Manchester will enjoy a transformation as the city welcomes the Manchester Flower Festival to kick off the bank holiday weekend.
Temperatures are expected to soar to 28°C this weekend, the perfect weather to see this year’s theme of Green Manchester in its full floral glory.
Displays around this theme are set to be in Exchange Street, St Ann’s Square and King Street.
Siobhan Illidge, Senior Manager at CityCo offers more details on what visitors can expect from this year’s displays.
“The festival uses existing street architecture and the city backdrop as a canvas, creating surprising experiences in familiar spaces.” Siobhan explains. “Many installations focus on what’s achievable in an urban setting, particularly around supporting wildlife and pollinators.”
The festival’s focus is on five Floral Trail displays, inspired by green initiatives within Manchester such as the Piccadilly Gardens redevelopment, the Beehives of the Royal Exchange and the Castlefield Viaduct.
“The theme celebrates the city as a forward-thinking, sustainable destination.” Siobhan says.
The Manchester Flower Festival began in 2016, organised by Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District (BID). It started as a part of the King Street Festival, running from 2016 to 2019.
Following the Covid-19 lockdowns, the festival expanded across the city centre to safely welcome visitors back into the outdoors and has now planted itself firmly in Manchester’s social calendar.
As well as the displays, the Manchester Flower Festival offers visitors a variety of events to enjoy in the sunshine including guided tours, family planting sessions and ways to support urban pollinators with Plant CIC and CyanLines.
Visitors can also enjoy the festivities in department store Selfridges with a display, a DJ in store and a family hunt.
From breakfast at Blank Street to lunch at El Gato Negro and Franco Manca, there is an array of food and drink to be offered near the attractions of the festival.
Siobhan highlights what she enjoys most about the contrast between the city and the nature displayed at the festival.
“The festival uses existing street architecture and the city backdrop as a canvas, creating surprising experiences in familiar spaces.” she says. “Many installations focus on what’s achievable in an urban setting, particularly around supporting wildlife and pollinators.”
Siobhan continues about the festival’s perks. “The Manchester Flower Festival kick starts the summer season in Manchester, transforms the city’s streets with fabulous floral displays and installations, is free for the public to enjoy and helps to support and promote green initiatives and urban greening.”
The Manchester Flower Festival begins on Saturday 23rd of May at 10am. For more details, visit the Manchester Flower Festival page on Visit Manchester.