The two-day FREE festival celebrating how people spend their free time has announced new inclusions across music, family, wellbeing, creative workshops and sports
Taking place on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th June, We Invented the Weekend is setting the standard for free festivals in the UK and will have something for everyone and anyone, no matter how crowds like to spend their weekend, or how much money they’ve got in their pocket.
Music
An infectious music offering is planned across the festival with Secret Night Gang, the funky disco group hailing from Manchester, DJ Roesh, Unity Radio presents Zed Bias, Eves Drop Collective and Playhouse Project. The party won’t just be on land as a line-up of free boat parties will be making waves hosted by the likes of Salford Pride with drag performer Bailey J Mills, Manchester Lit & Phil, Age UK, post-punk-trio LIINES, as well as a Power Ballads boat. Hacienda legend DJ Paulette will be spinning classics in a Sunday afternoon slot on the Piazza stage, with DJ Mix Stress also bringing her unique mix of vibes to the decks. Salford underground favourites Sounds from The Other City will takeover Central Bay, inviting festival-goers to dance to a range of DJs on the waterfront terraces.
Family
The UK’s best loved fitness instructor Mr Motivator, alongside his energetic team of motivators will be hosting fun-filled CBeebies themed dance workouts. Everyone’s favourite cartoon dog, Bluey, will also host live performances and CBeebies Bedtime Stories is set to return with CBeebies House Stars, Evie, Joanna and Dodge with more guests and presenters to be announced. The BBC Philharmonic will also take families through a Musical Storyland where children’s favourite fairy tales and traditional folk tales are re-imagined with magical music performed by musicians from the esteemed orchestra.
A jam-packed schedule of activity also awaits from The Lowry including an exhilarating aerial dance duet from All or Nothing on The Swings, a 5m high installation at the end of the Lowry pier, behind the scenes tours of the theatre with special lighting and sound demonstrations, special gallery tours of the LS Lowry Exhibition, and a high-energy exciting flash mob from SIX The Musical. Outside The Lowry on the Plaza stage, there’s also going to be an Our Kid Social huge family disco-tastic DJ party taking place. Attendees can also experience opera for the first time in a workshop with Lowry partner company, Opera North.
For those looking to get creative, a range of creative and craft workshops suitable for all ages will also be on offer, including screen printing as well as a Giant Cardboard Playground and Den Building for All sessions.
Sports & Wellbeing
We Invented the Weekend will get everyone moving too – from BMXing sessions with British Cycling, earning a medal by walking the Bupa Loop around Salford Quays, showcasing footie skills with Manchester United Street Reds, having a go on the climbing wall or trying skating or scooting with the team from Graystone Action Sports. And for those looking for a good stretch, join award winning actor and artist Scottee for an inclusive yoga practice, as well as plenty of other wellbeing events across the weekend, from sound baths to crystal healing.
Super Movers for Every Body, the BBC’s exciting new inclusive sport campaign for schools and families will be showcasing a selection of brilliant inclusive sport activities, catchy songs and dances, created in collaboration with the Premier League and ParalympicsGB.
Retail Therapy / Food
For the first-time at the festival, Melanin Markets will showcase 10 black-owned independent businesses and traders. Founder of Community Clothing and presenter of BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee Patrick Grant is returning for 2024 and will join the talks programme as well as the Community Clothing shop. Charity Super.Mkt will also return to We Invented the Weekend to supply a curated collection of fashion, accessories and homewares from a dozen of the UK’s best local and national charity retailers. Quayside MediaCity will also be activated over the weekend with 11 Central and Kargo.MKT providing the finest festival food and drink offerings with highlights from Jerk Junction, Super Fry Guys and Hot & Wild.
Gardening/Green Initiatives
RHS Bridgewater will be showing festival goers how to get green with various activities and gardening workshops as part of the ‘We Get Green’ strand of the festival. Title sponsor Auto Trader will be highlighting sustainable weekend activities, including setting up an e-bike track and promoting the joys of caravanning and electric cars, all of which have been growing in popularity in recent year – festival goers will have a chance to walk away with a brand new electric car courtesy of Auto Trader.
Joyful mass participation moments
Darren Pritchard and Ghetto Fabulous will be leading the festival’s first-ever The People’s Catwalk – Sunday Best, a fashion show which celebrates personal style and community spirit, and is open for anyone to join. The Sunday Best Catwalk promises to be a joyous spectacle of style, featuring individuals, groups and communities from all walks of life strutting their stuff in their finest attire to celebrate Sunday Best. The Free Time Parade, which was a highlight from 2023, will return for 2024 and invite everybody to take part in an exciting one-off, mass participation parade through the festival to celebrate free time.
Education / We Think Big Talks
Patrick Grant is joining the festival’s We Think Big talks, presented by The University of Salford and will sit at the centre of the festival site on a new outdoor stage. Patrick will discuss his new book ‘Less: Stop Buying So Much Rubbish: How Having Fewer, Better Things Can Make Us Happier’. The wider We Think Big programme will include talks from fashion PR and outdoor lover Neil Summers, Kings Arms owner Lisa Connor, leading yoga instructor Scottee, Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord as well as festival co-founder Wayne Hemingway MBE, with topics covering everything from Salford pub culture to the history and future of the high street, plus more to be announced.
