Manchester cooks up a spooktacular event this October as Halloween in the City returns
1st Aug 2019A giant rooftop monster invasion, Trick or Treat trail and skeleton parade. Spooky screenings, a mad science castle, creepy carnival and poisonous maze!
Head to Manchester (if you dare) for a weekend celebration filled with frights and delights at Halloween in the City.
Organised by Manchester BID, the city-wide event will return for 2019 with its spookiest line-up to date, filled with horrifyingly fun activities the whole family can enjoy.
The mind-bending inflatable monsters, courtesy of Bristol-based artist Filthy Luker, will return from Friday 25th – Thursday 31st October, ready to invade the city’s rooftops. Be on the lookout and beware as they peep from windows, hide in trees and even climb up buildings!
Meet Manchester’s mad-for-it scientist, Dr Graphena Mancenstein (and her monster, Liam) in the ruins of their exploded Mad Science Castle. Don’t be afraid to take a walk through the grounds and explore the Poisonous Maze, where you can expect to be quivering in your boots at the sight of creeping vines, enchanted statues, monstrous creatures and deadly, walking, talking bushes too…
Witches and creatures are welcome as Z Arts offers up a taste of the exhibition A World Inside a Book – Gruffalos, Dragons and Other Creatures, dedicated to popular children’s author, Julia Donaldson. Head to Manchester Arndale to meet some of her best-loved characters and enjoy magical storytelling sessions of Room on the Broom.
Try not to tremor with terror as the Grimm Rita’s Creepy Carnival takes spectral twists and turns along New Cathedral Street. This family-friendly freakshow will be bursting with ghoulish delights including street performers, sideshow stalls and a traditional fairground activities.
Prepare to scream with excitement at the Trick or Treat Trail as you discover trick or treat houses scattered across the city, with a monster at each, waiting to greet you.
Don’t miss a bone-jangling performance with The Strolling Bones featuring skeleton puppets, stilt walkers, unicycle performers, a five-piece band and dancers all led by the terrifying Grimm Rita.
Get into the Halloween spirit and catch a screening of CBBC and CBeebies’ Halloween specials, plus a host of family friendly fun inside a spooky tent.
Manchester streets will also get a Halloween makeover as thousands of pumpkin lanterns stand guard over the city. Come nightfall, some of the city’s most iconic buildings will glow a ghastly green.
For event updates follow @halloweenMCR and like /halloweenMCR
