What's On

Creepy carnival, monster parade and more planned for Halloween in the City in Manchester

The monsters are back.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 12th October 2022

The city centre is poised and ready for Halloween, with orange pumpkin lanterns already adorning the trees around town and a definite autumnal chill in the air. 

As usual, Halloween in the City will be turning our streets into a spooktacular celebration for the occasion, with a weekend of shockingly good family-friendly events on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October.

It’s all organised by Manchester Business Improvement District (BID) and will include some ever-popular events as well as some brand new attractions, with families heartily encouraged to don their best fancy dress.

Giant inflatable monsters will be back looming and creeping over buildings across the city centre, transforming our landmarks with tentacles and googly eyes and pointy teeth. 

Halloween in the City. Credit: Supplied

This year it’ll be bigger than ever before, with 14 monsters to spot around town on the trail between 25 and 31 October. 

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Spooky creatures will be on the move too, in the Monsters Rock! Party Procession, which will weave through Manchester Arndale and Market Street. 

The roaming performance comes from Walk the Plank, the same creative minds behind the Manchester Day Parade. 

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Expect stilt walkers, monster puppets and a five-piece band mingling with shoppers on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October, with performances at 12pm, 2pm and 3pm.

Halloween in the City. Credit: Supplied

A Creepy Carnival, made up of a carousel, helter skelter, street food and circus performers, is going to sprawl across New Cathedral Street. 

Plus, Studiotech and Treacle Studio have discovered a mystical machine made by Queen Elizabeth I’s court scientist and magician – and Dr Dee’s Portal to Another World provides a gateway for all the friendly monsters who arrive in Manchester for Halloween in the City. 

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This interactive light display will invite Mancs to see if the portal works in reverse and could lead to the world where the monsters roam. 

Fancy dress is, naturally, encouraged all weekend but particularly for the Fancy Dress Challenge, where Team Trick and Team Treat battle it out to be crowned the spookiest beasties in Manchester. 

There’ll be dance offs, screaming competitions, spooky challenges and a costume catwalk to earn points and win special spot prizes, plus VIP experiences for those taking part. 

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Rock on with your mini monster at the Monsters Rock! Music Festival with live bands and spooky DJs all weekend, like Fat Boy Slime, Grave Haslam, and the Blessed Medusa, as well as air guitar contests, zombie aerobics, and a glow-in-the-dark disco, across three stages. 

A massive spooky ice rink is being built in Cathedral Gardens, where skaters will whizz past a huge monster and the ice will be brought to life with Halloween-inspired music and lighting. 

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The Scare Skate rink will open on Friday 21 October and stay in place until Halloween itself.

The full line-up is below, along with times and locations for all the other Halloween in the City events.

Halloween in the City 2022 events 

MCR Monsters – 25 to 31 October – Across the city centre

Monsters Rock! Music Festival – 29 and 30 October, 10am-8pm Saturday; 10am-5pm Sunday – Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street, St Ann’s Square and Market Street

Fancy Dress Challenge: Team Trick vs Team Treat – 29 and 30 October, 10am-4pm – Various locations

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Monsters Rock! Party Procession – 29 to 30 October, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm – Manchester Arndale amd Market Street

Creepy Carnival – 29 and 30 October, 10am-8pm Saturday; 10am-5pm Sunday – New Cathedral Street

Dr Dee’s Portal to Another World – 28 to 30 October, 4pm-8pm Friday; 10am-8pm Saturday, 10am-5pm Sunday – St Ann’s Square, Manchester

Skate Manchester Halloween – 21 to 31 October, 11am-8pm – Cathedral Gardens

Featured image: Supplied

What's On

A Horrible Histories Christmas-themed stage show is happening in Manchester this month

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

You can discover the story of how Christmas came to be what it is today in a new Horrible Histories stage show in Manchester later this month.

With the festive season officially upon us, temperatures dropping by the day, and Christmas soon to be here before we know it, parents and guardians who are keen to keep the kids entertained but still educated while schools are out can grab tickets to a special Christmas-themed Horrible Histories stage show.

Horrible Histories Christmas tells “the terrific tale of Christmas”.

Heading out on a UK tour and stopping off at The Bridgewater Hall here in Manchester in a couple of weeks time, the impressive stage show is described as a festive celebration in the most “wonderful, funny, and moving way you’ll ever see”.

A Horrible Histories Christmas-themed stage show is happening in Manchester / Credit: Horrible Histories

For many of us, when we think of Christmas, the magic of family, joy, goodwill, presents, and more usually come to mind, but how about Oliver Cromwell? Or even Henry VIII?

When Christmas comes under threat from a jolly man dressed in red, it’s up to one young courageous boy to save the day – but can he rescue Christmas? From Victorian villains, to medieval monks, Puritan parties to Tudor treats, you can join the Horrible Histories presents cast on a hair-raising adventure through the history of Christmas.

You’ll be in the company of Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell, King Henry VIII ,and St Nicholas as they all join forces to save the festive season.

Horrible Histories Christmas is coming to The Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday 20 December at 11:30am.

Read more:

Tickets are now on sale, setting you back anywhere from £20 – £33.50 depending on your choice of seats.

You can grab yours here.

Featured Image – Richard Haughton

What's On

You can go on a festive tour of the Coronation Street set this Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

One of TV’s most famous streets has had itself a festive makeover, and fans can hear the stories of Christmas past on a behind-the-scenes tours.

In case you missed it, the ever-popular Coronation Street: The Tour returned back in March after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s been giving fans of the iconic Manchester-based soap – which has recently celebrated 60 years on air – the chance to discover the hidden world that lies behind the camera at the external sets at MediaCityUK in Salford once again.

The 90-minute tours let you follow in the footsteps of all your favourite characters, and give you the chance to walk around the famous sets of the Rovers Return, Roys Rolls, Underworld, The Kabin, and so much more.

Tour guides are also known for sharing secrets of the show as they take you round the set too.

What’s more, is that earlier this year, the famous ‘Stars Tours’ were even brought back for the summer too so fans could meet mystery cast members on the legendary cobbles.

But now, with the festive season officially upon us, and Christmas soon to be here before we know it, Coronation Street has been turned into “the ultimate festive experience” for the all new behind-the-scenes tour – Christmas on the Cobbles.

You can go on a festive tour of the Coronation Street set this Christmas / Credit: Coronation Street: The Tour

This is your chance to experience the nation’s most famous street like never before.

Organisers are encouraging fans of the iconic soap to wrap up warm as they head out on an expert tour Coronation Street “dressed in its finest festive grandeur” to hear stories of Christmas past and spread yuletide cheer.

There’ll be carol singers dotted around the street’s famous sites, and festive treats like mince pies and gingerbread lattes to feast on.

This is your chance to experience the nation’s most famous street like never before / Credit: Coronation Street: The Tour

The whole street will be festooned with lights and Christmas decorations

Christmas on the Cobbles Tours are running on selected dates this month up until 31 December, with tickets setting you back £28 for adults, £25.50 for under 16s, and £80 for families.

Read more:

You can book your place on a tour here.

Featured Image – Coronation Street: The Tour

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