Three to see this weekend: free cocktails, a literary festival and dinosaurs in the wild

If you’re thinking of spending your weekend on the sofa with a pizza and a pint, think again. There’s plenty of good stuff going down in our fair city and you won’t want to miss out. Here’s our pick in no particular order.

Dinosaurs in the Wild

You’ve probably heard of it already. Dinosaurs in the Wild is a unique and exhilarating blend of live-action theatre, and theme park fun that’s hitting Manchester this weekend. The exhibit will transport you back 67 million years by time machine to encounter living dinosaurs as they’ve never been seen before. Sound too good to be true? It’s as good as it sounds, the perfect place for anyone who wants to experience something completely unique. Then, you can do like Ross from Friends and impress with your cretaceous facts at the next late night dinner party. Click here for more info.

Manchester Literature Festival

Manchester is a city of stories and storytellers. It’s also a city of protest, pioneers and radicals. It’s a hub of activity where thinkers meet to discuss ideas and activism. This year’s Manchester Literature Festival welcomes over a hundred of the most talented writers (like Roddy Doyle (above) at Central Library on Sunday) to share their work and address burning issues of the day. If you want a weekend that’ll have you waking up on Monday questioning and re-imagining your relationship with the world, then this one’s for you. More info here.

Don Giovanni

This weekend Don Giovanni are working with FAIR spirits to hand out Espresso Martinis to the first 50 people through the door after 10.30pm. From 10.30pm on Friday and Saturday night, DJ’s will take over the floor, playing out a mixture of funk, soul and disco. Past 11pm, the restaurant will be transformed into a late-night drinking den with a focus on cocktails, carbs and all kinds of quirky entertainment. If you’re looking for an Italian fiesta done well, this is it. More info here.