Manchester BID is once again bringing the UK’s biggest Halloween celebration to the city with the most spooktacular line-up to date. Taking place across the weekend of Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, this year’s event will see the city centre come alive with a whole host of terrifyingly good (and free) events for all the family.
Headlining 2018’s event will be a collection of 8 mind-bending inflatable giant monsters courtesy of artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas. Building on their show-stopping giant tentacles installation at 2017’s event, Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas are back and with a brand-new entourage of inflatable monstrosities and outlandish beasties specially created to take over the city’s rooftops and landmark buildings, including Manchester Arndale, House of Fraser, Manchester Hall, Mayfield, Piccadilly Place and 35 Dale Street.
Families can get into the spirit of things with a whole host of free activities throughout the weekend including a Trick or Treat Trail around the city centre, an Enchanted Forest featuring a Room on the Broom Zone by family theatre specialists Z-arts, ahead of their Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler exhibition coming in February, where children can meet the witch from the popular children’s book, plus wand and potion making at the Magic School and a Pumpkin Patch Sensory Play Zone for under-5s – all located in St Ann’s Square.
Over at the main stage in Exchange Square there’s a packed line-up of spooky specials courtesy of CBeebies and CBBC including showings of CBeebies favourites Hey Duggee, Sarah & Duck, Go Jetters and School of Roars and CBBC’s Creeped Out, Scream Street, Zig & Zag, The Worst Witch and Strange Hill High, plus there’s a premiere of the new Danger Mouse Halloween special. Heart North West’s Joel & Lorna, will host a Ghostly World Record Attempt on Saturday 27 October in Exchange Square – get involved by bringing a bed sheet and be part of Halloween in the City’s bid to gather together the most ghosts in one place, while helping to raise money for Manchester’s homeless charity, Big Change Manchester.
Other events not-to-be-missed include The Freaky Festival – a family festival-style party with live bands and monster hits on Saturday 27 October after the record attempt at the main stage, The Spooky Pooch Costume Show* on Sunday 28 October at the main stage, The Face of Halloween – a live creative make-up competition in the windows of Debenhams, Boots and House of Fraser on Sunday and The Strolling Bones – a bone-jangling roaming procession of skeleton puppets, stilt walkers, unicycle performers, five-piece band and dancers created by Walk the Plank – the minds behind the city’s Manchester Day parade.
And as the sun goes down on Halloween in the City on Sunday, head to the main stage in Exchange Square for a memorable ending to the weekend courtesy of The Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies, The Manchester Writing School and the Manchester Children’s Book Festival who will be hosting Campfire Stories of Spooks and Monsters, brought to life as a cast of actors and storytellers tell their tales in front of a digital campfire.
For adults, Séance by DARKFIELD at The Royal Exchange Theatre is an unmissable immersive Halloween experience. Climb inside a shipping container and 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 by the creators of the hit show RING and FICTION. Running from the 19 – 31 October, book ahead to secure your place if you dare!
In the run up to Halloween in the City Manchester will once again be eerily awash with thousands of pumpkin lanterns and come nightfall Manchester shops and buildings including Manchester Town Hall, Afflecks, Harvey Nichols, Manchester Hall, Paperchase, MediaCom and more will glow a ghastly green.
Plus there’s lots of events and offers throughout the weekend from the biggest, baddest names in shopping, music, food and drink. For event updates follow @halloweenMCR and like /halloweenMCR
*Pre-registration required.
What’s On
ACROSS THE CITY CENTRE
Monster Invasion
Look up, look out, beware. The monsters are coming! Taking over buildings, peeping from windows and hiding in the trees. Miss them at your peril…
Thursday 25-Sunday 28 October, FREE, 35 Dale Street, Mayfield, Manchester Arndale – Exchange Square, Manchester Arndale – Market Street, Piccadilly Place, House of Fraser and Manchester Hall
Trick or Treat Trail
Get your spook on courtesy of this creepy trail around the city centre. Pick up a map and discover four trick or treat houses scattered across the city – there’s a different monster at each, waiting to greet you. Check off all four and collect a special sweet treat in St Ann’s Square
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, 10am-6pm, FREE, Market Street, Manchester Arndale (near Topshop), St Ann’s Square, House of Fraser
Pumpkin Lanterns
The city’s shopping streets get a Halloween makeover, as of thousands of pumpkin lanterns stand guard over the city’s streets and shops.
