This weekend 23–25 Oct
115 things on in Manchester from Friday to Sunday. Our picks first, then everything, a day at a time. Last checked 18 October 2026.
Picks for the weekend
All weekend 24 Oct to 25 Oct · Free
Halloween in the City
Across the city centre, City centre
Free weekender with giant inflatable monsters, street performers, DJs, fancy dress and a roaming procession.
All weekend 24 Oct to 1 Nov · Free
Hidden Horrors Trails
13 Manchester parks, Across Manchester
Free Halloween trails over half term in 13 council parks, including Heaton Park, Boggart Hole Clough, Platt Fields, Wythenshawe Park, Debdale, Alexandra Park, Cringle Park, Fog Lane Park and Chorlton Water Park.
Fri 7pm
The Coral
Albert Hall, City centre
Tickets from £30.
Fri 7pm
The Buzzcocks - Attitude Adjustment
Holy Diver, Stockport
Tickets from £35.
Sat 12pm · Free
Merseyday of the Dead
Merseyway and Redrock, Stockport
Trail, crafts and safe trick-or-treating at Merseyway 12pm-3pm, then a Day of the Dead parade at Redrock 5pm-7pm.
Sat 3pm · From £22
Solstice presents UKG Halloween
Escape to Freight Island, City centre
Halloween UK garage day party with Oxide & Neutrino and more.
Sun 10am
Raver Tots Halloween Party Manchester
Freight Island, Castlefield
Tickets from £15.
Sun 7:30pm · £25 to £35
All Killa No Filla: Live at Halloween
The Hall, Aviva Studios, Castlefield
The true-crime comedy podcast live on stage for Halloween.
Friday
48 on23 Oct
- 10am
42 Great Southern St
Friday 23 Oct · one-off
- Till 7pm
Band on the Wall (Copper Bar)
£4 pints, £14 house wine, 2 cocktails for £12. Monday, Tuesday and Sunday only when there's an event on.
- 4pmtill 6:30pm
Horse and Jockey
£7 classic cocktails, £4 pints, £4 house wine, £6 spritz of the week.
- 4pmtill 7pm
PLY
All day on Wednesdays. £3.50 lager and cider, £12 house wine, £5 spritz.
- 4pmtill 7pm
Wynwood Lanes
£7.50 selected cocktails, £4.50 house lager and cider, £15 bottles of wine.
- 6pmonwards
The Refuge
Resident DJs in the Public Bar playing funk, soul, disco and house. Free.
- 6:30pm
O2 Apollo Manchester
Friday 23 Oct · one-off
- 6:45pm
Creatures Comedy Club
Comedy Kick-Off: an early, hour-long show. Pay what you think.
- 7pm
- 7pmtill 2am
Albert's Schloss
Haus band and cabaret, free and no ticket needed. Over 21s from 6pm.
- 7pm
Band on the Wall
Friday 23 Oct · one-off
- 7pm
- 7pm
Manchester Academy
Friday 23 Oct · one-off
- 7pm
- 7pmonwards
Ramona
Free entry. Weekend club nights at MOT Station.
- 7pmtill 3am
The Blues Kitchen
Live band and DJs till 3am.
- 7pm
The Bread Shed
Friday 23 Oct · one-off
- 7pm
- 7:30pm
Aatma
Friday 23 Oct · one-off
- 7:30pmtill 3am
- 8pm
EVA
Friday karaoke. Other nights on the EVA site.
- 8pm
- 8pmfrom about
Matt & Phred's
Varies by listing
Live music every night. Set times are on the venue's monthly gig calendar.
- 8pm
The Goose
Friday karaoke.
- 8pmonwards
Via
Friday cabaret. Other nights listed on the Via site.
- 8:30pm
Creatures Comedy Club
Friday Night Comedy Showcase. Tickets £14.
- 8:30pm
Fuel The Music
Artists Showcase: independent and unsigned acts.
- 8:30pmtill 1am
- 9pmonwards
Band on the Wall (Copper Bar)
Night Shift: free live music in the Copper Bar till late.
- 9pmonwards
The Fitzgerald
Free entry. Jazz, blues, soul and acoustic till about 2:30am.
