Things to do in Manchester this weekend (March 31-April 2) – including Shrek Rave and Dick & Dom

Easter is approaching, which means that festive events are beginning to take place in Manchester this weekend. There are egg hunts in several Greater Manchester parks, a special Easter breakfast at the Hard Rock Cafe, and craft sessions at Elizabeth Gaskell’s House – plus much more.

However, if you’re not ready to start tucking into those Easter eggs just yet, there are still plenty of non-festive events to keep you entertained. Here are some of the events that have caught our eye this week.

Oldham Beer Festival

Queen Elizabeth Hall, 31 March - 1 April

Oldham’s Queen Elizabeth Hall is playing host to the 33rd Oldham Beer Festival this weekend, run by CAMRA Rochdale, Oldham and Bury. Guests will get to sample a variety of real ales, ciders, perries, fruit wines and foreign beers from a variety of different breweries. It will run from 12-10:30pm on Friday and 12-9pm on Saturday. If you arrive after 5:30pm on Saturday, entry is free. There is no need to book, just turn up on the day. Entry is £3, unless you are a CAMRA member, in which case it’s free. There is also a £1 refundable glass deposit. For more information, head over to the CAMRA website, where you will also find a full list of the drinks on offer this weekend.

Dick & Dom in da Bungalow 20th Anniversary Tour

Lowry Theatre, Sunday 2 April

Millennials, brace yourselves because this is going to make you feel old. Dick and Dom are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their hit kids TV show Dick & Dom in da Bungalow with a special live show for all ages this Sunday night. Expect all the old favourite games and set pieces, including Word Tango, Musical Splatues, The Grunty Song, Fairly Hairy Fizzogs, Pants Dance, What a Sweaty Flap and, of course, BOGIES! Tickets start at £31 and can be purchased via the Lowry Theatre website.

Shrek Rave

Cargo, Printworks, Saturday 1 April

Yes, you read that correctly. There is a Shrek-themed rave taking place in Manchester on Saturday, 4-10pm. It is an event which has already gone viral in the US and Australia and is now making its way to the UK. It promises to be a truly unique clubbing experience, including swamp-themed drinks, stage dancers, visuals and an eclectic playlist of Tik-Tok, Shrek movie moments, 2000s UKG, R&B, hip-hop, dancehall, trance, house and club anthems. There is also a prize of £100 cash for the best Shrek-themed costume. If you want to show your love for everyone’s favourite CGI ogre, head over to Eventbrite, where tickets start at £15.

Adult Lego Night

Legoland, Trafford Palazzo, Friday 31 March

Legoland are hosting an adults-only evening of Lego-building fun this Friday, 6.30-9pm. You don’t have to built your own Lego Death Star to join in, it’s for builders of all abilities. Guests will have time to delve into the brick pit, as well as check out the 4D cinema and Kingdom Quest ride. There will also be speed building games and themed challenges, with prizes to be won. Tickets are £12.50 per person, or £7 if you are a passholder or student. They can be purchased via the Legoland website.

My Fair Lady

Palace Theatre, until Saturday 1 April

The classic rags to riches story is coming to Manchester’s Palace this weekend, performed by the Lincoln Center Theater’s company, fresh from their West End Run. The musical includes much-loved songs, such as  Could Have Danced All Night, Get Me to the Church on Time, Wouldn’t It Be Loverly, On the Street Where You Live, The Rain in Spain, and I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face. Remaining tickets range between £14-27 and can be found via the ATG website.