Monday 1-Sunday 28 October, FREE, Market Street, St Ann’s Square, Deansgate
Go Green for Halloween
A host of city centre shops and buildings give off a ghostly glow this Halloween: check out the ghoulishly green façades of Manchester Town Hall, Paperchase, MediaCom, Manchester Hall, Afflecks, Harvey Nichols and more.
Thursday 25–Sunday 28 October, FREE, Town Hall, Paperchase, MediaCom, Manchester Hall, Afflecks, Harvey Nichols
The Face of Halloween
Three top notch creative make-up artists head to Debenhams, Boots (NYX concession) and House of Fraser to take up position in one of the stores’ shop windows. They’ll each transform an ordinary model into something truly horrifying as you watch… The models’ final looks will be posted on our social media, where you can vote for the one who most deserves to become this year’s freaky, fabulous Face of Halloween.
Sunday 28 October, 12pm-5pm, FREE, Boots, Debenhams, House of Fraser
ST ANN’S SQUARE
Room on the Broom Zone
Next February, Z-arts host A World Inside a Book: Gruffalos, Dragons and Other Creatures, an immersive exhibition of the world of children’s author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler. Get a taste of the exhibition this Halloween, at the Room on the Broom-inspired experience in the Enchanted Forest. Meet witches and wizards, make potions, join our Magic School and take a seat on a real-life broomstick – with seats for everyone (including the cat, the dog, the frog and the bird).
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, 10am-4pm, FREE, St. Ann’s Square
The Enchanted Forest
Thirty birch trees, each 4 metres high, pitch up in St. Ann’s Square, a pop-up forest that’s home to witches and magical creatures – including the witch’s house from our Trick or Treat Trail, a witch boot camp, sweet treats, face painting, a sensory zone for the under 5s, and a chance to meet the witch from the popular children’s book Room on the Broom. Trees provided by Real Oasis. (link: http://realoasis.com/)
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, 10am-7pm, FREE, St. Ann’s Square
Magic School
Pointy hats and black cats at the ready! Make a wand, learn spells, mix potions and race brooms in Z-art’s magical boot camp for wannabe witches and wizards.
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, 10am-4pm, FREE, St. Ann’s Square
The Pumpkin Patch Sensory Play Zone
Inside one of our witch’s huts is a sensory play area with an artificial grass floor, woodland-themed soft play, a wobbly witch and cauldron, sensory lights, a calming woodland projected onto the walls, the sounds of the forest – and cute pumpkin beanbags for little ones to jump on.
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, 10am-7pm, FREE, St. Ann’s Square
Halloween Board Game Café
Nothing beats a good board game – except, perhaps, a Halloween-inspired board game. Drop into our games café for spooky-themed board and card games suitable for all ages (created by the clever folk at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Games Research Network). Either drop in and get stuck straight in, or ask for a demo – there are games ranging from a quick hand of cards to those lasting a couple of hours. Snacks and drinks from the Royal Exchange’s café The Rivals are available to buy while you play.
Saturday 27 October, 10.30am-1.30pm, FREE, The Royal Exchange Theatre (foyer)
The Royal Exchange Theatre presents SÉANCE
Climb inside the shipping container for inventive, unnerving exercise in surprise and suspense. 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.
Friday 19 October – Wednesday 31 October 2018 (not performing Monday 22, Tuesday 23 and Monday 29 October). Performances on the hour from 1pm. Each performance lasts 20 minutes.
Suitable for 14+. Tickets cost £5 and can be booked online or call the Box Office on 0161 833 9833.
