Manchester Literature Festival presents Alice Vincent
2025-10-14 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Performance Space
Enjoy an evening with acclaimed writer and podcaster Alice Vincent as she discusses her new book Hark: How Women Listen – an intimate, lyrical exploration of what women listen to, what their worlds sound like, and how it feels to be expected to listen in a world of noise made by men.
Alice returns to her roots as a music journalist to examine the role of sound in women’s lives, from the overwhelming noise of motherhood to the quiet power of nature. Prompted by the birth of her child and the sensory overload of modern life, Hark traces her journey to rediscover listening as a restorative, grounding force. Alice invites us to hear more deeply, from nightingales to phantom cries, and to consider sound as a way of reclaiming presence, identity, and connection.
“I loved this exploration of the way sound lands in female bodies. Alice Vincent is on song” – Katherine May
Longlisted twice for the Wainwright Prize, Alice Vincent is a bestselling author, Guardian columnist, and host of the Why Women Grow podcast. Her books include Rootbound: Rewilding a Life and Why Women Grow. Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live.
Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Manchester Literature Festival presents Elizabeth Alker
2025-10-15 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
From Paul McCartney to Pierre Henry, Nils Frahm to John Cage, Radiohead to Polish Sonorism, Donna Summer to Stockhausen via 70s Kosmiche. In her fascinating new book, Everything We Do is Music, BBC Radio 3 broadcaster Elizabeth Alker explores how visionary classical composers helped shape the sound of modern pop and rock.
See Elizabeth uncover surprising connections between the genres, bringing a fresh and innovative perspective to music history and some of the songs that have inspired generations of musicians, producers and listeners. Hear about her exclusive interviews with iconic figures Sir Paul McCartney, Steve Reich, Jonny Greenwood and Soweto Kinch, as she reveals a rich, genre-blurring tapestry of influence and innovation.
Hosted by BBC6 Music broadcaster and DJ Deb Grant.
‘Revelation after revelation. Passionate and absolutely fascinating. I love music more for reading it.’ – Guy Garvey
Elizabeth Alker is a presenter for BBC Radio 3, where she hosts Unclassified and the afternoon show, Classical Live. She grew up learning the clarinet, recorder and piano, and curates and hosts a series of cross-genre concerts at the Southbank Centre with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live.
Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Manchester Literature Festival presents Elizabeth Day
2025-10-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
‘One of Us is intelligent, darkly humorous and brilliantly written. It is a story for our time.’ Stanley Tucci
Join award-winning author and broadcaster Elizabeth Day as she discusses her gripping new novel, One of Us. Set against a backdrop of politics and scandal, One of Us follows Martin, once the best friend of rising political star Ben Fitzmaurice, as he’s drawn back into the inner circle. As their stories intertwine, a family – and a nation – unravels under the weight of its secrets.
‘Funny, sharp, sophisticated, this is Elizabeth Day’s writing at its finest.’ Dolly Alderton
Elizabeth Day is an award-winning writer whose novels include The Party, Scissors, Paper, Stone and the Sunday Times bestseller Magpie. Her non-fiction books include How to Fail, Failosophy and Friendaholic: Confessions of a Friendship Addict. She is also a celebrated
journalist, broadcaster and creator of the chart-topping How to Fail podcast. Each week, she sits down with a guest author, artist or actor to discuss what they have learned from failure.
Sponsored by The Edwardian Manchester.
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live
Book tickets here or click on ‘Book Now’ below

Manchester Literature Festival presents Kimberly Whittam: Quiet Storm
2025-10-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Author Kimberly shares her journey writing Quiet Storm and how she found her voice. A powerful event about confidence, friendship and being yourself. For Year 7 students.
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live.
Free – book tickets by emailing miriam@manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk

Manchester Literature Festival presents Sayaka Murata
2025-10-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Sayaka Murata, the internationally acclaimed author of Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings, joins us to discuss her provocative and visionary new novel, Vanishing World.
In a society where sex, love and parenting have been reimagined, Amane—born from a taboo act of love—struggles to conform. As an adult, she explores anime relationships and sanctioned extra-marital sex, until she and her husband join Paradise-Eden: a utopian experiment of mass insemination, artificial wombs, and collective child-raising. But can this bold experiment build the brave new world Amane desires, or will it push her to breaking point?
Presented in partnership with Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester. Supported by The Japan Foundation and Japan House. Sponsored by The Edwardian Manchester.
Sayaka Murata has sold over two million books worldwide and won many of Japan’s literary prizes including the Akutagawa Prize and Mishima Yukio Prize. A literary phenomenon, her work has been translated into more than 30 languages. She has been named Vogue Woman of the Year.
‘Murata’s skill is in turning round the world so that the abnormal, uncivil or savage paths appear – if momentarily – to make sense’ Financial Times
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live
Book tickets here or ‘Book Now’ below

