Spooktacular Halloween celebrations will soon be coming to Manchester city centre to fright and delight families this October with Halloween in the City.
Following the success of the Manchester’s first ever official Halloween celebrations last year, Manchester BID, the city centre’s Business Improvement District, has cooked up a whole host of free tricks and treats to keep the whole family entertained.
From 21st October, eerie Halloween decorations and spooky pumpkin lanterns will spread across the city centre, while a mind-bending inflatable monster, courtesy of Bristol-based artist Filthy Luker, will be taking over one very (un)lucky Manchester store. Come the dead of night, some of Manchester’s most iconic buildings including the Manchester Town Hall, House of Fraser, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and The Printworks will again glow a ghastly green.
As part of the Halloween in the City event, on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th October, Manchester’s shopping district will be the host of Halloweekend! – a two day family friendly festival. prepare to be spooked by a citywide Trick or Treat treasure hunt, with sweet or scary surprises behind every door, and St Ann’s Square will be taken over by a Haunted Maze – inviting brave visitors to try and make it round without bumping into any creatures – take it on if you dare!
Halloween wouldn’t be complete without some scary fancy dress costumes, so make sure to don your spookiest attire and take part in The Big Dress Up with the family. Those with the scariest fancy dress will be invited to have their photos taken and join DJs on the Capital FM main stage in Exchange Square. Dogs can also get in on the Halloween fun and have the chance to take part in the Canine Costume Catwalk.
To add to the spine-tingling set of activities on offer throughout Halloweekend!, the main stage will screen everyone’s favourite Halloween family film classics, including Ghostbusters, Hocus Pocus and Hotel Transylvania. There will be a mini Halloween travelling party with a Day of the Dead-style parade of puppets, street performers and freaky dancing. For those who come unprepared, free creative Face Painting stations on Market Street will allow you to transform into a creepy ghoul or ghost.
The fun of Halloween in the City doesn’t end there, as Big Fish Little Fish, renowned for its family friendly raves, will be throwing a spooky science party – bringing together some of the best DJs from across the city and stalls exploring the science of Halloween featuring science buskers, slime and the science of bats and spiders with zoo keepers from Chester Zoo.
Plus there’s party nights, events and offers from the biggest, baddest names in shopping, music, food and drink.
For Halloween in the City event updates, follow @halloweenMCR and Like /halloweenMCR
