Halloween has returned to city once again… and this year, even more giant inflatable monsters than ever before have taken to the streets.
It’s been a long time coming, but spooky season is now officially here in Manchester.
Returning for its eighth year, Halloween in the City – which is organised by Manchester BID and CityCo, and is the country’s biggest Halloween celebration – is back for some more frightful fun this week, and just as it’s always been known and loved for, the family-friendly festival will be filling the city centre with things that go bump in the night.
Thousands of families are expected to head into the city wearing their spookiest costumes for the two-day FREE event taking place this weekend.
With the celebrations set to begin at 10am on both days, there’s a jam-packed lineup of events and activities for everyone to get stuck into – including the Monsters Rock! Music Festival, Walk the Plank’s legendary Monster Party Procession, and so much more.
If you’re looking to get in on the action early though, then you’ll be pleased – or frightened – to find out that the iconic MCR Monsters have already arrived.
They’re now looming over the city’s rooftops in greater numbers than ever before.
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Created by artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas, the colourful collection of giant inflatable monsters have invaded the city centre from today right up until Halloween itself next Tuesday (31 October), so for those who dare to stay in the city as night falls, popular landmarks and buildings will be turning a ghoulish green to help make a Manchester a terrifyingly good place to be this Halloween.
16 giant inflatable monsters are now looming over Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group
There’s a total of 16 monsters to spot at more than a dozen locations, and here’s where you’ll need to head on down to to find them.
Manchester Arndale, Exchange Square – Above Next, M4 3AJ
Selfridges Exchange Square, M3 1BD
Exchange Square (28 & 29 October only) – Festival Entrance, M3 1BD
Exchange Square (28 & 29 October only) – Music Stage, M3 1BD
Corn Exchange Manchester – Inside Exchange Square, M4 3TR
Harvey Nichols, New Cathedral Street, M1 1AD
New Cathedral Street (28 & 29 October only) – Near Ted Baker M1 1AD
The Royal Exchange Manchester, St Ann’s Square, M2 7DH
Castlefield Viaduct, Duke Street, M3 4PU
AO Arena, Victoria Station Approach, Hunts Bank, M3 1AR
AO Arena, Victoria Station Approach, Hunts Bank, M3 1AR
New Century Hall, Miller Street, M4 4AH
New Victoria, Corporation Street, M4 4DZ
KAMPUS Aytoun Street, M1 3GL
The Church, Chorlton Street, M1 3HN
Depot Mayfield, Baring Street, M1 2PY
As mentioned, the MCR Monsters are part of the wider annual Halloween in the City celebrations.
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Organised by Manchester BID on behalf of retailers, restaurants, and businesses in the city centre, the two-day event includes a fancy dress challenge, a monster procession, a monster music festival, and so much more.
They’re part of the annual ‘Halloween in the City’ celebrations / Credit: The Manc Group
The ‘Monsters Rock! Music Festival’ will take over New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square, Market Street and Exchange Square, with live bands, DJs, rides, circus acts and even monster portaloos, while Walk the Plank’s popular ‘Monsters Rock Out Procession’ is back by popular demand after 2022’s success.
The frighteningly-good carnival will feature giant puppet monsters, stilt walkers, and a live band partying their way through Manchester Arndale and Market Street.
Thousands of families are also expected to take part in the ‘Team Trick vs Team Treat Challenge’, where you can win points for your team, and you’ll even be able to take to the ice on a spooky outdoor ice rink too, as Scare Skate returns to Cathedral Gardens for another year.
Find out more about everything happening for Halloween in the City 2023 here.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Curious kids can meet star of hit CBBC show Operation Ouch! in Manchester next month
Emily Sergeant
Got a curious kid on your hands? You can take them to meet the star of one of their favourite TV shows at the Science and Industry Museum next month.
In case you hadn’t heard, Operation Ouch! is back in Manchester again with a fresh new experience for 2025, and this time around, visitors can journey through an ear canal covered in gooey wax, squeeze past sticky snot, and delve deeper into how our brains interpret the world.
Thousands of families from across Greater Manchester and beyond have already visited the city centre museum make the most of the new exhibition, and get stuck into the wide range of immersive and interactive activities it has on offer.
But for those who haven’t been able to pay a visit yet, this summer couldn’t be a more ideal opportunity to do so.
Operation Ouch! star Dr Chris Van Tulleken will be at the Science and Industry Museum next month / Credit: Science Museum Group
That’s because Dr Chris Van Tulleken – who is one of the presenters of the BBC showOperation Ouch! – will be at the museum in a couple of weeks time to meet visitors as part of his myth-busting mission to answer some of the public’s deepest questions about our senses.
Dr Chris will be at the Science and Industry Museum for one day only, and will not only join mini medics on their voyage through the senses, but will also be on-hand to answer brain teasers from the audience during a series of live Q&As.
Whether it’s banging on a super-sized eardrum, venturing into a massive eyeball, or even taking a whiff of a ‘smell library’, this world-premiere exhibition dives into the science behind hearing, sight, touch, taste, and smell – and Dr Chris will be there every step of the way.
Also to celebrate Dr Chris’ visit, the museum is introducing additional sense-themed activities that very same weekend, where sight and sound will be examined during an interactive experience led by the museum’s expert Explainers.
Book your tickets to visit Operation Ouch! Brains, Bogies and You on Sunday 9 November, for any of the time slots between 11:30am – 1pm, and 2:45 – 4:15pm for the opportunity to grab a selfie with Dr Chris from inside the exhibition.
Tickets will cost visitors £10 each, with those under three going free, and a range of family discounts available.
First look inside Gulliver’s World Land of Lights as magical lantern trail returns
Daisy Jackson
One of the North West’s most popular festive events is officially back open for a third year, with the return of Gulliver’s World Land of Lights.
The huge lantern festival transforms part of Gulliver’s World in Warrington into a twinkling wonderland, filled with glowing ‘dreamworlds’.
Visitors can wander the trail meeting all manner of lanterns inspired by the natural world.
This year there are brand-new collections to discover along the trail, including a new dinosaur dreamworld.
You’ll come face-to-face with beasts like zebras, giraffes and a flock of flamingos, plus mythical creatures and loads more.
The woodland comes to life (and light) through lit-up giant flower lanterns, surrounding adorable woodland creatures like hedgehogs, foxes and squirrels.
And you can take a trip under the sea to meet a giant octopus, turtles and sharks.
Land of Lights is back at Gulliver’s World for 2025
There are lanterns perfect for spooky season too, like a giant spider suspended on an illuminated web and cackling pumpkins.
All the way along the breathtaking trail you’ll pass plenty of beautiful photo opportunities, before warming up with cosy street food.
You’ll even be able to take your four legged friends along to enjoy the event, with select dates dog-friendly.
Land of Lights in Warrington was officially opened last weekend by Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Mo Hussain.
Ross Partridge, Land of Lights festival manager, said: “What a wonderful opening weekend we have had!
“We’d like to thank Mayor Hussain for taking the time to visit our event and officially open it for us.
“It was lovely to see him and all the wonderful people who came along to get a first look at this incredible lantern festival.
“It’s back for its third year and is a wonderful boost to the local economy over the winter period and provides guests with an enjoyable, family friendly activity that is suitable for all so make sure you don’t miss out.”
Find out more about Land of Lights and book tickets HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
25th October 2023 