This, That, What? Storytime with Katy Ashworth
2025-10-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Meet Kiki – her brain is full of brilliant ideas that just won’t stop! Katy from CBBC reads her joyful rhyming story and uses playful activities to help children explore big feelings and wild imaginations. Great for ages 4 – 7, but everyone’s welcome!
Free – book advised. Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Pia’s Pet Party! with Serena Patel & Wild Science Animal Encounter
2025-10-18 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Join Serena Patel for a party full of animal fun, stories, a pet quiz and even make your own pet character. Then meet amazing real-life animals in a Wild Science show – maybe even a giant spider! Best for ages 5+.
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live.
Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Supertato Party! with Sue Hendra
2025-10-18 10:30 - 11:30 | Performance Space
Come party with Supertato, Katy Ashworth, Pia’s Pet Party & Wild Science Animal Encounter. Plus make a party badge and Party Animal mask with Hya Arts!
There’s a birthday bash at the supermarket, and you’re invited! Join Supertato creator Sue Hendra for silly stories, veggie fun and make your very own veggie superhero to take home. Perfect for ages 3–5 (older siblings welcome!)
Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Manchester Literature Festival presents Jung Chang
2025-10-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
International bestselling author Jung Chang brings us Fly, Wild Swans, the long-awaited sequel to her iconic memoir Wild Swans—a book that defined a generation and remains banned in China.
Fly, Wild Swans picks up where Wild Swans left off, tracing Chang’s life and China’s transformation from the end of the Mao era to Xi Jinping’s authoritarian rule today. Chang explores how the political and cultural shifts of the last five decades have shaped her life and that of her mother, offering an immersive and deeply moving account of what it is like to live in a communist dictatorship and the threats modern China poses to the international world order.
Jung Chang is the bestselling author of Wild Swans, which has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Her acclaimed works on Chinese history have been translated into over 40 languages and she holds a CBE for services to literature.
‘Wild Swans made me feel like a five-year-old. This is a family memoir that has the breadth of the most enduring social history.’ Martin Amis, Independent on Sunday
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live
Book tickets here or ‘Book Now’ below

