Pumpkin picking, spooky screenings and family-friendly frights
No matter how old you are, with little ones in tow, it’s hard not to get swept up in the Halloween spirit. And, akin to most things with kids, you’re far better just leaning into the madness. So whether you’re planning a wholesome family day out pumpkin picking or you’ve got your eye on a spooky screening, we’ve got you covered with a whole host of kid's Halloween activities across Manchester this October.
For Halloween activities for adults, check out What's on in Manchester: Halloween 2024.
Kenyon Hall Pumpkin Festival
28 September - 31 October
Tickets from £2.95
Home to over 20,000 pumpkins, Kenyon Hall Farm is the place to go for this year's jack-o-lantern. With plenty of photo opportunities and a carving tent packed with design ideas, there's everything you need to create your own Halloween friend. Plus there's an on-site farm cafe for you to grab a hot chocolate (or two) once you're done.
Halloween Pumpkin Festival
12-31 October
Tickets from £10.50
From vampire archery to petting baby goats, giant bouncy outdoor pillows and a ride on the Spooky Express, Reddish Vale Farm has it all. With a dedicated pumpkin carving station for you to craft your own spooky creations, there's plenty to keep little hands busy.
The Trafford Trails
Trafford Centre
17 October - 3 November
Tickets from £9
Join the team behind The Twilight Trail for a spooktacular journey filled with family-friendly scares. With over 100,000 lights and immersive installations, The Trafford Trails will transport you to a sensory Halloween adventure. Perfect for children of all ages.
Ghost Train
24-31 October
Tickets from £12
All aboard! Join forces with the Monster Squad and help them squash a host of ghoulish villains along the East Lancashire Railway. You'll enjoy a haunted house walkthrough, a 60-minute steam train ride, spooky entertainment and a goody bag for each child.
Manchester Science Festival: Arachnobot
19-20 October
Free
Get ready to meet the unforgettable Arachnobot as it takes over the Manchester Arndale just in time for Halloween. This incredible giant spider, created by Artistic Director Tim Davies, Arachnobot will both terrify and enchant passers-by in a high-impact spectacle controlled by a single puppeteer. In partnership with Manchester Science Festival 2024, you can also get involved in special spider science activities, finding out about how spiders use vibrations to locate their prey.
Manchester Halloween Monsters
Across the city
25-31 October
Free
Manchester knows how to do Halloween. And if you're looking for something free to do in Manchester city centre this October then the Halloween monsters are a great place to start. The inflatable street art by Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas has been a Halloween staple in Manchester for the past few years and everyone's favourite monsters will be cropping up again in 2024.
HALLOWGREEN
Merseyway Shopping Centre and Redrock Stockport
26 October
Free
Make your way to the glittering Emerald City at Merseyway and enjoy sparkling performances from the most popular oz-some characters. Armed with a magical map, little witches and wizards can find the yellow brick road on the trick-or-treat trail. Then, from 5 pm Stockport will transform into Greenrock for an evening of wicked games and a mini disco outside Redrock.
Mini Monster Mash
26 October
Tickets from £4
Head down to the historic Victoria Baths for a one-of-a-kind day of activities. With a silent disco for mini-monsters to boogie along to, crafts to get stuck into and a Halloween-themed ‘Miles of Tiles’ activity trail, there's plenty to enjoy.
Want to loop us in on the best things happening this Halloween for kids? Email Charleym@confidentials.com
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Read next: What’s on in Manchester: Halloween 2024
Read again: What's on in Manchester: October 2024
