100,000 revel in futuristic fun at Manchester Science Festival

More than 100,000 people took part in activities at the Science and Industry Museum in locations across the city, including Manchester Arndale, Central Library and Castlefield Viaduct, to enjoy science-themed Festival fun during the October half-term holiday.

During the 10-day science extravaganza, visitors to the museum joined acclaimed choreographer, Corey Baker, to help create the first dance in space, experimented with beats, melodies and harmonies in world-first exhibition, Turn It Up: The power of music, played games against prosthetics with the University of Salford and raced against self-driving cars.

Time travellers from the year 2122 also helped visitors to explore their own visions for future Manchester, and scientists, researchers and performers were on hand to bring futuristic science and technology to life.

The museum’s historic 1830 Warehouse transformed into a dedicated hub for family activities, while evening visitors took part in the adult-only programme, which included an after-hours event at the museum to explore the future of sex, a live music gig inspired by Turn It Up and a nocturnal nature tour on Castlefield viaduct.

Shoppers were also entertained with pop-up performances from Global Grooves’ squad of rhythmic robots in Manchester Arndale and families got to explore future-focused interactive activities at Central Library, led by local scientists.

lla Wild, Head of Festivals and Events at the Science and Industry Museum, said: “It was brilliant to be back hosting a live Manchester Science Festival for the first time in four years. The museum experienced its busiest week since before the pandemic, which is a wonderful milestone and proves how eager audiences are to explore science and ideas that change the world in person.

“Our aim is to inspire futures by supporting our audiences to explore their STEM skills through an awe-inspiring selection of playful and insightful experiences. I hope everyone who visited had a fantastic time and left feeling hopeful and inspired.”

Manchester Science Festival ran from 21 – 30 October, but audiences can continue to enjoy its headline, world-first exhibition, Turn It Up: The power of music, until May next year as well as explore the theme of future humans further through the Festival’s digital resources.

Although October half-term is over, the Science and Industry Museum remains open seven days a week, 10am – 5pm, to help visitors explore 250 years of innovations and ideas that change the world.

It is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound regeneration project that will see brand new spaces opened and significant improvements made to some of its best-loved galleries.

Although this means some areas, including the iconic Power Hall, are temporarily closed, there is still plenty to do, see and enjoy in the museum’s permeant galleries, along with 50 years of gaming to explore in interactive experience, Power Up, open weekends and school holidays.