Scream-worthy Halloween activities in Greater Manchester for little monsters and grown-ups

Spooky season is almost here, and whether you’re looking for a trick or treat, Greater Manchester has a whole host of events to help you celebrate in style. For little ones, the city region is once again getting a bewitching makeover, with a whole series of spooktacular fun from pumpkin patches to craft activities, monster parades to ghost trains. But this year, grownups don’t have to miss out on the fun either with a series of blood-curdling events to help you get into the spooky spirit.

Here's a round-up of the most spooky and spell-binding events taking place across the city region this Halloween.

For Little Monsters

Halloween in the City

Halloween in Manchester means just one thing, the monsters are taking over! Halloween in the City is back. Between Wednesday 25 October and Tuesday 31 October, the city will be full of weird, wacky and mysterious creatures and fun activities for the whole family.

This year, in the city’s biggest takeover yet Manchester city centre is getting ready for an invasion, so look up, look out and beware as the monsters could be on a rooftop or street near you. There will be 16 Monsters in the MCR Monsters trail all over the city centre so why not take your kids to hunt for them all?

Alongside this, the annual Monster’s Parade will return to the Arndale and Market Street on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. The Monster’s Rock! Party Procession is an unmissable event that will see a crazy procession of monster puppets, giant skeletons and stilt walkers taking over the city centre. If a party parade wasn’t enough, you’ll find a Monster Rock Music Festival taking over the city on the 28 and 29 October, with spooky DJs, live performances, games, carnival rides and more.

If you go down to St Ann’s Square, beware! A Carnival of Monsters, a family-friendly freakshow with roaming circus performers, stalls, activities and a hall of mirrors will be taking over. There’ll also be a Halloween in the City market where the whole family can look for Halloween treats (with no tricks), with crafts, sweet treats and Halloween-themed products.

Between Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 October, you can join Manchester’s own Team Trick v Team Treat Challenge. On New Cathedral Street, you’ll be able to pick up a wristband and take part in a series of games across the city to win points for team trick or treat. Come in fancy dress for a bonus point and keep an eye out for special prizes. You’ll also find a Hell-ter skelter, which you can ride if you dare.

In Cathedral Gardens you’ll find a spooky skating extravaganza. Get on your best costume and take to the ice for thrills and spine-chilling fun. Scare Skate is open from Friday 27 October to Tuesday 31 October between 11 am and 9 pm.

Luna’s Legendary Creature Halloween Trail at Chester Zoo

This Halloween, Chester Zoo is gearing up for a mystical quest. Discover Luna’s Legendary Creature hidden in the depths of Monsoon Forest in this mysterious Halloween Trail. Encounter five amazing species and unlock the secrets of the rainforest to claim your Halloween treat. Take a trip on our Lazy River Boats and take part in fun and games but watch out for hanging bats and spooky skeletons along the way! The trail is free with zoo entry and you can save up to 10% off our gate prices when booking your tickets online.

Spooktacular Fun at RHS Garden Bridgewater 

Between Saturday 21 October and Sunday 29 October, there will be some seriously spooky goings on at RHS Garden Bridgewater. Their half-term event promises frighteningly good family fun with activities to keep little ones entertained from pumpkin carving to a creepy garden trail. Little ones will love the Great Garden Adventure spooky garden trail, spooky herb planting, crafting with Mini Makery magic, clay pumpkin carving and storytelling with colour and the clouds. Plus, on Saturday 28 October, you can learn the ancient art of Rangoli to celebrate Diwali. So no matter what day you attend, you’re sure to be in for a treat (no tricks!)

Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You

As we’re entering spooky season, Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum asked the Doctors from Operation Ouch! to share their ickiest experiences from the exhibition, guaranteed to lift the spirits this Halloween! Dr Chris, Dr Xand and Dr Ronx are renowned for their ability to engage, educate and entertain young viewers by conducting outrageous experiments and never shying away from sticky subjects. Don’t miss Operation Ouch! Food, Poo and You if you’re looking for some devilishly disgusting facts about the human body this Halloween. From the tip of the tongue to the end of the bum, explore the role of each organ in the digestive journey through interactive games and challenges, fun facts and fascinating objects.

Kids Takeover at Manchester River Cruises

From Monday 23 October to Friday 27 October join petrifying pirates and mystical mermaids as they take over the Manchester River Cruise. The hour-long cruise from Salford Quays will bring fun and games to the canal, including fancy dress, singalongs, snacks, and games. The activity is aimed at 2- to 10-year-olds but big kids are welcome, and grown-ups can even enjoy a ‘Shiver me Timbers’ rum punch. The curious cruise is £12 for adults and £10 for little mermaids and pirates up to 15 years old. Let's hope you have sea legs as this is sure to be a scream!  Learn more.

