It’s both half term and Halloween this week, so you know we’re in for a week filled with all sorts of frightening fun.
With the spooky season officially here, and schools now officially out for October half term, it obviously comes as no shock that the events calendar is absolutely jam-packed with all sorts of different things to be getting up to right across Greater Manchester this week.
There’s so many free family-friendly Halloween events happening in particular.
But if you’re finding it a bit tricky to choose, then we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ – only this time, with a terrifying Halloween twist.
Here’s our top picks.
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Pumpkin Lanterns
Manchester City Centre
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Monday 23 October – onwards
Pumpkin Lanterns / Credit: CityCo / Manchester BID
There couldn’t be a more ideal time to catch a glimpse of the pumpkins.
If you’re looking to get in the mood for Halloween, but want to keep things a little on the cheaper side this week, then you need look no further than up above in the city centre as the annual decorative pumpkin lanterns are back once again.
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Going on a little tour to see the lanterns in the trees in St Ann’s Square, Market Street, and beyond is the perfect activity for all the family, easy to plan, and great for pictures – and it’s FREE too.
Luna’s Legendary Creature Halloween Trail gives visitors the chance to get up close to five of Chester Zoo’s most magical species.
Having now kicked-off, and running right up until Halloween itself, the rhinoceros hornbill, Sulawesi-crested macaque, and huge Sunda gharial crocodile are just some of the species you’ll get to learn all about as you make your way around the 90-minute interactive trail.
You’ll be tasked with helping Luna the witch discover a legendary creature living deep inside the zoo’s Monsoon Forest habitat.
Half Term at the Science and Industry Museum / Credit: Science Museum Group
Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum has a jam-packed lineup of free events happening throughout October half term, and is inviting families down to “transform into architects, engineers, and inventors” for a day.
As well as all its currently ongoing exhibitions, the museum is also handing over its galleries and spaces to community groups and neighbours from right across the region for the week.
The groups’ll be using their “unique outlooks” to help people explore all the ways the city is evolving.
Did you know you can get a pass to visit loads of National Trust sites across the UK for FREE this autumn?
Autumn in Greater Manchester is a wonderful thing, and and our region is filled with places to appreciate the beauty of this much-loved season – but if you were looking for a reason to travel a little further afield to experience everything nature has to offer and see the leaves change colour, then it doesn’t get much better than this.
This is why the National Trust wants to give people the chance to “experience the awe of the season” at no extra cost.
Autumn at the National Trust / Credit: National Trust
The pass allows free entry for two adults and up to three children, one adult and up to four children, or just two adults on their own.
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Find out more about how to claim the limited-time offer here.
A magical new Halloween lakeside light trail has transformed Partridge Lakes Fishery in Warrington into “an enchanting Halloween attraction”.
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Organisers say the hour-long immersive experience is like “stepping into a living Halloween storybook”.
You’ll be able to see the “mesmerising world of Halloween wonder” come to life as you stroll along a winding path around the lake’s edge that leads that takes you on a magical journey through woodland decorated by eerie and captivating lights.
Spookfest is back once again for 2023, and is promising more frightful fun than ever before.
Having returned to the Trafford Centre for yet another spooky season, visitors heading down to the massive shopping centre can expect a scary circus, a frightening fairground full of retro rides, and a seriously-impressive five-metre tall tower of pumpkins.
You can also get into the spooky spirit with free face painting, the chance to meet and greet a whole host of Halloween characters, and so much more.
The Oast House’s legendary Christmas has returned to Spinningfields for the festive season.
Set to be a popular spot for locals and those who’ve finished a hard day at work during the colder months, The Teepee officially reopened last week and is made up of three tents joined together with a huge open hub, complete with two roaring fires, twinkling fairy lights, faux fur throws.
The Teepee is famed for its free live music, home-cooked food, and laidback warm and welcoming atmosphere.
There’s a mouthwatering street food menu, a selection of limited-edition winter cocktails, mulled wine, and festive hot chocolates, and, of course, a stage area set up for guests to dance the night away – with a packed lineup of live gigs all planned over the next few months.
The MCR Monsters are back once again, and you’ve only got a few days to get yourselves out there to find them all.
Part of the annual wider ‘Halloween in the City’ events lineup, just as they have been doing for the past few years now, giant inflatable monsters will be looming and creeping over buildings across the city centre this week to transform some of our most well-known landmarks with tentacles and googly eyes and pointy teeth for a FREE trail.
And this year, it’s bigger than ever before, with 16 monsters to spot around town.
