Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival
** The festival will return in 2025 **
A unique family-friendly festival in Manchester’s historic medieval quarter returned for its second year on 23 – 24 September 2023.
It featured fascinating history tours, live music, film screenings, workshops, food and drink, and medieval entertainment, plus historical reenactment from Historia Normannis!
Chetham’s School of Music, Chetham’s Library and Manchester Cathedral make the most complete medieval site to survive in the north of England and the Manchester we know and love today grew from this area. These buildings date back to 1421 and Chetham’s was originally used to accommodate the priests of Manchester’s Collegiate Church. The two-day festival celebrated this rich history and the incredible stories from Manchester’s past.
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With thanks to our partners, University of Manchester and Manchester City Council, as well as HiRequirements for their generous support.
Events
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Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral: Free guided tours and exhibition of archives
Sat 23 September 2023This event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. Visit Manchester Cathedral to view fascinating items from our archives detailing...
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Chetham's Library
Medieval Festival Chetham’s Library Tours
Sat 23 September 2023, 10:30amPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Packed with historical facts and fascinating stories, tours of Chetham’s Library are led...
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NOMA Sadler's Yard
The Mighty Medieval Bean
Sat 23 September 2023, 10amThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. Head to Sadler's Yard, NOMA, for a free, drop-in workshop in celebration...
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Baronial Hall
How Many Cows? Wealth and Knowledge Production in Medieval England
Sat 23 September 2023, 10amOpen 10am-12pm and 1-3pm both days. This event is part of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. How many cows does...
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Pitch Gallery, National Football Museum
Football Printing Workshops
Sat 23 September 2023, 10:30am-1:30pmThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. Did you know the printing press was created in the late...
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The Stoller Hall
Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants
Sat 23 September 2023, 11amPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. When King Colin’s golden underpants go missing, it’s Sir Scallywag to the rescue!...
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The Stoller Hall
Sleeping Well in the Early Modern World: Sleepy Foods from Ordsall Hall
Sat 23 September 2023, 11amThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. Join the team from Ordsall Hall in this workshop exploring foods and...
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Chetham's School of Music
Manchester Medieval Quarter Walking Tour
Sat 23 September 2023, 11amThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. Jonathan Schofield Tours lead a series of walking tours around the Manchester...
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Chetham's Library
Medieval Festival Chetham’s Library Tours
Sat 23 September 2023, 11:30amPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Packed with historical facts and fascinating stories, tours of Chetham’s Library are led...
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The Stoller Hall
Sleeping Well in the Early Modern World: Sleepy Foods from Ordsall Hall
Sat 23 September 2023, 12pmThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. Join the team from Ordsall Hall in this workshop exploring foods and...
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Chetham's Library
Medieval Festival Chetham’s Library Tours
Sat 23 September 2023, 12:30pmPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Packed with historical facts and fascinating stories, tours of Chetham’s Library are led...
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The Stoller Hall
Stoller Story Sounds: Little Green Dragon
Sat 23 September 2023, 1pmPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Can you help Little Dragon, scared to breathe fire, find her courage and...
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The Stoller Hall
Sir Scallywag and the Golden Underpants
Sat 23 September 2023, 1pmPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. When King Colin’s golden underpants go missing, it’s Sir Scallywag to the rescue!...
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The Stoller Hall
Stoller Story Sounds: Little Green Dragon
Sat 23 September 2023, 2pmPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Can you help Little Dragon, scared to breathe fire, find her courage and...
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The Stoller Hall
Sleeping Well in the Early Modern World: Sleepy Foods from Ordsall Hall
Sat 23 September 2023, 2pmThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. Join the team from Ordsall Hall in this workshop exploring foods and...
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100 Embankment
Discover Medieval Manchester
Sat 23 September 2023, 2pmThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Extra tickets now released! Join two of the country's leading...
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Chetham's Library
Medieval Festival Chetham’s Library Tours
Sat 23 September 2023, 2pmPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Packed with historical facts and fascinating stories, tours of Chetham’s Library are led...
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John Rylands Library
Medieval Manuscripts at the Rylands
Sat 23 September 2023, 2pmThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. The John Rylands Research Institute and Library is a beautiful 19th...
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The Stoller Hall
Stoller Story Sounds: Little Green Dragon
Sat 23 September 2023, 3pmPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Can you help Little Dragon, scared to breathe fire, find her courage and...
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Carole Nash Hall
Manchester Baroque
Sat 23 September 2023, 5pmPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Since their launch in 2019, Manchester Baroque has built a reputation for engaging...
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Baronial Hall
Sounds Medieval? ‘Exploring non-European Medieval Music’
Sat 23 September 2023, 7pmPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Join us for an exciting collaboration with global majority musicians Sarah Yassen (Sufi...
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Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral: Free guided tours and exhibition of archives
Sun 24 September 2023This event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. Visit Manchester Cathedral to view fascinating items from our archives detailing...
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Chetham's Library
Medieval Festival Chetham’s Library Tours
Sun 24 September 2023, 10:30amPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Packed with historical facts and fascinating stories, tours of Chetham’s Library are led...
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Baronial Hall
How Many Cows? Wealth and Knowledge Production in Medieval England
Sun 24 September 2023, 10amOpen 10am-12pm and 1-3pm both days. This event is part of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. How many cows does...
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Pitch Gallery, National Football Museum
Football Printing Workshops
Sun 24 September 2023, 10:30am-1:30pmThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. Did you know the printing press was created in the late...
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Carole Nash Hall
Come and Try: Beginner Recorder (10-11 yrs)
Sun 24 September 2023, 11amThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Perfect for children aged 10-11 years, our beginner recorder sessions...
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Carole Nash Hall
Come and Try: Beginner Recorder (7-9 yrs)
Sun 24 September 2023, 11amThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Perfect for children aged 7-9 years, our beginner recorder sessions...
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Chetham's School of Music
Manchester Medieval Quarter Walking Tour
Sun 24 September 2023, 11amThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Festival 2023. Jonathan Schofield Tours lead a series of walking tours around the Manchester...
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Carole Nash Hall
Medieval Dance – for all the family!
Sun 24 September 2023, 11:15amThis event is part of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. Get your dancing shoes on! Learn and enjoy traditional medieval...
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The Stoller Hall
Yiimimangaliso (The Mysteries)
Sun 24 September 2023, 2pmPart of Manchester Medieval Quarter Festival 2023. In England of the 13th and 14th centuries, the Mystery Plays developed to...
