July

July is here, and the school holidays are in full swing – lucky we have plenty of activities to keep children entertained! Festival season is here, so head to Altrincham for a celebration of all things French, or to Tatton Park for an explosion of American culture. For the creative among you, head to the Whitworth Art Gallery in search of treasure! And for a family fun day, why not see what the Cheadle Social Club has to offer.

 
1 July, 10am-4pm with 10am-11am being quiet hour
Join Together Festival
The festival will host activities, lots of different stalls and fun for the whole family!
Get ready for lots of food and drink stalls, ponies, animals, glitter, sensory experiences, fairground rides, yoga, story reading, games, live music and many more!
Together Trust campus,
Schools Hill, Cheadle SK8 1JE
Tel: 0161 283 4848
www.thelowry.com

 
1 – 2 July 10am – 4pm
Stars and Stripes, American Car Show
The Car Show is the biggest and best of its kind in the UK! From Mustangs and Corvettes, to Cadillacs, US motorcycles and American motorhomes – the show is packed full of American dream machines for you and your family to admire. The event is packed to the rafters with family entertainment including live music and a children’s funfair, as well as specialist traders, parts suppliers and jumble stands to help with your very own project.
Adult £12 (advanced £10), children under 16’s FREE, Car entry charges apply.
Tatton Park
Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN
Tel: 01507 529529 or 01625 374400
More info www.tattonstarsandstripes.com

 
1 – 2 July
Altrincham Festival
On both days there will be a fun fair, stalls, a great selection of food, a licensed bar area, a dog show, stalls galore, car boot on the Sunday, and more. The talent stage will be running on both Saturday and Sunday, with entertainment throughout the entire day.
Show Ground at Beechfields is open 11am to 6pm on Saturday 2nd July and 11am to 5pm on Sunday 3rd July
The parade leaves St Margaret’s rd at 11am, makes its way down the downs, on to Stamford New Rd around 11.10. Then it turns onto the Stockport Rd Flyover, and passes The Old Hall at approximately 11.30. More likely it turns at The Hare and Hounds around 11.45 and arrives in Timperley Village for noon. The parade will finish at the showground around 12.30.
Festival ground (for parade see above): Beech Fields,
Grange Avenue, Timperley, Altnincham WA15
Tel: 0791 5760732 or info@yourfestival.org.uk
www.yourfestival.org.uk

 
1, 8, 15, 22, 29 July, 11.30 – 12.15, 12.30 – 13.15, 13.30 -14.14;
11, 25 June, 11am – 11.45am, 12noon – 12.45pm
Crafty Families
An exciting and engaging art class for families and under 11’s. With a different theme each week you’ll leave the session having created their own pieces of art. All attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 2-11.
Free, booking required
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

 
2 July
Gatley Festival 2023
Gatley Carnival Parade and Family Fun Day, Bear and Music festivals, history walk, comedy evening, teddy bear picnic and varous children’s events, fairground rides and lots free entertainment and a record number of stalls. A lot of fun activities and things to do for kids and adults.
Gatley, Cheshire
www.gatleyfestival.co.uk

 
5, 12, 19 July, 10am – 10.45am, 11am – 11.45am
Little Creatives
A weekly creative session for toddlers and their adults! Includes music making, storytelling, dance and creative play. Sessions are 45 mins, are free for all and all attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 2-5.
Free, booking required
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

 
7, 14 July, 10am for 0–1, 11am for 1–2
Babies Playtime
These classes are led by a professional early years practitioner and are an opportunity to have fun, sing, dance and make new friends. Classes last 45 minutes and are free for all. All attendees must book a ticket (including accompanying adult).
Suitable for ages 0 to 1 and 1 to 2.
Free, booking required
The Lowry, Salford Quays. Manchester
Tel: 0333 320 2838
www.thelowry.com

 
7 – 9 July, 11am (12noon on 7^th) – 9pm (8pm on 9^th)
Foodies Festival
Throughout the 3-day weekend, visitors will enjoy a jam-packed schedule of TV cooking show champions and award-winning chefs in the interactive live theatres. Visitors can browse the latest food trends in the Shopping Village, meet local producers in the Artisan Market and taste exotic and unusual new dishes in the Feasting Tent. Other attractions include a fairground, children’s activities, and family-friendly areas.
Day tickets from £3 (child) and £18 (adult), 3-day weekend tickets from £38
Pak entry fees applyes.
Tatton Park
Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN
Tel: 0131 220 3276 or 01625 374400 (Tatton Park)
www.foodiesfestival.com

