Alton Towers has confirmed the return of its terrifying Halloween extravaganza for 2020.
The Resort, which reopened to thrill-seekers back on July 4, is draping its 500-acre Theme Park in spooky fancy dress for October – giving guests an entirely new way to experience Alton Towers.
Running from October 9 to November 1 on selected dates, the latest edition of ‘Scarefest’ will feature two new attractions.
These include the ‘Freak Show: Toxic Junkyard’ – an outdoor maze that dares guests to venture into the Freak Show hidden den to ‘discover the secret of the psycho clowns’ next big show.’
A new family-led attraction, ‘Garden Lights Walk: Whispering Souls’ , is another new experience which will be free to enjoy as part of the Halloween live entertainment – including the Freaky Five and CBeebies Land Monster Ball.
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Scarefest 2020 also sees the return of old favourites including:
The Attic: Terror of the Towers: A chilling experience set in the eaves of the Theme Park’s famous and historical Tower ruins.
Darkest Depths; where guests board the infamous ghost ship ‘The Mutiny’ and journey into the darkest depths to earn their piece of eight.
Altonville Mine Tours: Uncover The Legend of the Skin Snatchers; which sees ticket-holders explore a damp, disused mine believed to have once been home to a family of village outcasts.
Scarefest will also see extended opening hours – giving guests the chance to experience thrill rides and rollercoasters in pitch black darkness until 9pm.
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James Walker, Marketing Director at Alton Towers Resort, said: “We are really excited to be able to offer something brand new for our guests in 2020, as well as stage the return of our much-loved Halloween event.
“This year marks the theme park’s 40th anniversary and it was always the plan to make it a year of celebration for our guests.
“…the much-anticipated return of Scarefest will provide ongoing fun and thrills for thrill-seekers and families later into the year, with two brand new exciting attractions never seen before.”
Alton Towers Resort has implemented a wide range of new measures to keep people safe on site.
Capacity will remain at a level where social distancing can be maintained, including in entertainment spaces and scare mazes.
For tickets and more information about the events visit the Alton Towers website.
What's On
A FREE shopping event dedicated to saving students money is returning to Manchester Arndale
Thomas Melia
One of the city centre’s most popular shopping events helping students save money is returning to Manchester Arndale and the city centre.
MCR Student Socialis heading back to the city with its big discounts, freebies, giveaways and plenty of entertainment to keep you busy while you browse.
This interactive shopping event encourages new and current students to wander roundManchester Arndaleand the surrounding streets while snapping up some seriously good deals.
Expect discounts of up to 50% off at 120 stores including big high street retailers like Champion, Søstrene Grene, Selfridges, Sephora, and Berghaus.
This incredible 50% off deal continues into some of Manchester Arndale’s big-name food vendors like Wingstop, Archie’s, Barburrito, Sides, HOP Vietnamese and more.
If you’re after carrying thatZara Larssonenergy into your next academic year, the Arndale’s Rhinestone Rodeo celebration includes a Charm Bar in Exchange Court, where you can turn photos into personalised charms.
No shopping trip is complete without a matcha in-hand and you can bag yourself a free hot or iced drink in Exchange Court at the Cult Beauty Matcha Station.
Look out for our Audio North truck on Market StreetThe Manchester Arndale MCR Student Social is back
There’s even the Arndale’s Party Tuk Tuk which will be roaming around the city-centre shopping complex blasting out hip-hop tunes and some of your song requests.
Just outside Manchester Arndale on Market Street, there’s plenty of activities split across three dedicated zones, like Food & Drink by familiar foodie faces like Franco Manca and Great British Doner.
The Party Zone will be buzzing as Footasylum, Museum of Illusions and Urban Playground all unite, while there’s plenty of giveaways over at the Info Zone with brands like Science + Industry Museum and RSPB.
And, our very ownAudio North x The Manc DJ Truck is soundtracking Market Street with student DJs playing out everything from dance and funk to classic party anthems.
MCR Student Social is taking place on Thursday 24 September at Manchester Arndale from 12pm to 7pm and you can find more information via its official websiteHERE.
A Medieval Faire with birds of prey and live demonstrations is coming to Manchester’s oldest building
Daisy Jackson
Manchester is going back to the Middle Ages this month as the city’s Medieval Faire returns to Chetham’s Library for a day of history, live entertainment, and family fun.
The free event is taking place on Saturday 26 September, with the grounds of the historic building transformed into a medieval celebration from 11am to 4pm.
And with Chetham’s medieval buildings dating all the way back to 1421, there probably aren’t many more fitting places in Manchester to spend the day pretending you’ve stepped back several centuries.
Visitors can expect plenty going on throughout the day, including walking tours of Manchester’s Medieval Quarter, birds of prey, specialist stalls, and live demonstrations showing what life was like during the medieval era.
There’ll also be historical re-enactors from Historia Normannis, bringing the sights, sounds and characters of the Middle Ages to life.
The event is being staged in partnership with the University of Manchester and Manchester Cathedral, with organisers hoping to get people of all ages interested in the city’s often-overlooked medieval history.
Julianne Simpson, Librarian at Chetham’s Library, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Medieval Faire back to Chetham’s.
The Manchester Medieval Faire returns this month
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to discover Manchester’s medieval heritage through hands-on experiences, live performances, and historical demonstrations.
“Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply looking for a fun family day out, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”
Best of all, entry is completely free and you don’t need to book.
If you fancy going a bit deeper into Manchester’s history while you’re there, guided tours of Chetham’s Library will also be available to book on the day for £8.50 per person.
The tours offer visitors the chance to explore one of the UK’s most significant historic libraries and discover more about its collections, characters and stories.
So, if your weekend plans involve less brunch and more medieval re-enactments, birds of prey and wandering around one of Manchester’s oldest buildings, this one’s worth putting in the diary.
The Manc -
24th August 2020 