Manchester Literature Festival presents Marcus du Sautoy
2025-10-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
In this fascinating talk, celebrated mathematician and leading scientist Marcus du Sautoy invites us to explore his new book Blueprints: How Mathematics Shapes Creativity and rethink the boundaries between art and mathematics.
From prehistoric stone circles to Zaha Hadid’s sweeping curves, to Shakespeare’s rhythms and Radiohead’s musical experimentation, Marcus discusses how symmetry, prime numbers, fractals and hyperbolic geometry have inspired artists, architects, writers and musicians across the ages. Hear how creativity and logic are not opposing forces, but deeply interconnected ways of understanding the world and why a creative mindset is vital for discovering new mathematics.
Marcus du Sautoy is Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. In 2008 he was appointed to the university’s prestigious professorship as the Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science, a post previously held by Richard Dawkins. He works extensively with a range of arts organisations bringing science alive for the public, from the Royal Opera House and Glastonbury Festival to Complicité theatre company.
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester and supported by Library Live.
Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Manchester Literature Festival presents How to Get Published with Kate Mosse
2025-10-20 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Have you dreamed of a writing career but don’t have the confidence to give it a go? Or feel that there are too many barriers to the publishing world to getting your work published? Join bestselling novelist and Discoveries Chair of Judges Kate Mosse for an inspiring talk about her journey and the Women’s Prize Discoveries writing programme and prize, designed to address the specific challenges women writers face. Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Women’s Prize Trust and Library Live.
Free – booking advised. Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Manchester Literature Festival presents Feminist History with Kate Mosse
2025-10-20 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Join us for an inspiring evening with internationally bestselling author and Founder Director of the Women’s Prizes Kate Mosse, as she shares insights from her groundbreaking new non-fiction book, Feminist History for Every Day of the Year.
This richly illustrated collection celebrates 366 remarkable women and girls – one for every day of the year – whose courage, creativity and vision have shaped history. From the trailblazers you know – Mary Wollstonecraft, Malala Yousafzai, Simone Biles and Sophie Scholl – to warrior queens, pioneers, activists and unsung heroes, Kate will share empowering stories from across the globe and throughout history.
Kate Mosse is a bestselling novelist, playwright, and non-fiction writer, including the multimillion-selling Languedoc Trilogy, The Joubert Family Chronicles and The Taxidermist’s Daughter. Her highly-acclaimed non-fiction includes Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries: How Women (Also) Built the World. A champion of women’s stories, Kate founded the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Non-Fiction, as well as the global #WomanInHistory campaign.
Sponsored by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live.
Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Manchester Literature Festival presents Hannah Ritchie
2025-10-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Join us for an energising and empowering evening with bestselling author and data scientist Hannah Ritchie, one of the most refreshing new voices in the climate conversation.
In her surprisingly hopeful new book, Clearing the Air: A Hopeful Guide to Solving Climate Change in 50 Questions and Answers, she answers big climate questions with clarity and the right dose of optimism. From “Is it too late?” to “Are we too polarised?” Hannah uses clear data and practical information to cut through the noise and misinformation. With her lively, engaging style, she’ll guide us through the facts and show that while the challenges are real, so too are the solutions.
“Let’s get this book into the hands of as many policy makers, politicians and fellow citizens as possible.” – Rutger Bregman
Hannah Ritchie is a Senior Researcher at the Oxford Martin Programme in Global Development at the University of Oxford and Deputy Editor and Lead Researcher at Our World in Data. In 2022, she was named Scotland’s Youth Climate Champion and in 2024 she was selected as one of Prospect magazine’s ‘Top 25 Thinkers’. Her debut book, Not the End of the World, was praised by Rutger Bregman, Bill Gates and Margaret Atwood. Sponsored by Weightmans. Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live.
Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Get Online Week
2025-10-21 13:00 - 16:00
Get Online Week is coming to Central Library!
Join us for an afternoon packed with digital discovery, hands-on help, and exciting tech experiences — all part of Good Things Foundation’s annual campaign to help everyone unlock the benefits of being online. Activities include:
Ground Floor: Digital Marketplace
Explore a buzzing hub of stalls offering free advice, demos, and digital support:

📱 NHS App Help – Chat with NHS staff and learn how to manage your health online
📚 BorrowBox Demo – Discover how to download free eBooks with ease
🏛️ Council Website Tips – Learn how to apply for services or report issues online
📶 Virgin Media O2 – Find out about free data SIMs and social tariffs for low-income residents
🧬 Family History Help – Dive into your ancestry with support from our expert volunteers.

Business and IP Centre, 2nd Floor at 2pm: 3D Printing Workshop
Ever wondered how 3D printing works? Come along to find out! This hands-on workshop is perfect for beginners and tech enthusiasts alike.
🎟️ Reserve your free spot here.

Manchester Literature Festival presents WritersMosaic: Mona Arshi, Karen McCarthy Woolf & Roger Robinson
2025-10-24 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
Nature writing has seen a powerful resurgence in recent years, but we must ask—whose voices are being heard? And who is being welcomed into the landscape?
In this thoughtful reading and conversation, John Siddique of WritersMosaic hosts acclaimed poets and co-editors Mona Arshi and Karen McCarthy Woolf and T.S. Eliot Prize-winner Roger Robinson. Together, they reflect on Nature Matters, the new Faber anthology, and explore the deep connections between earth, spirit, and the human experience—from a perspective too often underrepresented in the genre.
This event offers a chance to listen differently, to hear how nature lives in language beyond the usual frames, and to be in conversation with writers who bring a vital, expansive gaze to the page.
Mona Arshi’s poetry collections include Small Hands, Dear Big Gods and Mouth. She was poet in residence at Cley Marshes, Norfolk in 2020 and is co-editor of Nature Matters: Vital Poems from the Global Majority.
Karen McCarthy Woolf is the author of two poetry collections and editor of numerous anthologies including Mapping the Future and Nature Matters: Vital Poems from the Global Majority. Her verse novel Top Doll was shortlisted for the T S Eliot and Jhalak Prizes and she is the winner of the Jerwood Prize for Poetry 2025.
Roger Robinson is a writer and educator who has taught and performed worldwide. He was chosen by Decibel as one of 50 writers who have influenced the black-British writing canon. He won the T.S. Eliot Prize with A Portable Paradise and collaborated with Johny Pitts on Home Is Not A Place.
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival in partnership with WritersMosaic. Supported by Library Live.
Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Manchester Literature Festival presents Creative Connection
2025-10-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Performance Space
A brilliant celebration of creativity and inclusion bringing disabled and non-disabled students from Manchester and Salford together to create, build connection and celebrate the songs they have developed with professional musicians over the week. Come and join us for this joyous day presented in partnership with Create.
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live.
Free – booking advised. Email miriam@manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk to reserve your place