 
8 July 4.30pm – 6.50pm
Movie on the Meadow – Wall-E
Join in for an afternoon of family friendly movie magic in the Meadow. Watch a much loved family movie at the outdoor cinema. WALL-E, short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class, is the last robot left on Earth. He spends his days tidying up the planet, one piece of garbage at a time. But during 700 years, WALL-E has developed a personality, and he’s more than a little lonely.
Quarry Bank
Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LA
Tel: 01625 527468
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/quarry-bank/events/5902a35b-5057-44c7-b95b-40f98f756181

 
13 July 7pm – 9pm
Outdoor Theatre: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Quarry Bank
Chapterhouse Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s best-loved romantic comedy.
Let yourself be whisked away on a thrilling journey to the most magical of forests, meet starcrossed lovers, playful fairies, and hilarious travelling players. Beautifully designed Elizabethan costumes, a wonderful musical score and enchanting woodland creatures come together to make this an evening of unmissable summer garden theatre, and one of Chapterhouse’s most popular shows.
Picnic with family and friends in the picturesque Upper Gardens of Quarry Bank for the perfect evening of magical theatre in magical surroundings.
The performance run time is two hours, including a 20 minute interval.
Quarry Bank
Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LA
Tel: 01625 527468
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/quarry-bank/events/74cdfb9e-f0bb-404c-9edc-66d21d3ac54b

15 July 10am – 12 noon
Pigs Galore at the Farm
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about Tatton Farm’s rare breed pigs, including feeding, care, breeding and pig keeping legislation. A fun morning for all you animal lovers, with a chance to get hands on with our adorable pigs. This event includes a workshop with the experienced Farm Staff and entry into the parkland on the day of the event.
Tatton Park
Knutsford, Cheshire
Tel: 01625 374400
www.tattonpark.org.uk/events_at_tatton_park/event-listings/2023/july/pigs-galore-at-the-farm.aspx

 
15 – 16 July 11am – 3pm
Family activities archaeology week at Lyme
Bring the family to enjoy some hands-on archaeology.
Uncover pieces from the past and learn some of the methods that archaeologists use to reveal them.
Archaeologists are detectives, using materials to piece together the past. Try your hand at your own mini excavation in dig pits to see what you find. Think about what kind of questions an archaeologist would ask and work out what they may have been used for and where.
Lyme Park
Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR
Tel: 01663 762023
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/lyme/events/76760c1a-7656-413c-ade9-6f62c2d09c12

 
16 July 2023
The Wizarding Adventure
It’s time to sign up to our spellbinding school of sorcery as you take a wacky and wonderful whistle stop tour of the Wizard Academy and learn to become a master of mystery and magic.
During this magical interactive experience you’ll take lessons in the basics of broomsticks, practice your potion making, be instructed in incantations and learn to tattle and talk with a tawny owl.
For students age 5 – 12 recommended, but anyone is welcome to enrol.
What’s included:
– One return trip from Bury to Rawtenstall hauled by a genuine steam (and spell) powered train
– An approximately two-hour wizarding experience with the region’s most pre-eminent enchanters.
– Wizard themed activities and plenty of photo opportunities.
– Make your day complete with a trip to Bury Transport Museum, sited just across the road from Bury Bolton Street Station.
Food and drink will be available to purchase from our café on Platform 3/4 at Bury Bolton Street Station and from the Rawtenstall Buffet.
The East Lancashire Railway
Bury Bolton Street Station,
Bolton Street, Bury, Lancashire BL9 0EY
Tel: 0161 764 7790
www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

20 -23 July
Bluedot 2023 – a festival of discovery
The award winning festival is an unforgettable experience combining music, science and culture. Bluedot continues to prove it is truly one of the most unique festivals in the UK. The line-up for 2023 has been announced with an out of this world selection of bands, musicians, DJ’s, science personalities.
This year’s theme is “Space Carnival”, encouraging festival goers to join in the colourful cosmic fun! Expect daytime parties, drum circles, breath-taking twilight parades, immersive art and much more
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre
The University of Manchester
Macclesfield, Cheshire, Sk11 9DL
Tel: 01477 571 766
www.discoverthebluedot.com

