Halloween in the City Returns: 27 – 28 October

16th Aug 2018

A Monster Takeover, Trick or Treat Trail and Ghostly World Record Attempt. Spooky Stage Acts, Creepy Canine Parades and Freaky Face Painting!

After the scarily successful Halloween in the City in 2017, which saw Manchester city centre eerily awash with spooky decorations and ghostly activities, Manchester BID, the city centre’s Business Improvement District, is bringing it back for 2018, with a whole host of family friendly activities on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 October set to have people both quaking in their boots and quivering with excitement!

Halloween in the City will see mind-bending inflatable monsters, courtesy of Bristol-based artist Filthy Luker, take over the city’s buildings and key landmarks, with ghoulish figures appearing round every corner, peeping from windows, hiding in trees and even climbing up buildings.

Come nightfall some of Manchester’s most iconic buildings including Manchester Town Hall, House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and The Printworks will again glow a ghastly green.

Try not to tremor during the Trick or Treat Trail, with sweet or scary surprises behind every door, including a Witch’s Hovel, a Mummy’s Tomb, Dracula’s Lair and Frankenstein’s House.

Prepare to scare with a Ghostly World Record Attempt on Saturday 27 October. Bring your bedsheets to Exchange Square, ready to be decorated and be part of a record-breaking ghostly gathering.

Don’t be afraid to check out the Halloween Main Stage in Exchange Square, which will play host to short films (which may give you the shivers), family DJs, live performances and more throughout the weekend.

On Sunday 28 October, there’s no need to panic when you see the Halloween-themed spooky pooch parade, with all kinds of ghoulish get-ups on our four-legged friends as they parade through the city centre.

For those who want to know how to create a face people fear, head down to the city centre on Sunday, where the city’s best creative make-up artists will perform terrifying transformations for the Face of Halloween Creative Make-up Competition.

Get into the spooky spirit of things, at The Royal Exchange Theatre in St Ann’s Square, which presents SÉANCE, from 19 – 31 October. Climb inside the shipping container if your dare. For twenty terrifying minutes, twenty people will experience an intense sonic performance that explores the group’s psychology. In the disorienting darkness, you’ll ponder your views on superstition in this inventive, unnerving exercise in surprise and suspense.

Plus there’s party nights, events and offers from the biggest, baddest names in shopping, music, food and drink.

For event updates follow @halloweenMCR and like /halloweenMCR