From Bonfire Night to Kinky Boots and the Peterloo Memorial - here's our top picks for November
BONFIRE NIGHT | Regional | Until Monday 5 November
While late October saw some smaller bonnies, the biggies are on Bonfire Night itself: Heaton Park, Platt Fields Park and Wythenshawe Park will all be hosting the usual combo of funfairs and fireworks for all the family to enjoy. After something closer to you? Check your local council website.
Various; check the website
CHRISTMAS MARKETS | City Centre | 9 November - 22 December
Following the big Christmas lights switch in Albert Square on 3 November - featuring Jonas Blue, Max George, the cast from Wicked and a ten-minute firework display - Manchester's award-winning Christmas Markets will take over the city centre from Friday 9 November to Saturday 22 December (the market in Albert Square opens for an extra day on Sunday 23rd). With more than 300 stalls, it has grown to become the UK's largest festive market; offering everything from jewellery and toys to Bratwurst and, yes, those wooden ducky things.
City centre (various times; free entry)
FESTIVAL OF LEAVING | Jewish Museum | 5-18 November
Ahead of its multimillion-pound transformation, during which it will take up residence in Central Library, The Jewish Museum is hosting a diverse fortnight of events themed on ‘leaving’ - from music to theatre, workshops to exhibitions. There’ll also be a festival bar featuring Beatnikz Republic beer, kosher wines and soft drinks. For more Jewish culture, check out the Jewish Film Festival - also taking place this month.
Jewish Museum, 190 Cheetham Hill Road, M8 8LW (various, check the website)
LOVE & BANANAS | Prestwich Community Cinema | Wednesday 7 November
This powerful documentary follows Lek Chailert - the founder of the Save Elephant Foundation - and her remarkable team as they travel 480 miles across Thailand to rescue a 70-year-old, partially-blind trekking elephant. The ultimate aim? Freedom. Lek will be available to meet the audience and answer questions, and all proceeds go to her foundation. Best bring the tissues…
Prestwich Community Cinema (7-10pm; tickets £5 at eventbrite.co.uk)
TOO MANY OWNERS | Tariff & Dale | Wednesday 7 November
Another great event for a great cause (Action Against Hunger), this quirky event sees some of Manchester’s leading restaurateurs battle it out…in the DJ’ing stakes. Watch as the likes of Crazy Pedro’s, El Capo and The Bagel Shop take to the decks, before a final round of elimination. There’ll be complimentary nibbles, Aperol cocktail, discounted nosh and a raffle too.
Tariff & Dale, 2 Tariff Street, M1 2FN (8.30pm; tickets £15.68 at eventbrite.co.uk)
COMEDY AT THE ALKER | John Alker Club | Saturday 10 November
This may be a new comedy night, but there’s some pretty well established names on Comedy at the Alker’s inaugural bill - including playwriting prize-winner Katie Mulgrew (BBC Radio, ITV2), Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee (BBC3, Live At The Apollo) and others.
John Alker Club, Flixton Road, Flixton, M41 6QY (7pm; tickets £15 on the door or £12.50 at eventbrite.co.uk)
BERNHOFT & THE FASHION BRUISES | Manchester Academy | Monday 12 November
They were nominated for best R&B album at the Grammys and have garnered praise from musical heavies like Rolling Stone - safe to say, Bernhoft & the Fashion Bruises (pictured top) must be doing something right. Fronted by Norwegian singer-songwriter Jarle Bernhoft, they’ll be touring this month on the back of new album Humanoid - a protest against the ‘machinelike’ quality often found in today’s music.
Manchester Academy, Oxford Road, M13 9PR (7.30pm; tickets £14.85 at manchesteracademy.net)
WITH ONE VOICE | Citywide | 12-18 November
As cities around the world struggle to solve homelessness, not least Manchester, delegates from fifteen countries will come together descend on the Whitworth for a four-day summit on the role culture has to play. Alongside this will be a citywide festival, spanning open-mics to street art and much more besides: full programme here.
Various; check the website
KINKY BOOTS | Opera House | 12 November - 1 December
Struggling to keep the family shoe business afloat, Charlie Price finds salvation in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola; a performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos. So begins an eventful journey from factory floor to the catwalks of Milan (with a generous dose of Cyndi Lauper for good measure) in this award-winning West End classic. Prepare to be razzle dazzled.
Opera House, 3 Quay Street, M3 3HP (2.30pm & 7.30pm; tickets from £19.50 at www.atgtickets.com)
ROCHDALE ALE TRAIL| Rochdale town centre | 15-17 November
Three days, over 100 ales (many CAMRA winners) - the Rochd’ale’ Festival of Champions Ale Trail is back with its fourth stagger round eight of Rochdale’s most popular watering holes: including The Regal Moon, Cask & Feather and The Flying Horse.
Various; check the website
GEA NORDOFF ROBBINS CHARITY ART BALL | Lowry Hotel | Friday 16 November
Over twenty of the North’s finest artists, entertainment spanning rock choirs to Clint Boon, a three-course meal and an impressive raffle…just some of the delights to be found at this arty annual shindig, held this year at the 5* Lowry Hotel. What’s more, it’s all for a great charity and Confidential readers can bag a £10 discount using the promo code ‘MANCON10’.
Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Place, Salford M3 5LH (6pm-1am; £55 tickets available using promo code at eventbrite.co.uk)
FIGHTBACK MANCHESTER | Citywide | 16-30 November
Conceived by Music Venue Trust as a celebration of grassroots music locales, Fightback Manchester includes more than 150 events at over sixteen locations - with live music every day. From Slaves at Academy to Gogo Penguin at Albert Hall and The House and Garage Orchestra at Gorilla, gigs are as diverse as their host venues.
Various; check the website
MO RUN | Heaton Park | Sunday 18 November
Growing a moustache not your bag? Then why not show your support for Movember another way, with the annual MoRun? You can choose from 5K and 10K options, and there’s even a 1.5K option for the kiddos. The MoRun is open to all (not just men) and supports the The Movember Foundation - the only charity tackling men’s health year-round on a global scale.
Heaton Park, The Bowl, M25 2SW (9am; registration from £10 at mo-running.com/manchester)
CENTENARY CITY | Pankhurst Centre | 22 November - 10 March
Marking 100 years since some women first gained the right to vote, this seminal exhibition charts Manchester suffrage through banners, artworks, leaflets, badges and much more besides - a lasting record for generations to come.
Talking of parliamentary reform, don't miss the chance to have your say on the Peterloo Memorial design, due to be unveiled next year: plans will be at the Central Library until 10 November and online here.
Pankhurst Centre, 60-62 Nelson Street, M13 9WP (Thurs 10am-4pm and second and fourth Sunday of each month from 1pm -4pm; free)
WALKING WITH THE SNOWMAN | MediaCity | 23 November - 6 January
Twelve giant snowmen (designed by local artists) will descend on MediaCity this winter to mark the 40th anniversary of Raymond Briggs’ classic The Snowman. Free to view, the family-friendly trail comes courtesy of to Bee in the City creators Wild in Art, alongside Penguin Ventures, and will raise money for BBC Children in Need.
Other festive events this month include the Christmas Lights Switch On (3 November), Bar Hutte and the Ice Village (from 9 November), Victoria Baths Winter Fair (11 November), Urban Narnia at Hatch (from 15 November) and of course the Christmas Markets (from 9 November).
