The big Manchester guide to Halloween 2024 – everything you need to know
Last year's inflatable monsters in the Halloween in the City trail in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
It’s that time of year again. No, not the Christmas Markets… yet. It’s spooky season!
Halloween is on its way to Manchester very soon, and with so many things to see and do, it can get a bit overwhelming.
It’s always best to pick your favourite events and get some fun stuff booked in to guide you through the colder months.
Hopefully our guide will help you discover some brilliant Halloween 2024 events taking place around Greater Manchester.
There’s everything from inflatable monsters to haunted discos to bone-chilling mazes.
There’ll even be a ghostly steam train and crafty sessions in local boozers.
Enjoy our round up of all the scary-themed activities you can get up to in Manchester for Halloween 2024.
Halloween events in Manchester
Scare City
If you haven’t heard (or your friends haven’t tormented you enough about going) by now, you should know Scare City is back!
Taking place at the abandoned Camelot theme park site in Chorley, there are 10 zones of live actors, set design and SFX like nowhere else.
Voted the ‘Best Scare Attraction Halloween 2023’ by ScareTrack, this immersive horror experience is set to shiver your timbers, literally.
Get your hands on tickets via the Scare City website here.
Halloween In The City
Manchester city centre will be hosting a two-day family festival across popular shopping destinations this October.
There will be dozens of inflatable monsters popping up around the Manchester skyline and even an art trail running from Friday 25 October to Thursday 31 October, meaning there’s a wide range of activities for families to get involved with.
‘Halloween in the City’ officially returns to Manchester on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October 2024 with several Manchester landmarks turning ‘ghoulish green’ on Thursday 31 October.
Time to Die at Diecast
Only an eight minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station, this next spine-chilling destination is easily accessible no matter where you are in the city.
Hosted at Diecast by Scare Factory, this horrifying masterpiece is like no other and is not for the faint-hearted.
There are two Scare Experiences named ‘The Die Is Cast’ and ‘The Toymaker’ running from 4 October to 2 November with a minimum age of 14.
If you fancy your fate walking around 250,000 square feet of deserted metalworks you can find tickets here.
Halloween at Quarry Bank Mill
This National Trust property is about to get spooky.
Presented by the same geniuses behind the incredible ‘Christmas at Dunham Massey’, it’s already guaranteed to be a fantastic night.
There will be flames, firepits, fire performers and glowing pumpkins lighting your way round the grounds of the old Mill.
On the menu you’ll find ‘Bewitched burgers’, ‘Frankenstein’s fries with loaded curly worms’ and hot chocolate to keep you nice and toasty.
Halloween is taking place at Quarry Bank Mill on 25 October from 5pm onwards, with tickets live here.
The Halloween Trail at Trafford Centre
If you prefer a more lighthearted start to your Halloween celebrations, the Trafford Centre is providing an experience fit for all ages with some food and drink offerings from a Manchester favourite.
The Wilderspool Woods will be decorated with lasers, a light trail and Skeleton Village display illuminated by 100,000 lights as part of ‘Spookfest 2024’.
After a walk in the 4.5 acre woods, visitors can get their hands on some well-deserved grub from a food line-up curated by Freight Island.
This includes 22” New York-style Pizzas and the sweetest hot chocolates with marshmallows, caramel and sweets from Cabin Chocolat.
Tickets are on sale now and you can grab yours here.
Halloween Ghost Train at East Lancashire Railway
Departing from the station in Bury from 24 October to 31 October, the Halloween Ghost Train has several time slots to step onboard the steam railway and join the Monster Squad.
All events are allocated time slots from between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, and guests are invited to help Zombie Bob, Veronica the Witch and Count Brian the Vampire to take down the Pumpkin King and his pesky crows.
There will be singing and dancing from the infamous King and company who will be waiting on the platform to greet every guest.
Tickets for this event are already live here.
