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Around 10,000 people celebrate Manchester's diversity with two stages hosting performances from more than 25 different countries. Food stalls include treats from Pakistan, West Africa, Poland and Bosnia, and there's a series of workshops to keep kids busy.

Every summer, Platt Fields Park fills with a raucous celebration of South Asian culture at the Manchester Mega Mela. See poets and dancers perform on stage, or enjoy watching team sport, kabbadi, while you slurp on an Indian ice-cream.

The 24:7 Theatre Festival returns to Manchester to celebrate the best of the fringe. The festival brings theatre performances to unconventional venues throughout the city, with several premieres performed as part of its programme.

The annual Manchester Jazz Festival features a programme of international performers with concerts throughout the city. Catch open-air and indoor shows at venues including Albert Square, St Ann's Square, the Green Room and the Bridgewater Hall.

Urbanathlon is a test of stamina and endurance, an athletic event set in an urban environment. At the event, in Manchester's Sportcity, spectators can watch as competitors climb, crawl, slide and slip through an urban obstacle course for charity.

Held throughout the UK, the Sky Ride encourages cyclists of all abilities to hop on their saddles and hit the streets. Taking place in Manchester, this event allows cyclists to reclaim the city and enjoy a day of bike-based entertainment.

If you're looking for things to do with the kids during the interminable summer holidays, Manchester's Family Friendly Film Festival presents screenings and workshops at venues across the city. The programme includes award-winning features and shorts, as well as UK premieres.

Held in Manchester's Heaton Park, the UK Backward Running Championships sees competitors negotiate a mile-long course backwards. Although it looks comical, it's a surprisingly demanding exercise and great workout - when fitness aficionados try it they never look forwards. (Sorry.)

The x.trax showcase returns to the parks, fountains, squares and gardens of Manchester for more outdoor street art and theatre. The three-day festival features work by acts from the UK and across the world.

Platform 4 Piccadilly returns for another festival of free outdoor performances. Offering three days of eclectic entertainment, Piccadilly Gardens is transformed into an arena offering music, dance, theatre and circus acts for all to enjoy.

The Friends Provident T20 begins with a group format in June, before quarter finals in July and Finals Day at Southampton's Rose Bowl in August. Lancashire Lightning play their home games at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester.

Manchester stages one of Europe's biggest Pride events, offering a host of parties, parades and celebration as the city sways in a fiesta of fun. The packed programme of events reflects the wide range of interests of the LGBT community.

Manchester's Abandon Normal Devices (AND) festival investigates how we conjure a sense of normality through external devices and means. It sounds complicated, but it's a mandate that's transmitted through accessible films, installations and debates - at a level everyone can understand.

The world's top taekwondo talent comes to Manchester's Sportcity for the BTCB British International Open. With pressure on participants increasing as the Olympics draws closer this is your chance to cheer the athletes determined to fight for glory and country.

A test of endurance, stamina and skill, the UEC European Masters Track Championships returns to the Manchester Velodrome this year. It's one of England's most exciting cycling events, attracting participants from across Europe.

Long renowned for its famed Rusholme Curry Mile, real ale pubs and Chinatown, Manchester has also earned an enviable reputation for its many chic, world-class restaurants. The 11-day Food & Drink Festival celebrates the city's culinary status in style.

Manchester's Literature Festival is a city-wide celebration of new literature and spoken-word entertainment, attracting writers from around the globe. Watch out for readings from well-known national and international authors, with special attention also given to independent publishers and magazines.

The Festival of Fantastic Films is a three-day convention for fans of sci-fi, fantasy and horror films. It features multiple screenings, interviews with special guests, panel discussions, art and poster exhibitions, and memorabilia auctions.

The Manchester Comedy Festival brings some of the top names in comedy to join home-grown talent at venues across the city. This year's line-up of slapstick and subversive talent goes to show that Manchester doesn't take itself too seriously.

Manchester's Buy Art Fair is one of the country's largest consumer art exhibitions and offers potential buyers the opportunity to purchase original artworks. More than 300 renowned artists, sourced from over 75 respected galleries, are on display at Spinningfields.

Manchester marks the festive season's arrival with the switching on of the city's Christmas lights and two hours of entertainment for the enthusiastic crowds in Albert Square. The event is seen by many as the official beginning of Christmas.

Opera North returns to The Lowry Salford for its first visit this season. Joining revivals of Puccini's Madama Butterfly (directed by Tim Albery) and Gilbert & Sullivan's Ruddigore (directed by Jo Davies) is a new production of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades.

The Christmas Markets in Manchester's Albert Square, St Ann's Square and Exchange Street incorporate a traditional German Market, a European Market and an Arts and Crafts Market. The popular markets have now spread to New Cathedral Street and Brazennose Street.

Manchester Camerata's New Year's Eve Gala Concert at Bridgewater Hall features popular opera arias and choruses to welcome in the new year. A musical extravaganza, it concludes with a late Night of the Proms finale.

Every item is for sale at the Dazzle exhibition of contemporary jewellery and applied art, held at Manchester Town Hall. Just before Christmas, this is the ideal opportunity to buy some striking and unique gifts for friends, family and yourself.

