The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 28 October – 3 November 2024
Can you believe we’re leaving October behind this week?
Autumn is in full swing, spooky season is here, with the big day itself finally arriving on Thursday, and schools across the region are out for half term to celebrate, so of course there’s absolutely no shortage of things for the whole family to be getting up to across Greater Manchester all throughout this week.
Think immersive horror experiences, Halloween trails, spooky cinemas, ghost train rides, firework displays, and so much more.
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, so here’s some of our recommendations.
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MCR Monsters
Manchester City Centre
Monday 28 – Thursday 31 October
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.
There’s dozens of monsters to spot around town this year, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled and your wits about you.
Find out more here.
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Pumpkin Lanterns
Manchester City Centre
Monday 28 – Thursday 31 October
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.
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.
Find more information here.
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Chester Zoo’s Halloween Festival
Chester Zoo
Monday 28 October – 3 November
Chester Zoo has been transformed into a ‘super-natural spectacle’ for the spooky season, and there’s loads of exciting events planned now that Halloween is here this week.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo has been getting into the scary spirit throughout October, with a trail of giant animals made out of pumpkins, and a fully animated 360-degree ‘mythical experience’ among the highlights at the huge new Halloween festival.
Visitors get to come face-to-face with giant animal sculptures made with pumpkins, all before encountering untamed creatures at the new BEASTS experience – which is the first of its kind in the UK.
Find out more and grab free tickets here.
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Scare City 2024
Camelot Theme Park
Monday 28 October – 9 November
Scare City is back for the fifth year running with its “most immersive” horror experience to date.
Taking over the grounds of the abandoned Camelot Theme Park for “another year of terror”, just as it has done for the past three years following the success of its initial 2020 launch as a drive-in cinema, this year’s event features a selection of terrifying zones to weave your way through – some familiar, some brand new.
Tickets are now available to book at £26.95 for standard entry, or £36.95 for the ‘Gold Entry’ (both plus a £2.45 booking free).
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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The Halloween Trail
Trafford Centre
Monday 28 October – Sunday 3 November
A brand-new Halloween trail is leading people through an enchanted and haunted woodland this autumn.
Taking place at the Trafford Centre’s little-known Wilderspool Woods, the 4.5 acre hidden woodland in the grounds of the iconic shopping centre has been taken over by skeletons, bats, and all sorts of other spooky creatures.
More than 100,000 lights illuminate a Skeleton Village, and there’s laser-filled gardens of mist, a spooky soundtrack of otherworldly tunes curated by DJ Rasp, and supernatural surprises around every corner – whether it’s colourful bats soaring overhead, or glowing LED eyes watching down from the treetops.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Time To Die
DIECAST
Monday 28 October – Saturday 2 November
It’s time to die…
That’s because a brand-new immersive scare experience presented by Manchester Scare Factory, called ‘Time To Die’, has landed right here in the city centre down at Diecast, and it’s said to be elevating horror to a whole new level.
Created by the group of innovative professionals behind the award-winning Newsham Park in Liverpool, and the infamous Area51 group, this horrifying masterpiece has than enough to send shivers down your spine.
But if you make it out alive, then be sure to reward yourself with scarily good pizza and range of seasonal drinks.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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The Big Manchester Bake
New Bailey
Wednesday 30 October – onwards
The Big Manchester Bake has landed, and believe us when we tell you it’s one of the best ways to spend an evening in the city.
Baking enthusiasts and novices alike can indulge in the enjoyment of the Big Bakes experience, with step-by-step instructions allowing you to bake your way through the 90-minute timed task and be crowned ‘star baker’ (or…not).
Take part as a duo or trio as you test your partnership skills in this stressful but delightful frenzy of baking joy.
Find out more and book here.
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Halloween Ghost Trains
East Lancashire Railway
Thursday 31 October
East Lancashire Railway’s popular Halloween Ghost Trains are back for one last ride this Thursday.
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.
Find out more here.
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Screen 19 Immersive Halloween Cinema
FOUND
Thursday 31 October
Want to immerse yourself in spooky season with a touch of sophistication? Well, one of the city’s newest venues has got you covered.
Giving film fans the chance to enjoy something a little different this Halloween, an alternative immersive cinema experience called Silent-ology will be taking over Arch 19 – which is part of the Found neighbourhood, nestled in Red Bank – and embracing the spooky spirit with a showing of Nosferatu.
The iconic horror film will be screened in the soft glow of candlelight, with a soul-stirring soundtrack played by a live string quartet to add to the atmosphere.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
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Take Me To Hell and Back
Bierkeller
Thursday 31 October
This is your chance to dress in your sexiest Halloween outfit and prepare to find love… or simply enjoy watching others try.
Following the amazing turnout at the last Take Me Out-style event hosted, Take Me to Hell and Back will take over Bierkeller down at the Printwork on Halloween night itself this Thursday, and will feature plenty of attempts at trying to reach the Isle of Fernando’s.
There’ll also be lots of cheap drink deals, a live band, DJs playing everything from DnB to house, and so much more.
Find out more here.
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Fireworks Extravaganza
Mayfield Park
Friday 1 – Sunday 3 November
The skies above Manchester city centre will be sparkling when a huge Bonfire Night event takes over the city’s newest park this weekend.
All happening at over at Mayfield Park, and organised by Freight Island and the acclaimed Manchester events company Walk the Plank, Fireworks Extravaganza is set to take place over several evenings, with 10-minutes of fireworks, free sparklers for the kids, and food traders serving mulled wine, hot chocolate, and candy floss.
On Friday and Sunday, the displays themselves will take place at 6:30pm, but on Saturday night, there’ll also be an extra-late slot with a display at 8:30pm too.
Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.
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2000s Brunch
Brickhouse Social
Saturday 2 November
Brickhouse Social is making every Saturday feel like a ‘throwback Thursday’ this autumn.
At the 2000s Brunch, running right through to the last Saturday of November, you can enjoy unlimited pizza, funky cocktails, and back-to-back noughties anthems up on Manchester’s best-kept secret roof terrace.
Drinks will be flowing, as guests are treated to unlimited bottled beers, bottomless fizz, and even bottomless select cocktails.
Find out more and book here.
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Annie Mac’s Before Midnight
Albert Hall
Saturday 2 November
Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac is hosting a club night in Manchester this weekend, and it’ll all be wrapped up by midnight.
Following the success of her big outdoor shows this past summer, the Dublin-born DJ, broadcaster, and writer is bringing her Before Midnight clubbing concept back for more, and she’s taking to Manchester city centre’s famous Albert Hall stage on Saturday, making it one of the most inclusive clubbing experiences there is.
Grab yourself some last-minute tickets here.
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Featured Image – Chester Zoo | CityCo & Manchester BID | Freight Island