Autumn is here and Halloween is creeping up on us, which means pumpkins. Luckily one of the biggest shopping centres has just the thing to keep the kids entertained over October half term, especially when the weather doesn’t deliver. The Trafford Centre is bringing back its family-friendly, seriously spooky takeover, SPOOKFEST, as well as a brand-new pop-up indoor pumpkin patch to the Greater Manchester shopping centre that won’t break the bank.
On October 23 and 24 between 10am and 4pm, kids can get into the Halloween spirit whilst staying warm and dry at this indoor pop-up pumpkin patch in Greater Manchester – and no booking is required. The patch is located on the main stage in The Orient and costs £2 per child and includes a pumpkin and trail map, plus there are photo opportunities galore.
Simply grab a map before embarking on a haunting Halloween trail through the shopping centre to discover all ten spooky characters. Once you’re done, make your way into the pumpkin patch and pick out your pumpkin to take home for carving or decorating.
Every single penny will go to the Trafford Centre’s chosen charity, FareShare Greater Manchester, the region’s largest food redistribution charity, fighting food poverty while saving nutritious food from going to waste.
As well as offering an indoor pumpkin patch, the Trafford Centre will also play host to its annual SPOOKFEST, which will kick off on October 19 right up until November 3, bringing the Halloween vibes to town by the bucketload. For £3.50 on the gate (or £3 plus booking fee if paid online in advance), visitors will be able to enjoy an array of fairground rides as well as fun attractions such as a spooky ghost train, haunted house and pumpkin tower installation.
In addition to all of that, a family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular heated big top circus show has also been planned, with spine-chilling performances outside of the shopping centre. There will be a specially selected international cast of skeletons, vampires, jack o’lanterns and not forgetting Circus Artistes, brought together for this year’s sensational extravaganza.
Plus, new for this year, visitors can follow The Halloween Trail, a spooktacular Halloween themed light show at Wilderspool Woods near the Trafford Centre. Featuring over 100,000 lights, the mesmerising trail is filled with captivating installations and activities such as pumpkin carving, marshmallow roasting, a skeleton petting zoo and a skeleton disco.