- 9pm
Thompsons Arms
Friday entertainment. Other nights may also have hosts.
- 10pmtill 2am
- 10:30pm
42's
Friday club night.
- 10:30pm
FAC251
Friday club night.
- 11pmtill 3am
- 11pmtill 4am
- 11pmtill 5am
- 11pm
SOUP
Friday club night in the basement. Check SOUP for listings.
- 11pm
- TBCcheck with venue
Co-op Live
Friday 23 Oct · one-off
- TBCcheck with venue
Kahiki Soundhouse
Acoustic session, duelling pianos and DJ.
- TBCcheck with venue
Lloyd and Platt
DJs in the pub (Kamera Ballroom is upstairs). Start time isn't published.
- TBCcheck with venue
Semitone Studios
Live music and some spoken word. Start time isn't published.
- TBCcheck with venue
The Oast House
Live music every day. Check the venue for set times.
Running all Friday
- 1 Octto 1 Nov
CULTPLEX STAB 2026 Horror Season
Paid per screening
A month of adult horror films at the independent cinema on Red Bank. Screening times vary, so check the programme and book ahead.
Tickets and details: cultplex.co.uk · Checked 17 Oct
- 2 Octto 31 Oct
Weird Wonders at Museum of Illusions
From about £24 · Family
Halloween takeover of the Market Street museum during normal opening hours. Halloween packages include a free 3D puzzle. Booking advised.
Tickets and details: moimanchester.com · Checked 17 Oct
- 10 Octto 1 Nov
Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular
Paid · Family
Halloween family circus show in a big top at the Trafford Centre. Shows are usually at 12pm, 2:30pm and 5:30pm, but times vary by day. Book ahead.
Tickets and details: gandeyscircus.com · Checked 17 Oct
- 17 Octto 1 Nov
Trafford Centre Halloween Fair
Paid entry plus ride tokens · Family
Halloween funfair outside The Great Hall. Opens at 4pm instead of 2pm from 19 to 23 October. Booking online advised.
Tickets and details: traffordcentre.co.uk · Checked 17 Oct
Saturday
60 on24 Oct
- 12pmonwards
Merseyday of the Dead
Free · All ages
Trail, crafts and safe trick-or-treating at Merseyway 12pm-3pm, then a Day of the Dead parade at Redrock 5pm-7pm.
Tickets and details: merseyway.com · Checked 17 Oct
- 3pmtill 9pm
Solstice presents UKG Halloween
From £22 · 18+
Halloween UK garage day party with Oxide & Neutrino and more.
Tickets and details: escapetofreightisland.com · Checked 17 Oct
- 5:30pmonwards
Radcliffe Cricket Club Fireworks Display
£10 adult, £4 child (15 and under), £24 family, plus fee · All ages
Musical display by BrightSparks at 8pm, plus a funfair. No bonfire. Enter from Unsworth Street. Nearly sold out last year, so book ahead.
Tickets and details: ticketebo.co.uk · Checked 17 Oct
- Till 3am
The Blues Kitchen
House band plays three live soul sets, DJs in between, till 3am.
- 12pm
The Cockatoo Club
Saturday drag brunch. Book on the Cockatoo site.
- 1pm
- 3pm
Freight Island
Saturday 24 Oct · one-off
- 3:30pmtill 2am
Albert's Schloss
Saturday party with live acts from the afternoon. Over 21s from 6pm.
- Till 7pm
Band on the Wall (Copper Bar)
£4 pints, £14 house wine, 2 cocktails for £12. Monday, Tuesday and Sunday only when there's an event on.
- 4pm
Club Tropicana
Saturday club. Friday hours on the Rembrandt site.
- 5pmtill 6pm
Matt & Phred's
Early + evening sets
Free early gig around 5 to 6pm, plus a later bill. Check that week's listings.
- 5:30pm
- 6pmonwards
The Refuge
Resident DJs in the Public Bar playing funk, soul, disco and house. Free.
- 6:15pm
- 6:30pm
- 7pm
Aatma
Saturday 24 Oct · one-off
- 7pm
- 7pm
- 7pm
- 7pm
- 7pm
- 7pm
O2 Ritz
Saturday 24 Oct · one-off
- 7pmonwards
Ramona
Free entry. Weekend club nights at MOT Station.