Manchester Literature Festival presents John Murray Proof Party
2025-10-25 08:00 - 17:00 | Performance Space
DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES LIV LITTLE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT.
You’re invited to our first proof party with John Murray Press and Dialogue Books!
Be among the first to hear from three exciting new voices as they give us an exclusive sneak peek into their 2026 novels and writing. Then take home a goody bag with two exclusive proofs, a sampler and John Murray fiction zine.
Young Irish writer Djamel White introduces All Them Dogs, a darkly atmospheric queer thriller set in the underworld of West Dublin, where old loyalties and dangerous new attractions collide. Djamel White is the recipient of a Literature Bursary Award and an Agility Award from the Arts Council of Ireland.
Ashani Lewis, acclaimed author of Winter Animals and Everest, presents Suckerfish, a sharp, intimate exploration of a mother-daughter relationship complicated by identity, chaos, and ambition. Ashani Lewis is a novelist, short story writer and remarkably won both the Betty Trask Prize and a Somerset Maugham award in 2025.
Liv Little, founder of gal-dem and author of Rosewater, shares Bitter Melon, a lyrical father-daughter road trip through Jamaica, infused with grief, memory, and unexpected reconnection. Liv Little is an author, creative director, and broadcaster whose work spans television, film, and editorial.
Presented by Manchester Literature Festival and supported by Library Live.
Book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Make Cress Heads for Green Libraries Week!
2025-10-27 14:00 - 15:00 | Lower Ground Floor
Come and celebrate Green Libraries Week with us at Central Library. Pick up free seeds from our seed library and get creative making your very own cress head to take home. A perfect blend of gardening and crafting! Suitable for families.

Free – just drop in
Please consider making a donation if you can online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

October Half Term at Central Library!
2025-10-28 08:00 - 2025-10-31 17:00
Looking for something to do over the half term holidays? Check out our half term activity programme coming soon, including arts and crafts, with plenty to see, make and do! . All materials provided, just bring your imagination! Here’s what to expect:
Make Cress Heads for Green Libraries Week: Monday 27 October, 2-3pm, Lower Ground Floor
Come and celebrate green libraries week with us at Central Library! Pick up free seeds from our seed library and get creative making your very own cress head to take home. A perfect blend of gardening and crafting! Free entry, just drop in.
Stories and songs for Green Libraries Week: Tuesday 28 October, 2-2.45pm, Music Library (1st Floor)
Calling all little groovers! Show us some moves at this fun and interactive music and dance session. We’ll bring the music, so get ready to hit the dancefloor! Suitable for children under 4. Free entry, just turn up.

Lego Club: Wednesday 29 Oct, 2-3pm, Lower Ground Floor
Do you love Lego? So do we! Drop in, pick your favourite bricks and build anything that takes your fancy. From castles to spaceships, the possibilities are endless! No need to book in advance. First come first served. Suitable for ages 4 and above. Free entry, just drop in.
Get planting for Green Libraries Week!: Thursday 30 October, 2-4pm, Lower Ground Floor
Calling all budding gardeners (pun intended)! Join us for this engaging session inspired by Green Libraries Week. You’ll get to plant your very own daffodil and take it home with you! We’ll provide all the materials, just come ready to get potting! Suitable for families. Free entry, just drop in.
Spooky Library: Friday 31 October, 1-4pm, Performance Space
We’re getting ready to welcome little spooks and ghouls to a very creepy Central Library for a fun-filled family Halloween. Are you brave enough to enter the world of creepy crafts, torturous treats and sinister surprises? FREE ENTRY. Suitable for children aged 7-13. Fancy dress encouraged! More info at Spooky Library – Library Live
Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead); Saturday 1 November, 1-4pm, Performance Space
Come and join us for Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead), a unique and ancient Mexican celebration. This exciting event will feature traditional dances performed by Colibri Mexican Folkdance UK, themed activities and craft workshops, and a typical Mexican altar. Free drop-in, suitable for all ages!