 
21 July 2023
No School Days at Eureka!
Come to Eureka for one of the quieter days in the museum, perfect for little ones to takeover!
It’s not the same as Toddler Days, on these dates there will be no school bookings so you can plan ahead to visit the museum at quieter times.
Eureka! The National Children’s Museum
Discovery Road,
Halifax HX1 2NE
Tel: 01422 330069
play.eureka.org.uk

 
22 July 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Outdoor Theatre: Bad Dad by David Walliams
Join Heartbreak Productions for this warm-hearted tale that follows the highs and lows of a father-son relationship. An open-air adaptation of David Walliams Bad Dad is the perfect summer family entertainment.
Gather round and give three cheers for Reverend Judith. She is receiving the Citizen of the Year Award for her amazing work with the food bank. Come congratulate her and hear how it all started with Frank and his dad, Gilbert. Gilbert is a bit of a local celebrity. He was no other than the legendary ‘King of the Track’, Gilbert the Great. That was until a tragic accident put a stop to his track-racing days. Driven to desperate measures in order to provide for his son, he agrees to become a get-away driver for the local baddies.
Suitable for children aged 7+
Quarry Bank
Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LA
Tel: 01625 527468
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/quarry-bank/events/4acbb531-f7e4-4ddc-900c-e7039eaa0c2e

 
22-30 July 11am – 4pm
The Festival of Archaeology at Quarry Bank
Quarry Bank gives you the opportunity to dig tests pits in the Apprentice House Garden and see what treasures from the past you can discover.
Offered in partnership with the University of Salford and SMART Archaeology Manchester, their expert Archaeologists will teach you how to dig, how to recover objects and to record what you’ve found.
While enjoying hands-on archaeology, you can also learn about the history of the Apprentice House, and see artefacts which were recovered in the garden in the past.
Quarry Bank
Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LA
Tel: 01625 527468
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/quarry-bank/events/912ea2a6-0998-4255-937e-9019aaf6a658

 
22 July – 3 September 10.30am – 5pm
Summer of Play at Quarry Bank
Explore the festival of play on the Mill Meadow. With a mini obstacle course, hay bale maze, natural art, and traditional garden games, (plus much more) there is something for everyone to enjoy. There will even be a stage for your little ones to put on their very own performances!
Explore the site and have a go at building your own Mill, try to find the secret music glade in the gardens or discover your favourite Georgian parlour game in Quarry Bank House.
With a changing programme of events from puppet shows to storytelling, and wild art to teddy bears picnics, join in for a summer filled with play and fun for all the family.
Quarry Bank
Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LA
Tel: 01625 527468
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/quarry-bank/events/b8dda802-a1b5-44ac-b3f1-f5680ad5fe53

 
22 July – 3 September 10.30am – 4pm (3.30pm for garden trail)
Summer of Play at Lyme
It’s a Summer of Play at Lyme. Choose between various activities: a Family Garden Trail, fun-filled Garden Games on the West Terrace and North Lawn, not forgetting Crow Wood play area, follow Building Block trail, see the historical houses and then have fun with building your own models using your favourite building blocks.
Lyme Park
Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR
Tel: 01663 762023
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme

 
27 – 28 July 11am – 11.40am, 1.30pm – 2.15pm, 3pm – 3.45pm
Summer of play: Archery for kids at Lyme
Archery is a fun and exciting sport that can help your kids develop their coordination, concentration and confidence, teach them about safety and teamwork. Most importantly, it can give them a chance to have fun and make new friends.
During the 45-minute event, kids will learn the basics of archery, such as how to hold the bow, draw the string, aim and release the arrow and will finish off with a competition. All children will receive a medal and the winner will receive a medal and a prize.
Suitable for ages 7+ , led by an experienced member of the Lyme team.
Price: £5 per session, normal admission fees apply
Lyme Park
Disley, Stockport, Cheshire, SK12 2NR
Tel: 01663 762023
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/lyme/events/b0da7e7b-4fb7-4459-beac-166defc2302e

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(for Manchester & Cheshire area, please)