Spooky season is upon us and the 24 hour countdown is on to order those finishing touches to your costume on Amazon. Halloween celebrations are not just for the Americans now. The fun of dressing up as something comedic, controversial or provocative has travelled across the waters, with costume limitations exceeding just something scary. Personally, I’m not a big fan of Halloween with costume politics creating a crippling anxiety painting all festivities in dark shadows but any excuse now to gather the group and hit the town, I’m in. I’ve curated a list of the best events happening on Halloween in Manchester. The last time Halloween fell on a Saturday was in 2020 and there’s probably a reason why you can’t remember it as going outside was the horror movie itself. A Saturday Halloween won’t happen again until 2037 so time to make it count!
Here’s a list of places scarier than Market Street Primark on a Saturday afternoon:
Saturday night spookies
YES Bar
Party Girls crawls out of the grave for one night only as 365 PARTY GHOULS…take over the YES Pink Room for a very spooky night of pop, club, edits, remixes and certified Party Girls chaos. Featuring Luna Lazer and hosted by Kaoti.
Tickets are £7.
From 11pm at 38 Charles St.
The Deaf Institute
The Oxford Road club are playing 2000s and 2010s anthems for their ‘So Fetch Halloween Party’ so whether you were a skater boi, or spent the decade hanging out under your umberella-Ella-Ella-eh, you can expect to hear your faves on the night! Mean Girls fancy dress is highly encouraged.
Tickets are £14.50.
From 11pm at 135 Grosvenor St.
Dahlia Stereo
From the team behind Ramona and Firehouse, Manchester’s newest and hottest latin-inspired bar and restaurant is hosting Mexico-born DJ, Coco Maria for an extended set called ‘Death by Disco’. A little party never killed anyone…
Book a table or join the waiting list on their website.
Unit 1 + 2, The Hive, 47 Lever St.
42s
This club never disappoints on the bops. The Halloween All-nighter is back for another year and Dj’s Dale & Chris will be playing 42’s classics and halloween bangers right through until 5am.
Early bird tickets sold out but if you turn up, last entry is 3am.
From 10:30pm at 2 Bootle St.
Don’t F**k with Disco
The touring disco night returns to the Albert Hall for a late-night celebration of disco, house, funk, soul and more. No costume means no entry so guests are encouraged to go all out. Tickets are sold out but this is an event to keep an eye on if it returns, or if you can get your hands on a resell!
From 11pm at 27 Peter St.
Diecast
‘Doomsday Halloween Weekender’ are three words that certainly sound like a good time. There’s two events (Dance Till Ya Dead and The Rocky Horror Beerhall) happening on Friday and Saturday across the venue. Expect the unexpected as the venue descends into a world of infection, chaos and relentless energy. Friday tickets and group packages on Saturday are still available if you haven’t secured your group Halloween plans!
Tickets are £16.90.
From 8pm at 51 Ducie St.
Firehouse
Looking for some free tickets? Firehouse in NQ has you covered! They present Death by Disco, with their usual extravagant performances, ‘where cabaret meets club culture’. Book a table or just rock up, free to dance as always.
From 9pm at 40 Swan St.
Freight Island
They are putting the fright in Freight Island for one night only with R’n’B musical Halloween bingo from 7pm and an Over 30s event, Bez’s Halloween Party from 4pm if you fancy an early night.
Tickets for bingo are £22 and for Bez’s day party are £13.20.
From 7pm and 4pm at 11 Baring St.
Salt Dog Slims
The cocktail bar is the meeting location for a Monster Mash Halloween bar crawl and they’re also hosting their own party! The selling point is ‘free booze and epic tunes’. Need I say more?
Tickets for the bar crawl are £27.50
From 7:30pm at 17 Bow Ln.
Frights for all the family
Manchester Central Library
The library is providing a fun filled and free afternoon of spooky storytelling and Halloween crafts! There is face painting, family film club, lego and more.
From 1pm at St Peter’s Square.
Various locations
Halloween in the City & MCR Monsters: Giant inflatable monsters take over rooftops and buildings across Manchester city centre (including the Manchester Arndale, Printworks, and Corn Exchange) from October 24 to October 31, 2026.
Creepy Culture
HOME Cinema
One of my favourite places in the city is hosting an epic double bill of An American Werewolf in London and Shaun of the Dead. Scream and laugh at the same time but don’t drop your popcorn!
Tickets are £17 with concessions available.
From 7pm at 2 Tony Wilson Pl.
Treehouse hotel
Murder mystery fan? Look no further than the Treehouse hotel for a murder mystery themed dinner. Expect Halloween-themed entertainment, mysterious characters, clues, cocktails and plenty of twists as you attempt to solve the crime while enjoying an indulgent evening in Pip. Tickets include a three-course set menu and welcome drink. It’s giving Traitors energy!
Tickets are £60.
Friday 30th Oct, from 7pm at Blackfriars St.