Stories and songs for Green Libraries Week!
2025-10-28 14:00 - 15:00 | Henry Watson Music Library
Calling all little groovers! Show us some moves at this fun and interactive music and dance session in the music library on the first floor of Central Library. We’ll bring the music, so get ready to hit the dancefloor! Suitable for children under 4.
Free – just drop in
Please consider making a donation if you can online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

An Evening with TJ Klune
2025-10-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Performance Space
Queer Lit and Manchester Libraries present a truly special evening as we welcome T.J. Klune – the international bestselling author and legend in queer literature – for an intimate conversation at Manchester Central Library.

Expect:
Thoughtful discussion about his iconic books
Book signing opportunities
Meet & greet and photo ops
A warm, welcoming space to celebrate queer storytelling
Whether you’re a long-time fan of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, or just discovering his work, this is your chance to hear from one of the most celebrated voices in LGBTQ+ fiction.
Don’t miss this unforgettable night of queer joy, community, and literary magic.
New sprayed edged books will be available for purchase on the night!

Festival of Social Science Day
2025-10-29 10:30 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Join us at Central Library for a day of free activities and events celebrating The Festival of Social Science – an annual celebration of research and knowledge about humans and society and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022. The festival is an opportunity for anyone to explore topics relating to social science, from health and wellbeing to crime, equality, education and identity, through events run by researchers from UK universities. There’s no cost to attend, and most are open to everyone, though some are aimed at specific groups.
As the world changes, so does the way we work. This year, the festival is hosting a series of events that explore how our jobs, and our working lives, are evolving. Many of today’s roles didn’t exist just a decade or two ago. With rapid advances in technology, the workplace has transformed dramatically over the past 100 years. But one thing remains constant: people want access to good jobs that are safe, healthy and provide a decent standard of living. Join us as we explore what the future of work could look like and how we can shape it together.
See below for activities and booking details:
Anthro4Teens: Design Your City, 10.30 – 12.30, book here
Join researchers from the Social Anthropology Department at the University of Manchester for a fun, hands-on workshop where you design a city from scratch! Decide where to place things such as parks, schools, hospitals, and housing, establish your own rules, and prepare for challenges like fires or floods.
Work in teams, play city-themed games, win prizes and share your ideas with the group.
All materials and refreshments provided, just bring your imagination!
This event is designed specifically for ages 11-17 but is open to all.
Help, I didn’t get paid this month! 13.30 – 15.30, book here
This session gives young people a chance to learn more about part-time working during full-time education. Hosted by academics, the event will give you the opportunity to:

Learn about your rights at work
Discuss your work experiences with your peers.
Hear findings from the L-earning research project.
Connect with organisations and advice services that can support you.

Our goal is to equip young people balancing full-time education with work with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for their employment rights.
Open to young people aged 14+
Building Brighter Futures with LEGO®: A Family Workshop, 10.00 – 16.00, book here
Come and join us for a playful, hands-on workshop where families use LEGO® to explore learning, life, and the future.
Through simple building challenges, children and parents/carers, teachers and tutors will:

Build models of school, work, and dreams for the future
Explore what helps children to learn and succeed
Talk about barriers and challenges in a safe, creative way
Share hopes for brighter futures together

No experience is needed — just your imagination! Children and adults will work side by side, building stories and ideas with LEGO® bricks. You’ll then be given your own LEGO® pack to create a small model for display.
Suitable for families with children aged 5+
Giant Insect World, 13.00 – 15.00, Free – just drop in!
Giant Insect World invites you to explore the hidden lives of insects. These tiny creatures are all around us, and yet we so often overlook their complexity, beauty, and importance to our world. Through immersive digital storytelling and interactive play, this event magnifies the tiny into the extraordinary, offering a fresh perspective on the unseen world.
Led by anthropologist Dr Jessica Symons of VisioningLab, the workshop blends science, art, and speculative thinking to ask:

What can insects teach us about existence, value, and survival?
How can digital tools help us perceive the world in a new light?
What happens when we shift our focus to the small, the strange, and the unseen?

