Circle Square’s Free Summer in the City Picnic Full Lineup Revealed

Circle Square has unveiled the full programme for its FREE Summer in the City Picnic, with Symphony Park set to transform into a vibrant day-long celebration on Saturday 8th August. Running from 11am to 5pm, the event will welcome families, friends, city centre residents and visitors for a packed programme of live entertainment, independent retailer pop-ups, outdoor activities and al fresco dining, with something for all ages to enjoy.

Manchester’s innovative neighbourhood from Bruntwood SciTech and Vita Group, Circle Square, will be transformed into a bustling picnic spot, complete with deckchairs, communal picnic tables and plenty of space for visitors to enjoy food and drink while soaking up the entertainment and activities throughout the day.  A DJ will provide the summer soundtrack throughout the day and keep the vibes high, while two special Silent Disco sessions promise plenty of feel-good fun. 

The picnic will include a whole host of fun activities including: Funky Flora hosting the Circle Square Bouquet Bar - a hands-on workshop that blends creativity with tranquility to build beautiful, custom bouquets. Arc Arts & Crafts will host the Circle Square Sip n Paint Sessions, a fun, all-ages waterdoodling session. Jamsalana Steel Band will bring Caribbean energy and sun-soaked summer vibes, while The Jump Rope Company  and Jump London will be hosting the ‘Skipping Workshop’ where they will be showcasing their Double Dutch skills. 

There will be a whole host of fantastic offers from Circle Square retailers. Brunch and coffee champs Federal will be on hand with a pop up in collaboration with Moth Cocktails; Neighbourhood bakery and cafe Gooey will be showcasing their cookie cart and ice cream pop up, and Hello Oriental will be slinging Banh Mi & Bubble Tea combos for £12. For those wanting to keep active during the day, Circle Square’s resident reformer pilates studio Restart Pilates will run two outdoor pilates mat classes in Symphony Gardens, while Jetts Gym will also be running hosting free outdoor gym classes. 

For younger visitors, there will also be plenty of exciting activities to get stuck into. Highlights include a footpool and crazy golf and a range of giant lawn games for all ages, from Giant Jenga and Ring Toss to Connect Four. 

Adjacent to Oxford Road train station, Circle Square is one of Manchester’s most unique places to live, work, eat and drink. It is home to exciting businesses including hospitality and leisure innovators such as Onda Pasta Bar, Gooey, Federal, and Restart Reformer Pilates alongside a community of digital and tech trailblazers such as HPE, Autotrader, Puma and Roku. No.3 Circle Square, the latest £87m, 267,000 sq ft addition to the campus opened in Summer 2025 with Symphony Gardens - a newly landscaped 24,000 sq ft public green space located directly outside the building. 

The Summer In the City Picnic is free to enjoy on 8th August from 11am - 5:00pm.  Follow Circle Square socials for updates and further content.