The Manchester Flower Festival is set to bloom during the May Bank Holiday, from Friday 23rd to Monday 26th May 2025. Organised by Manchester City Centre BID, this free four-day event offers a vibrant programme of floral installations, artisan markets, creative workshops, alfresco dining, and family-friendly activities.
The festival’s centerpiece is the Floral Trail, which winds through the city centre and features nine professionally designed installations celebrating Manchester’s identity and its connections with global cities. Highlights include displays honouring the city’s industrial roots and legendary music scene, as well as creative interpretations of New York, Paris, Mumbai, Amsterdam, and Marrakech. These floral artworks will be located throughout central Manchester, including Manchester Arndale, Printworks, New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square, The Royal Exchange Manchester, Exchange Square, and King Street.
The Festival Zone itself transforms into an urban garden, with floral installations in windows, shopfronts, and public spaces, crafted by local and national artists, florists, and community groups. “Visitors will be treated to petal-powered surprises on every corner of the city,” the organisers state.
The Floral Marquee on New Cathedral Street will showcase displays by Manchester’s most talented florists and offer a daily programme of creative workshops. The Flower Market will feature a curated selection of independent traders, designers, and makers offering a diverse range of floral-themed goods, from botanical skincare to plant pots, jewellery, art prints, and home décor. Market highlights include sustainable bamboo jewellery from The Mountain and Me, hand-knitted cacti and succulents from Cactus Parlour, refreshing dog treats from Charlie Boys Barkery, and luxury vegan skincare from Roots Vegan Skincare. Kirsty’s Boutique Bakery will tempt visitors with sweet treats, while illustrators like Christopher Walster and Laura Frances Heitzman will offer floral-inspired prints and cards. Plantlife will raise awareness of wild plants and fungi, and Herd & Elder will sell luxurious bath salts, goat milk soaps, and soy wax candles.
Throughout the weekend, there will be a programme of hands-on Flower Workshops for all ages. Clocktower Florist will host two daily sessions where participants can paint a decorative flowerpot or plant a blooming souvenir to take home, available on a pay-as-you-go basis for £3. On Saturday 24th May, visitors can craft handmade pressed flower paper lanterns with Smart Floral Art from 11am to 3pm or join renowned local florist David Wayman at Printworks for free, hourly flower-making sessions from 12pm to 4pm.
On Friday, Plant Co-operative CIC, Manchester’s award-winning urban gardening collective, will host a day of free, drop-in family-friendly activities. Children and adults can plant their own sunflower, craft wildflower seed bombs, and build insect hotels, with prizes awarded for the most creative designs.
On Monday 26th May, Søstrene Grene will invite visitors to its flower crafting day from 10am to 5pm, offering free, drop-in sessions throughout the day. Meanwhile, on Sunday 25th at 11am and 1.30pm, Manchester Macrame Co will lead a modern plant hanger workshop where participants can create and take home their own stylish piece for £20.
The festival also features an array of food and drink offerings, with pop-ups and terraces across the city centre. Selfridges will take over Exchange Square with a vibrant outdoor activation, featuring a flower pop-up, live entertainment, flower stall, and food and drink pop-ups with Sipp and Gooey. In St Ann’s Square, El Gato Negro will offer gourmet twists on their signature patatas bravas, served with cocktails, beer, and soft drinks. Zambrero will also be featured, serving customisable burritos and bowls.
Visitors can also take part in a Cocktail Trail, with special festival-themed drinks available from iconic venues such as Cloud 23, Grand Pacific, KALA, Harvey Nichols, Urban Playground, Tast Catala, Franco Manca, and El Gato Negro. The Cut & Craft Champagne Bar will offer Moët & Chandon Champagne, Rosé, slushies, and handcrafted cocktails in a luxurious pop-up setting on New Cathedral Street.
Families can enjoy interactive experiences, including the Bee Procession and a Bee Hunt at Selfridges. There will also be a letter trail where children can follow bee letters to form a secret word and claim a special prize.
Wellbeing is a key focus, with Neal’s Yard Remedies offering free 15-minute hand and arm massages or express facials. The citywide Fringe Festival brings floral displays to unexpected locations, and visitors can use the Bloomtown Map by The National Trust to explore more than 40 hotspots and routes across the city.
Jonathan Schofield Manchester Tours will run guided walking tours exploring the hidden parks, waterways, and nature trails of Manchester and Salford, blending environmental discovery with local history. Tickets are £15, and participants will meet and finish at the St Ann’s Square Flower Festival stand.
The Manchester Flower Festival is free to attend and promises a weekend of stunning displays, creative experiences, and global celebrations.
