Manchester will blossom this May Bank Holiday as the much-anticipated Manchester FlowerFestival returns with a bloomin’ brilliant line-up of installations and events from Friday 23rd – Monday 26th May 2025.
Organised by Manchester City Centre BID, the free four-day event invites visitors to explore a vibrant programme of floral installations, artisan markets, creative workshops, alfresco dining and family-friendly activities.
At the heart of the festival is the spectacular Floral Trail, which winds through the city centre with nine professionally designed installations celebrating Manchester’s identity and its connections with global cities. Highlights include stunning displays that honour the city’s industrial roots and its legendary music scene, along with creative interpretations of New York, Paris, Mumbai, Amsterdam, and Marrakech. These eye-catching 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.
As well as the striking floral trail, the Festival Zone itself becomes an urban garden, with floral installations in windows, shopfronts, and public spaces, each one crafted by local and national artists, florists, and community groups. Whether discovering a miniature garden hidden in a doorway or marvelling at large-scale displays in the city’s iconic squares, visitors will be treated to petal-powered surprises on every corner of the city.
Located on New Cathedral Street, the Floral Marquee will showcase displays by some of Manchester’s most talented florists, along with a daily programme of creative workshops. Visitors can also explore the Flower Market, where a curated selection of independent traders, designers, and makers will offer 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 with 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 ranging from edible-flower cakes to tray bakes and artisan pastries, while illustrators like Christopher Walster and Laura Frances Heitzman will offer beautiful floral-inspired prints and cards. Plantlife will also be on hand to raise awareness of the importance of wild plants and fungi, and Herd & Elder will be selling luxurious bath salts, goat milk soaps and soy wax candles.
Throughout the weekend, there will be an exciting programme of hands-on Flower Workshops for all ages. Clocktower Florist will also host two daily sessions where participants can paint a decorative flowerpot or plant a blooming souvenir to take home, with each session available on a pay-as-you-go basis for £3. On Saturday 24th May, visitors can try their hand at crafting handmade pressed flower paper lanterns with Smart Floral Art from 11am to 3pm or join renowned local florist David Wayman atPrintworks for free, hourly flower-making sessions from 12pm to 4pm.
Also 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 alike can plant their own sunflower, craft wildflower seed bombs, and build insect hotels in the form of earwig homes, 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, with tickets available to take part for £20.
Complementing the floral displays, The Manchester Flower Festival also features an exciting array of food and drink offerings, with pop-ups and terraces dotted across the city centre.Selfridges takes 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 throughout the weekend. In St Ann’s Square, El Gato Negro brings the taste of Spain to the heart of Manchester with a pop-up offering gourmet twists on their signature patatas bravas, served alongside refreshing cocktails, ice-cold draught beer, and soft drinks – perfect for soaking up the festival atmosphere. Zambrero will also be featured on St Ann’s Square, serving feel-good Mexican food with freshly prepared, customisable burritos and bowls.
Visitors can also take part in a Cocktail Trail, with special festival-themed drinks available from some of Manchester’s most iconic venues, including Cloud 23, Grand Pacific, KALA, Harvey Nichols, Urban Playground, Tast Catala, Franco Manca, and El Gato Negro. A sparkling highlight of the weekend is the Cut & Craft Champagne Bar,where guests can indulge in Moët & Chandon Champagne, refreshing Rosé, indulgent slushies, and handcrafted cocktails in a luxurious pop-up Moet bar setting designed for celebrating spring in style on New Cathedral Street.
Families can enjoy a wide variety of interactive experiences throughout the weekend, including the ever-popular Bee Procession, where families can follow the Queen Bee and waggle dance their way around St Ann’s Square, and a Bee Hunt at Selfridges in Exchange Square.
There will also be a letter trail where children are invited to follow the bee letters to form a secret word. Once all nine letters are collected, participants can visit the Information Point on Exchange Street to claim a special prize.
Wellbeing also takes centre stage at this year’s festival. Inside Neal’s Yard Remedies, guests can explore the natural skincare brand’s iconic Wild Rose Beauty Balm, now fully vegan, while enjoying a free 15-minute hand and arm massage or express facial. These relaxing appointments offer a chance to pause, refresh, and reconnect with nature – booking in advance is recommended.
Beyond the core festival zone, a citywide Fringe Festival brings floral displays and installations to unexpected locations, including Castlefield Viaduct, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, The Bridgewater Hall, Stevenson Square, Sadler’s Yard, Affleck’s, St Peter’s Square, and Hardman Square. Visitors are encouraged to go blossom spotting across Manchester’s urban parks, streets, and open spaces using the Bloomtown Map by The National Trust, which showcases more than 40 hotspots and routes across the city. Each featured site includes a plaque with insight into the surrounding natural landscape, offering a peaceful, self-guided trail that connects Manchester’s green and blue spaces.
Finally, Jonathan Schofield Manchester Tours will run a series of guided walking tours that explore the hidden parks, waterways, and nature trails of Manchester and Salford. These unique routes blend environmental discovery with local history, revealing how nature has shaped – and continues to thrive within – the city’s urban fabric. Tickets are £15 to take part, and participants will meet and finish at the St Ann’s Square Flower Festival stand.
