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*There's been a change to this event due to weather, please go here for more details*. We are sorry for any inconvenience!

When: Saturday 24 October, 10am–6pm | Sunday 25 October, 10am–5pm

Kick off Halloween with free, monstrously good family fun across Manchester city centre. The MCR Monsters are turning 10, and the whole city is invited to the party, with live performances, party games, fancy dress, storytelling, spooky DJs, a birthday bake-off and the spectacular Walk the Plank monster procession.

Pack it all into one day with our helpful itinerary.

Dress up, collect your party bag and get ready for a day of spooktacular fun. Spot giant MCR Monsters along the way and share your snaps with @HalloweenMCR and #MCRmonsters.

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EVENT INFORMATION AND FAQs

How To Plan Your Day:

People in Halloween costumes

10:00–10:30am | Swizzels’ Spooky Sweet Stop and The Swizzeler, New Cathedral Street

Pick up a special Halloween party bag with Swizzels sweets inside (while stocks last), then follow the Kid’s Halloween Hunt around the festival for extra surprises along the way. Don’t forget to say hello to The Swizzeler, Swizzels’ very own MCR Monster, who’s taken up residence for the 10th birthday celebrations.

10:30–10:45am | The Monster Bake-Off, New Cathedral Street

No birthday is complete without cake. Join Paul Horror-wood, Scary Berry and their monster chefs to help decide what goes into a truly monstrous cake. Flour? Sugar? Eyeballs?

10:45–10:50am | Walk to St Ann’s Square

10:50–11:00am | DJ Ghostman, The Rave-Yard, St Ann’s Square

Hosted by the city’s resident evil DJs, The Rave-Yard is a ghost’s favourite place to party. Dance along with DJ Ghostman as we eat, sleep, grave, repeat.

11:00–11:20am | Party Games, The Rave-Yard, St Ann’s Square

Join in with ghoulish party games hosted by Born to Be Wild Child, then look for the purple sign to claim your Halloween Hunt prize.

11:20–11:25am | Walk to Market Street

Monster spotting: Pass through The Royal Exchange Manchester to meet The Royal Exchnage Ghouls

11:30am–12:00pm | The Monsters Party Procession, Market Street and Manchester Arndale

Dancing monster puppets, stilt walkers and a six-piece brass band parade through the streets in an unmissable roaming performance from Walk the Plank.

12:00–12:10pm | Monster spotting - Blob Gnarly, Manchester Arndale, Market Street

12:10–1:00pm | Lunch

1:00–1:30pm | The Monsters Disco, Exchange Square

Grab your dancing shoes and boogie with four giant monster friends: Ooey, Gooey, Scary Gary and Nasty Nelson. Strike a pose and collect a prize for your monstrous moves.

1:30–1:55pm | Monster spotting: Manchester Arndale, Selfridges, Printworks and Corn Exchange

Four giant inflatable monsters in one loop. Start in Exchange Square, where you’ll find Three Eyed Guy above Next at Manchester Arndale and Harry & Gordon at Selfridges Manchester. Then head to Printworks to meet Withy Ghoul, and finish at the Corn Exchange to find Terrif-Eye in the atrium.

1:55–2:00pm | Walk to New Cathedral Street

2:00–2:20pm | The Sweet Treat Eating Leech, New Cathedral Street and Exchange Street

It’s the first birthday party The Leech has ever been invited to, and this schlurping creature can’t resist a sweet treat. Hold on to your Halloween sweets and keep an eye on the cake!

2:20–2:25pm | Walk to Manchester Arndale

2:30–2:45pm | The Monster Library: The Legend of the MCR Monsters, Manchester Arndale, Exchange Court, Ground Floor

Step inside for a live storytelling performance by Z-arts that reveals the origin of the legendary MCR Monsters.

3:00–4:00pm | Revisit a favourite activity. Choose from:

  • The Monsters Party Procession: Market Street and Manchester Arndale, 3:30pm start
  • The Rave-Yard Party Games: St Ann’s Square, 3:30–4:30pm
  • The Monsters Disco: Exchange Square, open all day (until 6pm Saturday, 5pm Sunday)
  • The Monster Bake-Off: New Cathedral Street, open all day (until 6pm Saturday, 5pm Sunday)

The MCR Monsters stay out across the city until Saturday 31 October, so there’s plenty of time to find the rest.

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