Halloween in the City Returns for 2019

Manchester brews up a spooktacular event this October as HALLOWEEN IN THE CITY returns.

Rooftop monster invasion, mad science castle, poisonous maze, trick or treat trail, CBeebies & CBBC spooky screenings, creepy carnival, skeleton procession, PJ Masks ‘Be a Hero’ Tour and more at Manchester’s two day Halloween festival.

Head to Manchester (if you dare) for a Halloween weekend celebration filled with frights and delights at Halloween in the City. 

Hosted by Manchester BID, the city centre’s Business Improvement District, the two day city-wide event will return on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October with its spookiest line-up to date. 

Proving a huge hit in 2018, artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas’ giant inflatable monsters are returning (and multiplying) as they invade even more of the city’s rooftops and landmark buildings for 2019’s festivities in a public art trail that weaves its way through the city centre. Find them at locations across the city including Manchester Arndale, Selfridges, House of Fraser, The Printworks, Depot at Mayfield, Royal Exchange, Spinningfields, Piccadilly Place, INNSIDE by Melia and Native at Ducie Street Warehouse. Look out, look up and share your monster pics across social using #MCRMonsters. 

Families can get into the spirit of things with a whole host of free activities throughout the weekend including a Trick or Treat Trail throughout the city centre, come in your best Halloween costume and follow the trail to meet monsters, mermaids, Julia Donaldson’s friendly dragon Zog and even the ghost of Elvis! Check off each point and collect a special sweet at treat Lightopia’s Candy Land on New Cathedral Street.  

Visit the CBeebies and CBBC spooky tent in Exchange Square for a whole host of Halloween fun, with screenings of your favorite shows and a Slime School workshop with Scream Street.   

Over at Manchester Arndale, Z-Arts will be offering up a taste of their exhibition A World Inside a Book – Gruffalos, Dragons and Other Creatures, dedicated to popular children’s author Julia Donaldson. Meet some of her best-loved characters and enjoy magical storytelling sessions of Room on the Broom,  plus PJ Masks’ Heroes and Villains will be heading to The Printworks at intervals throughout the day on Saturday 26th October to celebrate Halloween.  

Visit Dr Mancenstein's Mad Science Castle in St Ann’s Square, where children can meet Manchester's mad-for-it scientist, Dr. Graphena Mancenstein (and her monster, Liam), in the ruins of their exploded castle. Families feeling brave enough can take a walk through the grounds of her castle including its Poisonous Maze - a real hedge maze taken over by creeping vines, enchanted statues, monstrous creatures and walking, talking bushes. 

Head to New Cathedral Street for Grimm Rita’s Creepy Carnival - a family-friendly freakshow bursting with ghoulish delights including sideshow stalls, a traditional helter skelter and The Strolling Bones skeleton procession, back for 2019 with a bone-jangling performance featuring giant puppets, stilt walkers, unicycle performers, a five-piece band and dancers all led by the terrifying Grimm Rita. 

In the run up to Halloween in the City, Manchester will once again be eerily awash with thousands of pumpkin lanterns and come nightfall Manchester shops and buildings will glow a ghastly green. 

Plus, there’s lots of events and offers throughout the weekend from the biggest, baddest names in shopping, music, food and drink. For event updates follow?@halloweenMCR?and like?/halloweenMCR. 

Here's a full break down of the Halloween in the City Events:

Monster Invasion: Return of the Monsters 

Look up, look out, beware. The giant inflatable monsters are back and multiplying! Catch them taking over the city’s landmarks and buldings in a public art trail that weaves its way through the city centre. Look out, look up and share your monster pics across social using #MCRMonsters. 

Friday 25 October – Thursday 31 October, FREE 

Multiple locations including Manchester Arndale, Selfridges House of Fraser, The Printworks, Depot at Mayfield, Royal Exchange, Spinningfields, Piccadilly Place, INNSIDE by Melia and Native at Ducie Street Warehouse.  

Trick or Treat Trail  

Get your spook on courtesy of this creepy trail around the city centre. Dress  up and pick up a map from the information point in Exchange Square to discover trick or treat houses scattered across the city – there’s a different character at each, waiting to greet you. Check off each point and collect a special treat. 

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October, 10am-6pm, FREE 

Multiple locations including Market Street, Manchester Arndale, New Cathedral Street, House of Fraser, The Printworks, St Ann’s Square, the Old Bank Residency NOMA.   

ST ANN’S SQUARE 

Dr Mancenstein’s Mad Castle 

Meet Manchester's mad-for-it scientist, Dr. Graphena Mancenstein (and her monster, Liam) in the ruins of their exploded castle.  

