A haunted maze, ghastly ghost train, spooky big top show, lots of tasty treats, and more are all arriving at the Trafford Centre next month just in time for Halloween.
Now that autumn’s officially arrived, and the spookiest time of the year is just around the corner with Halloween only a few weeks away, the Trafford Centre has announced that its next large-scale outdoor event – a “spooky spectacle of hair-raising horrors” known as SPOOKFEST – will be here in just a few weeks time.
SPOOKFEST follows the success of ‘Summer Social’ – which saw in excess of 200,000 visitors and local celebrities enjoy some fun in the sun this past August and September.
Not only will thrill seekers get the chance to try out a scary selection of rides, including a ghost train, escape rooms, hook a pumpkin, and a spooky hay bale maze that are ideal for all the family, but there’ll also be Independent food and drink traders serving up some “deliciously devilish dishes”.
Epic Pizza, Old School Dogs, and Cha Cha Chai will all be setting up shop over the festival’s three-week stay outside The Orient.
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The “spooky spectacle of hair-raising horrors” will be here in just a few weeks time / Credit: Trafford Centre
Also as part of SPOOKFEST, there will be a handful of other activities taking place across the shopping centre, including show dances over Halloween weekend, as well as creepy cocktails and exclusive treats to try at some of the centre’s restaurants.
Gandeys Circus – the creators of Cirque Surreal and the Chinese State Circus – will also be returning with an action-packed ‘Halloween Spooktacular Big Top show’ from 15 – 31 October.
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The Trafford Centre Trick or Treat Trail – which has been carefully risk assessed and designed in line with COVID-19 safety measures – returns on 28 October, and kids are invited to pick up a free Halloween bucket from the customer service desk and scour the shops and restaurants across the centre for lots of tasty treats.
“SPOOKFEST promises some frightful fun for both grown-up thrill seekers and little monsters, offering something for everyone this Halloween,” explains Centre Director Zoe Inman.
“SPOOKFEST promises some frightful fun for both grown-up thrill seekers and little monsters, offering something for everyone this Halloween” / Credit: Trafford Centre
SPOOKFEST will be open every day from 11 – 31 October.
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There’s a £3.50 entry fee – booking in advance recommended – and some rides are priced individually, with token packages available to buy here.
Featured Image – Trafford Centre
What's On
Albert’s Schloss is ready to take you into the New Year in style
Thomas Melia
One of Manchester’s snazziest party spots is taking bookings for their end-of-year bash with some of their closest and aptly named friends: New Year at Albert’s Schloss is going to be HUGE.
Albert’s Schloss has earned its title as one of Manchester’s busiest and most esteemed nights out, presenting punters with free-flowing drinks, a roaring central fire, as well as a dazzling alpine food menu options from breakfast until late.
This beloved bar and venue is also known for its incredible live music and entertainment; the stage welcomes all manner of acts, with guests singing their hearts out as they either sit or dance along wooden ‘Viking’ benches.
Dubbed ‘Albert’s Party Time Machine’, there will be special appearances from the Queen of Egypt herself, Cleopatra, everyone’s favourite Greek emperor and mythological party animal, Dionysius, a.k.a. the God of wine-making – but it’s you guys who are being encouraged to steal the show.
For anyone coming into Manchester city centre for Albert’s Schloss’ New Year’s Eve party, they’re asking you to pull out your finest frocks and reminisce times gone by from the past year and ancient history alike, as other famous historical faces will be making an appearance.
Starting at £100 per person with bookings from 7pm, diners can enjoy a three-course set menu with a later dining slot also available at 9pm for £120 per person for those who want to eat a sit-down meal at their table a little bit later on before climbing on top of it.
Sorry— not the table, strictly the benches. For the last time (reminding ourselves just as much as you lot), you can only stand on the benches.
If you know, you know…
Food ranges from four different mains including two meat, one fish and an option fit for both veggies and vegans. Desserts come in two forms with a savoury cheese board offering and three sweet choices including pavlova, tarte and ice cream or sorbet.
Those looking to enter the venue without having to feast on any of the many food offerings can pay £45 for what’s expected to be a miraculous night.
All prices include a glass of prosecco and canapes on arrival to the party establishment for every guest before 8pm.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 30 December 2024 – 5 January 2025
Emily Sergeant
Can you believe it’s time to say goodbye to 2024, and welcome in 2025 this week?
