Halloween at the Trafford Centre: Spookfest returns with Pumpkin Tower, fairground rides and circus

The Trafford Centre has announced its program of events and attractions for Halloween season 2023, including the return of the five-metre Pumpkin Tower.

Open from Friday 13 October to Tuesday 31 October, the annual Spookfest will be taking over the shopping mall’s grounds and filling it with a whole range of attractions to keep both children and adults entertained this spooky season.

Here is everything you need to know about the Trafford Centre Spookfest, including how to book tickets.

Gandeys Spooktacular show

Gandeys circus are pitching up their heated Big Top and will be performing their Halloween show, featuring skeletons, vampires, jack o’lanterns and an international cast of talented Circus Artistes.

The shows will run from 13-30 October with both evening and matinee performances on some days. Ticket prices range from £9.99 (side) to £24.99 (premium ringside), plus a £1.50 booking. More information, including performance times for each day, can be found on Gandey’s ticket booking website.

Fairground rides and Pumpkin Tower

As in previous years, there will be a number of fairground rides and games for visitors to have a go on, including Rock Rage, Ghost Train and Extreme.

Tickets cost £3 when booked online in advance, plus a 30p booking fee, or £3.50 on the door. Tokens for the rides are purchased separately. More information, including on how to book tickets, can be found on the Trafford Centre website.

Visitors will also have the perfect Halloween-themed photo opportunity next to the five-metre pumpkin tower, which is made up of 250 pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. For context, that is higher than two Christmas trees, a single decker bus and almost the height of a giraffe.

The Trafford Centre is also offering free face painting from 1:30-5:30pm on the weekend of 14-15 October, and then during half term on 21-29 October, but excluding 26 October.

If that was not enough Halloween fun, Spookfest will also be visited by some of your favourite spooky characters from films and TV. The list of guest characters are:

• Batman & Maleficent: 21 October
• Jack Skeleton: 22 October
• Scooby Doo & Maleficent: 23 October
• Jack Skeleton: 24 October
• Batman & Maleficent: 25 October
• Scooby Doo & Maleficent: 27 October
• Maleficent & Aurora: 28 October
• Jack Skeleton: 29 October