The Skinny North's summer events guide

Thanks to everyone that joined us for our Final Fling on Friday, with particular heartfelt gratitude to Peaness, Patty Hearst and Karl D'Silva for playing, Oddie, Harris and George for DJing, Jameson for providing the whiskey, The Sweet Life Cakes for THAT CAKE and, of course, Islington Mill for letting us party there. WE LOVE YOU!

We want to leave you with one big phat summer guide to Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, helping you harness the sunny months with music, carnivals, gin and more, along with tip-offs on our favourite beer gardens in the North.

Summer happenings:

Liverpool International Music Festival
Various venues, Liverpool. Thu 20-Sun 23 Jul, times vary

LIMF celebrates its fifth anniversary this year with five specially-commissioned projects tying into the theme of 'Remember the Times' – Good Times with Norman Jay MBE, Garage Classical with DJ Spoony, Circus Year One with Yousef, Reminisce: 90s R&B with Trevor Nelson and No Sleep with Stretch Armstrong – and, of course, the focal LIMF Summer Jam with Gorgon City and others.

Manchester Jazz Festival
Various venues, Manchester. Thu 28 Jul-Sun 6 Aug, times vary

Along with a Jazz on Film cinema programme at HOME and 11 free gigs in 11 hours from Northern artists in partnership with Jazz North, other Manchester Jazz Festival highlights include Andy Semickis Brown's Cottonopolis (Semickis Brown pictured), an immersive jazz, video and dance-music experience exploring Manchester's industrial past and dance music scene. Photo: Jo Mair

Tramlines
Various venues, Sheffield. Fri 21-Sun 23 Jul, various times

Sprawling across venues throughout Sheffield's city centre, along with The Folk Forest stage out in a forest glade in Endcliffe Park, at this summer's Tramlines bash you can catch The Libertines, Metronomy, Primal Scream, All Saints, Kano, The Coral, The Pharcyde, Loyle Carner, Twin Atlantic and more. Photo: Jassy Earl

Manchester Caribbean Carnival
Alexandra Park, Manchester. 12-13 Aug, 1pm

Once again Alexandra Park becomes a colourful melting pot of culture, music and good vibes as Manchester Caribbean Carnival rolls in for another weekend of sunny sounds, steel drums, spicy jerk chicken and the famous parade. Carry on after to Gorilla, where there's a Soca Madhouse afterparty running through 'til 5am.

Scene Better Days
Wharf Chambers, Leeds. Fri 11-Sat 12 Aug, times vary

Mini festival Scene Better Days takes over Wharf Chambers for two days of live music, stalls and food, with post-punk locals (and firm Skinny favourites) Cowtown, Durham-based Onsind, DIY feminist vegan band Colour Me Wednesday, Glasgow's Kimberley Steaks, German punk/indie group The Deadnotes and riot grrrl lot Fight Rosa Fight just a snippet of what to expect. Photo: Jack Kirwin

Gin Festival
Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool. Thu 27-Sun 30 Jul, times vary

Ain't nothing more summery – nor more British – than a refreshing sip on an ice-cold gin, eh? Get yourself doing precisely that with Liverpool's Gin Festival, returning to Lutyens Crypt for a summer edition of the much-loved piss-up. Tickets include your very own copa balloon glass, with a single measure of gin, garnish and a Fever-Tree mixer coming in at £5 a pop.

Leeds West Indian Carnival
Various venues, Leeds. 28 Aug, various times

From its humble beginnings back in the late 60s to becoming Europe's longest-running Caribbean carnival parade, this year marks 50 years of Leeds West Indian Carnival, celebrating the milestone with what's set to be their biggest event yet. The core carnival day will take place on the bank holiday Monday (the parade leaves from Potternewton Park), but head to leedscarnival.co.uk to see what's programmed around that. Photo: Carl Milner

Mine's a pint 

Liverpool's best beer gardens

Looking for a beer garden in which to nurse a cold drink on one of Liverpool's rare sunny afternoons? Look no further – we've got you covered with our guide.

Top beer gardens in Manchester

Looking for a beer garden in Greater Manchester for some cold beer in the sunshine? Here are a few places we'd recommend, from city centre favourites right through to suburban haunts.