GRUB’s Hallowe’en Week lineup is filled with all sorts of frightful fun for everyone this year.
While the Bottomless Rocky Horror Show is definitely one of the stand-out events, there’s also everything from pumpkin carving competitions and SFX makeup masterclasses, to Halloween life drawing sessions, Spooky Sip and Paint, a Weird History Walking Tour, a Freaky Family Fun Day, and so much more on the lineup.
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You’ll also get to tuck into a wide range of street food and Halloween-themed drinks specials from local independent traders to tuck into.
Find out more about everything happening over the five-day event here.
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Halloween Ghost Trains
East Lancashire Railway
Thursday 26, Friday 27 & Saturday 28 October
Halloween Ghost Trains / Credit: East Lancashire Railway
East Lancashire Railway’s popular Halloween Ghost Trains are back this week.
Always proving to be top of the Halloween bucket list for people looking for “loads of spooktacular fun” once the scariest time of year rolls around, those brave enough at lending the ‘Monster Squad’ a helping hand at banishing ghosts and ghouls will be whisked away on a haunted steam engine through the atmospheric Greater Manchester countryside.
You’ll get to meet lots of “oddballs and curios” along the way, including Count Brian the vampire, Veronica the witch, Zombie Bob, and the mad Dr Frankenburger as you board the rain ride of a lifetime.
Halloween Cinema Screenings / Credit: King Street Townhouse
King Street Townhouse‘s very-own exclusive cinema will be screening a marathon of seven scary films over four days to celebrate Halloween in style this weekend.
The extended weekend of jump scares and family-friendly favourites will kick off with the absolute cult-classic that is Hocus Pocus, all before you can sit down to watch other blockbusters like Nightmare on Elm Street, The Addams Family, The Shining, and Practical Magic.
Printworks’ popular Lip Sync Showdown is back this week for a special Halloween-themed edition.
Taking place at Cargo Manchester this Friday, guests are told to expect a “freaky soiree” where they’ll be invited to beat the stage ‘fright’ and grab a mic, as lip-syncers will be joined on stage by undead backing dancers to be in with a chance of winning some hauntingly-good prizes.
It’s set to be an unforgettable night of entertainment and lip-syncing battles to an outrageous lineup of pop classics, power ballads, and guilty pleasures – but all with “a hellish twist”.
Scare Skate is back this Halloween, and there’s some new additions this year too.
Just like it has many years before, Cathedral Gardens has become become home to Manchester’s – and one of the UK’s – largest outdoor ice rink for October half term, as Scare Skate sees Halloween fans and fear-loving families take to the ice for some “frightfully good fun”.
Skaters can expect Halloween-themed music, lighting, lots of themed props to help “ignite the fright factor”, and also a new frightfully-realistic giant spider wrapped in bright-white LED lights that stands front and centre.
There’s a singalong screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show happening down at Manchester’s home of cult cinema, video games, and “cool nerdy events”, Cultplex in GRUB.
Taking place this weekend, with not one, not two, but three screenings of the classic 70s flick across both Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October, this is your chance to dress the part, sing the night away in style, and be “chilled, thrilled, and fulfilled”.
Oh, and did we forget to mention there’ll be bottomless drinks too? Now we’re talking.
Team Trick v Team Treat Challenge / Credit: CityCo & ManchesterBID
Are you Team Trick or Team Treat? As part of the annual Halloween in the City celebrations, families are invited to head down to New Cathedral Street this weekend to pick up a wristband, choose a side, and take part in a host of ghoulish games to win points for your team.
There’ll be spot prizes on offer throughout the weekend, and if you go in fancy dress, you’ll get some bonus points too.
Price of Manchester Village Pride 2026 tickets confirmed as wristbands go on sale
Emily Sergeant
Wristbands for Pride in Manchester this summer officially go on sale today.
Following last week’s announcement that the iconic Manchester Pride celebrations would, in fact, be returning in 2026 thanks to the creation of Manchester Village Pride CIC, today marks a ‘landmark’ moment as wristbands go on sale, helping to rebuild and reclaim what has always been once of the city’s most important events.
Early bird wristbands are now on sale at just £25, plus booking fee, offering community members access to four days of ‘safe and responsible’ celebrations.
This is set to include a ‘diverse’ programme of events that build on some of the best-loved elements of previous years – a Pride Parade, candle-lit vigil, party with performance and music across various stages, as well as talks, exhibitions, and community activities.