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October, 10am-6pm, FREE 

Poisonous Maze 

Take a walk through the grounds of Dr Mancenstein’s Poisonous Maze, a real hedge maze that’s been taken over by creeping vines, enchanted statues and monstrous creatures – oh, and deadly, walking, talking bushes too… 

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October, 10am-6pm, FREE 

Free Pumpkin Carving Workshop 

Head to the Royal Exchange with the family for a free pumpkin carving workshop. Visit the Royal Exchange Theatre website to book, places are limited.  

Suitable for ages 9+, pumpkins and tools are provided. 

Saturday 26 October, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm 

Sunday 27 October, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm 

The Lounge, the Royal Exchange Theatre, FREE  
 

EXCHANGE SQUARE 

CBeebies & CBBC Spooky Screenings 

Get into the Halloween spirit with CBeebies and CBBC’s Halloween screenings, plus a host of family friendly fun inside a spooky tent. 

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October, 10am-6pm, FREE 

Slime School with Scream Street 

Families can get crrafy at this fun filled Slime School workshop, inspired by CBBC favourite Scream Street. 

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October, 11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3pm. FREE 

Selfridges Exchange Square 

Head to Beauty at Selfridges Exchange Square for a full day of fun with tutorials on Halloween party looks, Halloween ‘potion’ cocktails hosted by Science & Industry, tarot readings from The Psychic Sisters, Trick or Treat themed games and a DJ throughout the day. 

Saturday 26 October. 

NEW CATHEDRAL STREET 

Grimm Rita’s Creepy Carnival  

Head to New Cathedral Street for Grimm Rita’s Creepy Carnival - a family-friendly freakshow bursting with ghoulish delights including sideshow stalls and a traditional helter skelter.  

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October, 10am – 6pm  

The Strolling Bones by Walk the Plank 

An unmissable, bone-jangling roaming performance from Walk the Plank – the creative minds behind the city’s Manchester Day parade. Catch their procession of skeleton puppets, stilt walkers, unicycle performers, five-piece band and dancers, all led by the delectable Grimm Rita.  

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm, FREE 

New Cathedral Street, from Exchange Square to St Ann’s Square  

Lightopia’s Candy Land 

From their upcoming light up lantern exhibition at Heaton Park, which is taking place 21 November - 31 December, Lightopia bring their Candy Land experience to New Cathedral Street. Discover their illuminated, hand-crafted lanterns on New Cathedral Street and pick up a special sweet treat at the end of the city-wide Trick or Treat Trail. 

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October, 10am – 6pm, FREE  

MANCHESTER ARNDALE 

Manchester’s favourite kids’ arts centre, Z-Arts, offers up a taste of the exhibition?A World Inside a Book – Gruffalos, Dragons and Other Creatures, dedicated to the children’s author, Julia Donaldson. Head to Manchester Arndale to meet Zog and the princess and enjoy magical storytelling sessions of Room on the Broom. 

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October, 10am-6pm, FREE 

MARKET STREET 

DJ Ghostman and MC Pumpkinhead 

Manchester’s spookiest record spinner DJ Ghostman – who, like fellow DJs Daft Punk and Deadmaus, hides his identity, albeit with a bed sheet – is back and this time he’s joined by his partner in crime MC Pumpkinhead to play a ghoulishly good playlist from a souped up DJ Truck on Market Street. Expect all your favourite Halloween hits to dance along to. ? 

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 October, 10am-6pm, FREE 

SPINNINGFIELDS  

Welcome to Screamfields  

From terrifyingly tasty treats (no tricks) at Hey Little Cupcake and a spook-tacular cupcake decorating masterclass at 20 Stories, to a bush-tucker trial at Australasia and a Spooky Pooch Show at The Oast House, there is so much to get involved with this Halloween at Spinningfields. Plus, don't miss the giant neon signs, featuring 'Trick or Treat' displayed on the side of No1 Spinningfields and 'Boo' in Hardman Square. 

Spinningfields will also be hosting Screamfields - a host of haunting Halloween happenings where pumpkins and crows will be watching your every move but for those brave enough they may be rewarded with a spooky screening, a ghostly gathering or a bite of ghoulish goodness! 

Thursday 24 – Thursday 31 October  

Spooky Pooch Show 

Dogs and owners show off their spookiest attire at the annual Spooky Pooch Show, hosted by the Oast House for the first time. Lucky winners will be awarded prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place live on stage to celebrate Halloween in the City.  

Sunday 27 October, 2pm – 4pm 

THE PRINTWORKS 

PJ Masks’ ‘Be a Hero’ Tour 

Head to The Printworks to join in PJ Masks’ ‘Be a Hero’ Tour, where little ones can learn hero moves like their favourite PJ Masks heroes - Catboy, Owlette and Gekko!  But watch out for those Villains! 

Saturday 26 October, FREE