3 min readManchester is an ever-growing Halloween destination, seen as one of the best places to celebrate the spooky season in the whole country. It even has a special dedicated festival – Halloween in the City – now in its fourth year and bringing a mix of family-friendly dark delights to central Manchester 26-27 October 2019, with some features running beyond those dates.
Organised by Manchester’s Business Improvement District (BID), Halloween in the City is a celebration that brings your favourite city centre stores and venues together with creative artists… and plenty of fun! Over the years, the festival has seen everything from giant tentacles bursting from illuminated buildings to spooky dog shows and skeleton parades!
Here we bring you HAUNT’s highlights of Halloween in the City 2019. There is something for everyone, and all are fabulously FREE!
Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters
.jpg)
From 25-31 October 2019, Manchester will be taken over… by monsters! Look up and see a number of city centre buildings and rooves transformed by giant tentacles and inflatable monster features. A public art trail like no other! Share your monster pictures with #MCRMonsters. More details are available here.
Trick or Treat Trail
Get involved in a Trick or Treat Trail around the city centre, running on the 26 and 27 October. Ideal for all the family, simply pick up a map (there will be distribution points around Exchange Square) and check off the ‘trick or treat’ houses as you explore. Discover characters, collect treats… and hopefully avoid the tricks! Find out more.
Poisonous Maze
St Ann’s Square will be transformed into a monstrous maze on the 26-27 October… dare you enter? Creepy creatures and spooky statues lurk inside – and even a few walking, talking bushes too! An immersive family-friendly experience at the heart of the city. For more information, click here.
Creepy Carnival
An exciting array of street performers will bring a high-energy Halloween feel to New Cathedral Street on 26 and 27 October, complete with sideshow stalls and even a traditional Helter Skelter – open 10am-6pm on both days. This also a great place to see The Strolling Bones: a wonderful themed parade by Walk the Plank as it makes its way past from Exchange Square to Dr. Mancenstein’s Castle in St Ann’s Square. Discover more here.
CBeebies and CBBC Spooky Screenings
A spooky tent will be set up in Exchange Square – ideal for screenings of your favourite CBeebies and CBBC shows! There will be other family-friendly Halloween features inside too. Take a look this 26-27 October - with more details online.
Julia Donaldson storytelling
.jpg)
Children’s author Julia Donaldson – the writer behind the likes of The Gruffalo and Room on The Broom – will be involved in some magical storytelling sessions at Manchester Arndale. Meet some of her much-loved characters too! Presented by Manchester’s Z-arts, this is a taster of their exciting World Inside a Book exhibition. Runs from 26-27 October, 10am-6pm. Click here for more information.
The Strolling Bones
A delightfully dark day-parade featuring skeleton puppets, stilt walkers, unicycle performers, a five-piece band and dancers! This packed parade has been developed by the Salford-based outdoor arts experts Walk the Plank and will be led by the glorious Grimm Rita – moving from Exchange Square to St Ann’s Square (1,2&3pm on 26-27 October). Don’t miss this! Find out more.