Get Ready to Scream at Printworks
Printworks will be hosting everything from scare performers to a haunted selfie station, plus a line-up of eerie events this Halloween
And on Friday 25 October between 12pm and 5pm, they’ll be giving away £50 vouchers to those who unleash their loudest and most bone-chilling screams.
Characters roaming the leading entertainment space in Manchester will include a devilish red demon and creepy living dolls.
And of course, its ground-breaking new digital ceiling will be getting into the spooky spirit with ‘The Curse of Printworks’ being broadcast live overhead while talented live actors recount ghostly stories.
Paint a Pumpkin at Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse
This Ancoats bar is providing guests the chance to decorate their own foam pumpkin that can become the pride and joy of your mantlepiece or shelf for Halloweens to come.
The beerhouse is providing all the equipment necessary to make your newest piece of autumn decor.
Dressing up is not mandatory but the best-dressed will win a free ticket to a future painting class.
Taking place on 27 October, there’s limited spaces due to the classes being small (No Under 18’s) – Tickets are available here.
Silence of the Baths at Victoria Baths
The legendary Grade II listed building will be ‘possessed’ by DJ’s of the past as Victoria Baths is hosting a special Halloween club night ‘The Silence of the Baths: Back from the Dead’.
In tribute to the clubs that once dominated Manchester’s bustling nightlife scene, South, Jilly’s Rockworld, and The Tiger Lounge are joining forces to put on a night of dancefloor fillers and dead-good bangers.
This event takes place on Saturday 26 October and tickets are on sale here.
Halloween SFX Makeup Masterclass at GRUB
Manchester’s biggest street food venue is hosting a terrific and terrifying makeup masterclass for over 18’s.
You’ll be able to learn how to create realistic scars, ghostly face painting, injuries and wounds, taught by UCEN Manchester.
There will be experts on hand to help you perfect your techniques and answer any of your makeup queries.
The street food vendors will be open still but attendees are asked to arrive earlier if they’d like to order any of the tasty treats.
Taking place on 30 October, guests have a great opportunity to practice before the big day, tickets can be found here.
‘So Fetch’ 2000s Halloween Party at Deaf Institute
Everyone’s favourite intimate concert venue is hosting a y2k inspired Halloween party playing nothing but 2000’s anthems.
The night will feature music from Rihanna, Avril Lavigne, Justin Timberlake and all your favourite 2000’s musical icons.
Fancy dress is encouraged and if your birthday falls between 20 October to 5 November, you can get in for free!
Deaf Institute aren’t trying to make fetch happen, they ARE making fetch happen on Friday 1 November (No Under 18’s) – Tickets are on sale here.
Masquerade Party at Lucky Cat
City centre restaurant Lucky Cat are spoiling their guests to a night full of surprises including canapes, drinks, a DJ and more.
On 31 October, the spookiest night of all, this foodie heaven is hosting an evening of entertainment where you can let your tastebuds do the talking, sampling a selection of treats and nibbles.
Outfits are more than encouraged and anyone looking to make their Halloween more elegant can do so here.
Little Print Shop of Horrors at Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse
For the 13th year, the Manchester brewery are hosting a returning favourite ‘The Little Print Shop of Horrors’ with supporting proceeds going to Human MCR.
14 International and Mancunian artists will be bringing their crafts to the city centre vendor which visitors can buy and display in their homes.
This year’s theme is ‘If words could kill’ and the visionaries have been asked to draw upon some of the lesser known quotes from horror film and tv shows.
Anyone looking to spook up their room whilst also donating to charity can find more information here.
Read more:
- The ultimate student guide to Manchester – all the important info
- Council confirms opening dates and important details of Manchester Christmas Markets 2024
- Inside the mind-bending Museum of Illusions opening in Manchester
Manchester is bursting with many different and interesting events to get involved with and we couldn’t list every single place in this Halloween guide.
These fantastic highlights should help you find some new activities and there will definitely be a selection of local things-to-do on offer wherever you choose to make the most of your Autumn holiday.
Happy Halloween!
Featured Image: The Manc Group