What's On
A haunted steam train is coming to Greater Manchester for Halloween
Screaming and singing is encouraged on this ride!
A haunted Halloween Ghost Train is journeying to Greater Manchester in time for spooky season.
The East Lancashire Railway (ELR) will bring its ‘scream train’ to a Greater Manchester station for the ultimate family friendly Halloween event – guests are invited to come in their best Halloween fancy dress.
The 80-minute spooktastic ride will depart from Bolton Street Station, in Bury, heading to Rawtenstall and back.
Passengers will pass through a haunted house walk-through as they make their way to the platform, over the creepy decorated footbridge where ‘evil beasties and nasty things await on the other side’.
During the journey, the ELR Monster Squad fiends will be unleashed into the cabin, including Bob the Zombie and Count Brian the Vampire, who will hand out goodie bags of trick or treats to every child on the ghost ride.
The ELR website says: “Once every ten years at Summerseat tunnel a portal opens to the dark past… But what evil beasties and nasty things await on the other side?
“Join us at ELR this year for family Halloween fun aboard the ‘scream train’ and help the Monster Squad keep order and vanquish the ghouliees! Warning: This is a family event and joining in, screaming and singing is encouraged.
“There will be ghoulish goodies galore, and your monstrous new friends will include a fang-tastically friendly vampire, a chatty Zombie, mad Dr Frankenburger, a snappy plant creature and more oddballs and curios.
“Be sure not to miss the all singing, all dancing ‘Skeletonettes’ on the platform! Make the most of this opportunity to show off your best fancy dress – you want to blend in with all the creeps and critters after all!”
After the scary-filled journey, families can go to the Bury Transport Museum, across the road from the train station, and check out the fun rides at the Carn-Evil.
Alongside the rides there will also be a spooktacular show, taking place at regular intervals as well as a disco, magic show and fancy dress competition with prizes to be won – with suitable rides for all ages.
Open from 4pm until 9pm, you can go before or after your Halloween train experience.
Tickets start from £15.50 and can be purchased from the ELR website by clicking HERE.
Carn-Evil tickets are available as an add-on to the Halloween Ghost Train.
What's On
The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Get in the festive spirit!
Get in the festive spirit with a brand new FREE Christmas makers night market, with over 40 traders and small businesses from across the region.
Brought to you by Renaker, the Manchester Made Christmas night market is coming to New Jackson, Deansgate Square from Friday December 6th to Sunday December 8th.
Following on from a successful summer market in May, the Manchester Made Market is returning bigger and better than before but with a Christmassy twist.
Manchester Made Market
Expect a ‘cosy and magical’ Christmas night market experience, with food, drink, live music and even a grotto for visits to Father Christmas.
There’ll be Christmas trees galore, glittering with lighting, with one huge show-stopping tree taking centre stage.
Bringing together over 40 artisanal traders and small businesses from across the region, the three-day event will showcase a plethora of food produce, homewares, crafts and creations.
Manchester Made Market
Visitors will be sure to find unique Christmas gifts that support local businesses, including from The Cole Men and their award winning sauces, Moon & Sixpence’s handmade jewellery, and fine art photography by Craig Barker.
There’ll be live music from a 20-piece choir, playing Christmas classics, cocktails from Manchester Gin and Gooey’s sweet treats.
The experts from Millington Hall Farm in Altrincham will be bringing a taste of their Wild Grill experience, including live sausage making demonstrations and an array of German sausages served from a festive BBQ trailer.
Manchester Made Market
Families with children can visit the Christmas grotto, where Father Christmas himself will be waiting in a cosy tipi – kids will get a gift from Santa, and bookings can be made online for £8.50 per child.
Manchester Made Market will be open from 4pm to 9pm on Friday December 6th, and 1pm to 9pm on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th – pre-register for a free guest list ticket and 50% off a hot chocolate HERE, or book the Christmas grotto HERE.
What's On
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Get in the festive spirit in Stockport!
Stockport’s free, one-day Christmas festival is returning this festive season, with 200 performers and more than 50 shows.
Spectacular Sunday will return to the town on November 17th at various sites and venues.
Following the success of last year’s event, hundreds of performers will take over Stockport, with everything from giant roller-skating presents to a living snow globe and roaming Christmas dolls.
There will also be street theatre, including grumpy Christmas grandads, a gigantic balloon man and water show.
Matthew Nichol Photography
Produced by carnival arts organisation Global Grooves and organised by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport, Merseyway and Stockport Market, the town centre will be buzzing with Christmas excitement.
Events will be happening in iconic Stockport locations like Market Place, Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock and Suffragette Square.
A grand finale in Merseyway will bring together the brass bands of Stockport, ending the day with a huge flash mob and rendition of All You Need Is Love.
Cirq Delight
Cllr Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport, said: “We’re so excited to bring this event back after last year’s amazing success.
“It’s such a fun way to get everyone in the festive spirit and really shows off what makes Stockport special – our sense of community and joy.
“With loads of free performances and activities, plus a chance to enjoy the newly improved areas of Merseyway, it’s a perfect day out for families.
“Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday is all about having fun, making memories, and starting the holiday season in style.”
Spectacular Sunday is happening from 11am to 5pm on Sunday November 17th – find out more HERE.
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year next month, bringing with it a vibrant gallery space showcasing thousands of works from over 500 artists.
One of the biggest and most significant events in the UK art world calendar, it’ll take over Manchester Central for three days, from Friday November 15th to 17th.
The city will be flooded with art from all corners of the world, championing everything from local heroes to new emerging talent, as well as international artists with worldwide acclaim.
Manchester Art Fair
A wide range of artistic disciplines will be represented at the event, from painters, illustrators, and sculptors to graffiti artists and everything in between.
Expect exhibitions, workshops, Q&A sessions, demos, book signings and parties happening across the event.
Tickets include free access to art workshops and talks from leading artists and cultural experts, and are on sale now.
You can grab them HERE.
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The VR gaming experience at airport where you can escape reality
The new FREE Christmas night market with over 40 traders from across our region
Free one-day Christmas festival returning to Stockport to kick off festive season
Simmons Bar opens first Northern site in Manchester with free drinks at launch party
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year
