Manchester day is bringing a helter-skelter, dance floor and giant snails to the heart of the city

The annual celebration of all things Manchester AKA the aptly titled Manchester Day is back with a holiday theme - if only the sun would come out and catch up.

Performers, musicians, and “a menagerie of surprising animals” will be livening up the city’s streets as they come alive with entertainment, tunes, dance moves and more .

Look out for a helter-skelter in the middle of Deansgate, a dance floor at St Ann’s Square and say hello to some giant snails.

Global Grooves will be taking to the streets and Chic Le Freak will be playing a blend of jazz, dhol drumming, brass bands and disco classics.

This FREE event has been created by Manchester City Council in collaboration with outdoor art specialist Walk The Plank to turn different areas of Manchester into scenes of the seaside, a trip to the zoo, and a picnic in the park.

Have a happy holiday day everybody.....

Deansgate

Have fun at the seaside – Ride the helter-skelter and look out for the passing Venetian gondola - then marvel at the Great Wheel on a Jolly Holiday on Deansgate. Pass through passport control to the main stage and a mix of world music and seaside entertainment.

St Ann’s Square

Party in the park – Relax by the bandstand in an enchanted St Ann’s Square filled with hand picked food traders. Enjoy an afternoon of opera classics, an Indian brass band, Dr Butler’s Hatstand Medicine Band’s jazz piano, and early-evening samba dancing.

New Cathedral Zoo

Enjoy animal antics – The hippo has a toothache, the lion is ready for bed, and an orangutan is hungry, while a monkey rides his bike up New Cathedral Street. The sloths and the giant tortoise look on at this menagerie of mayhem.

Market Street

Shop-a-holics unite – Visit the craft market to find locally produced goods, from home-made baking, locally sourced honey, candles and a wide selection of books – all brought to you by Manchester Markets.

St Mary’s Gate

Get your groove on – From West African to Lithuanian dance, bhangra to vogue, it’s all happening on the dance floor on Market Street. There’s a little bit of hip-hop and the opportunity to bust some moves yourself.

Exchange Street

Calling creatives – There will be a number of creative and educational activities for families to enjoy, including face-painting, tie-dying and seed planting.

Exchange Square

Chill out – Relax in the plush surroundings of the Capri Beach Club while sipping a coffee, a cocktail or a bite to eat from a choice of food traders.

St Peter’s Square

Pedal power -Through the Council’s collaboration with British Cycling and Manchester Active, budding cyclists of all abilities will be able to try out top-of-the-range balance and standard bikes as part of our very own ‘Pedal Party’. Take part in bike repairs and test the city’s new e-cargo bikes. Manchester Active are also providing a running track and some giant games.

Cathedral Gardens

Firefighter fitness – Watch over 250 firefighters compete in a fiercely hard going race to find the UK’s fittest firefighter. The competitors face a simulated operational firefighting scenario, overcoming challenges such as the Crofton Stair Ascent, Angus Fire Hose Drag and Container Carry, all while wearing their full firefighting kit.

Northern Quarter

Carnival fever -As the sun sets join the spirit of carnival as it descends on the Northern Quarter. From 7pm, the dancers, drummers and brass section of Global Grooves will fill the streets with futuristic funk. Joining them will be the sparkling and dancing robotic queen, IOLA 2.0, whose other-worldly neon glow will be sure to turn heads as she makes her way through the streets.