The event is open to anyone who wants to explore the activities. Children and families are very welcome.
Playful places: designing spaces that reimagine work, rest and play, 13.00 – 15.00, Free – just drop in!
Help us create and imaginary neighbourhood that teaches us how to work rest and play in world where work can seem all encompassing.
We will have craft activities for ages 5 – 15 (and beyond) lasting between 5 – 15 minutes. We will be making models of parks and streets that consider how to inspire healthy working lifestyles. There will be the opportunity to design your ideal house and situate it in an ideal street to create inclusive communities and inject playfulness back into our daily working lives.
This is a drop-in session with a maximum capacity of 30 people. Creative making and drawing activities are aimed at ages between 5 – 15 and last between 5 to 15 minutes. Stop by and make your mark on the playful neighbours and cities of the future!
Work Greener, Live Better: Energy Simulations for a Sustainable Future, 14.00 – 16.00, More details to follow
Open to ages 14+
This event explores how integrating renewable energy sources into homes and workplaces can lead to significant benefits in terms of cost efficiency and environmental impact.
Activities include

Poster exhibition on the benefits of renewable energy integration
Live demo: Calculating emission reductions, break-even time, and cost analysis for homes, small businesses, and industries using HOMER software
Interactive discussions with interested participants

The festival is led and funded by the UKRI Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which supports research and training in social science subjects. Part of the research that ESRC funds is focused on improving the experience of work. Since work is a major part of most people’s lives, ESRC is committed to understanding how it can be made better for everyone.

Your Voice, Your Education: Shaping Inclusive Educational Resource
2025-10-29 13:00 - 16:00 | Ground Floor
Are you 12-18 years old and passionate about inclusive, creative learning that centres the voices, histories, experiences and activism of global majority communities across Greater Manchester? Join the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust for an interactive creative workshop to discuss what inclusive education should look like and contribute to a youth-led set of recommendations that will inform how these resources are developed and used in classrooms.
Why join?

Free refreshments + food
£25 voucher as a thank you
Acknowledgment for helping shape educational resources and making education more inclusive and locally rooted

Spaces are limited, secure your place today!
Please Note: Some filming will take place. Consent forms required for under 16s