Hundreds of exhibitors come to Manchester Central for the popular annual Holiday & Travel Show. Visitors are given the chance to plan all aspects of their dream holiday, from meeting tour operators to exploring exotic and specialist destinations.

For anyone suffering from the January blues, CAMRA returns with the National Winter Ales Festival in Manchester's Sheridan Suite. Presenting a selection of 200+ British and foreign beers, ales, ciders and perrys, it's just what's needed for a fun night out.

The Caravan and Motorhome Show returns to Manchester Central with the latest touring models and all the best accessories. From sat navs to awnings, it caters for all the enthusiasts' needs and even includes a Farmers' Market and a KidZone.

Are you looking for some inspiration? The Times presents Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show at the EventCity. Globetrotters can meet writers, explorers and travel experts to find out about everything from Amazonian adventures to Caribbean cruises.

Brightly coloured gaiety takes place around Albert Square and Chinatown to usher in the Chinese New Year in Manchester. Dragon dances, kungfu demonstrations and fireworks are just some of the highlights of this annual public celebration.

The British National Squash Championships take place at the National Squash Centre in Manchester's state-of-the-art Sportcity complex. As well as professional men's and women's events, the tournament features a Master's competition spread over 13 age-group categories.

This exhibition at the Manchester Art Gallery brings together the experiences of working woman immigrants from around the world and the gallery's collection of Empire Marketing Board Posters. A unique example of peacetime government propaganda, the exhibition sees the bold message reworked for our times. 

The Manchester Irish Festival, one of the biggest in Europe, celebrates the Emerald Isle with over two weeks of partying, music, comedy, theatre, sport and dance around the city.

¡Viva! returns to Manchester's Cornerhouse for eleven days of contemporary visual arts and film. Presenting the best of Spanish and Latin American cinema, the festival features premières and previews of recent features, plus a special spotlight event.

Manchester City FC play their home matches at the Etihad Stadium. The Premier League runs between August and May and full fixture lists can be found on the club websites. Please note: games may be rearranged due to cup or television commitments.

Manchester United FC play their home matches at the Old Traffod Stadium. The Premier League runs between August and May and full fixture lists can be found on the club websites. Please note: games may be rearranged due to cup or television commitments.

Manchester's award-winning urban digital arts and music festival, FutureEverything presents a programme of experimental performance and exhibitions at venues across the city. The festival also expands its focus beyond the arts to include lively debate on environmental and global issues.

One of the biggest 10K runs in England, the Bupa Great Manchester Run sees thousands of people pounding in and out of the city centre. Olympic champions, Christine Ohuruogu and Usain Bolt, have run here in the past.

Pioneering artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer uses highly sophisticated responsive technologies such as robotics, video projection, and sound to sense the actions of nearby people. This installation at Manchester Art Gallery allows visitors to leave a trace of themselves in his art.

The Manchester International Festival is unique in consisting solely of specially commissioned work. It presents a series of large-scale world premières at venues across the city centre, many of which then begin international tours.

Around 10,000 people celebrate Manchester's diversity with two stages hosting performances from more than 25 different countries. Food stalls include treats from Pakistan, West Africa, Poland and Bosnia, and there's a series of workshops to keep kids busy.

Every summer, Platt Fields Park fills with a raucous celebration of South Asian culture at the Manchester Mega Mela. See poets and dancers perform on stage, or enjoy watching team sport, kabbadi, while you slurp on an Indian ice-cream.

The 24:7 Theatre Festival returns to Manchester to celebrate the best of the fringe. The festival brings theatre performances to unconventional venues throughout the city, with several premieres performed as part of its programme.

The annual Manchester Jazz Festival features a programme of international performers with concerts throughout the city. Catch open-air and indoor shows at venues including Albert Square, St Ann's Square, the Green Room and the Bridgewater Hall.

Urbanathlon is a test of stamina and endurance, an athletic event set in an urban environment. At the event, in Manchester's Sportcity, spectators can watch as competitors climb, crawl, slide and slip through an urban obstacle course for charity.

Held throughout the UK, the Sky Ride encourages cyclists of all abilities to hop on their saddles and hit the streets. Taking place in Manchester, this event allows cyclists to reclaim the city and enjoy a day of bike-based entertainment.

If you're looking for things to do with the kids during the interminable summer holidays, Manchester's Family Friendly Film Festival presents screenings and workshops at venues across the city. The programme includes award-winning features and shorts, as well as UK premieres.

Held in Manchester's Heaton Park, the UK Backward Running Championships sees competitors negotiate a mile-long course backwards. Although it looks comical, it's a surprisingly demanding exercise and great workout - when fitness aficionados try it they never look forwards. (Sorry.)

The x.trax showcase returns to the parks, fountains, squares and gardens of Manchester for more outdoor street art and theatre. The three-day festival features work by acts from the UK and across the world.

Platform 4 Piccadilly returns for another festival of free outdoor performances. Offering three days of eclectic entertainment, Piccadilly Gardens is transformed into an arena offering music, dance, theatre and circus acts for all to enjoy.