Manchester is known for hosting all kinds of celebrations from Parklife to Pride, and now the city is obsessing over horror and rock.
The always wonderful Bowlers Exhibition Centre, one of Greater Manchester’s biggest and busiest event spaces, will be hosting a brand-new event this weekend.
This new ‘Horror, Rock and Wrestle festival’ will boast an unmissable line-up boasting faces from the Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchises.
Expect to see David Arquette, Joseph Whipp, Jsu Garcia, Caroline Williams and more actors who have contributed to horror cult classics.
But it’s not just horror that’s taking centre stage at this convention, there’s also chance to spotlight both the rock and wrestling world.
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Musicians and professional wrestlers Joe Hendry and Chris Jericho will also be making an appearance with Robert Maillet getting in on the action too.
With so many celebrities of film and screen all popping up in one building, any attendees might think they’ve entered a mini Hollywood.
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Taking place at BEC Arena, also known as Bowlers Exhibition Centre, this event will bring together not just film stars and legends, but lots of fun activities and interactive workshops too.
There’s no confirmation of who’s taking the wheel for the rock scene but there is a chance that guests will see live performances from ‘renowned rock bands’ at this mighty ‘Horror, Rock and Wrestle festival’.
You’ll also be able to grab a tattoo, with previous years seeing many fans getting the actor’s signature tatted on them for life, all done by on-site professional artists.
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An insight into past events similar to Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival.With the Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival could we see Chucky paying another visit to Manchester?Credit: Supplied
Attendees are encouraged to show off your creativity by cosplaying as your favourite character, wrestling icon or rock legend.
Across these two dates there will also be live wrestling matches, circus acts and stunt performers, and even monster trucks.
Collectors get ready as the Exhibitor Hall will be packed with all things comics, collectables, merchandise, apparel and more.
Where else can you meet one of your movie idols then shortly after get a tattoo, watch some wrestling and weave your way through a scare maze?
There will be plenty of guest talks and live performances too.Some of the crazy outfits we might be seeing at Horror, Rock and Wrestle Festival.Credit: Supplied
Taking place on 22 and 23 March ‘Horror, Rock and Wrestle festival’ is coming to Bowlers Exhibition Centre and you can find out everything you need to know and bag yourself some tickets HERE.
The ENTIRE Manchester Village Pride lineup cost £20k less to book than ONE headliner last year
Daisy Jackson
Bosses behind Manchester Village Pride have revealed that the entire lineup has cost significantly less than the amount spent on just one headliner last year.
In a statement promising transparency, organisers said that the entire weekend of artists has cost less than one single headliner from 2025.
And by some margin – £20,000.
The announcement comes less than a year after the previous Manchester Pride organisation entered voluntary liquidation amid rising costs, declining ticket sales and an ‘ambitious refresh’ of the festival format.
That refresh included moving the main music portion of the annual LGBTQ+ celebration away from the Gay Village itself, and over to Depot Mayfield.
The collapse of Manchester Pride followed reports that performers from the 2025 event were still waiting to be paid, with entertainment union Equity later saying its members were more than £70,000 out of pocket.
Manchester Village Pride was subsequently established as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, with organisers promising a more community-focused approach and greater transparency around finances.
The 2026 event is being delivered with unpaid directors, while organisers have also signed an Equity agreement guaranteeing fair pay and professional standards for performers – the first UK union agreement of its kind for a Pride event.
Performing at Manchester Village Pride this year are major artists like Nadine Coyle, Danny Beard, Gareth Gates, Kate Nash, Cascada, and Rowetta.
They’re joined by a lineup of fantastic home-grown talent, including artists, DJs, and drag queens, taking our city’s Pride celebrations back to their roots, and keeping things firmly in the Gay Village.
In their statement, Manchester Village Pride said: “Transparency time! Booking this entire weekend of fabulous artists cost us £20k UNDER what was spent on a single headliner last year. This is what community Pride looks like!”
Manchester Village Pride will once again take place over the August bank holiday weekend, with the party running for four days from Friday to Monday.
The celebrations will culminate in the moving candlelit vigil in Sackville Gardens.
Ticket prices this year, even with just over a week to go, are only £40 for the full three-day festival, or £25 for one day. Monday will be free to attend.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally the middle of August, and we’ve still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of a bank holiday weekend, Halloween, and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The iconic heritage railway has announced that its hugely-popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam trains are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
Santa Specials are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station, and first get to meet some old favourites and new characters – including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess – all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves – with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipples, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
Thomas Melia -
18th March 2025 
