Manchester families have a bigger Parktastic programme to use this year, with 14 weeks of free children’s activities running in parks across every ward in the city.
The Manchester City Council programme is aimed at children aged 6 to 12. It launches this week, runs through the school holidays and continues into September, with after-school sessions included before schools break up.
| Detail | What families need to know |
|---|---|
| Event | Parktastic |
| Where | 32 parks across Manchester |
| When | Launches this week and runs for 14 weeks, continuing into September |
| Time | Session times vary by park; check the nearest listing |
| Cost | Free |
| Booking | No booking required; children can turn up and join in |
| Who it is for | Children aged 6-12; younger children should be accompanied by a parent or carer |
Free sessions across 32 Manchester parks
Parktastic has been expanded from a summer-holiday programme into a longer schedule covering after-school sessions, holiday activities and sessions into September.
The council says the extra weeks have been made possible by additional funding. The programme now reaches 32 parks, with sessions taking place in every ward rather than being concentrated in only a few parts of the city.
That spread matters for parents and carers trying to find low-cost things to do close to home. Instead of needing to plan a paid day out or travel across Manchester, families are being pointed towards their nearest local park session.
Manchester’s wider children’s offer is also part of the backdrop. The programme launches as the city marks its official recognition by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City.
Sports, crafts, storytelling and messy play
The activities are designed for primary-school-age children, with a mix of active, creative and outdoor sessions.
Parktastic sessions can include sports, games, arts and crafts, dance, drama, nature activities, storytelling and messy play. Healthy snacks are also provided.
Sessions are due to run rain or shine, so families should plan for ordinary Manchester weather rather than assuming a damp day will automatically mean cancellation.
Councillor Julie Reid, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People at Manchester City Council, said the expanded programme means “14 weeks of free activities for children across Manchester” and gives children the chance to play, make friends and be active outdoors.
How to find your nearest Parktastic session
Families do not need to book a place before attending. The council’s message is simple: find the nearest session, turn up and get involved.
Details of local Parktastic sessions are available through loadstodo.co.uk/events/parktastic, where families can check which park is hosting sessions near them and confirm the practical timings for their area.
For readers planning family days beyond Manchester, this guide to free summer family activities shows how another UK city is setting out its seasonal park programme.
Councillor Basat Sheikh, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, said sessions are taking place “in every part of the city” so that more children can get outside, try something new and meet friends.
Source: Manchester City Council
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This event preview is based on Manchester City Council’s published Parktastic announcement and keeps unsupported details out of the article.
- Confirmed the programme is free and does not require booking.
- Checked the stated audience as children aged 6 to 12.
- Verified the programme is described as running for 14 weeks in 32 parks across Manchester.
- Noted that individual session times were not included in the supplied source text.
- Source
- Manchester City Council
- Scope
- Manchester
- Updated
- 2026-06-20 09:54
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