7 things to do with the kids in Manchester this month

We’re only a few weeks in to the summer holidays and the kids are already moaning that they’re bored. There is no need to panic! There are a whole range of things for you to get up to with the kids in Manchester this month, so enjoy August and the few weeks you have together by doing some of these…

Open-air productions at Fletcher Moss Gardens
The beautiful Fletcher Moss Gardens will become the stage for open-air performances, bringing Shakespeare’s The Tempest and David Walliams’ popular children’s book Ratburger to Didsbury. Standard adult tickets are £15, while children under five and carers go free, with a family concession ticket available. Find out more here.

Olympic Summer
Olympic Summer is a free programme of sporting activities for all ages and abilities, taking place at venues across Hulme and Moss Side. Zumba, football, netball and multi-sports sessions are all included in the programme and runs until Sunday 21 August, with the final event being a community fun-run at Alexandra Park. Find out more here.

Summer Reading Challenge
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is themed on Roald Dahl 100, the celebrations marking the centenary of Dahl’s birth. To enter, children aged from 4 -11 need to become a member of their local library. Then all they have to do is read six or more books, which can include anything they enjoy – picture books, fact books, even audiobooks – as long as they are borrowed from the library. As children complete the Challenge, they get stickers, a certificate and those who read six books will be entered into a prize draw to win some fantastic prizes. Find out more here.

Fashion and Freedom exhibition
Part of the WW1 centenary art commissions, the free Fashion and Freedom exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery explores the fashions and film inspired by the women of the First World War. The event will include original designs by Vivienne Westwood, Roksanda and Holly Fulton. Find out more here.

Computer coding for kids
Get a leg up for your youngsters and help them learn how to make computer games, animations and websites. Code Club is a nationwide network of free volunteer-led after school coding clubs for children aged 9 – 11. The class is on every Thursday at Manchester Central Library. Find our more here.

Heaton Park and Hall
One of the biggest parks in Europe, Heaton Park is also a one-stop shop for a fun-filled summer, with events throughout the season suitable for the whole family. From heritage tours of the iconic Heaton Hall and the long-standing photographer group, to fitness and funfairs, there is something to draw people of all ages back to Heaton Park. Find out more here.

Classic film screenings at HOME
HOME takes classic film in the wider sense of the term and so far, their screenings have ranged from The Breakfast Club to the 1959 Palme d’Or winner Orpheo Negro. A series of matinee screenings are being held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays, with most screenings including an informal post-screening discussion, so you can meet and chat about the film with fellow film buffs. Find out more here.