What is Mayday and how can I celebrate it in Manchester?

With Bank Holiday Monday coming up (another one, we know!) we wanted to look at the meaning behind Mayday, and how we should spend it in the city.

Falling on the 1^st May or, more often, the first Monday of May, this bank holiday plays homage to an ancient festival marking the beginning of the summer season; a time of romance, love, and dancing in the sun. With incredible weather on the horizon and plenty of great ways to honour all of these things, we’ve put together some of our favourite ideas on how you can celebrate the first day of summer.

• Love

Love and romance are a huge part of the festival, which means that this long weekend is the perfect chance to explore some new options to take your friends or partner on a date.

For those who prefer a daytime date, Ginger’s Comfort Emporium in Afflecks offer incredible, nostalgic ice-cream sundaes in some wild flavours – we’ve got our eye on the Chocolate, Ginger and Rosemary sundae already!

For those among us who prefer evening dates, there are all sorts of incredibly romantic places to visit for dinner or drinks – Escape to Freight Island is a great option with a range of exciting menus to choose from in the food markets, as well as the variety of bars and entertainment on offer.

• All-singing, All-dancing

Singing and dancing were a core way to celebrate the summer festival, and who are we go to against that? You can get your boogie on Manchester235 where they offer cocktails and live music, as well as DJ sets and a 24-hour food menu, the perfect opportunity to throw some shapes and welcome in the summer.

If you’re looking to sing your heart out Mariah Carey-style, Via is where you need to be this Monday. With an unmatched glamorous interior and the catchiest playlists you can think of, we’re already getting our platform boots on so we can belt out a not-quite-pitch-perfect version of Abba’s Mamma Mia already.

• Have your cake and eat it, too

Another key way to celebrate Mayday is our personal favourite – cake. Nibble, based in the Northern Quarter, is an all-female-run independent bakery and café with a number of gorgeous baked treats on offer. We’ve got our heart set on the blueberry and elderflower cake, the ideal treat for a festival welcoming in the summer weather.

If you’re feeling creative, it’s also a great time to do some home baking. We’d love to see anything you make, so please tag us in anything that you end up making and let us know how it tastes, too. From all of us at Manchester Apartments, have a happy mayday and a wonderful long weekend!