Over 160 postcodes across the four Heatons of Stockport are to be decked out for the spookiest weekend of the year as part of the ‘Halloween Town Trail’.
The haunted houses of the four Heatons getting more ghostly than ever before.
With trick or treating sadly off the cards this year under Tier 3 restrictions, this completely COVID-safe event – spread across Heaton Moor, Heaton Chapel, Heaton Mersey, and Heaton Norris in the Greater Manchester borough of Stockport – has been organised as a way of bringing the communities together to celebrate as safely as possible, while supporting a worthy cause.
It’s the second COVID-safe trail event to hit the Heatons since lockdown.
The first – a zoo-themed trail aimed at supporting Chester Zoo in its hour of need – raised a whopping £7,500, but this weekend, the theme is of course Halloween and scary movies, so you’ll need to keep your wits about you as you can expect to see windows and garden frighteningly festooned in hundreds of homes.
As per government regulations, no treats or sweets will be handed out from the houses of Halloween Town, but attendees are welcome to bring their own personal supply of treats for the trail.
The three-day event is to take place from Friday 30th October – Sunday 1st November.
Residents have already begun decorating and have been sharing pictures of their homes over on the #4HeatonsHalloween hashtag on social media.
It’s not just about celebrating the spookiest time of year as safely as possible though.
There is another very important cause at the heart of ‘The 4 Heaton’s Halloween Town’, and that is to raise funds for “beloved” local picture house The Savoy Cinema in Heaton Moor, which is a family-run independent boutique cinema nestled in the heart of the community boasting the latest projection and sound systems, mixed with classic style, comfort and service.
Amy Vose – Organiser of ‘The 4 Heatons Halloween Town’ – said: “The Savoy, as an independent cinema, is a real jewel of the Heatons. It’s very much loved by this community, and people want it to be enjoyed by their families for many years to come,
“So it was easy getting people involved.”
Money raised from the event will support the cinema, which, like many local businesses across the country, has sadly suffered a tough time financially due to the restrictions in place and the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the arts industry.
It comes after the cinema was named one of 42 independent picture houses in the UK to share £650,000 in the first awards from the Culture Recovery Fund earlier this month.
The owners of The Savoy Cinema have expressed how “very grateful and humbled” they are by the community’s fundraising efforts ahead of ‘The 4 Heatons Halloween Town’ event, and how wonderful it is to be “valued in that way” by the people of the local area.
The Savoy Cinema Heaton Moor
“If you know the Heatons at all, [you’ll know] people here are extra,” Amy explains.
“So give them a silly community challenge and they will raise the bar.
“It’s brought families together to pump their energies into something positive, at a time where either every day feels the same, or everyday is a worry”.
Are you brave enough to head to ‘Halloween Town’ this weekend then?
You can find more information about the event, read up on all the COVID-safe precautions and measures being put in place, and download the map to familiarise yourself with the trail ahead of time via the ‘4 Heatons Halloween Town’ website here.
Donations to The Savoy Cinema can be made through the dedicated JustGiving page set up by event organisers and residents here.
More information can also be found via ‘The 4 Heatons Halloween Town’ event on Facebook.
What's On
A big Taylor Swift listening party is coming to Manchester to celebrate her new album
Thomas Melia
An iconic Manchester music venue is hosting a Taylor Swift listening party to celebrate the release of her upcoming album this autumn.
The devil may work hard, but Ms. Swift sure works harder – as less than 500 days since the release of her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor has announced her twelfth LP titled The Life of a Showgirl, meaning the pop titan is back in full force with an era full of glitter, glitz, and showbiz glamour.
To celebrate, Manchester’s historic Deaf Institute is hosting a night dedicated to the newest era, and you’ll certainly be able to make ‘make the whole place shimmer’ as you walk into this Grade ll-listed building this October.
Get ready to hear everything from Taylor Swift’s stacked discography – including her humble beginnings like ‘Tim McGraw’, all the way through to her claiming the title as the ultimate ‘Anti-Hero’.
The DJs on the night will be spinning every single new track from Swift’s twelfth studio album too, all while mixing in some of her other standout songs.
Anyone keen to attend this Taylor Swift ‘Wonderland’ must be over 18 years old, and have their ID with them on the night, as unfortunately, there’s no ‘invisible string’ you can use to sneak yourself into this venue.
And if you’re turning 22 -or celebrating any other birthday – between 4 and 18 October, then you can score yourself free entry into this live music venue too, isn’t that ‘Gorgeous’?
Festa Italiana returns to Manchester city centre for three days of feasting this bank holiday weekend
Emily Sergeant
Festa Italiana is set to return to Manchester city centre this bank holiday weekend with its ‘biggest and best’ offering to date.
Are you ready for three days of Italian feasting?
Festa Italiana, which is now in its eighth year in Manchester, has gone of to become one of the biggest – and the most successful – Italian festivals in the UK, and features dozens food and drink stalls, live entertainment, and a whole host of celebrity chefs.
Founded by Maurizio Cecco – who is also behind Manchester’s legendary collection Italian restaurants, Salvi’s, the family-friendly festival will be free for all to attend.
Taking place this year, as it does every year, over the August bank holiday weekend and turning Cathedral Gardens into an Italian paradise while the sun beams down, anyone heading to Festa Italiana can expect a three-day foodie feast featuring freshly-made pizza, pasta, cannoli, and loads of other Italian delights.
Festa Italiana returns to Manchester city centre for three days of feasting this bank holiday weekend / Credit: Festa Italiana (via Facebook)
Festivalgoers can also expect to take part in pasta-making workshops, sip a tipple from an Aperitivo bar or the Limoncello Garden, and try endless free samples.
There’ll also be the Piccolo Mercato Italiano mini market, featuring a range of independent and artisanal producers showcasing the very best of Italy’s food, drink, and crafts.
To top it all off, plenty of well-known chefs will also be making special appearances during the festival, including Great British Bake Off star Giuseppe Dell’Anno, chef Francesco Mattana, Carmela’s Kitchen author and tutor Carmela Hayes, and of course, founder Maurizio Cecco himself.
“Festa Italiana is so much more than just a food festival,” Maurizio explained. “It’s a celebration of everything I love about my culture – the passion, the hospitality, the flavour, the music, the chaos.
“Every year it gets bigger, louder, and more exciting and 2025 is going to be the best one yet.
“We’ve got amazing chefs, incredible vendors, fantastic music and some brilliant new surprises. I can’t wait to welcome everyone back to our piazza in the heart of Manchester.”
Emily Sergeant -
29th October 2020 
