It’s almost the weekend – and we could see a few sunny spells on the way. The recent forecast has predicted that Manchester could be in line for yet another heatwave early next week, but the bright weather may make a small appearance over the weekend with a bit of sunshine here and there. With that in mind, it could be the perfect opportunity to get out and about and do something special on Saturday and Sunday. And, as we gear up for a summer of big events thanks to our hometown Oasis brothers’ big shows at Heaton Park next month, there is a lot going on. This weekend, the events taking place will include celebrations of communities, natures and history, as well as music festivals and conventions honouring the best of pop culture. If you’re looking for something to do in Greater Manchester this weekend, here’s our suggestion of free and ticketed things happening on Saturday and Sunday – and how you can get a ticket if need be. Up to 5,000 people will be heading to Heaton Park on Sunday (June 29) for Manchester’s ‘wildest’ festival. A celebration of arts, crafts and musical activities, the festival will introduce visitors and families to the excellent nature found within the city. There will be mindfulness sessions, scavenger hunts, gardening, den building, and even ‘sphagnum squeezing’ (some kind of mossy-themed bog art, I am told). There will also be appearances from the likes of Manchester Museum, Manchester Metropolitan University, and the Manchester Nature Consortium Youth Panel with stalls and workshops, including a clothes swap. One particular highlight will be the Legendary Pollinator Parade, which will see families dress up as pollinators and other creatures as they waltz around the festival site. The festival runs from 12pm-4pm, with the Pollinator Parade taking place at 1pm. More info here. Sparkle, the national transgender charity, will be hosting its 20th Anniversary edition of its popular Sparkle Weekend event at the weekend. Taking place from Friday to Sunday (June 27-29), the free-to-attend event at Sackville Gardens, by Canal Street, will celebrate the transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse community. Main stage performers will include Divina de Campo, Lucky Roy Singh, Solstice, Amrick Channa, and Rain McMey, whilst there will also be a marketplace, a Family & Youth Zone, and the well-celebrated Sparkle Superstars pageant which gives contestants of all ages a chance to shine on stage. It is free to attend, with donations accepted, but tickets must be ordered online first via here . Information on the line-up can also be found here . The main stage will be running from 12pm to 9.30pm on Saturday, and 12pm to 8.30pm on Sunday. Movie, TV and comic book fans will unite for a fun-filled day across Bury on Sunday (June 29). Bury Comic Con will feature life-size versions of Transformers like Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Megatron, as well as wandering prehistoric creatures like Dreygo the Dragon and a dinosaur egg hatchery. There will also be autograph and meet-and-greet opportunities with Doctor Who stars like Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton, as well as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness performer Clem So and The Dark Knight actor Martin Ballantyne. There will also be plenty of cosplay zones and stalls to explore, with the event being free to attend. More information can be found here. Manchester’s leading orchestras, choirs and classical music ensembles will join forces for a weekend festival featuring plenty of music and celebrations. Running from June 27 to 29, the event – at The Bridgewater Hall – will feature concerts from the Hallé, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera, Manchester Collective, Riot Ensemble and Royal Northern College of Music. There will be a range of free and ticketed shows taking place, with free events including workshops, family activities and shows from the likes of AMC Gospel Choir, Hallé Youth Training Choir and The Hallé Ancoats Community. More information and ticket details can be found here . St Peter’s Square will host a special day of free activities to honour and recognise the members of the Armed Forces and veterans for their service. Taking place on Sunday (June 29), the event will run from 9am to 4pm and will include live entertainment, stalls and family-friendly activities like face painting. The event will be attended by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, who is a representative for the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, and will also include appearances from the LA Band, BBC Radio DJ Michelle Dignan and the Lancashire Army Artillery Band. The event will also include a parade starting at 11.30am, followed by an inspection with dignitaries.