Halloween is looming, and Mancs love to go above and beyond to celebrate. So, whether you’re looking for the perfect boozy scary night out or after a more chilled event, we’ve waded through everything the city has to offer and picked out the best bits for your calendar.
Scare Skate
For another year the city will become home to one of the UK’s largest outdoor ice rinks. The ice rink is usually a Christmas thing, but opening a little (or a lot) earlier this year to accommodate Halloween and Scare Skate. Get your skates on as tickets will be flying out for the best slots. Expect spooky music, lighting and themed props as well as a gigantic realistic spider front and centre of the rink. Fancy dress is encouraged, but we all know Mancs don’t do things in half measures, so it’s pretty much a decision of what you’ll come dressed as rather than whether to dress up at all.
Scare Skate – Cathedral Gardens – 27-31 October
MCR Monsters
One of the most iconic new traditions in the city of recent years has been the MCR Monsters. They come each year and take over the city streets and rooftops and terrorise you as you sleep. Ok I made that last bit up, but they do just seem to turn up in the middle of the night. 16 places across the city centre host these inflatable beasts in places like the Arndale, Castlefield, Kampus and Mayfield Depot. Go on a tour to see them all, and don’t forget to share your favourites with us on our social channels!
MCR Monsters Tour – Cathedral Gardens – 25-31 October
Hocus Pocus with a live orchestra
One of the coolest things to do this year is at Bridgewater Hall, where they will be screening Hocus Pocus – with a live orchestra playing its iconic soundtrack. Be quick as tickets flew out for last year’s showing, and with it being on All Hallows Eve this time, it will be even quicker.
Hocus Pocus – Bridgewater Hall – 31 October
Halloween at the Warehouse Projects
For a less wholesome Halloween experience Warehouse Project has a Halloween line-up, nothing overtly scary about this one except its spookily good line-up (sorry, I have a quota on puns for this article).
Suitably named Skream will be in attendance with sets also from Annie Mac, Denis Sulta, Dusky, Dan Shake and Chaos in the CBD. It’ll be a night to remember so make sure you cop a ticket.
Halloween at The Warehouse Project – Depot Mayfield – 28 October
Bongo’s Bingo Halloween Special
Bongo’s Bingo never disappoints for a night out with your mates. The Halloween special is the crazy Bongo’s Bingo as you know it but with a spooky soundtrack, themed prizes and lots of fancy dress. This won’t disappoint.
Bongo’s Bingo Halloween Special – Albert Hall – 31 October
Mvson Halloween
The final recommendation is Mvson Halloween. Hosted by Mvson Collective (that alone will guarantee a fun night), the event includes a host of DJ’s like Beltran, Prunk and AJ Christou all ready to bring the spooky vibes.
Mvson Halloween – Love Factory – 28 October