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. In true Albert’s Schloss-style, the fun bar is celebrating Oktoberfest, with nightly shows and entertainment, delicious steins of German beer and plenty of Oktoberfest-inspired grub. Up until October 6, Albert’s Schloss will keep to the tradition of a star tapping (or boshing) the first keg, welcoming internet sensation and TikTok star, Big John to do the honours.
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. Glide into Halloween as the fun Scare Skate returns
Skate Manchester is returning for 2024, but rather than waiting until Christmas, organisers have given the event a spooky twist for Halloween. Mancs will be able to enjoy the spooky ice rink, with guests encouraged to dress up for the occasion. The ice rink will be set within the wonderful Cathedral Gardens, where guests will also be able to see the annual Jack-O-Lanterns in the trees, and the fantastic Halloween in the City monsters that pop up on our city’s buildings every year.
12. 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!
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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!