George’s Day Parade 22 April Manchester Arena The Courteeners 7 April Harry Styles 9 April Michael McIntyre 19 - 21 April Manic Street Preachers 28 April Manchester Great City Games Friday 18 May Great Manchester Run & Half Marathon Sunday 20 May Manchester Arena Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 4 May Bryan Adams 24 May Park Life 9 – 10 June 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia 14 June – 15 July Manchester Day Sunday 17 June Sounds in the City Armed Forces Day 30 June Manchester Arena Katy Perry 22 June Palace Theatre Legally Blonde: The Musical 25 - 30 June HSBC UK City Ride Manchester Jazz Festival 20 – 28 July Manchester Arena Key 103 Live 14 July Palace Theatre Mamma Mia 3 - 14 July Manchester Pride Weekend 24 - 27 August Manchester Pride Parade Saturday 25 August Manchester Arena Walking with Dinosaurs 3 - 4 August Iron Maiden 6 August Palace Theatre Madagascar - A Musical Adventure 14 - 18 August Manchester Food & Drink Festival Manchester Arena Shania Twain 22 September Palace Theatre Matilda 18 September - 24 November Manchester Literature Festival 5 – 21 October Diwali Mela 13 October Oktoberfest 17 – 21 October Manchester Science Festival Christmas Lights Switch On Manchester Christmas Markets Remembrance Sunday 11 November Manchester Arena Jason Manford 30 November Manchester Christmas Markets Palace Theatre Wicked 4 December - 5 January 2019 CORPORATE BID MEMBER EVENTS (Run by CityCo for BID members. B2B city information sharing. All BID members welcome to attend) F&B Network 30 January CitySession: Manchester a New Cityscape: 15 February CitySession: CityCo Digital Showcase 22 March CityCo Annual Property Dinner 28 March Big City BIDs Conference – Manchester 24 April CitySession: Stock Exchange Tour Manchester BID AGM 2 May CitySession: Social Value BID City BIDs Conference – Liverpool CityCo Annual Members Lunch THE PA NETWORK (Social events for city PAs & Exec Assistants run by CityCo. BID members are welcome to participate) The Crystal Maze 24 January The Bridgewater Hall 20 March Marriott V&A University of Manchester 10 May INNSIDE by Melia 21 June Hard Rock Cafe Black Dog Ballroom New Wakefield Street 23 August Sam’s Chophouse El Gato Negro manchesterbid.com @ManchesterBID Manchester Business Improvement District To get involved or for more information, please contact your BID Manager Phil Schulze: [email protected] / 0161 838 3250 or speak to your City Host. We share weekly footfall & sales stats on our website, please visit manchesterbid.com