Manchester Pride is returning in 2026 / Credit: The Manc Group | Manchester Pride
Once early bird wristbands sell out, then general release wristbands will go on sale priced at £30 plus booking fee for the full weekend, or £20 plus booking fee for individual day passes.
Options for those on low-income, or those that require additional support, will also be available too.
Under the new direction of Manchester Village Pride CIC, all funds raised through the sale of wristbands and passes will enable the safe delivery of the Summer Bank Holiday Weekend event, and will support LGBTQ+ charities, grassroots organisations, and vital community services.
Any surplus funds will then be legally locked in for public benefit, and a ‘transparency dashboard’ on the Manchester Village Pride CIC website will be updated regularly to show ticket sales, costs, and projected charitable surplus.
Manchester Village Pride CIC has so far received £120,000 in loans from Village venues, which it says reflects the ‘determination’ of local LGBTQ+ businesses to safeguard Pride and ensure it remains rooted in the community that created it.
However, despite this, funds from wristband sales are now required to help start planning and organising the event properly.
“Naturally, given the failure of Manchester Pride Ltd and ongoing impact that this has had on charities, artists, and businesses within our community, we know that everything we do is going to be scrutinised,” admitted Carl Austin-Behan, who is one of the founding board members and spokesperson for Manchester Village Pride CIC.
“We are ready to meet that head on with clear open book management, direct and clear language when providing updates, and radical transparency about any funding.
Wristbands have officially gone on sale for 2026’s event this morning / Credit: Manchester Pride
“In the spirit of this transparency, we do need to be clear that we need people to purchase a wristband or day pass.
“Over Pride weekend, the Village becomes a large-scale live event space, with outdoor stages, performances, and street bars. A ticketed entry system allows us to meet essential safety, security, and government licensing requirements, manage crowd numbers responsibly, and provide appropriate stewarding, medical, and welfare support.
“Without this approach, venues would not be legally permitted to host stages or outdoor bars, and the Village simply couldn’t operate in the way people expect during Pride weekend.
“This is not about restricting access, it’s about keeping people safe, protecting our venues, and ensuring Manchester Village Pride can happen responsibly.”
Manchester Village Pride 2026 will take place over August Bank Holiday weekend between Friday 28 and Monday 31 August.
Where to watch Super Bowl LX in Manchester
Danny Jones
Game day is fast approaching, and with the NFL scene getting bigger and bigger in the UK each year, more and more Mancs are left wondering where to watch the Super Bowl in Manchester.
With six-time Championship winners, the New England Patriots, set to take on the Seattle Seahawks – a resurgent side who have only won just one Super Bowl in their history – it’s all set up to be a fully blown blitz from the off.
Luckily, there are a whole host of sports bars in the city centre that will be showing Super Bowl LIX right through, so you don’t have to miss a minute of the action – all four hours or so of it.
Yes, it’s a long, old night (usually wrapping up around 3am here in the UK), but that’s part of why people love it, and if you’re still undecided as to where to go, here are a dozen places you can hunker down with some good grub and plenty of pints to watch it.
13 of the best places showing the Super Bowl in Manchester
1. The Blues Kitchen – Deansgate
We’ve spent the last three years watching it from here, so we vouch for the vibes. (Credit: The Manc)
First up on our list is the place we spend the Super Bowl pretty much every year: Blues Kitchen just off Deansgate, which promises big screens, live music, American BBQ favourites and more from 9pm.
With food and drinks served until late to keep you going throughout the long night, you’ll have an absolute ball. Book HERE.
2. BOX – Deansgate
BOX Bar opened on Deansgate back in 2021 and has quickly become one of the most popular places to watch any sport in town, and it’s not hard to see why.
With massive pitchers and steins of booze, a banging food menu built for shuffleboard at the back and screens on almost every wall, including a massive NBA-style jumbotron screen, you won’t miss a second of the action. This one always fills up quickly, so book now if you don’t want to miss out.
3. O’Malley’s – Portland Street
Ideal gameday scoops and scran. (Credit: Supplied)
As one of the only pubs in Manchester that regularly stays up this late – and by that we mean 4am – keeping eyes open until the early hours is child’s play for these lot, so similarly, it’s no surprise that the Irish bar is showing the Super Bowl.
One of many recent green and gold additions to the city that’s obsession with Guinness and all things Gaelic only seems to be growing, O’Malley’s, you can book your spot to watch both the Bowl and the Six Nations right HERE.
4. Black Cat Club
If you’ve never been to Black Cat Club before, then what are you playing at? They’ve got interactive darts, high-tech shuffleboard, foosball tables, and with the El Gato Negro team having spawned their food menu, you’re guaranteed a solid lineup of gameday goodies inspired by proper NFL tailgates.