- 7pmtill 1am
Ramona
Saturday 24 Oct (runs overnight) · one-off
- 7pm
The Bread Shed
Saturday 24 Oct · one-off
- 7pm
The Deaf Institute
Saturday 24 Oct · one-off
- 8pm
Cuckoo
Live bands on Saturdays. Check the Cuckoo site for who's on.
- 8pm
- 8pmfrom about
Matt & Phred's
Varies by listing
Live music every night. Set times are on the venue's monthly gig calendar.
- 8pm
- 8:30pm
Bar Pop
Saturday cabaret. Check Bar Pop for brunch times too.
- 8:30pm
- 8:30pm
Fuel The Music
Artists Showcase: independent and unsigned acts.
- 9pmonwards
Band on the Wall (Copper Bar)
La Fiesta: free funk, soul, Afrobeat, Latin and jazz till late.
- 9pmonwards
The Fitzgerald
Free entry. Live music till about 2:30am.
- 10pmtill 4am
- 10pm
The Church
Saturday drag cabaret.
- 10:30pm
42's
Saturday club night.
- 10:30pmtill 5am
- 10:30pm
FAC251
Saturday club night.
- 11pm
- 11pm
Cruz 101
Saturday club night until morning.
- 11pmtill 4am
- 11pmtill 4am
Sankeys Manchester
Saturday club night. Line-up changes weekly; autumn season runs to mid-December.
- 11pm
- 11pm
SOUP
Saturday club night in the basement. Check SOUP for listings.
- 11pmtill 4am
- TBCcheck with venue
Co-op Live
Saturday 24 Oct · one-off
- TBCcheck with venue
Creatures Comedy Club
Afternoon (5:30pm) and evening (8:30pm) showcases. Tickets from £7 for the afternoon, £17 for the evening.
- TBCcheck with venue
Lloyd and Platt
DJs in the pub (Kamera Ballroom is upstairs). Start time isn't published.
- TBCcheck with venue
Nook
Local live acoustic. Start time isn't published.
- TBCcheck with venue
The Oast House
Live music every day. Check the venue for set times.
Running all Saturday
- 1 Octto 1 Nov
CULTPLEX STAB 2026 Horror Season
Paid per screening
A month of adult horror films at the independent cinema on Red Bank. Screening times vary, so check the programme and book ahead.
Tickets and details: cultplex.co.uk · Checked 17 Oct
- 2 Octto 31 Oct
Weird Wonders at Museum of Illusions
From about £24 · Family
Halloween takeover of the Market Street museum during normal opening hours. Halloween packages include a free 3D puzzle. Booking advised.
Tickets and details: moimanchester.com · Checked 17 Oct
- 10 Octto 1 Nov
Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular
Paid · Family
Halloween family circus show in a big top at the Trafford Centre. Shows are usually at 12pm, 2:30pm and 5:30pm, but times vary by day. Book ahead.
Tickets and details: gandeyscircus.com · Checked 17 Oct
- 17 Octto 1 Nov
Trafford Centre Halloween Fair
Paid entry plus ride tokens · Family
Halloween funfair outside The Great Hall. Opens at 4pm instead of 2pm from 19 to 23 October. Booking online advised.
Tickets and details: traffordcentre.co.uk · Checked 17 Oct
- 24 Octto 1 Nov
Heaton Park of Horrors: Halloween Night Tubing
From £25, plus £5 booking fee per order · 9+
Haunted night tubing on selected dates, aimed at teens and adults.
Tickets and details: zipworld.co.uk · Checked 17 Oct
- 24 Octto 25 Oct
Halloween in the City
Free · All ages
Free weekender with giant inflatable monsters, street performers, DJs, fancy dress and a roaming procession. The MCR Monsters trail stays up until 31 October.
Tickets and details: cityco.com · Checked 16 Oct
- 24 Octto 31 Oct
Victoria Park Guardians: The Lost Key
£7 per child, £5 each extra child · Ages 3-12
Halloween adventure trail for children, sessions of up to 90 minutes. Book on Eventbrite.
