October half term is almost here, and families in Greater Manchester have a packed schedule of spooky and fun activities to choose from. With Halloween at the end of the month, there are plenty of thrilling events, but also many gentle, family-friendly options for those who prefer less fright.
From pumpkin picking and Halloween fairs to immersive experiences like Scare City at the old Camelot theme park, Halloweenville in Warrington, and Scarefest at Alton Towers, the region offers a wide range of activities. The Trafford Centre is hosting Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular, and Arley Hall in Cheshire will debut the first UK run of the Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail.
Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail at Arley Hall
Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail opens just in time for half term at Arley Hall & Gardens in Cheshire. After acclaimed runs in New York, Austin, and Sao Paulo, where more than 500,000 guests experienced the trail, it comes to the UK for the first time, transforming the historic grounds into Halloween Town and Christmas Town.
The immersive nighttime experience features more than 1,700 light installations, interactive video projections, intelligent LED lighting, music, and 3D-printed sculptures. Visitors follow Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero through a spectacular illuminated trail with familiar characters and spooky surprises. The experience runs from October 22, 2026 to January 3, 2027, and includes four brand-new scenes, seasonal food and drink, and exclusive merchandise.
General admission starts at £32 for adults, with discounted tickets for children and seniors.
Trafford Centre and Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular
The iconic Big Wheel returns to the Trafford Centre for half term as the Halloween Fair returns. The Haunting Trafford event runs from October 17 to November 1, offering thrilling rides and family-friendly attractions. Gandeys Halloween Spooktacular, a live circus show, takes place on selected dates from October 10 to November 1 in the Big Top on Car Park 7.
Inside the centre, free Halloween Craft Workshops run from 11am to 4pm on Orient Way, with activities including Trick or Treat Bag Making on October 27, Creep Characters on October 28, and Cookie Decorating on October 29. The Main Dome will host a Tiny Terrors Trail for younger guests. Tickets for the fair cost £2.75 in advance or £3 on the gate. Gandeys Spooktacular tickets start from £11.94.
Halloween in the City and Other City Centre Events
Manchester's giant inflatables return for their 10th anniversary at the free Halloween in the City event, organized by Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District and sponsored by Swizzels. The city-wide Halloween Weekender on October 24 and 25 features the giant inflatable art trail, monster parties, a monster bake-off, spooky storytelling, and a fancy dress takeover.
The Monsters Party Procession, designed by Walk the Plank, will move through Market Street and Manchester Arndale. The MCR Monsters inflatable trail runs from October 24 to 31, with locations including Exchange Square, Manchester Arndale, Selfridges Exchange Square, Corn Exchange Manchester, Printworks, Science and Industry Museum, The Royal Exchange Manchester, Treehouse Hotel Manchester, AO Arena, KAMPUS, Mayfield Park, and Medlock Square.
Other Family-Friendly Halloween Events
Quarry Bank in Styal hosts a Scarecrow Festival from October 3 to November 1, featuring a scarecrow trail, spooky tours of the Apprentice House, and an autumn-themed indoor play area. The festival is free but normal admission applies, with the trail costing an additional £2.50.
Partridge Lakes in Culcheth, Warrington, has been transformed into Halloweenville, an enchanted lakeside trail with live characters, magic potion brewing, and games. It runs until November 1, with a relaxed SEND night on October 19. Tickets cost from £20 for children and £25 for adults.
Heaton Park of Horrors at Zip World offers dark rides on the UK's biggest outdoor tubing slide from October 24 to November 1, recommended for ages nine and above, with tickets at £25. The park also hosts apple crumble making, slime workshops, and lantern making from October 21 to 30.
Knowsley Safari runs a Halloween trail from October 24 to November 1 with creepy characters and crafts, included in admission. National Football Museum offers free kids' entry if booked before October 18, with activities like designing armbands and potion making.
Cinemas across the region, including Vue Manchester Quayside, Printworks, Bolton, Bury, and Altrincham, will show new animated films like Monster Mia and Wildwood, plus Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom and PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie. Disney Junior Cinema Club returns for ages 2–6, with tickets from £3.50.
Scarefest at Alton Towers runs until November 1 with new attractions like Dine with the Dead and Final Exhibit. Dino Falls Adventure Golf offers free play for kids in costume from October 26 to November 1. East Lancashire Railway's Ghost Trains return from October 29 to 31, with tickets from £17.50.
Wild Shore Blackpool and Delamere waterparks are open during half term, with a pumpkin-decorated sauna at Delamere. Coal & Cotton in Boothstown hosts free kids cinema screenings of Wallace & Gromit, Hotel Transylvania, and Coco. Lush stores offer Halloween bath bomb-making workshops, and the Science and Industry Museum runs spooky science activities inspired by the Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos exhibition.
Chester Zoo features a Top Trumps Halloween Trail and a new Sir David Attenborough immersive experience, Our Story with David Attenborough, priced at £15. RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford offers a spooky plants trail, Zoolab animal encounters, and spellcraft activities.
