There’s a chill in the air as spooky season is upon us. Halloween is one of the most fun events of the year, it’s a chance to get dressed up and embrace all things scary. Whether you’re looking for a way to entertain your little monsters or fancy a ghoulishly great time yourselves, Greater Manchester is full of activities and events to make your spine tingle. 
 

1. Halloween in the City
  

Halloween in the city is back, but this time it’s bigger and even more bewitching than ever. This year, MCR Monsters will be taking over your favourite Manchester buildings once again and you’ll be able to spot them all from Tuesday 25 to Monday 31 October. But the weekend of Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October is where the real hair-raising fun begins. There will be a Monsters Rock Music Festival with spooky DJs, live performances and a storytelling stage as well as a fancy dress challenge. Carnival of Monsters will also take over New Cathedral Street with a family-friendly freakshow, fairground rides, stalls and circus monsters. Plus, there will be an unmissable Monster Procession taking to the city centre thanks to Walk the Plank. Halloween in the City is all treats and no tricks as this free event gives you plenty of ways to entertain the family right in the heart of the city centre. 
 

2. Spookfest Trafford Centre
 

There are also some scary goings on at the Trafford Centre as their ever-popular Spookfest is returning for 2022. Plans are in place for a frighteningly good time with a hair-raising haybale maze, ghost train, haunted house and plenty of tasty treats with no tricks in sight. Independent food and drink brands will serve terrifyingly tasty dishes. If that’s not enough, Gandeys Circus will be back for a Halloween Spooktacular Big Top show with a cast of skeletons, vampires, Jack Lanterns and Circus Artists that are sure to give you shivers.  
 

3. Halloween Ghost Trains at East Lancashire Railway
 

Would it be Halloween without a ghost train? Luckily, The Halloween Ghost Train is back to haunt the East Lancashire Railway this October, but will you dare climb aboard? Your little monsters could help the Monster Squad banish the ancient railway curse with plenty of tricks, treats and perfectly petrifying fun along the way. Meet Vampires, Witches, Zombies and other creepy creatures. Show off your best fancy dress, sing along to some terrifying tunes and enjoy the scenery from the East Lancashire Railway. The Ghost Train runs from Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 October. 

But if that’s not enough Bury Transport Museum is also hosting a Halloween Carn-Evil with a whole host of scream-inducing rides including a Haunted Cottage, Dragon Coaster and much more. The Carn-Evil runs from 4 pm until 9 pm from Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 October so you can fit your visit around your train departure time.
 

4. Frankenstein Live at Stoller Hall
 

On Monday 31 October, Northern Film Orchestra is bringing Frankenstein to life as the iconic horror film will be accompanied by a live orchestra. Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is a Halloween staple and so, it feels right that a special screening will be shown in Manchester to celebrate the spookiest night of the year, but there’s a twist. The 1931 movie was originally produced without music, but with the help of Michael Shapiro whose 70-minute haunting score is performed by a 22-piece orchestra, the film has been given a whole new dimension. Experience Frankenstein like never before as one of the most infamous monster stories is given a frightening new lease of life. It’s sure to be a hauntingly beautiful evening. The performance begins at 8 pm at The Stoller Hall in Manchester.  
 

5. Rock n Horror Graveyard Show Stockport
 

On Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October, Stockport’s Forum Theatre will host the hauntingly brilliant ‘The Rock n Horror Graveyard Show’. Join Beetlejuice, Frank n Furter and devilish dancers to celebrate Halloween in style at this adults-only cabaret show. With a live band, late bar and disco alongside some gruesome comedy, it’s not for the faint-hearted. The shows run from 8 pm until late and fancy dress is encouraged. 
 

6. Halloween at Quarry Mill and Walton Hall and Gardens
 

Walton Hall and Gardens in Cheshire and Quarry Bank have both had some spooky goings-on and it needs the help of your little sleuths and spies. On Saturday 29 October from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm the stunning hall and gardens will be transformed into a mysterious, otherworldly adventure. Take the kids on a supernatural expedition full of storytelling, dancing, games and fun as you hunt for ghosts and ghouls. You can visit Doctor Shockerberg and help with his latest experiment, meet a kooky witch, dance with a werewolf, search for a ghostly bride and even laugh along with a vampire. All children with a full-paying adult will receive a mini-pumpkin. 
 

7. Horror-nation street: The Tour
 

Coronation Street fans will know that the action doesn’t stop for Halloween, if anything, life on the cobbles gets that little bit more chilling. Rediscover the most disturbing storylines and infamous villains that have graced Weatherfield. This October, you can head to the Salford Set to uncover the darkest secrets of Coronation Street’s past with Horror-Nation Street: The Tour. The set will receive a spooky makeover and there will be plenty of tricks and treats on Manchester’s most famous street. The tours will run on select Saturdays and Sundays throughout October dependent on filming commitments. 
 

8. Heels of Hell Tour
 

On Sunday 30 October the Heels of Hell Tour will take to Manchester for a drag-tastic Halloween celebration. The 02 Ritz will host a truly unique Halloween celebration as some of the world’s best drag performers including Adore Delano, Jujubee and Laganja Estranja will take to the stage and get up to no good. Prepare for a scream-worthy show full of laughter, mischievous musical performances and dastardly drag that will make this Halloween one to remember. 
 

9. Lil Monsters Ball Hard Rock Café
 

If your little terrors love to get dressed up for Halloween, then Manchester’s Hard Rock Café has the perfect event. Join them for a spooky buffet breakfast on Sunday 30 October at the Lil Monsters Ball. Expect face painting, ghastly games and more with fancy dress strongly encouraged to help you embrace the spooky spirit. The event must be pre-booked before tickets get snapped up. 
 

10. Cockfields Farm Pumpkin Festival
 

From Saturday 8 to Sunday 30 October, Ashton-under-Lyne’s Cockfields Farm is hosting a Pumpkin Festival will plenty of spooky fun. Pick out a pumpkin from their pumpkin patch ready for Halloween carving, and you can even carve one there to leave the mess behind. Enjoy a Scarecrow Scareshow, marshmallow toasting, a tractor ride around the farm and meet some spooky reptiles. You can also enjoy all the fun of the farm including meeting meerkats and barn animals, access to the fairground and the indoor play village. 
 

Greater Manchester truly is getting a spooky makeover this October with an abundance of haunting events taking place across the city region. Whether you’re looking for a scare or what to entertain little monsters and make Halloween memories, there are lots of activities to choose from. 

To see the full line-up of Halloween events in Greater Manchester, visit our What’s on page. 

To find out more about what’s on during October Half Term, read our blog.