School’s are out for half term in Greater Manchester at the end of this month and there’s plenty of “fang-tastic fun” for all the family to be getting up to at Great Northern.
Just like everything else amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the spooky season is gearing up to be a little different this year, but with the nights drawing in and Halloween just around the corner, you can still make the most out of October half term at Great Northern.
With offers and events suitable for days out with family, or evenings with your social bubble, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at “Manchester’s ultimate leisure destination”.
What can you expect then?
Well, in what is sure to be one the highlights of the week, the Halloween in the City monsters are back. These giant inflatable creatures have become a real stand-out in Manchester’s Halloween celebrations over the years, and if you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll see a tentacled monster reaching out across the Great Northern Square from 26th October – 1st November.
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You can also head to the Odeon to enjoy one of the many blood-curdling blockbusters that are currently screening, including the family-friendly Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, or you can leave the kids at home instead and prepare to be scared out of your wits with spine-chilling horrors like Saint Maud or Unhinged.
With tickets starting at just £5, everyone can indulge in a spooky season scare.
Trick or treating as we’ve come to know it is unfortunately off the cards this year, but for a trick or treat that the whole family will love, you can head to Alex’s Bakery at Great Northern instead for an afternoon tea that consists of a spookily-delicious assortment of savoury snacks and sweet treats.
With three price tiers starting from £9.90 per person, it’s a no brainer.
Or why not treat yourselves to some award-winning chocolate from Dormouse, which recently won an International Chocolate Award for its eerily good Guara Estate 75% dark chocolate, or for an even more spooktacular treat, you can dine at cult-favourite burger joint Almost Famous, which is home to some of Manchester’s biggest and best burgers.
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The menu stand-out at the moment sees little ones get to celebrate in style with the Home Alone cheeseburger, from the kids menu, which is topped with frazzles, mac and cheese and a strawberry pop tart for the ultimate Halloween feast.
You can find more information on October activities via the Great Northern Warehouse website here.
What's On
The ENTIRE Manchester Village Pride lineup cost £20k less to book than ONE headliner last year
Daisy Jackson
Bosses behind Manchester Village Pride have revealed that the entire lineup has cost significantly less than the amount spent on just one headliner last year.
In a statement promising transparency, organisers said that the entire weekend of artists has cost less than one single headliner from 2025.
And by some margin – £20,000.
The announcement comes less than a year after the previous Manchester Pride organisation entered voluntary liquidation amid rising costs, declining ticket sales and an ‘ambitious refresh’ of the festival format.
That refresh included moving the main music portion of the annual LGBTQ+ celebration away from the Gay Village itself, and over to Depot Mayfield.
The collapse of Manchester Pride followed reports that performers from the 2025 event were still waiting to be paid, with entertainment union Equity later saying its members were more than £70,000 out of pocket.
Manchester Village Pride was subsequently established as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, with organisers promising a more community-focused approach and greater transparency around finances.
The 2026 event is being delivered with unpaid directors, while organisers have also signed an Equity agreement guaranteeing fair pay and professional standards for performers – the first UK union agreement of its kind for a Pride event.
Performing at Manchester Village Pride this year are major artists like Nadine Coyle, Danny Beard, Gareth Gates, Kate Nash, Cascada, and Rowetta.
They’re joined by a lineup of fantastic home-grown talent, including artists, DJs, and drag queens, taking our city’s Pride celebrations back to their roots, and keeping things firmly in the Gay Village.
In their statement, Manchester Village Pride said: “Transparency time! Booking this entire weekend of fabulous artists cost us £20k UNDER what was spent on a single headliner last year. This is what community Pride looks like!”
Manchester Village Pride will once again take place over the August bank holiday weekend, with the party running for four days from Friday to Monday.
The celebrations will culminate in the moving candlelit vigil in Sackville Gardens.
Ticket prices this year, even with just over a week to go, are only £40 for the full three-day festival, or £25 for one day. Monday will be free to attend.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally the middle of August, and we’ve still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of a bank holiday weekend, Halloween, and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The iconic heritage railway has announced that its hugely-popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam trains are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
Santa Specials are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station, and first get to meet some old favourites and new characters – including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess – all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves – with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipples, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
Emily Sergeant -
14th October 2020 
