The Halloween monsters have returned to Manchester and you can now enjoy spotting them all in a whole new way: with a fun charity run.
In case you’re new to the area or simply have never come across them before, around this time every year central Manchester is taken over by several inflatable Halloween monsters hanging over rooftops and lurking around nearly every corner.
Finding them all is always a neat little game we like to play and you can certainly do so by simply wandering around the city centre, but why walk when you can run?
Local charity organisation Run The Streets MCR is returning this Friday as they do every month for their October Halloween event, or the ‘Monster Edition’ as they’re calling it.
Run The Streets has only been running, if you’ll pardon the pun, since the start of 2024 but has been steadily growing a loyal following of volunteers and participants as the year has gone on.
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The club, whose motto is ‘run, rave, raise’, does exactly that: they set off on a steady-paced social run with luminous wristbands and glowsticks from a different Manc location before heading back to said venue for one big party.
All this happens whilst team members play tunes from their portable speaker backpacks and the runners help generate funds for the chosen charity of the month by simply buying a ticket.
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Sounds great, right?
Well, combo all that with an easy twilight running tour of Manchester as you cross off each of this year’s inflatable Halloween monsters and you have a pretty fun night on the cards if you ask us.
You might find some of these easier to find than others. (Credit: The Manc Group)
There are a total of 16 inflatable monsters to be identified in and around the city centre and the organisers will be playing a healthy selectional of seasonal Halloween bangers on the playlist too.
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Fancy dress encourages if you want to make things even more fun and there’ll be two fantastic local DJs on when you make it back to Joshua Brooks for the real party.
This month the RTS crew are raising money on behalf of The Society for Abandoned Animals, so you can rest easy knowing you’ve done you’re bit whilst also enjoying some healthy exercise and a proper good boogie afterwards.
Runners meet at 7pm and tickets cost just £7.21, but you can even grab a discount by using the code RTSMANC – you’re welcome! You can learn more about their usual events down below – it’s one of our favourite charitable initiatives at the moment so definitely check them out.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Supplied (via RTS)
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Science and Industry Museum’s adults-only ‘after hours’ event returns with a Halloween twist this month
Emily Sergeant
A popular adults-only ‘after hours’ event is returning to Manchester later this month… and there’s some spooky surprises in store.
If you need an excuse to leave the little Mancs at home, or you just fancy releasing your inner child, then one of Manchester’s most visited museums might have just what you’re looking for, as the Science and Industry Museum has announced that its popular After Hours event especially for adults is returning for one night only at the end of the month.
The museum will become your playground once it’s closed for the day as you settle in for a unique evening of live music, giant interactive games, and spooky surprises for Halloween.
Science and Industry Museum’s adults-only ‘after hours’ event returns with a Halloween twist this month / Credit: Science Museum Group
The Museum’s permanent galleries and displays will be open after hours, so you can get hands-on with science in Experiment, meet mighty machines in the Textiles Gallery, and discover Manchester‘s rich legacy of industrial innovations, creativity, and world-changing ideas in Revolution Manchester.
You’ll also get free access to the popular Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos exhibition, which just opened earlier this year, and get to indulge your playful side in Power Up – with more than 150 consoles to choose from in the ultimate gaming extravaganza.
Especially for spooky season, you can look forward to some very special one-off events too, like stellar performances from Manchester drag royalty, Anna Phylactic, a cosmic cabaret with live vocals, and a monster mash-up soundtrack guaranteed to get you into the Halloween spirit.
There’ll also be a chance to meet Albert Slime-stein – a larger-than-life monster popping up the museum as part of Halloween in the City’s iconic Manchester Monsters trail.
And as this is an adults-only event, the museum’s events bar will be open on the night, serving up a wide range of wines, beers, and non-alcoholic drinks to wet your whistle while you’re looking around, with some delicious food to accompany too.
Museum After Hours is happening on Thursday 29 October from 7pm-10pm, with tickets setting you back £12 each or £6 for concessions.
Manchester’s largest outdoor ice rink confirmed for a return this festive season with tickets NOW on sale
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s massive outdoor ice rink has been confirmed for a return to Cathedral Gardens once again this festive season.
Skate Manchester has always been a festive staple of our city centre, and 2026 is set to be absolutely no different.
Families, friends, and festive fun seekers will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas whatever the weather has in store, as although the rink will be outdoors in the heart of Cathedral Gardens, the ice is fully covered.
Off the back of a hugely successful 2025 season, there will be a specially curated programme of events this year too, including themed nights, competitions, and inclusive skate sessions designed for an accessible and enjoyable experience for as many people as possible.
And if you’re not too confident on the ice, the rink will also offer a variety of skate sessions that are tailored to meet the needs of all visitors too.
This includes dedicated quiet and toddler sessions to create a more relaxed skating environment.
Discounted tickets and weekly events will also be on offer too, meaning students can skate for just £10 on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, families can enjoy dedicated Parents & Mini Skater sessions in the same period, and group discounts will also be available for larger bookings.
There will also be £5 Community and school sessions, free skating for children on selected Tuesdays, accessible SEND sessions, and 20% off for Blue Light workers.
Manchester’s largest outdoor ice rink is confirmed for a return this festive season / Credit: Supplied
“Skate Manchester has established itself as the highest Google-rated rink in the UK, located in the heart of Manchester next to the world-renowned Christmas Markets – it’s the perfect way to enjoy a Mancunian Christmas,” commented Rob Derry, who is the Director at Tamarisk Events – the coordinator of Skate Manchester.
Skate Manchester will open to the public from Friday 6 November 2026 until Sunday 3 January 2027, excluding Christmas Day.
From 6 November to 6 December, the rink will be open daily from 11am to 9pm, and then from 7 January onwards, opening hours will extend from 10am to 9pm – with all skating sessions lasting 45 minutes.
Danny Jones -
24th October 2024 