They’re coming up on their second birthday very soon, and we think giving Mancs a first real taste of a proper sporting all-nighter is the perfect way to celebrate. You can find out more and how to book HERE.
Given that students are typically the ones who don’t tend to worry about sleeping/waking up at any particular time, it’d be rude not to put a regular uni haunt and Manc nightlife favourite, The Courtyard, on this list.
Not only is this one of the cheapest places for a night in town, possibly the country, but it’s yet another prime location to watch the sport. You are never, we repeat, NEVER too old for Courtyard, and it never disappoints when there are sports fans in.
Another all-time classic Manchester sports bar, The Directors’ Box, just off St Peter’s Square in the city centre, has plenty of pints, an absolutely mint menu full of sharing platters perfect for watching the game with your mates, as well as a pool table to keep you occupied during the breaks.
They’re even putting on a special menu just for the game. This is another one that packs out fast, so book now while you still can.
The Brotherhood of Pastimes and Pursuits is another tried and tested favourite come any matchday, and the team over there does a great job of building a proper atmosphere across their two floors when it comes to the Super Bowl.
It’s a great post-work spot any day of the week, let alone when there are big events on like this. Food, pints, pool, table tennis and more. 10/10, no notes from us. Reserve your table now
8. Tib St Tavern – Northern Quarter
Credit: The Manc Group
No list of Manchester sports bars would be complete without Tib Street Tavern, one of the most popular in NQ or the city centre in general, for that matter.
With booths for you and all your mates to pile into, massive screens filling the walls and solid grub, this place is packed out noon till night, so give ’em a ring on 0161 834 1600 to sort your seat whilst you still can. They also completed a refurb not too long ago, so you’ll be comfier than ever this year.
Nothing like the Bowl at Bunny’s. If you’ve ever been in this beloved wing-stop and rock-themed watering hole for an NFL game, you know that this place is pretty much the perfect place to be.
Arguably the best dive bar on the planet (it’s us, we’re arguing it), and not just because the wings start from 30p, there’s no bookings – you just rock up and try your luck and hope for laces out. Say no more.
10. Albert Hall – Peter Street
Following the success of their England watchalongs for the Euros and World Cups, Albert Hall is going all fan park once again for Super Bowl Sunday 2026. With plenty of room and a very big screen, it’s set to be the ideal place to watch SBLX, from the gridiron carnage to the halftime show.
It’s just a tenner for entry, and once again, besides a top sound system and big HD telly, there’ll be pitchers of beer, hot dogs and all the essentials required for a proper American sports party. Find out more down below.
If you popped into Brickhouse for the World Cup or even the Six Nations, you’ll know the bar, club, rooftop terrace, and pool hall are really killing it when it comes to live sports at the minute – especially with tickets to dedicated fan zones for just a fiver.
Kicking off from 8pm and spreading across two of the three floors, this is one of the best places to grab a slice of pizza and a pint while watching the game. Better yet, their increasingly popular fan zone is absolutely free; you just need to email [email protected] or ring 0161 236 4899.
Last on our list is another cult favourite amongst NQ frequent flyers, as not only do Shack MCR specialise in all the very best kinds of food you want whilst watching live sport – wings, fries, burgers, nachos, etc. – but they’re even serving up special Super Bowl platters for the occasion.
They’ll be serving scran until 1:30 in the morning, and although all the private booths have already sold out, there are still some tables left for Sunday, 11 February, so book yours now.
Last but not least, lucky number 13 (yeah, we’re glass-half-full kind of people) on this year’s list of Super Bowl screenings in Manchester for 2026 is veteran Aussie sports bar, Walkabout.
With Bierkeller and Shooters across the way having sadly closed, this is now the longest-standing boozer of its kind in Printworks, and they also love a late night,
Of course, it goes without saying that if we could chuck every one of our city’s wonderful pubs and sports bars on this list, then we would, but we’d be here forever.
That being said, a literal dozen places to watch the big game in Manchester city centre should be more than enough to get you started — now it’s down to you to make sure you plan out the perfect Super Bowl Sunday for LX 2026. Just make sure you’ve got your arse in a seat before that first touchdown.
Get lots of sleep this week because you’re going to need it!
Oh, and if you’ve also been wondering where to watch American football’s forefather, the best rugby union tournament in the land is underway, and there are plenty of places showing it in town.
Emily Sergeant -
20th October 2023 
