Celebrate the opening of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival on the International Day of Peace, Friday 21 September. Bringing together food, drink and some of the finest music in the world, head down to Albert Square from 11am to get involved in this special partnership between the Peace Festival, Manchester Food and Drink Festival and the groundbreaking group, Musicians without Borders who work with refugees and asylum seekers with musical talent.
A central project which they have initiated is called Stone Flowers, which works with refugees who have suffered torture through poetry, art and music.
Councillor Hackett, as the Mayors for Peace representative for the Council, will give a short address at the beginning of the event followed by a Minute of Silence, Moment for Peace which will be held at midday.
As well as marking the official opening of the Manchester Food & Drink Festival, the occasion is also the first day of the Manchester Peace Festival, a grass-roots community initiative of events exploring peace in different and imaginative ways across the city (click here for more).
Albert Square
Albert Square will play host to MFDF Independent Producers Fair sponsored by Booths. As part of this magical foodie market, packed with local beer, cheese, wine and meats, you can enjoy a range of cookery demonstrations and wine and beer masterclasses â all for free.
Manchester Beer Festival, complete with more than 100 craft beers, lagers and real ales launches from noon, alongside the Festival-long cider fair.
For one day only though, this is a chance to enjoy the music from the Festival stage. Following an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, Classical Revolution will perform Barber Adagio for Strings and Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings followed by music from community groups, Stone Flowers and WAST Nightingales.
The free evenings entertainment of the Festival Stage includes Beating Wing Orchestra (who have collaborated with Amadou and Mariam and Manchester International Festival, pictured), Satelite State Disko DJs and Rioghnach Connolly.