2021 marks the return of the monster invasion across Manchester! Here we have listed where you can find them around Manchester this Halloween. We have also included the monsters that will exclusively be visible on the 30th and 31st of October!

The monsters go up on the 25th of October and will be taken down after the 31st. There will be plenty of events happening on the weekend of Halloween to get everyone spooked for the day!

The Map

Scare Skate

22nd – 31st October

Scare Skate will be at Cathedral Gardens, the biggest outdoor ice rink will be taken over by the monsters of Manchester! These visitors will be sticking around from the 22nd of October until the 31st. There will be Halloween-themed music along with spooky lighting for the scare skate. They will also have some spooky skating monsters sneaking around the rink. The ticket prices start from £13 for adults and £11 for children.

Events from the 30th – 31st October

Monsters Welcome Procession

Market Street and Manchester Arndale

Saturday – 1pm, 3pm, 4pm
Sunday – 12pm, 1pm, 3pm

Walk the Plank, the creative geniuses behind the city’s Manchester Day procession will conduct a roving performance that you won’t want to miss. This is a welcome march unlike any other, meant to greet this year’s monstrous visitors. A wacky parade of monster puppets, stilt walkers, and a five-piece band is on the way. Bring your own welcome banner, either from home or from their Monster Lab.

Dr Mancenstein’s Castle & Gardens

St Ann’s Square

10am – 6pm

Welcome to the remains of Dr. Mancenstein’s destroyed castle, which, alongside her garden and cemetery, is home to a zoo of scary creatures. To mention a few, come face to face with dragons, enormous raiding crows, Mr Arsenic the castle butler, and spooky groundskeepers (oh, and be sure to watch out for the man-eating plants). The adventurous will be rewarded: among the eerie ruins, there are several photo opportunities.

The Monster Lab

Exchange Square

Monster Slime School – 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm
Build a Monster – Drop-in

Visit Exchange Square for a unique laboratory. With the aid of Dr. Mancenstein’s radioactive lab assistants, learn more about monsters, come face to face with Scary Garry (one of their big inflatables), build small monsters and welcome banners, and perform horrific experiments. At Monster Slime School, you may also learn how to manufacture your very own nasty slime.

Carnival of Monsters

New Cathedral Street

10am – 6pm

A Carnival of Monsters, a family-friendly freakshow featuring wandering circus monsters, sideshow booths, a kids’ carousel, and a classic helter-skelter, lands on New Cathedral Street. You’ll also be able to meet Creepy Annie, an inflatable creature whose menacing tentacles extend out between enormous skeletons as well as freak show-style posters. Rides cost £1 and age restrictions do apply on some rides.

Halloween in the City Photo Trail

Manchester Arndale, Exchange Square, Exchange Street, St Ann’s Square, Printworks

10am – 6pm

This spooky picture trail will give you the heebie-jeebies. Dress up as your chosen monster or Halloween figure and visit one of the eight picture backgrounds strewn across the city. Choose a backdrop and props (a monstrous invasion Manchester skyline, The Grimm Reaper, aliens, dragons, and castle gates are all available), strike your scariest pose, and tag @HalloweenMCR.

The Keeper’s Nests

St Ann’s Square

Saturday – 1pm, 3pm, 4pm
Sunday – 11am, 1pm, 2pm

Meet two enormous magpie puppets that are on the prowl for your secrets as they patrol the areas in their rickety, ramshackle nests.

CBeebies and CBBC Spooky Screenings

Royal Exchange Theatre, The Front Room, First Floor, M2 7DH

10am – 6pm

Halloween specials like Scream Street, Shaun the Sheep, Go Jetters and Pokémon will assist you to get you in the Halloween spirit this spooky season.

Monster DJ Truck

Market Street

10am – 6pm

DJ Ghostman (whose identity is concealed by a bedsheet) spins all of the best Halloween tunes and monster bops from the Monster DJ Truck, which is parked on Market Street for the night. Expect a combination of top-of-the-charts hits and frightening fan favourites.

There are plenty of events lined up in Manchester to keep you busy this weekend for Halloween, be sure you don’t miss out on this brilliant opportunity!