Now busy bees, we probably don’t need to remind you that the weekend is around the corner. After May’s bank holiday galore, we are now back to full weeks in the office so it’s no wonder we’re thinking about our well deserved end of week rest. But if you’re like us, it can be intimidating to know what to do with your time off… There’s so much you can pack into a weekend. Doubt us? Then you need to check out the new festival coming to Salford – We Invented The Weekend!

We Invented The Weekend

We can’t imagine you’d be too pleased if we took your weekend off you. It’s an important time to relax, spend time with family, work on hobbies, or simply spend some time on life admin. But the thing about weekends is that, well, it’s time off work! Not too long ago, your boss would have expected a six day working week (or even more!) to be perfectly acceptable. Working long hours like this leaves no time for looking after yourself properly, yet alone your family or hobbies.

Right in Salford, Robert Lowes (Sir Ian Mckellen’s great grandad), a worker’s rights activist, campaigned and won the right for workers to have Saturday afternoons off for leisure activities. You could say the weekend was born in Salford; you could say We Invented The Weekend 😎. The festival – coming to Salford Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th of June – seeks to celebrate the area’s history and involvement in workers’ rights. All while giving you something fun (and free!) to do on your time off!

What to expect this weekend

We’ve checked the forecast and it’s looking hot ☀️. We wouldn’t expect any less from Salford, and nor should you! The festival will be taking place all around Media City – which is great, because it’s super easy to get here. If you can, try to avoid taking the car and consider taking the bus or tram, or even cycling or walking your way here. The area is known for its thriving arts and entertainment scene, making it the perfect place to host a festival that celebrates leisure time and community.

You can find your perfect event through searching the ‘What’s On’ section on the website. Where each event will have a theme in the description so that you can find your perfect event. E.g We Get Creative and We Play. In this blog the events discussed are predominantly based on the We Get Green theme.

From Garden to Table (in partnership with Bupa)

Want to learn how to make food whilst being sustainable? Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, it’s going to be a really fun and interactive session that’s all about the connection between healthy eating and sustainable living. The event will be led by a team of experienced gardeners and chefs, who will guide us through a series of activities and workshops designed to learn about where our food comes from and how to prepare delicious, healthy meals using fresh, home-grown ingredients.

We’ll get to explore the festival’s very own vegetable garden (Media City community garden), learn about different gardening techniques and even harvest some of the produce for ourselves. We will also head over to the kitchen area, where we have the opportunity to prepare some recipes using the ingredients we will have previously harvested. We’ll learn about different cooking techniques, flavour combinations and how healthy, balanced meals can taste amazing. And the best part? We’ll get to enjoy the fruits of our labour by sitting down together and sharing a meal made from the ingredients we’ve harvested and prepared. It’s going to be a really fun and rewarding experience, as well as a great way to connect with like minded people.

RHS Bridgewater – plant swap

At Carbon Creative we aim to be an eco-friendly and ethical business. To put this into action we plant a tree for every order, and we’re committed to supporting the community and contributing to Salford. So it should come to no surprise that we are particularly looking forward to the RHS Bridgewater plant swap event 🌱!

It’s a great opportunity for us to connect with nature and learn more about the benefits of sustainable living. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a newbie, the plant swap event gives us the amazing opportunity to learn more about growing your own food, reducing wasteland and living a more sustainable lifestyle, plus it’s a lot of fun! We’re looking forward to seeing the community come together to swap plants and share their knowledge and enthusiasm for gardening and sustainability. We can all do our bit to create a more eco-friendly world and this could be your first step.

Community Clothing Swap Shop

Are you looking for a fun and sustainable way to shop and update your wardrobe? Then check out the Community clothing swap shop at the festival. As an ethically driven company ourselves we align with the swap shop’s values and find this a helpful tool to add unique pieces to our wardrobes whilst being sustainable. The distinctive pop-up shop offers a fun and eco-friendly way to refresh your closet without spending a large amount. Simply bring in your used clothing items you no longer love and swap them for something new to you.

It’s a fantastic way to reduce waste, save money and meet new friends in the process. It is also an excellent way to promote a sense of community and togetherness. By sharing our clothing with others, we can help to build a more sustainable and equitable future for all. So join Carbon Creative at the Community Clothing Swap Shop if you’re ready to join the fashion revolution and embrace a more sustainable way of living.

Why is the festival important?

The festival is more than a bit of fun. It’s a way for us to reflect on our past, embrace the present, and strive for an even better world for the future. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the unique spirit and character of Salford. We truly hope it will foster a sense of community and togetherness.

We can’t wait to see you at the weekend so be sure to check the website out.

Big thanks to work placement intern Ishbel for helping in the creation of this post!