THAT time of the year is coming around again. Tesco is selling gigantic pumpkins and a wide range of costumes from cute witch outfits to a hellish devils. Every shop you walk into is selling fake blood and vampire fangs.
It’s Halloween! In order to show off your carefully (or hastily) put together costumes, it’s a given that you need to go to a suitably spooky event.
This guide to Halloween has an event that will pike the interest of everybody, whether Halloween is a ritual celebration for you, or just a bit of fun.
MANCHESTER HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL
Date: 21-31 October 2016.
Manchester is celebrating Halloween in style this year. Manchester city will be decked out in Halloween paraphernalia, while the eerie sounds of cackling witches and wolves howls will sound through the streets. Pumpkins will decorate the streets and cemetery gates are set to be installed to draw tourists and residents into the city centre. If you’re scared of spiders, beware, because a giant spider is going to be set free.
Manchester Arndale, Selfridges, House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols will have a spooky new gothic look when they are lit up to add to the eerie intended atmosphere. It is also said that shop windows will be dressed up in the spirit of Halloween too.
If you are feeling brave enough, you can join a ghost walk to unearth the darker side of Manchester.
Manchester City is putting on both family friendly and 18+ only spooktacular events this Halloween as the celebration has grown more popular throughout the U.K. in recent years.
CAT CAFE MANCHESTER
Date: 24- 31 October 2016.
For those of you who are a bit of a scaredy cat, this is the event for you. Cat Cafe Manchester, in the Northern Quarter, is putting on a Halloween themed film festival.
The films include Halloween classics like The Shining, Saw, Dawn of the Dead, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 
and Halloween.
The cat cafe, which is set up like cat heaven, houses 10 purebred cats including Ragdolls, a Maincoon, a British Shorthair and a Chinchilla Persian. So they’re not exactly going to save you from anything incredibly spooky, but you can sure enjoy lots of cat cuddles for a perfect Halloween night in.
Tickets can be bought at catcafe.co.uk.
HOUSE OF THE DEAD
Date: Throughout October.
For those of you who are looking for a real scare this Halloween, this event may be the one for you.
Essentially, this is a haunted house. Guests walk through the house to experience a live, immersive and apparently terrifying show.
In response to the question, “is it scary?”, the House of the dead’s FAQ states that, “hopefully we have something to give you all sleepless nights. Although we can’t guarantee you will be screaming, we take scaring very seriously. This is not just a ghost train- we want to make you cry!”
It sounds like this one is only for those of you who are serious about being scared out of your wits.
Tickets are available at www.houseofthedead.com
ATMOSFEAR
Date: 28 October 2016
The University of Salford’s Student Union is putting on a big party this year. It is dubbed the “secret location party”.
This is the Student Union’s second year of putting on this event and by all reports, this year is going to be even bigger and better than the complete sell-out success of last years Halloween.
Guests meet at Atmosphere Kitchen & Bar before being transported by coach to an ultimate undisclosed location for a night of Halloween fun and madness.
Tickets can be bought here: http://www.salfordstudents.com/events/atmosfear-secret-location-party
BONGO’S BINGO HALLOWEEN SPECIAL FEATURING FATMAN SCOOP
Date: 28 October 2016
Bongo’s Bingo is a guaranteed great night- Jonny Bongo, Sweaty Betty and Slutty Sue take over Albert Hall with a hilarious twist on the traditional game of bingo. The bingo rounds are intermittently played with rave rounds, dance offs and party anthems.
If your bingo card survives the drunk people splashing drinks while dancing on the table tops, you can win pretty great prizes too. Who’s up for winning 100 pounds or a Henry Hoover?
This Halloween special is all of the usual plus a Halloween theme and FATMAN SCOOP. Need I say more?
Book your tickets at www.skiddle.com
COMEDY MURDER MYSTERY DINNER
Date: 28 October 2016.
Grosvenor Casino in Stockport is putting on a murder mystery night with Laugh and Let Die Entertainment.
Guests mingle with the characters upon arrival, before witnessing the action and then putting on their detective hats to interrogate suspects and try to solve the crime.
The evening includes a two course dinner.
Book tickets at www.skiddle.com
HALLOWEEN GHOST TRAIN
Date: 28-31 October 2016.
This event is not for those who are afraid of creepy and let’s just be honest, absolutely terrifying, clowns…
The East Lancashire Railway is taking passengers, including circus freaks (yes, clowns!) on a steam train from Bury to Rawtenstall and back.
Those who are courageous enough to climb onboard the steam trains take on the task of helping the harrowing characters to break the curse which dooms them to reappear every year.
Food and drink refreshments will be available at the station buffet. Children will receive goody bags.
For those that didn’t get enough of the fun onboard the ghost train can head to the Bury Transport Museum where a mad scientist workshop will be held.
Tickets are available at www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk
ILLUMINAUGHTY- DAY OF THE DEAD.
Date: 29 October 2016
This indoor festival is held at Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester. It is seriously jam packed full of things to do so everybody can go along and find something that spikes their interest.
The festival includes a plethora of activities including six fully themed arenas, (including Purgatory, The Mortuary, Forbidden Jungle, Silk Road and The Temple) , indoor bumper cars, an outdoor fun fair, a live art exhibition, a matrix laser show, a laser quest, a thunderdome, a retro arcade, confetti cannons, fire and pyrotechnics, a market area and of course fancy dress.
That is an impressive list of activities, so to help you tick off everything you want to see, dance to and do, there is also a food court where you can re-fuel.
Headlining acts include Askillz, Black Sun Empire, Skazi, Electric Universe, Krafty Kuts and Outside The Universe.
Tickets are available from www.skiddle.com
HIDDEN NIGHTCLUB
Date: 29 October 2016
Hidden Nightclub was the 2015 “secret location” from the previously mentioned USSU Halloween party.
The location is a little way out of the city centre and is located right near Strangeways Prison. It is one of those converted warehouses that now serve as a multi room club. The club areas are comprised of The Basement Room (The Den), Blue Room, Courtyard and Hangar Space.
This club feels exclusive and secretive due to the elusive location and the deserted feeling in the building. Who’s betting it will be decorated to be extra spooky for Halloween?
Tickets are available from www.skiddle.com
MANCHESTER HALLOWEEN PARADE
Date: 30 October 2016
Thousands of ghosts, ghouls, zombies and vampires are expected to be walking the streets of Manchester on Halloween weekend.
Get your fake blood, creepy contacts and costumes ready.
The scare-walk will leave from Printworks at 6pm. Restaurants are bars in the area will be advertising specials for people dressed in costume.
Pre-registering for the event is recommended as only 2,500 people are permitted to embark on the walk. Register at www.manchesterhalloweenparade.co.uk.
Let us know where you’re headed this Halloween with the hashtag #SpookQuays
By Hayley Elg
Recent Comments