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There’s a big pumpkin carving competition happening in Manchester this Halloween

Crafty crowds, this one's for you.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 10th October 2024

Manchester is hosting its very-own pumpkin carving competitions for crafty crowds this Halloween, and there’s still time to enter.

With the spooky season right around the corner now, plenty of frightfully-themed events have already been announced across Greater Manchester, including the return of Scare City, a Halloween party full of corgis and cockapoos, and even a pop-up indoor pumpkin patch – with something suitable for all the family to get involved with.

But if you’d consider yourself to be a pro pumpkin carver, and reckon you’ve got what it takes to beat the Manchester masses, then you might want to get yourself down to GRUB to put those bold claims to the test.

There’s a big pumpkin carving competition happening in Manchester this Halloween / Credit: GRUB | Concetta Huffa (via Unpslash)

With both adults-only and family-friendly competitions, the popular Manchester venue – which is based down at the Red Bank Project, just outside the city centre – is inviting everyone to pick your pumpkin from the pile, and compete with other carvers across a range of different categories.

Awards will be handed out for the spookiest face, the most original design, best all-rounder, and so much more.

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Tickets for both the adults-only event, which is happening on Friday 25 October at 7:30pm, and the family-friendly event on Sunday 27 October at 2pm, are now on sale and will set you back just £5 per person.

A pumpkin, and everything you need for carving is included in the ticket price.

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There’s a chance to take home some fantastic prizes if you win too, including cinema tickets, free food and drink at GRUB, Halloween-themed cocktails, and tickets to an event of your choice.

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You can find out more about the Pumpkin Carving Competition and everything else happening at GRUB this Halloween here.

Featured Image – Nick Taylor (via Flickr)

What's On

Manchester set for its busiest weekend of the year with pop-up Park and Rides to open

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Pop-up Park and Ride facilities are set to open as Manchester prepares for what’s expected to be its busiest weekend of the year.

The festive season in the run up to Christmas always sees more people flock to the city centre than usual, but this weekend will likely be even busier than expected, as not only are Manchester Christmas Markets still in full swing, but there are also a number of gigs, live festive shows, and major sporting events coinciding with this.

Paul McCartney plays Co-op Live on Sunday night, the AO Arena hosts five showings of the ever-popular Disney on Ice across the weekend, and Manchester City face Manchester United in a Premier League showdown at the Etihad too.

So in a weekend that sees legends gigging and the Manchester Derby take place, as you would expect, thousands are predicted to flock to Manchester city centre and Etihad Campus.

Where to find the cheapest drinks at the Manchester Christmas Markets, from beer to mulled wine
Manchester Christmas Markets are in full swing and Paul McCartney will be at Co-op Live this weekend / Credit: The Manc Group | Wikimedia Commons

Because of this, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is taking action and encouraging people to dodge the likely congestion and use public transport instead where possible – with pop-up Park and Rides set to be introduced for weekend shoppers and fun-seekers who do want or need to drive.

On Saturday and Sunday, Booth Street West Car Park D (M15 6PD) – which will have 965 parking spaces available – will be free for customers travelling to the city centre by bus, and then again on Sunday, the same car park will be free for those attending Paul McCartney at Co-op Live.

Your ticket to the gig must be shown on entry, before a dedicated shuttle bus then takes you from the car park to the Etihad Campus.

Disney On Ice will be hosting four shows at AO Arena this weekend / Credit: Supplied

Shuttle buses – which are only available on the Sunday – will depart from Higher Cambridge Street and run to Co-op Live and back every 15 mins from 4pm until midnight.

Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground (Talbot Road, Stretford, M16 0PX) will also have 500 parking spaces available for Metrolink customers on Sunday, but you must show a valid pre-booked tram ticket to park there.

Anyone else planning to drive across the weekend may also want to consider using one of the permanent Park and Ride sites and complete their journey on foot or by public transport, and you can find more information and the locations of these sites on the Bee Network website here.

Tram capacity has been increased for the festive season, with every available tram running until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The V1 and 36 bus services now also run 24 hours a day.

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Other late-running buses on the Bee Network from Manchester include the 43 service to Manchester Airport, the 86 to Sale, and the 142 to East Didsbury. 

All public transport live departure times can be found on the Bee Network website.

Featured Image – TfGM

What's On

Stretford’s popular festival with dozens of FREE events and activities to return next spring

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A popular festival for all the family is set to return and take over a buzzing Greater Manchester town next spring.

After a successful first run last summer, where thousands attended as a diverse array of music, art, dance, and interactive workshops descended on the streets of Stretford, The StretFest is back again for 2025, and will be taking over the whole Trafford neighbourhood with loads of free events and activities to get involved with.

This new spring edition of the neighbourhood festival will spread across Stretford’s favourite venues and public spaces to celebrate ‘new beginnings’.

Organised by Stretford Town Centre Forum – which is a new collaboration of local businesses and community groups, with support from Trafford Council and Bruntwood – the theme of next year’s festival has been chosen as a nod to the development work that’s now well underway across Stretford town centre.

The StretFest returns in 2025 / Credit: Supplied

Free events will be at venues such as Stretford Public Hall, the Mall, Victoria Park, St Matthew’s Church, and Stretford Library, alongside loads of local independent businesses.

The festival also coincides with the 10th anniversary of Stretford Public Hall’s transfer into community ownership, so you can celebrations at the Hall all throughout the day. 

One of the main events on the day of the festival will be the popular ‘Stretford Socials’ from midday through to 4pm, where you’ll find an array of stalls featuring talented local makers, bakers, and community groups.

It’s here where you’ll also an also enjoy a variety of free family-friendly activities that organisers say “promises fun for all ages”.

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More information is set to be announced in the new year, so keep your eyes peeled.

The StretFest returns on Saturday 1 March 2025, and you can find out more and apply to be a part of it by submitting an application here.

Featured Image – Adrian Michael (via Supplied)

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