Tatton Park Pumpkin Patch

It’s jack-o0lantern season and that means it's time to pick your perfect pumpkin. Luckily Tatton Park Pumpkin Patch is back at the Farm for Halloween between Saturday 21 October and Sunday 29 October. Meet farmyard favourites, search for the spookiest pumpkin and take it home to carve yourself. Standard farm entry applies plus £4 per pumpkin, you can get 10% off your entry if you book 3 days in advance.

Halloween at the Old Hall: A Wizard's Gathering

Between Thursday 26 October and Sunday 29 October, ancient Wizards and mythical creatures are gathering to meet The Troll King at Tatton Park’s Old Hall. Dive headfirst into a world of magic as you join gnomes, elves, witches, wizards, goblins, fairies and fauns at the Autumn Wakes Festival. This enchanting experience will include apple bobbing, broomstick flying, games, songs and spells to help your family get in the mood for spooky season.

Tatton Park’s Kids Social Spooky Silent Disco

Whether they want to dress as a witch, a vampire, a werewolf or a cat, Tatton Park is providing the perfect place for little horrors to show off their finest frightening costumes. The Kids Social Spooky Silent Disco takes place on Saturday 28 October from 2 pm to 3 pm. With two music channels to choose from, it’s sure to be a shockingly good time. Pick from petrifying kids' pop or gruesome guilty pleasures for grown-ups and dance your heart out. In addition to the freaky, funky music, there will be freakishly ghoulish fancy dress competitions and the legendary Our Kids Social 'Adams family' photo frame for all of your fiendish family snaps!

October Half-Term at Elizabeth Gaskell's House

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House is putting on a whole host of family fun this half-term that will keep your little horrors entertained. It’s time to get crafty as your little ones can make their own bat, colour in and take on the Cranford the cat trail around the house. All of this is included in the admission cost and half-term activities run between Sunday 22 October and Sunday 29 October.

Halloween Ghost Trains at East Lancashire Railway

Nothing says Halloween like a Ghost Train. And no one does a ghost train like the Halloween Ghost Trains at East Lancashire Railway and their spooky steam train. Once every ten years at Summerseat tunnel a portal opens to the dark past… but what evil beasties and nasty things await on the other side? There’s only one way to find out. Between Thursday 26 October and Saturday 28 October, you’ll be able to hop on board this terrifying train for an evening of thrills. You’ll find yourself surrounded by goodies, monster friends and the sounds of the singing Skeletonettes. Plus, it’s the perfect chance to show off your best Halloween costumes.

Lil Monsters Ball

If your little ones like to party, treat them to an exclusive invite to the Lil Monsters Ball this Halloween. On Sunday 29 October between 9 am and 11 am, little monsters can gather to join in with some Halloween fun. Taking place at Manchester’s Hard Rock Café in the Printworks, it’s the perfect excuse to put on your most scary costume and get involved in some frightening fun. There will be a breakfast buffet, face-painting, ghoulish games and more. Tickets cost £11.95 for children and £16.95 for adults, children under the age of 2 don’t require a ticket.

For grown-up ghouls

Who said Halloween fun was just for little ones? Here are some of the most horrifying and haunting events for adults in Greater Manchester this Halloween.

Lip Sync Showdown: Halloween Special

Prepare for a night of terrifying harmonies as Printworks goes all out for its Lip Sync Showdown Halloween Special.

On Friday 27th October at Printwork’s iconic nightclub, Cargo, the Halloween Lip Sync is taking over The Vault from 7pm – 10:30pm. Tickets are FREE, however guests do need to pre-register online to guarantee entry. The first 20 tricksters who manage to catch the Early Bird tickets will receive a treat of a FREE £20 bar tab to spend on the night, and that’s no trick!

Beat the stage ‘fright’ and grab a mic to be in with a chance of winning a range of hilarious trick or treat prizes. Lip-syncers who manage to ‘get their freak on’ and impress the audience will make their way to the grand finale, where they will be able to battle it out in a final ‘Thriller’ showdown to be in with a chance of winning a £250 Printworks gift voucher.

The evening will be headlined by epic Drag Queen, Violet Vogue, and feature performances by Imani Versace and Narcissa Nightshade, as well as live DJ sets with Smiley Vyrus. There’ll be freakishly fun icebreaker games, getting everyone in the party spirit and guests should dress to impress as there will be a prize for the best Halloween costume!

