Manchester Flower Festival Will Return For The Spring Bank Holiday

Floral trails, vibrant markets and enticing pop-ups will take over Manchester city centre at the end of the month with the return of Manchester Flower Festival. Here’s everything you need to know.

Manchester Flower Festival: Events, Dates & More

Florist Adi Thomas adds the finishing touches to his installation at the Girls Aloud Tribute Garden on display at The Manchester Flower Festival 2024. (© Fabio De Paola/PA Media Assignments)

What Is It?

Manchester Flower Festival is an annual floral takeover of the northern city, akin to London’s Chelsea in Bloom. At the heart of the celebration is the Floral Trail: a series of professionally designed flower installations that celebrate Manchester’s identity. This year, the designers were invited to make connections with global cities with their designs, and visitors will see creative interpretations of everywhere from New York to Paris, Mumbai to Marrakech.

Elsewhere, the dedicated Festival Zone transforms Manchester’s streets into an urban garden. Think floral installations across shopfronts and restaurant windows, miniature gardens hidden in doorways, and public spaces elevated with beautiful blooms.

For creative workshops, the Floral Marquee is the place to be, while biophiles can shop everything from botanical skincare to plant pots, jewellery to art prints at the dedicated Flower Market.

Terri Heatlie and Karen Thornton view the floral tribute to Dame Vivienne Westwood at The Manchester Flower Festival 2024. (© Fabio De Paola/PA Media Assignments)

What’s On In 2025?

• Hands-on Flower Workshops will be hosted across the weekend, inviting visitors of all ages to get creative. Think plant pot decorating, flower pressing and arranging.
• On Friday 23 May, Plant Co-Operative CIC will host a day of drop-in family-friendly activities, inviting children to plant wildflowers and build insect hotels.
• At the Flower Market, find the likes of bamboo jewellery, hand-knitted succulents, dog treats, skincare products, prints and cards, bath products, sweet treats and more.
• A Bee Procession across St Ann’s Square, and a Bee Hunt in Exchange Square.
• Guided walking tours exploring Manchester and Salford’s hidden parks, waterways and nature trails, uncovering how nature has shaped the city’s urban fabric (£15pp).
• An array of special pop-ups and terraces across central Manchester, including a Selfridges pop-up in Exchange Square and feel-good Mexican food on St Ann’s Square.
• A floral Cocktail Trail taking visitors to Manchester’s most iconic venues, including Cloud 23, Grand Pacific, KALA, Harvey Nichols, Urban Playground, Tast Catala, Franco Manca and El Gato Negro.
• As well as central Manchester, floral displays and installations will pop-up across the city’s urban parks, streets and open spaces, gathered by The National Trust in the Bloomtown Map.

When & Where?

Manchester Flower Festival will take place from Friday 23 to Monday 26 May 2025 across central Manchester. The Floral Trail will cover locations including Manchester Arndale, Printworks, New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square, The Royal Exchange Manchester, Exchange Square and King Street.

Manchester Flower Festival is free to attend and unticketed. Find out more at visitmanchester.com