Manchester Histories Festival: 3 - 12 June 2016

If you’re looking for historical re-enactments, Spitfire flyovers and the firing of cannons, Manchester Histories Festival might not be for you! This is Manchester after all – they do things differently. Offering ten-days of music, film, debate, a digital game, talks, theatre and performance, tours, exhibitions and more, MHF aims to both celebrate the familiar and reveal the new and hidden histories from across Greater Manchester. Whether people would describe themselves as history fans or not, MHF 2016 will have something for everyone.

Manchester Celebration Day
Celebrating the histories & heritage of Greater Manchester, The Manchester Celebration Day brings together nearly 100 histories and heritage organisations. There will be exhibition stands, digital games, heritage bus rides, craft activities, film screenings, performances, talks and more. Plus the day offers the perfect opportunity to explore two of Manchester’s most magnificent buildings; Manchester Town Hall and Central Library.

10:30-4pm Saturday 11 June. Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square M60 2LA & Central Library, St Peter's Square M2 5PD. FREE / DROP-IN [TALKS & SCREENINGS / BOOKING RECOMMENDED]

Manchester Central Library Sunday Funday
An afternoon of circus themed activities for all the family inspired by Manchester's famous Belle Vue Zoological Gardens. Enjoy street performers, music, storytelling, craft workshops, young historians can learn how to find out about their family's past, join in a family sing-along with Your Mam Your Gran and Your Uncle Sam, and get creative on an arts mission and earn an Arts Award.

An Audience with FA Cup Heroes
Manchester United Museum presents FA Cup winners Arthur Albiston and Lee Martin at Old Trafford for this panel discussion. With twenty years of experience and numerous medals between them, they know what it takes to make it on the pitch.

6-8pm Wednesday 8 June. Manchester United Museum, Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford M16 0RA. £5 / BOOKING RECOMMENDED

Making Manchester
Highways in the sky, elevated pedestrian walkways, monorails, responsive facades and moving pavements were all part of the fantastical visions that post war planners thought would compose our modern city. This new exhibition will bring these never-to-be-built visions of the future to life for the first time through digitally recreated gaming environments, alongside archive material and plans from 1960-75.

Mon – Fri 9am-5:30pm throughout MHF. Oxford House, Manchester Technology Centre, Oxford Rd M1 7ED. FREE / DROP-IN

Manchester Ballads
From the 17th to the 19th century, the daily news was shared on single sheets of paper printed with a ballad. Manchester was one of the most important centres for the production of this cheaply produced street literature. Enjoy performances, films, exhibitions and talks, featuring social archaeologist David Jennings; producer of Edward II’s Manchester’s Improving Daily, Gavin Sharp; pre-eminent broadside singer Jennifer Reid; folk singer’s Mark Dowding and Chris Pollington; and The Fosbrooks.

1pm-5:30pm Sunday 12 June. Band on the Wall, 25 Swan St M4 5JZ. FREE/ BOOKING RECOMMENDED