Expect devilish drink offers available throughout the evening like fangtastic fishbowls for £20, along with exclusive creepy cocktail creations! A FREE Spooky shot will also be available to redeem via the Printworks app with every first round of drinks purchased.

FilmFear 2023

HOME and Film4 are bringing FilmFear back for Halloween with a weekend of the creepiest cinema from Thursday 26 October to Sunday 29 October. We all know that scary movies are best enjoyed in the dark, so grab some popcorn and get ready for the fright of your life. Over four nights, HOME will celebrate the best in horror, dark fantasy and sinister mysteries, combining previews of newer freights with essential cult classics. Taking the lead from the opening-night film, SCALA!!! – a documentary taking you inside the notorious London cinema thirty years after it closed – FilmFear presents an eclectic and adventurous programme to leave you on edge and send shivers down your spine.

Online Talk: Ann Radcliffe and the Female Gothic ‘ A Genius of No Common Stamp’

Get ready for a spooky night of literature as Elizabeth Gaskell’s House celebrate the bicentenary of Ann Radcliffe, the ‘mighty magician’ of horror and the gothic in an online conversation. Once the highest paid author of the 1790s, Radcliffe’s most famous works include The Romance of the Forest and The Mysteries of Udolpho. Her writing was lauded by Walter Scott and influenced generations of women writers including Mary Wollstonecraft, Jane Austen, the Brontës, Charlotte Perkin Gilmore and Daphne Du Maurier. But beyond the crumbling castles and scary supernatural scenes, what does Radcliffe have to say about women, marriage and maternity? Join Dr Diane Duffy for all the answers and more in this terrifying online talk by Elisabeth Gaskell’s House on Wednesday 25 October from 7pm to 8pm. Tickets cost £5.

The Silence of the Baths

This Halloween, get ready to see Victoria Baths as you’ve never seen it before, with a night of killer DJs, creepy cocktails and a fancy dress competition to win fabulously freaky prizes. The Silence of the Baths is a Halloween experience you won’t forget. The 117-year-old Victorian Baths is the perfect setting for a haunting night of Halloween fun. There will be a silent disco with some of Manchester’s most outrageous DJs and the pool halls will be transformed into an eerie and enchanting escape. We couldn’t think of a better venue for a Halloween Party, so grab a cocktail and get ready for a bewitching evening.

Oldham’s Halloween Half

For a bit of a different Halloween celebration, Oldham will be running its Halloween Half, the most haunting of half marathons. The borough’s 13.1-mile course is often regarded as one of the toughest events in the country, with harrowing hills not for the faint-hearted. The course covers many miles of countryside and highlights some of the best scenery Oldham has to offer. Starting in Oldham town centre, with a new start and finish location, runners will make the incline up to Saddleworth and its surrounding villages before returning to the centre of Oldham. The event is inclusive to all ages, with the Oldham Halloween Half targeted at runners aged 17 and above, with entry fees priced at £28 for running group/club members, and £30 for general runners.

It Came From the Closet: Book Event

If you love horror movies and the chill they bring but want to explore them in a deeper context, you won’t want to miss The Portico Library’s discussion with Laura Maws on Friday 27 October. As part of the UK-wide launch of It Came From The Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror, the talk will cover the relationship between horror films and the LGBTQ+ community and marginalised communities. Laura Maws, acclaimed writer of essays and art criticism will be discussing her chapter ‘Loving Annie Hayworth’ in The Birds as well as queer identity. It’s sure to be an insightful evening that will open your eyes to the connection between the queer community and horror films.

Steve & Tobias Versus Death

What would Halloween be without a mention of zombies? Well this year, get ready for a heart-stopping and gruesome zombie thriller at The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre. Steve & Tobias Versus Death explores what happens when two brothers discover their mum is patient zero in a world of flesh-eating zombies. Watch as these brothers battle their family instability with the horror of a zombie apocalypse in this hilarious and horrifying show, that definitely is too gory for little ones. The show takes place on Friday 27 October at 7:30 pm and tickets are £13.

From freaky family fun to gory grown-up antics, we hope that however you wish to spend Halloween and celebrate the spooky season, this blog has given you some inspiration.

To find out about more events taking place across Greater Manchester this autumn, visit our What’s On Page.

For more inspiration to entertain little ones this half term, or to plan your perfect visit to Manchester, visit our Ideas and Inspiration page