Monsters invade Manchester for Halloween Festival

A collection of 8 mind-bending inflatable giant monsters can be seen on top of some of the city's most iconic buildings.

Author: Victoria GloverPublished 25th Oct 2018

You may have noticed an invasion of monsters on some of Manchester’s most iconic buildings as the city prepares for its annual Halloween Festival.

'Halloween in the City' returns this weekend (Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th October) with a whole host of terrifyingly good (and free) events for all the family.

Headlining 2018’s event is a collection of 8 mind-bending inflatable giant monsters courtesy of artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas. The outlandish beasties have been specially created to take over the city’s rooftops and landmark buildings, including Manchester Arndale, House of Fraser, Manchester Hall, Mayfield, Piccadilly Place and 35 Dale Street.

The event has been organised by Manchester’s Business Improvement District, Manchester BID and families can get into the spirit with a Trick or Treat Trail around the city centre, an Enchanted Forest featuring a Room on the Broom Zone, plus wand and potion making at the Magic School and a Pumpkin Patch Sensory Play Zone for under-5s – all located in St Ann’s Square.

Over at the main stage in Exchange Square there’s a packed line-up of spooky specials courtesy of CBeebies and CBBC including showings of CBeebies favourites Hey Duggee, Sarah & Duck, Go Jetters and School of Roars and CBBC’s Creeped Out, Scream Street, Zig & Zag, The Worst Witch and Strange Hill High, plus there’s a premiere of the new Danger Mouse Halloween special.

For adults, Séance by DARKFIELD at The Royal Exchange Theatre is an unmissable immersive Halloween experience. Climb inside a shipping container and for twenty terrifying minutes, twenty people will experience an intense sonic performance that explores the group's psychology.

In the run up to Halloween in the City Manchester will once again be eerily awash with thousands of pumpkin lanterns and come nightfall Manchester shops and buildings including Manchester Town Hall, Afflecks, Harvey Nichols, Manchester Hall, Paperchase, MediaCom and more will glow a ghastly green.