Things to do in Manchester this weekend (28-30 October) including Halloween in the City

Halloween in the City

Various locations, all weekend

There are tons of Halloween-themed free events and attractions in Manchester this weekend. You may have already spotted the giant monsters taking over some of the city’s buildings – there’s 14 in total, try and find them all – but there will also be a Monsters Rock concert and parade, a fancy dress challenge, a Creepy Carnival and an interactive light display at St Anne’s Square, intriguingly titled Dr Dee’s Portal to Another World. Over at the Arndale, there will also be pumpkin carving, mask making and storytelling. More information can be found on the Visit Manchester website and on the CityCo website.

A Tribute to Black British Artists

The Royal Northern College of Music, Saturday 29 October, 7pm

The RNCM’s Session Orchestra and Soul Choir are celebrating Black British artists this weekend with an eclectic program of music from the likes of Stormzy, Lord Invader, Labi Siffre, Shirley Bassey, Mis-Teeq. The show is curated by student Jean-Paul Asumu in collaboration with Nate Holder and tutor Wayne Ellington.

Tickets cost £7.50 for people under 26 and students, £15 full price. More information can be found on the RNCM website.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

The Lowry Theatre,  27-30 October

The Olivier award-nominated stage adaptation of the hugely successful children’s book by Judith Kerr is coming to the Lowry this weekend. The show is suitable for children aged 3 and up and there are 10:30am and 1pm performances. Tickets start at £18 and can be found on the Lowry Theatre’s website.

Halloween Spooktacular

New Century, Sunday 30 October, 12-6pm

NOMA, together with Manchester’s CityCo are hosting a Halloween family fun day at New Century. There will be bouncy castles, face painting, a coven of dancing witches and a whole host of other activities to keep the little ones entertained. The venue boasts several kitchens, manned by independent traders, as well as a bar, so refreshments will also be available to buy. More information can be found on the Visit Manchester website – but please note, the date is incorrect. The event will take place on Sunday 30 October.

West Didsbury Comedy Festival

Various locations, 27-30 October

Some of the country’s best comedians, both established and up-and-coming, will be performing in various venues around South Manchester for the West Didsbury Comedy Festival. On the line-up are Taskmaster winner Sophie Duker, Ian Stone, Sara Barron, Joey Page and BBC New Comedy Award winner Yuriko Kotani among others. Some of the events are already sold out, so book quickly to avoid disappointment. Tickets are £20 per show and can be found on the JokePit website.

Guinness World Record - The Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Ghosts

Platt Fields Park, Saturday 29 October, 11am

Finally, if you want to be part of a Guiness World Record attempt at the largest gathering of people dressed as ghosts, then head down to Platt Fields Park this Saturday morning. The event is being organised by Paranormal Rescue, a paranormal investigation non-profit, who will be collecting donations for dog rescue charity The Greyhound Gap. Entry is free, but there are only 999 places and you can sign up via Eventbrite. Remember to bring your own ghost costume – if it rains, you can wear it over your rain jacket. The meeting point is the field near Grangethorpe Road and Manchester High School for Girls.