Parklife returns to Heaton Park this weekend as GMP and partners prepare to welcome over 70,000 attendees

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and partners are well prepared for Parklife Festival this weekend (10/11 June 2023) which will see around 70,000 festival goers descend on Heaton Park on each day.

The Courteeners are set to play at Heaton Park on Friday 9 June in what will no doubt be an electrifying set and a brilliant start to the weekend.

Parklife is the biggest event in Manchester’s music calendar and one of the largest metropolitan music festivals in the UK. The line-up will see huge acts such as Aitch, The Prodigy and Fred Again take to the stage, whilst on the Saturday, The Weeknd will play at The Etihad Stadium and Roger Waters at the AO Arena. On Sunday evening, Soccer Aid will also take place at Old Trafford with more than 50,000 people expected to attend.

It’s a jam-packed weekend and GMP have been working closely with organisers, local authorities and other agencies to ensure everyone can enjoy these events safely.

Work has been taking place to reduce where possible,  disruption to the surrounding communities and in the City of Manchester.

Those planning to use public transport are urged to plan their journeys both to and from the event in advance. You will need to be patient and prepare for much busier journeys.

Other routes will be available, including a walking route back to the City of Manchester. This will be clearly signposted and is hoped to relieve some congestion on the roads, and may be a quicker route back to the city.

Please follow all the latest travel advice from Transport For Greater Manchester which can be found at https://tfgm.com/saturday-10-and-sunday-11-june 

Officers will be in place around the site and will be supporting Parklife security staff to prevent incidents of crime and disorder. Off-site patrols will likewise aid with traffic management and policing in the surrounding areas and in the City of Manchester.

Superintendent Andy Sidebotham, who is leading the policing operation for Parklife, said: “Parklife is a fantastic event and I hope those with tickets are very much looking forward to attending what is Manchester’s biggest music festival.

“It takes months of planning to ensure we are well prepared for Parklife and GMP has been working closely with dedicated partners to ensure it runs smoothly.

“The event organisers will have a range of tried and tested security measures in place including searches on entry and the use of drug dogs.

“Surrender bins will also be in place at entry points to the site where you will have the opportunity to surrender any prohibited items. Anyone found in the possession of drugs or weapons will be dealt with appropriately.

“I urge you to think very carefully before taking action that could have far reaching consequences that could see you banned from the festival or even facing criminal prosecution.

“Our main priority is to ensure the safety of everyone and to support the local communities and I have confidence that the majority of attendees will enjoy the event responsibly.

“Those attending should remain vigilant and keep their belongings safe and report anything suspicious to police or security staff so we can act on it.

“As always, I welcome everyone who is attending our brilliant city this weekend and going to any one of these events. Please look out for each other and I hope you have a great time.”

Sean Dyball, TfGM’s Head of Customer Experience, said: "Parklife is one of the biggest events in Greater Manchester’s calendar, and we hope everyone who attends has a safe and enjoyable weekend.

“With around 70,000 people each day, and thousands more expected to be in the city centre over the weekend for other big events, including Soccer Aid, it will be very busy on public transport and on the roads.

“Extra staff will be on hand and we’ll have as many services as possible running to help people get around, but where possible, people should consider making short journeys by walking or cycling.

"We’ll keep our website and social media channels updated throughout the weekend and I’d encourage people to check before and during their journeys to make sure they have the latest information and advice to hand.”