The weather may have started to turn, but nothing’s keeping us indoors this October – we’re braving the cold and getting swept up like the leaves with all the brilliant events going on in and around Manchester. From fun Halloween events to entertaining bottomless brunches – we’ve rounded up the very best things to do in Manchester this October.
1. Tee off as Manchester’s first Adventure Golf Masters is putting into town
Manchester is full of places for a good old game of crazy golf, and now things are getting serious, with the advent of the Manchester Adventure Golf Masters. Dino Falls Adventure Golf, located at Trafford Golf Centre, has announced the inaugural Manchester Adventure Golf Masters this October. The event marks the first-ever World Minigolf Federation (WMF) competition to be held at Manchester’s largest outdoor adventure golf venue and will serve as a qualifying round for the 2024/25 WMF World Adventure Golf Tour, featuring a competition including both experienced minigolf players and rookies.
2. Witness the extraordinary Planet Earth III Live in Concert
Heart-in-your-mouth fights for survival, the beauty of otherworldly wilderness, quiet moments of tenderness and tales of tragedy and hope, you can witness the wonders of Planet Earth III Live In Concert on October 6, right here in Manchester. The fascinating musical event is set to captivate the audience at Manchester AO Arena, following in the footsteps of the previous successful iterations Blue Planet II and Planet Earth II Live in Concert. You’ll be able to take a seat, sit back and watch as a giant LED screen bursts into incredible life with sparkling 4k footage and music performed by the talented City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
3. Get weird at the Go Gaga bottomless brunch
Step into a world amplified by all things Gaga, as Donna Marie – the world’s number 1 Lady Gaga impersonator – takes to the stage to perform some of the star’s biggest hits. Accompanied by a delicious brunch, guests can enjoy music, dancing, and free-flowing booze, alongside a number of fun drag performances, too.
4. Spot hidden monsters around the city centre
Halloween in the City is back for 2024, with a number of fantastic inflatable monsters popping up on top of some of Manchester’s most recognisable buildings. From three-eyed monsters to giant dragons, there’s plenty to spot, and they’ll all be dotted around all corners of the city, too. Created by Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas from Designs in Air – the huge inflated creations will be put on display across Manchester city centre, and they’ll be available to see for a short time period only, slithering away on October 31 once Halloween is over.
5. Watch an enlightening ballet performance at The Stoller Hall
We Call It Ballet in Manchester is flipping any signs of an esoteric script for a performance designed to appeal to everyone, ballet expert or not. An enlightening introduction, narrator, and the use of LED lights are part of this modern take on the ballet experience. Taking place at The Stoller Hall this October, this bewitching ballet show is dramatic, playful, and charming. As well as emphasising ballet’s lyrical steps and complexity with whimsical lights, the captivating show has a story to tell – the story of The Sleeping Beauty featuring Tchaikovsky’s breathtaking music.
6. Prepare for a fright at this immersive zombie experience
The abandoned Camelot Theme Park has opened its doors to the public once more, but it’s not the joy-filled kingdom of fun it once was. A darkness has swept through the land and left a swarm of zombies in its wake, each one burning with an all-consuming hunger for human flesh. This time the screams you’ll hear won’t be from thrill-seekers riding rollercoasters but from pale-faced visitors who couldn’t resist a trip back to the nostalgia-inducing amusement park they once visited as a kid. Think you’re brave enough?
7. Pick your own pumpkins at these pumpkin patches near Manchester
Autumn is in the air, and there’s nothing more that we love than the anticipation that the season brings. But first on the agenda = Halloween. Whether you’re doing it for the ‘gram or just absolutely love getting your carve on, there are a range of pumpkin patches in and around Manchester to pick your own this year. Multiple fields near Manchester are now abundant with these orange orbs so get picking!
8. See all the autumnal colours at RHS Bridgewater
Opening just a few years ago in Worsley, the RHS Garden Bridgewater gates lead to a beautiful, nature wonderland – and it’s the perfect place to catch a literal breath of fresh air. Featuring multiple areas throughout to explore, including the ‘crown jewel’ of the site – the 11-acre Weston Walled Garden – visitors won’t be at a loss for beautiful sights, with tons of greenery, blooms, a peaceful lake and a number of lovely little ponds to potter around, as well as seasonal flowers and plants that transform throughout the year. Escape the city and witness the leaves turn into hues of oranges, reds and browns before the cold sets in at this scenic garden.
9. Drink steins and enjoy live music at Albert’s Schloss
It’s no surprise that this German-inspired establishment would be celebrating with an Oktoberfest party so prepare to get your oompah on! Albert’s Schloss is bringing a whirlwind of celebrations to Manchester this September for Oktoberfest (21st September – 6th October) where revellers are invited to enjoy an array of programmes throughout the 16 days, from Keg Tapping to the must-see spectacle of eclectic entertainment and best dressed competitions.
10. Get the squad together for a game of Buff Bingo
Sure, it might be bingo – but this is definitely nothing like your Nan’s typical Tuesday nights down the community centre. Hosted by the Boy Toy butlers and some of London and Manchester’s best drag queens, guests will get to enjoy their choice of brunch dish, alongside bottomless fizz for an hour and a half. If that wasn’t all, there’ll be plenty of games and performances to enjoy, too, with four whole hours of fun in store.