The presents have been opened, the mince pies eaten, and you may have even taken down your tree too, but while all the fun of the festive season may’ve been and gone by now, this doesn’t mean there isn’t lots of things to look forward to in 2025, as Greater Manchester‘s events calendar already seems very exciting.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though? We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide to help you out.
Here’s some of our recommendations.
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Skate Manchester 2024
Cathedral Gardens
Monday 30 December 2024 – Wednesday 1 January 2025
Skate Manchester 2024 / Credit: Matt Eachus (via Supplied)
Skate Manchester is festive staple, and this is your last few days to get on the ice.
This year, skaters can glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink.
Families, friends, and festive fun seekers will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas whatever the weather has in store for our city this year too, as although the rink will be outdoors in the heart of Cathedral Gardens, the ice is fully covered.
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are back in Manchester once again.
Bringing Alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks to two city centre locations from this Thursday onwards, dozens of cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under twinkling lights are now open down at both Kampus and Great Northern Square.
There’s also a handful of other events on the lineup throughout the festive season, including live music and DJs, wreath making workshops, and movie nights.
Wicked The Musical / Credit: Jennifer DiNoia / Limited Engagement
Wicked The Musical has landed in Manchester and has taken over the iconic Palace Theatre stage for the festive season.
Sure, there may be a major motion picture adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande currently on in the cinema right now, but if you’re keen to see the beloved musical production on stage in the way it was originally intended, then you can head on down to the Palace Theatre to see the story of Elphaba and Galinda live.
Of course, this has been one of the hottest tickets in town for quite a while now, but there’ll still some last-minute seats left to get your hands on, so keep your eyes peeled.
Winter Holiday Programme / Credit: Science Museum Group
One of Manchester’s most popular museums has been transformed into an immersive ‘Light Lab’ for the festive season.
This is your chance to escape the cold and brighten up the winter holidays with an adventure though light and colour, as the Science and Industry Museum is currently running its full festive events programme and there’s loads to get involved with.
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You can also explore a gaming extravaganza, and be engrossed by festive-themed science shows at the city centre-based museum this December.
A major Jurassic World exhibition that’s been mesmerising visitors all over the world has now arrived here in Greater Manchester, and it’s recently been announced that it’ll be sticking around until the new year.
Based on the beloved blockbuster film franchise, this official award-winning experience is one of the fastest-selling exhibitions in history.
Manc visitors will be able to walk through the iconic Jurassic World gates, explore some richly-themed environments, and encounter a life-sized Brachiosaurus, Velociraptors, and the most fearsome dinosaur of all, the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex.
A groundbreaking new immersive exhibition exploring our relationship with the natural world is now open at Manchester Museum.
‘Wild’ look at how people are creating, rebuilding, and repairing connections with nature, and how the natural world has traditionally been presented and idealised through Western art, as well as looking at some unique approaches to environmental recovery too.
The exhibition will also crucially look at how we can tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis by making the world more wild.
Across each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs, there’s plenty of ways to welcome in 2025, but we’d be here all day if we tried to list them all, so instead, we’ve decided to just share a few with you – including fireworks, countdowns, and more.
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Manchester’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks
St Peter’s Square
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Tuesday 31 December
Manchester’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks / Credit: Chris Curry | designecologist (via Unsplash)
Manchester city centre is hosting one of its famous fireworks displays to “say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new” this year.
Families from all across Greater Manchester are invited to the “fun-filled event” from 10pm.
This year’s end of the year celebration marks the first time St Peter’s Square has been used for the New Year countdown event, and also the first time that New Year fireworks will be let off from the roof of Manchester Central Library.
Find out more about the FREE event here, and check out all the road closures and parking suspensions that will be in place on the night here.
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Fireworks Extravaganza
Mayfield Park & Freight Island
Tuesday 31 December
Fireworks Extravaganza / Credit: Freight Island
Freight Island is taking New Year’s Eve into its own hands and kicking 2025 off with a bang by hosting a big fireworks display to remember.
Taking place in Mayfield Park as soon as dusk hits, there’ll be lots of family-friendly festivities – including free sparklers and marshmallow roasting for the little ones to enjoy as midnight nears – all before a spectacular 12-minute firework display lights up the night sky above Manchester to welcome in the new year.
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Find out more and get your last-minute tickets here.
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Featured Image – Bar Hutte | Chris Curry | Skate Manchester
Emily Sergeant -
29th September 2021 
