8 things to do in Greater Manchester this Halloween including pumpkin picking and Trafford Centre circus

There’s everything from pumpkin picking to the far-less family friendly scare experiences popping up in time for October 31. Here’s our pick of things to do.

The Manchester Monsters

From Friday 25 to Thursday 31 October, the Manchester Monsters are back in town. You can find the 16 huge inflatable creatures climbing over rooftops and creeping along streets across the city centre. Download the Manchester Monsters map to see if you can spot them all.

Halloween in the City Weekender

Head down to Manchester city centre for a range of ghostly activities on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October. There is something for all the family, with a Monster’s Rock! Party Procession, a Carnival of Monsters and a Halloween market, where a range of traders will be offering food, sweet treats, crafts and more.

Heaton Park of Horrors

From 19 to 27 October, Manchester’s Heaton Park will transform into a haunted treetop adventure. Zip World has created a netting walkway through the trees, and families are invited to bounce through the treetops, equipped with walkways, slides and hiding spots. Aimed at children between three and 16, visitors are warned to look out for blood-thirsty creatures and ghostly characters as they make their way through the treetops. If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on the ground, there will also be a spooky scavenger hunt.

Halloween in Afflecks

Iconic Northern Quarter shopping emporium Afflecks is getting a spooky makeover from October 21-27. From all-day spellcasting and a Ghoulish Glam makeup masterclass on 26 October and a witch’s broom workshop on 27 October, there is something for everyone to enjoy.  Between October 12 and 31 Animaid café will be hosting a costume contest, cupcake decorating, a murder mystery set and spooky prizes.

Pumpkin picking

Is Halloween ever complete without a home-carved pumpkin? You can pick your own at many locations across Greater Manchester. Reddish Vale Farm in Stockport, Cockfields Farm in Ashton and Smithills Open Farm in Bolton are all offering spooky pumpkin picking events.

Gandeys Circus Halloween Spooktacular, The Trafford Centre

Gandeys Circus has returned to The Trafford Centre until November 3 with an extra special Halloween big top show.  The cast includes skeletons, vampires, Jack-o’-lanterns and circus Artistes. This is the perfect day out for the family and is sure to keep the little ones entertained over the holidays.

Manchester Scare Factory, Diecast

There’s nothing quite like a horror-themed maze filled with chainsaw-wheedling clowns to put you in the Halloween mood. At the brand-new Manchester Scare Factory, you can experience just that, with two spooky mazes complete with jump scares and interactions with actors. After the fright of your life, treat yourself to a meal and drinks at Diecast’s Warehouse Kitchen. Manchester Scare factory is recommended for people aged 14 and over, with under 18-year-olds accompanied by an adult. You can see just how terrifying it is in the video at the top of this page.

Scare City at Chorley’s abandoned Camelot Theme Park

If you are prepared to venture slightly beyond Greater Manchester, a thrilling time at Scare City awaits. Set in the now abandoned Camelot theme park, Scare City combines intricate set design, live actors, and terrifying SFX as visitors make their way through a continuous trail of terror. Scare City runs until November 3 and brave souls can book tickets here.