Manchester’s beloved giant inflatable monster trail will return to the city this Halloween, with the big colourful creatures taking over rooftops once again.
Halloween in the City is the country’s biggest Halloween celebration, with both the monster trail and a two-day family-friendly festival filling Manchester with things that go bump in the night.
The MCR Monsters, in all shapes and sizes, will be creeping and crawling over local landmarks including New Century Hall, the AO Arena, the Corn Exchange, Selfridges and the Manchester Arndale.
You’ll also find them lurking around Harvey Nichols, The Royal Exchange, and – new for 2023 – Castlefield Viaduct.
The gigantic inflatable sculptures are created by artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas.
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The monster trail is now in its eighth year, transforming the city centre into a ghoulish green landscape with thousands of pumpkin lanterns dotted around the streets.
The MCR Monsters will be in town between Wednesday 25 and Tuesday 31 October.
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Last year’s inflatable monsters in the Halloween in the City trail in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupLast year’s inflatable monsters in the Halloween in the City trail in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Halloween in the City, organised by Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, also includes a two-day family festival on 28 and 29 October, which will include a fancy dress challenge, a monster procession, and a monster music festival.
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.
Walk the Plank’s popular Monsters Rock Out Procession is also back in Manchester for Halloween 2023, featuring giant puppet monsters, stilt walkers and a live band who will be partying their way through Manchester Arndale and Market Street.
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Thousands of families are expected to flock into the city centre for the celebrations, and will take part in the Team Trick vs Team Treat challenge, where you can win points for your team.
Cheshire Oaks to debut first-ever ice rink with iconic Christmas tree in the middle to skate around
Emily Sergeant
Cheshire Oaks has unveiled its big plans for the upcoming festive season.
With less than 100 days until Christmas is here, and festive events being announced left, right, and centre, Cheshire Oaks has now joined in on the action, and for the first time ever this year will be adding a bespoke ice rink into the mix, which is set to become centrepiece of its festive celebrations this Christmas season.
The Designer Outlet shopping mall is already known and loved in the North West for its Christmas events each year, and 2025 is set to be no different.
The highly-anticipated ice rink attraction will launch in late October, and it’s already promising to be an ‘unforgettable experience’ that organisers say blends the timeless joy of ice skating with contemporary design and community spirit.
A brand-new ice rink is coming to Cheshire Oaks with a big Christmas tree in the middle to skate around / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of the new ice rink will be a custom-designed ice path that gracefully weaves around Cheshire Oaks’ iconic oak Christmas tree in the centre.
The rink itself will be nestled within a dedicated Christmas events space at the shopping village.
“We are incredibly excited to soon introduce this bespoke ice rink experience to our guests,” says Kenny Murray, who is the General Manager at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet.
“It’s more than just a place to skate – it will be a destination where families and friends can create cherished festive moments.”
There’ll be lots of other fan-favourite festive activities returning too / Credit: Supplied
The new ice rink will officially open on Friday 24 October, and tickets will be available soon, with the option to book in advance online or on the day, so keep your eyes peeled.
Alongside the exciting new ice rink addition will, of course, be some of Cheshire Oaks’ fan-favourite Christmas attractions – including the ‘The Big Wheel’ and ‘Santa in the Sky’ experiences, as well as festive film screenings, and the massively popular Winter Village.
The Winter Village is the perfect place to head to if you’re in need of a break from gift shopping and somewhere to soak up the Christmas spirit, as here you can grab a cosy seat and tuck into some traditional German bratwurst from the swing grill, warm up with mulled wine at the bar, and marvel at the UK’s tallest Christmas tree.
You can also book a little wooden hut to relax in, with each hut accommodating up to six people.
The Big Wheel is also one of Cheshire Oaks’ best-loved experiences each year, as here you can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy watching the festivities unfold below you, with each flight taking 10 minutes, or you can upgrade to Santa in the Sky to meet the main man in the most unique way possible.
Find out everything happening at Cheshire Oaks this Christmas here.
Featured Image – Supplied
What's On
Huge vintage home show to take over historic Manchester building next month
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most historic buildings is set to host a huge home show full of vintage finds next month.
The Vintage Home Show is taking over Victoria Baths for their second event of the year.
For anyone looking to add a retro touch to their homes, this is a chance to feast your eyes on a carefully-curated collection of furniture, homeware, ceramics, artworks, vinyl records, and more stocked by more than 60 knowledgeable sellers in a welcoming atmosphere amid the empty Grade II-listed swimming pool.
Planning to renovate in a vintage style? Or looking for one missing piece of the puzzle? This event can help you track down that something special for your home.
From one-off minimalist pieces, to mass-market retro and kitsch classics, with prices for items starting from as little as £1, you’ll have the chance to shop the collections of dozens of quality independent dealers from right around the UK, all under one historic roof.
Browse a selection of vibrant stalls featuring pieces spanning from the mid-century decades to the bold brightness of the 1990s, and everything in between.
No matter what your budget, you’ll find that gorgeous something to suit your impeccable taste.
Once you’ve finished shopping everything you need to transform your home, you can stop off at Victoria Baths’ on-site cafe to treat yourself to a selection of cakes, savouries, pastries, and soup, as well as both hot and cold drinks.
A huge vintage home show will be taking over the historic Victoria Baths in Manchester next month / Credit: Vintage Home Show
The Vintage Home Fair will take over Victoria Baths on Sunday 5 October, kicking off from 10:30am for keen shoppers after ‘Early Bird’ entry, while ‘Standard Entry’ starts at 11am and runs through the day until 3:30pm.
Due to popularity, the event will be operating a timed ticket entry process, that way organisers can manage the numbers of visitors in the building at any one time to allow everyone a chance to see everything.
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Tickets are now on sale, priced anywhere from £2 to £6 depending on the time you go, so you simply need to arrive anytime within your allocated hour and stay as long as you wish.
Daisy Jackson -
9th October 2023 