Tickets and details: eventbrite.com · Checked 17 Oct
Sunday
27 on25 Oct
- 7:30pm
All Killa No Filla: Live at Halloween
£25 to £35, plus £2.50 fee · 16+
The true-crime comedy podcast live on stage for Halloween.
Tickets and details: factoryinternational.org · Checked 17 Oct
- 10amtill 12pm
- 3pmonwards
Saison
Live jazz every Sunday from 3pm. Free.
- Till 7pm
Band on the Wall (Copper Bar)
£4 pints, £14 house wine, 2 cocktails for £12. Monday, Tuesday and Sunday only when there's an event on.
- 4pmtill 7pm
Wynwood Lanes
£7.50 selected cocktails, £4.50 house lager and cider, £15 bottles of wine.
- 6pmtill 9pm
Dear Sailor
Live soul sessions and DJs, then a DJ party from 9pm.
- 7pm
Albert Hall
Sunday 25 Oct · one-off
- 7pm
Gorilla
Sunday 25 Oct · one-off
- 7:45pm
Band on the Wall
Sunday 25 Oct · one-off
- 7:45pm
The Lowry
Sunday 25 Oct · one-off
- 8pmfrom about
Matt & Phred's
Varies by listing
Live music every night. Set times are on the venue's monthly gig calendar.
- 8:30pm
Creatures Comedy Club
Made in Manchester: a showcase of local comics. Tickets from £5.
- 8:30pm
- 8:30pm
Park Inn Hotel
Run by SpeedQuizzing. Free, teams up to 6.
- 10pm
New Union Hotel
Sunday cabaret from 10pm.
- TBCcheck with venue
AO Arena
Sunday 25 Oct · one-off
- TBCcheck with venue
Co-op Live
Sunday 25 Oct · one-off
- TBCcheck with venue
Kahiki Soundhouse
Acoustic session, duelling pianos and DJ.
- TBCcheck with venue
The Oast House
Live music every day. Check the venue for set times.
Running all Sunday
- 1 Octto 1 Nov
CULTPLEX STAB 2026 Horror Season
Paid per screening
A month of adult horror films at the independent cinema on Red Bank. Screening times vary, so check the programme and book ahead.
Tickets and details: cultplex.co.uk · Checked 17 Oct
- 2 Octto 31 Oct
Weird Wonders at Museum of Illusions
From about £24 · Family
Halloween takeover of the Market Street museum during normal opening hours. Halloween packages include a free 3D puzzle. Booking advised.
Tickets and details: moimanchester.com · Checked 17 Oct
- 10 Octto 1 Nov
Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular
Paid · Family
Halloween family circus show in a big top at the Trafford Centre. Shows are usually at 12pm, 2:30pm and 5:30pm, but times vary by day. Book ahead.
Tickets and details: gandeyscircus.com · Checked 17 Oct
- 17 Octto 1 Nov
Trafford Centre Halloween Fair
Paid entry plus ride tokens · Family
Halloween funfair outside The Great Hall. Opens at 4pm instead of 2pm from 19 to 23 October. Booking online advised.
Tickets and details: traffordcentre.co.uk · Checked 17 Oct
- 24 Octto 1 Nov
Heaton Park of Horrors: Halloween Night Tubing
From £25, plus £5 booking fee per order · 9+
Haunted night tubing on selected dates, aimed at teens and adults.
Tickets and details: zipworld.co.uk · Checked 17 Oct
- 24 Octto 25 Oct
Halloween in the City
Free · All ages
Free weekender with giant inflatable monsters, street performers, DJs, fancy dress and a roaming procession. The MCR Monsters trail stays up until 31 October.
Tickets and details: cityco.com · Checked 16 Oct
- 24 Octto 31 Oct
Victoria Park Guardians: The Lost Key
£7 per child, £5 each extra child · Ages 3-12
Halloween adventure trail for children, sessions of up to 90 minutes. Book on Eventbrite.
Tickets and details: eventbrite.com · Checked 17 Oct
This weekend is over. See what's on this week.
Something missing? Tell us. Free nights only: free things to do.