Manchester’s famous Halloween monsters are set to return this month, alongside a two-day family festival across the city.
Created by artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas, the looming familiar faces will take over several Manchester landmarks from Sat 25 Oct – Fri 31 Oct.
The MCR Monster Trail will feature 13 monster locations to find across the week, and four more to be found exclusively at the Halloween in the City weekender.
This year welcomes several newcomers, including Rocky Boo-Boa at Manchester Arndale, Spooky Spice at AO Arena, Bruce Springscream at New Century, and R.STINKWORP at Printworks. At ground level, Cru-hella will be stalking visitors throughout the festival weekend, while favourites including Ooey, Gooey and Scary Gary return.
The trail also expands into new territory with monstrous additions at the Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly, where Spookadilly will greet guests and at Treehouse Hotel Manchester, where Branchzilla will take root.
They join Terrif-eye at Corn Exchange Manchester, The Mayfield Menace at Depot Mayfield, Horrible Harvey at Harvey Nichols Mancheser, KRAMPUS at KAMPUS, Harry and Gordon at Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square and The Ghoullaghers at The Royal Exchange.
Where to find Manchester’s Halloween Monsters
Rocky Boo-Boa
Manchester Arndale, Exchange Square, M4 3AJ, Above Next
R.STINKWORP
Printworks, Pumpyard, 27 Withy Grove, Printworks, M4 2BS – Inside
Terrif-Eye
Corn Exchange Manchester, Manchester, M4 3TR – Inside
10.30am-11.30pm only
Harry and Gordon
Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square, 1 Exchange Square, M3 1BD
Ooey
Exchange Square, M3 1BD – Opposite Selfridges
Sat 25 & Sun 26 only
Scary Gary
Exchange Square, M3 1BD
Sat 25 & Sun 26 only
Horrible Harvey
Harvey Nichols Manchester, 21 New Cathedral Street, M1 1AD
Cru-hella
New Cathedral Street, M1 1AD
Sat 25 & Sun 26 only
The Ghoullaghers
The Royal Exchange Manchester, Exchange Street, M2 7EF
Gooey
St Ann’s Square, M2 2HQ 0ppposite McDonalds
Sat 25 & Sun 26 only
Branchzilla
Treehouse Hotel Manchester, Blackfriars Street, Manchester, M3 2EQ
Spooky Spice
AO Arena, Hunts Bank Approach, Manchester, M3 1AR
Bruce Springscream
New Century at NOMA, New Century, 34 Hanover Street, Manchester, M4 4AH
KRAMPUS
The Bungalow, KAMPUS, 44 Aytoun Street, Manchester, M1 3GL
The Mayfield Menace
Depot Mayfield, 11 Baring Street, Manchester, M1 2PY
Spookadilly
Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly, 91 London Road, Manchester, M1 2PG
On Sat 25 Oct – Sun 26 Oct, the Halloween in the City Festival will feature a range of family-friendly activities, including games, storytelling and the Monster Party Procession, complete with giant puppet monsters, stilt walkers, and a live band.
Leading this year’s line-up of new attractions over the Halloween in the City weekend is the launch of Monster Fashion Week on New Cathedral Street. Festivalgoers are invited to strut and showcase their costumes, with the most terrifyingly stylish in with a chance of being crowned Manchester’s Most Monstrous and winning a £100 shopping gift card.
Also new this year is The Monster Library at Manchester Arndale. Here, Z Arts will bring stories to life with interactive performances of The Legend of the MCR Monsters. Families can step inside an immersive world of myths and monster magic to find out all about the MCR Monsters and why they love to visit Manchester each year.
Exchange Square will become the Rave-Yard, hosted by DJ Ghostman and featuring disco play sessions with Born to Be Wild Child alongside live ska favourites Half Baked. Over in St Ann’s Square, the Carnival of Monsters returns, hosted by family favourite – Super Duper Festival, with circus performers, hula hooping workshops, a hall of mirrors and the terrifying eight-metre-long Leech. This giant creature will slither through the crowds at 11am, 2pm and 4.30pm daily, accompanied by skeleton puppets and a stilt-walking ringmaster.
Throughout the festival, streets will be taken over by the Monster Party Procession. Giant puppets, stilt walkers and a live brass band will parade through Manchester’s shopping streets, spreading monstrous mischief at every turn. For younger visitors, the Monster Sticker Hunt offers a chance to collect creature parts across festival locations, build their own beast and claim a prize.
Come nightfall, buildings across the city will also be turning a ghoulish green, while thousands of pumpkin lanterns will once again adorn the city’s streets.
Coinciding with Manchester’s Halloween celebrations, Scare Skate makes a return to Cathedral Gardens from Sat 25 Oct – Fri 31 Oct. Scare Skate is a ticketed attraction and can be booked here.
Manchester Halloween in the City dates & times
The Rave-Yard
Exchange Square
Sat 25 Oct, 10am – 6pm
Sun 26 Oct, 10am – 5pm
Monster Fashion Week
New Cathedral Street
Sat 25 Oct, 10am – 6pm
Sun 26 Oct, 10am – 5pm
The Monster Library
Manchester Arndale, Exchange Court, Ground Floor, Opposite Next – Inside
Various Times Between 10 am -5pm
Monsters Party Procession
Sat 25 Oct & Sun 26 Oct (across the city centre)
Carnival of Monsters
St Ann’s Square
Sat 25 Oct, 10am – 6pm
Sun 26 Oct, 10am – 5pm
The Leech
St Ann’s Square and Exchange Street
Sat 25 Oct & Sun 26 Oct
11am – 11.30am, 2pm – 2.30pm, 4.30pm – 5pm
Scare Skate
Cathedral Gardens
Sat 25 Oct – Fri 31 Oct, 11am – 9pm
Monster Sticker Hunt
Manchester City Centre
Sat 25 Oct, 10am – 5pm
Sun 26 Oct, 10am – 4pm
Buildings Go Green for Halloween
Manchester City Centre
Sat 25 Oct – Fri 31 Oct
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Wed 22 Oct 2025