11. Celebrate Black History Month by visiting some tasty Black-owned eateries
Put your money where your mouth is and head to some brilliant Black-owned restaurants in Manchester this October. Whether you’re on the hunt for a new city centre foodie spot or something in one of South Manchester’s most popular neighbourhoods – there are some great Black-owned restaurants in Manchester worth checking out. From comforting Caribbean scran to vegan fast food, Manchester has got it all!
12. Get cosy with the return of The Oast House’s famous winter tipi
Popping up in Spinningfields every single year without fail, the tipi at The Oast House has become an institution in itself… An annual highlight, one might say. The tipi at The Oast House will boast three tents joined together with a huge open hub, allowing guests to see into the main bar and soak up the party atmosphere. The Oast House’s snug retreat will also feature firepits and live music alongside winter cocktails, hot chocolate, mulled wine and tempting street food, just in time for the chilly weather.
13. Solve a murder mystery on the steam railway
If you’re after something immersive this October, look no further than the murder mystery events put on by ELR. Have you got the super-sleuth skills to find clues and solve a murder? The detective persona to interrogate the suspects? The judge and jury deliberation to identify the killer? All on a moving train? The murder mystery evenings on the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) are the perfect way to enjoy delicious food and an evening of murder, puzzles, questioning and solving the ultimate whodunnit.
14. Celebrate spooky season at this magical Halloween trail
This October, the creators of the Manchester’s acclaimed Twilight Trail will unveil The Halloween Trail, a spooktacular Halloween themed light show at Trafford Centre. Featuring over 100,000 lights, the mesmerising trail is filled with captivating installations that centre around a Skeleton Village theme. Guests will be greeted by supernatural surprises and moments of spooky delight as they arrive at the experience, with thousands of tiny laser beams coming together to create a mist-filled garden of light. Spooky stuff, indeed!
15. Enjoy a Blackout Dinner at 20 Stories
20 Stories blackout dinner is back, with a special event this October. Enjoy dinner with only the light from the city and a thousand candles providing the ambience, with a very special menu in store for the night. The events have previously sold out pretty quickly, so if you want in, you’ll have to act fast.
16. Revisit highlights of Bridgerton‘s soundtrack at an elegant Candlelight concert
Three scandalous seasons later, you may renew your Bridgerton obsession with a Candlelight concert. You can feel like a bona fide member of the ton as a string ensemble performs familiar pieces from the show inside the magnificent Manchester Cathedral. Hearing Sia’s “Cheap Thrills” performed by a string quartet will make you feel like an invincible guest arriving at the Innovations Ball, and Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything” will certainly stir up the same heat felt between our wallflower and dashing Bridgerton boy.
17. Go on a scenic journey through Greater Manchester aboard Thomas the Tank Engine
Arguably the most famous train of all is set to thunder through Greater Manchester, as Thomas the Tank Engine drops by for Day Out With Thomas. The steam team’s number one blue engine – Thomas himself – is waiting for you on the East Lancashire Railway, for one great big adventure. Hop aboard on October 5 and 6 and Thomas will pull your train through the amazing countryside of Summerseat, Burrs Country and Nuttall Parks, on a fun-filled journey to the quaint local town of Ramsbottom.
18. Celebrate the best of international music as WOMEX comes to Manchester
International music convention WOMEX will be coming to Manchester this October after the city won its bid to host the prestigious global event on behalf of the UK and Ireland. WOMEX – Worldwide Music Expo – is the most international and culturally diverse music meeting in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene. While the daytime activities are reserved for music industry delegates, the live night-time music events will be ticketed and open to members of the public as well as delegates. Taking place each year in a different European city and featuring a huge trade fair, talks, films and showcase concerts, the expo will be held at five of Manchester’s most iconic venues – Albert Hall, Manchester Central, O2 Ritz Manchester, HOME and Aviva Studios, with an exclusive Opening Night concert at The Bridgewater Hall on October 23 hosted by Manchester icon DJ Paulette.
19. Watch a Peaky Blinders theatre production at The Lowry
If us Mancs couldn’t get enough of Peaky Blinders, there’s about to be more as this time it’s heading to the stage. The Lowry in Salford has announced that the theatre show by Rambert Dance Company, known as Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, is returning following the production’s success in the spring. Making a stop in Salford between October 22 and 26, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby is written and adapted for the stage by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight. The dance theatre show is directed and choreographed by Rambert Dance’s artistic director, Benoit Swan Pouffer, which sees exhilarating and athletic dance from the full dance company combined with an electrifying and eclectic soundtrack.
20. Explore the extremes of nature, human capability and creativity at Manchester Science Festival
The biennial Manchester Science Festival returns this month and will tackle the extremes of our world, with visitors having the opportunity to get hands on with some of science’s most cutting-edge developments through multi-sensory experiences, immersive events and hands-on family fun. Taking place from October 18 to 27, you can expect the likes of incredible immersive artwork with the new installation State of Mind by Squidsoup, explore the impact of smartphones and apps on our brains at the Science and Industry Museum. An incredible Arachnobot, a giant spider puppet, will also make it sway through Manchester’s Arndale Centre in an unmissable, enchanting spectacle.