6 festivals to enjoy in Manchester this November

Events across the city this month and into December are celebrating creative cultures of many kinds  –  not just music but arts, film, technology and more. Many are taking the form of specially curated festivals and what makes them stand out is the amount of grassroots talent involved. So pull on those ponchos, wrap up warm and head out for another round of festivals.

Doki Doki Festival 

12 November
Doki Doki is the Manchester Japanese Festival which celebrates both traditional and contemporary Japanese culture with activities including food tasting, workshops, a talk on pop culture and the stand-out feature of a cos-play afterparty at The Footage. The main festival will run 10am until 7pm at Sugden Sports Centre near Oxford Road. Tickets are available online with proceeds going to the Aid For Japan charity.
dokidokifestival.com

SONDER Festival

10-13 November
A music, comedy and arts festival based in the Northern Quarter, bringing together some of the best local talent  in support of some great causes. The concept is to open up the arts to people from all backgrounds as well as celebrating established figures. Performers include Aziz Ibrahim (known for his work with The Stone Roses and Simply Red) and band Jekyll. SONDER is working alongside homelessness charities such as The Booth Centre, Mood Swings charity and food banks in the region to create opportunities for those less fortunate. It’s set to be an action-packed four-dayer with an indie feel.
sonderfest.com/#meltdown-tour

Louder Than Words Festival

11 – 13 November
Louder Than Words is Manchester’s premier celebration of music, writing and popular culture with performances, in-conversation events and much more taking place inside the historic Principal Hotel. Co-curated by John Robb, it proves that Manchester’s musical legacy is well worth writing and talking about, and continues to inspire. Guests include Wolfgang Flur from Kraftwerk and Woody Woodmansey, last surviving member of The Spiders From Mars.
louderthanwordsfest.com

Manchester Animation Festival

15-17 November
This big celebration of the animated art form is inviting artists, practitioners, enthusiasts and everyone else to enjoy the wonders of animation – from the tiniest phone screen to the biggest cinema show. Events include feature films, screenings, masterclasses and talks from some stars in the industry over the course of three days.
manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk

Foundations Festival

25-26 November
A new two-day micro-festival which celebrates grassroots and experimental creativity with live music (16 acts across 2 stages), collaborative performances, networking, screenings and more at the Kings Arms. Some stand-out features include a ‘battle’ between noise artists and poets, plus a networking event which brings storytelling into the mix. It’s a joint venture between two home grown record labels – AnalogueTrash and Valentine Records – and gives recognition to the off-the-wall thinkers fuelling modern creativity. Set to be more collaborative and immersive than your typical music festival.
foundationsfestival.co.uk

Lightwaves 2016 at Salford Quays

9 December – 18 December
You don’t have to go to Blackpool to enjoy the Illuminations. Lightwaves is the UK’s biggest digital light festival in the UK featuring exclusively commissioned displays from artists near and far along with light workshops and more. There’s even a display which involves holding hands to create a circuit. The illuminations will stretch right across Salford Quays from The Plaza close to The Lowry to the MediaCityUK Piazza and . Running daily 12pm-10.30pm, it’s free and the Lowry Outlet Mall is also giving visitors the chance to create their own light graffiti
quaysculture.com/current-projects/lightwaves-2016