Manchester City Council

Parks, leisure and the arts Events at Heaton Park

There's so much to enjoy at Heaton Park. As well as our all-year-round activities, you can also get involved in different events taking place at the Park.

See below for details of upcoming events, and make sure to follow our social media, Facebook and Instagram, for the most up-to-date news.

School holiday activities and events are listed on the Loads to Do site

March

Spring Trail

  • Date: Early March 2026 to late May 2026 - All day · Free · All ages.
  • Description: Pick up a free trail map from Reception (by the Stables Cafe) and follow our family-friendly Spring Trail! This short walk takes you through scenic areas of the Park in search of fun spring characters.

Litter Picking (Great British Spring Clean)

  • Date: 13 to 29 March
  • Description: The Great British Spring Clean takes place every year, organised by Keep Britain Tidy. It’s the nation's biggest mass-action environmental campaign - and you can get involved! Ask at Reception (by the Stables Cafe) and borrow our litter picking equipment and a "Throw Your Own Litter Picking Party" pack, any time throughout the Great British Spring Clean. Reception is open 9am-4pm every day. Litter picking equipment provided (please wear appropriate outdoor clothes/footwear and gloves).

Lake Litter Pick (Great British Spring Clean)

  • Date: Saturday 28 March
  • Time: 10am to 12pm
  • Description:  Heaton Park Boats are running a Litter Pick on the Heaton Park Boating Lake as part of the Great British Spring Clean. Make a real difference by volunteering to collect litter from the lake and surrounding parkland. To register your interest, please email: heaton-park-boats@lifecafes.com

Run Heaton Park

April

Heaton Park’s Big Egg Hunt

  • Date: 3 to 6 April
  • Time: 10am to 3pm
  • Description: Heaton Park's Big Egg Hunt returns this Easter weekend! The Easter Bunny is hiding in the park, and he’s left a trail of eggs to find him! Pick up a leaflet at the Stables and follow the eggs to find the clues to the secret phrase. When you find the Bunny, tell him the secret phrase and collect your chocolate egg!
  • Tickets: Get tickets for the Big Egg Hunt

Easter Fun Fair

  • Date: 3 to 19 April and 25 to 26 April

Wellbeing Walk (Menopause Peer Support Group)

  • Date: Saturday 18 April 2026
  • Time: 2pm to 3pm
  • Description: If you’re experiencing menopause, peri-menopause or post-menopause, or just curious to learn more and connect with others, you’re warmly invited to come and take part in this Wellbeing Walk in Heaton Park. Part of a new peer support group at Heaton Park, this walk is an opportunity to chat to others with similar experiences, facilitated by Harriet from The Empowered Goddess. Meet outside Lakeside Cafe at Heaton Park, free and no booking necessary. Approximately 1 hour at a relaxed pace (wheelchair accessible route).

Blossomify Your T-Shirt (Bloomtown x parkrun)

  • Date: Saturday 25 April 2026
  • Time: 9.30am to 11am
  • Description: National Trust is joining up with parkrun at Heaton Park to celebrate spring and the Festival of Blossom and Bloomtown. The festival celebrates ways to connect with nature this spring – one of which is ‘move in nature’ – and what better way to move in nature than take part in a blossom parkrun at a blossom hotspot! On Saturday 25th April join the team after parkrun to decorate your kit! There will be a workshop outside the Lakeside Café at Heaton Park from 9.30am – 11.00 am at the pink gazebo. Bring an old item of clothing or old race t-shirt to give a new lease of life and ‘blossomify’ your outfit ready for a blossom parkrun. There will also be craft activities for park users.

May

Blossom parkrun

  • Date: Saturday 2 May 2026
  • Time: 9am start
  • Description: National Trust is joining up with parkrun at Heaton Park to celebrate spring and the Festival of Blossom and Bloomtown. The festival celebrates ways to connect with nature this spring – one of which is ‘move in nature’ – and what better way to move in nature than take part in a blossom parkrun at a blossom hotspot! On Saturday 2nd May, take part in the Heaton parkrun dressed up in your best 'blossom' inspired costume (why not come to the Blossomify Your T-Shirt workshop on 25th April to make something to wear?). Whether it is a flower crown or a full bumble bee costume, run, jog or walk embracing the blossom season. See the Heaton parkrun website for details on how to join parkrun.

Run Heaton Park

  • Date: 3 May
  • Time: 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • Description: The Run Heaton 5k, 10k & Half Marathon series returns for 2026. This year they’ve also added a kids race, making it a fun day out for the family!
  • Website: Go to the Run Heaton Park website

One Walk Manchester

  • Date: 9 May
  • Description: Join One Walk Manchester and the type 1 diabetes community for a family‑friendly 5km or 10km walk and help fund the breakthroughs that improve life with type 1 diabetes today, and accelerate progress toward a cure.  You’ll have a heap of fun celebrating your fundraising success alongside family, friends and a community who truly understand life with type 1 diabetes.
  • Website: Find out more about One Walk Manchester

Run Heaton Park - Women's Series

Wellbeing Series, Workforce Run

Family Fun Fair

  • Date: 22 to 31 May

Social Walk (British Mountaineering Council's Big Walking Weekend)

  • Date:  Saturday 30 May
  • Time: 10am to 1pm
  • Description:  As part of the British Mountaineering Council's Big Walking Weekend, come and explore Europe's largest municipal park with a three-hour guided walk. The pace will be easy, to allow for lots of chat and exploring. The route is well-paved and is therefore perfect for wheelchair users and families. Event details and more information here.

June

Gratitude Games – Bowls

  • Date: 10, 11 and 12 June
  • Description: The Gratitude Games is a new, inclusive sports festival, dedicated to honouring the UK’s Emergency Responders and raising funds to support their mental health. The Gratitude Games Lawn Bowls competition will be hosted at Heaton Park, Manchester — a top-class bowling facility originally created for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, featuring championship standard flat and crown greens and an impressive pavilion.
  • Website: Find out more about Gratitude Games Lawn Bowls

Women V Cancer - Ride the Roses

  • Date: 13 June
  • Description: Women V Cancer unites women of all ages and backgrounds to take on unforgettable cycling challenges, raising vital funds for Breast Cancer Now and Ovarian Cancer Action. Join the brand-new Ride the Roses event, cycling from Manchester to Leeds starting in the iconic Heaton Park. Pedalling along a 70 km section of the scenic Route 66 towards Leeds, you’ll tackle a rewarding challenge, discover breath-taking views, and ride alongside inspirational women with powerful stories and reasons to ride.
  • Website: Find out more about Ride the Roses

Parklife

  • Date: 20 to 21 June
  • Description: The largest metropolitan music festival in the UK, Parklife is held at Manchester's Heaton Park. The annual event features beats from multiple music genres including hip hop, grime, pop, rock, club, house and dance.
  • Website: Go to the Parklife website

Manchester Festival of Nature

  • Date: 28 June
  • Time: 12pm-4pm
  • Description: The Manchester Festival of Nature 2026 is a celebration of arts, craft and musical activities with a wildlife theme. It is renowned for introducing visitors to the brilliant nature of Manchester. And it is a hands-on experience for families looking keen to understand more about the natural world on their doorsteps.
  • Website: Go to the Manchester Festival of Nature website