EXCHANGE SQUARE
The Halloween Main Stage
Head to Exchange Square, where our main stage – decked out with giant cemetery gates and gatekeeper, plus Insta-friendly gruesome gravestones – plays host to Heart North West and showings of CBeebies and CBBC favourites. Plus, live music, entertainment, pop-up street food, coffee and deadly games to keep you entertained – there’s no scarier place to be over the Halloween weekend. Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, 10am-7pm, FREE, Exchange Square
Saturday Schedule:
10am-12pm: CBeebies and CBBC Spooky Specials
12pm-1pm: Charlie Draper Live Theremin Performance
1pm-2.30pm: Heart North West presents the Ghostly World Record Attempt
3pm-5pm: The Freaky Festival (a family festival-style party with live bands and DJs including Baked Ala Ska)
5pm-7pm: CBeebies and CBBC Spooky Specials
Sunday Schedule:
10am-1pm: CBeebies and CBBC Spooky Specials
1pm-3pm: The Spooky Pooch Costume Show
3pm-5pm: CBeebies and CBBC Spooky Specials
5pm-6pm: Campfire Stories of Spooks and Monsters
CBeebies and CBBC Spooky Specials
Celebrate all things spooky as the nation’s favourite children’s channels present a selection of family favourites on the big screen: Hey Duggee, Sarah & Duck, Go Jetters, School of Roars, Scream Street, Zig & Zag, Creeped Out, The Worst Witch, Strange Hill High, Scream Street and a premiere of the new Danger Mouse Halloween special.
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, 10am-12pm & 5pm-7pm (Sat), 10am-1pm & 3pm-4pm (Sun), FREE, Exchange Square (Main Stage)
A Ghostly World Record Attempt
Grab a bed sheet and join our Ghostly World Record Attempt – to gather together the most ghosts in one place, ever. Hosted by Heart North West’s, Joel & Lorna, it will be silly, spooky and all for a great cause, raising money for Manchester’s homeless charity, Big Change Manchester.
Saturday 27 October, 1pm-3pm, FREE, Exchange Square (Main Stage). Advance registration required click here to register or visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-ghostly-world-record-attempt-at-halloween-in-the-city-2018-tickets-50126023285)
Charlie Draper and his Theremin LIVE
Charlie Draper plays the Theremin, one of the eeriest electronic instruments ever invented (if only as it’s the only instrument you can play without ever making physical contact). Watch Charlie coax ghostly music from the charged air in this very special Halloween set.
Saturday 27 October, 12pm-1pm, FREE, Exchange Square (Main Stage)
The Freaky Festival feat. Baked Ala Ska
Straight after the Ghostly World Record Attempt, join us for this family friendly, festival-style party, with live bands and brilliant DJs, including the “utterly bonkers but irresistible” (according to the MEN) 7-piece ska band, Baked Ala Ska.
Saturday 27 October, 3pm-5pm, FREE, Exchange Square (Main Stage)
The Spooky Pooch Costume Show
Give your four-legged friends the chance to shine in this spooky-style dog show. Dogs are asked to come with an owner, both dressed up in their Halloween best – winners will leave with a frighteningly good doggy treat and prize! Sunday 28 October, 1pm-3pm, FREE, Exchange Square (Main Stage). To take part, click her to register or visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-spooky-pooch-dog-costume-show-registration-50264260757
Campfire Stories of Spooks and Monsters
As the sun goes down, The Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies, The Manchester Writing School and the Manchester Children’s Book Festival, create a memorable ending to the weekend. Stories of spooks and monsters are brought to life as a cast of actors and storytellers tell their tales in front of a digital campfire. Grab the marshmallows, bring a blanket and settle down for a ghostly gathering of tales and tricks.
Sunday 28 October, 5pm-6pm, FREE, Exchange Square (Main Stage)
MARKET STREET
The Strolling Bones by Walk the Plank
An unmissable, bone-jangling roaming performance from Walk the Plank – the creative minds behind the city’s Manchester Day parade. Catch their procession of skeleton puppets, stilt walkers, unicycle performers, five-piece band, dancers (from Bury Youth Theatre), all led by the delectable Grimm Rita.
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, 12.30pm, 2pm & 3pm, FREE, Market Street and Manchester Arndale
DJ Truck featuring DJ Ghostman
DJ Ghostman – who, like fellow DJs Daft Punk and Deadmaus, hides his identity, albeit with a bed sheet – plays the Halloween playlist from a DJ Truck on Market Street. Expect a mix of chart favourites and Halloween hits.
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, 10am-7pm, FREE, Market Street
Junkyard Golf Club – Fun of the FEARground
Try your luck at this single-hole mini-golf ‘course’, which pops up on Market Street during the Halloween weekend. Inspired by the circus freaks and fairground creeps of Junkyard Golf’s ‘Bozo’ course (surely one of the most terrifying ways to play mini-golf), you’re invited to score a hole in one. Free to play, hard to beat, winners will be entered into a competition to win free golf and food at Junkyard Golf.
Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 October, 10am-7pm, FREE, Market Street