Get Planting for Green Libraries Week!
2025-10-30 14:00 - 16:00 | Lower Ground Floor
Calling all budding gardeners (pun intended)! Join us for this engaging session inspired by Green Libraries Week. You’ll get to plant your very own daffodil and take it home with you! We’ll provide all the materials, just come ready to get potting! Suitable for families.
Free – just drop in.
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Spooky Library
2025-10-31 13:00 - 16:00 | Ground Floor
We’re getting ready to welcome little spooks and ghouls to a very creepy Central Library for a fun-filled family Halloween. Are you brave enough to enter the world of creepy crafts, torturous treats and sinister surprises? Read on, if you dare!
Face painting
Throughout the afternoon, 1-4pm – just drop in. £2 per person.
Ground Floor, near café
Does your Halloween look need a final touch of spookiness? Transform into your favourite sinister creature with the help of our fabulous face painters! An absolute must for Central Library’s family activities! £2 per face. Please pay at the till in our gift shop before joining the queue.
Ghastly Crafts
Throughout the afternoon, 1-4pm – just drop in
Ground Floor, outside Performance Space
Are you ready for crafts that will send a little shiver down your spine? Learn to make ghost puppets in this hands-on and interactive art session! Want to know the best part? Suitable for families.
Retro Escape Room
Throughout the afternoon, 1-4pm – just drop in (please note, we may start a queueing system during busy times)
Ground Floor, Performance Space 1
We ain’t afraid of no ghost. And you?
A terrible monster from another dimension is threatening our world, and we need your help! Put your brain to the test with spooky riddles, crack some vintage games and solve our escape room puzzle! Suitable for children aged 7-13.
Spooky Disco
Ground Floor, Performance Space 2-3
Throughout the afternoon, 1-4pm – just drop in
Get ready to do the monster mash in our performance space! Turn up in your favourite costume, show us your best dance moves, and we’ll take care of the music! Suitable for children aged 7–13. Fancy dress encouraged!
Spooky Storytime
Children’s Library (Lower Ground Floor)
2-3pm
Join Helen and Zoe for a spooky story time, with spooky, but not too scary stories such as Room on the Broom, Wake up Do Lydia Doo and more.
Is it all a bit too exciting? Why not relax in our children’s library on the Lower Ground Floor? We’ll have a selection of spooky reads available on the shelves for you.
Suitable for families.
FREE ENTRY (face painting: £2 per person). No booking required – just drop in!
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Spooky Storytime
2025-10-31 14:00 - 15:00 | Children’s Library
Join Helen and Zoe for a spooky story time, with spooky, but not too scary stories such as Room on the Broom, Wake up Do Lydia Doo and more.
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration
2025-11-01 13:00 - 16:00 | Performance Space
Join us for a vibrant celebration of life, love, and remembrance! 🌟 We’re thrilled to bring you Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead), a unique and special ancient Mexican tradition that’s all about honouring our loved ones who’ve passed on. 🌿💀🇲🇽
In Mexican culture, it’s believed that during this time of year, our beloved ancestors come back to visit, and families gather to welcome them with open arms. 🎉 We’ll be cooking up their favourite dishes, dancing to lively music, and sharing stories that keep their memories alive. 💃💀🌼
*Experience the Magic:*
– *Traditional Dances:* Colibri Mexican Folkdance UK will mesmerize you with their energetic performances
– *Day of the Dead Activities:* Join in the fun with themed crafts, workshops, and games
– *Mexican Altar Display:* Marvel at the stunning altar, lovingly crafted to welcome our ancestors back home. The display will be on from the Thursday the 23rd Oct until Saturday the 8th of November.
📖1 pm Story time “ MI FAMILIA:
Celebrating the Day of the Dead” in collaboration with Instituto Cervantes of Manchester.
🪅1:30 Piñata ( children from 0 to 7 years old).
🎨1:30 to 2:45 Crafts and traditional face painting.
💃🏻3 pm Performance of Colibrí Mexican Folkdance UK
*All Are Welcome:* This free drop-in event is suitable for all ages, so bring your family and friends along! 🌟 Let’s come together to celebrate the cycle of life and the love that never fades. 🙏🧡💛🧡
Free – drop in
Please consider making a donation if you can either online or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Remembrance Day Coffee Morning
2025-11-03 10:00 - 13:00 | Chief Librarian’s Office
Join us for a coffee and a relaxed chat as we reflect on Remembrance Day. Expect presentations from the North West Film Archive, Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society, and more!
Programme:
10am: Tea and coffee
10.30am: Film screening and Q&A by the North West Film Archive
12pm: Remembrance Day resources by the Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society
12.15pm: Anna Putek (Manchester Libraries) presents the crochet poppy project

Free – just drop in
Please consider making a donation if you can here or at one of our cash or contactless donation boxes in Central Library

Courage, vision, planning and fearless work: the Congress Lives On.
2025-11-03 17:00 - 19:30 | Performance Space
Join the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Centre and Education Trust for a powerful evening of reflection, resistance, and creative expression.
This event builds on the vital conversation we began last year with journalist and author Gary Younge, who returns to help us reflect on what important Black histories mean today. His address will be followed by a shared discussion on how we honour these histories in a time of rising racism, Islamophobia, and hostility toward migrants and refugees.
We will also commemorate the Fifth Pan-African Congress, held in Manchester in 1945—a landmark moment in Black internationalist history. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore archival records that bring this legacy to life. Our partners Young Identity will perform spoken word pieces responding to the Congress and its enduring relevance. The event will close with a commissioned poem by Shirley May, written to mark the Congress and celebrate the resilience of Black communities.
Together, we’ll reflect on the past, confront the present, and imagine a future shaped by solidarity, creativity, and joy.
Free – book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below

Uniting Musical Cultures from Manchester to Hong Kong
2025-11-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Performance Space
Manchester Confucius Institute presents Uniting Musical Cultures from Manchester to Hong Kong. Recently returned from his trip to Hong Kong, acclaimed conductor Robert Guy shares his experience and insights from working across musical and educational cultures in Hong Kong and Manchester.
Free – book tickets here or click ‘Book Now’ below
