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The best pumpkin picking spots near Manchester this Halloween
Perfect half-term activities!
You’re never too old for a bit of pumpkin picking!
How fast has this year really gone!! Physically we are just days away from Halloween, mentally I’m still processing March.
So long the pre-picked pumpkins from the Supermarkets, this year it’s all about supporting your local pumpkin patch from the ultimate Spooktacular experience.
Wrap up, grab yourself a pumpkin spiced latte and get picking!
The Dunham Pumpkin Patch/Facebook
Dunham Pumpkin Patch, Dunham Massey
Three generations of the Hewitt family have come together to make this time of year so special at Dunham Pumpkin Patch. Harvesting pumpkins for over 30 years now head down to enjoy the ultimate picking experience with wood-fired pizzas, award-winning apple juice and cider.
Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream/Facebook
Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream
Just down the road, there is another three-acre patch full of every type of pumpkin you can imagine. From colour to size they’ve got it all, grown by the guys at Red House Farm.
They’re also offering a variety of autumnal hot chocolates including mint, Ferrero Rocher, and coffee – it’s almost worth going just for that.
There is no need to book here, they’re open every day during half-term from 10am!
Smithills Open Farm/Facebook
Smithills Open Farm, Bolton
For the first time ever, Smithills Open Farm in Bolton is hosting its new pumpkin picking event. To add to the mood, all farm staff will be dressed up in fancy dress, with a spooky sweet treasure hunt, a super fun event for kids in the half term.
For dates and booking head to their website, booking is essential.
Kenyon Hall Farm/Facebook
Kenyon Hall Farm
Kenyon Hall Farm has been planting pumpkins in Greater Manchester for over 30 years, now one of the biggest destinations in the north of England.
Their pumpkin patch is running up until Saturday 31st October, due to Covid restrictions the team are restricting numbers and all visitors to the pumpkin patch areas must pre-book an entry slot in advance.
Create some spooky memories with their unique photo backdrops too!
Lancaster Park & Animal Farm/Facebook
Lancaster Park and Animal Farm, Oldham
The Lancaster Park and Animal Farm has a humongous pumpkin patch, as well as a haunted house, spooky tales with a witch and fancy-dress competitions!
Aside from this, the farm is also open to the public so you can enjoy petting and feeding small animals, riding the caterpillar ride as well as the mini quads and the adventure zip lines!
Malpas Pick Your Own Strawberries & Pumpkins, Cheshire/Facebook
Malpas Pick Your Own Pumpkins, Cheshire
Which pumpkin will you choose? Find your way through their spooky maize maze to their hidden pumpkin patch. Transport it back to your car with one of their wheelbarrows before visiting their Halloween shop and cosy café.
Set over 30 acres, I’m sure there are enough pumpkins for just about everyone. No booking required, just check out their website for opening times.
What's On
Hawksmoor creates ultimate steak sandwich for huge Manchester barbecue event
Can’t wait for this!
Live From The Grill is returning in 2024 for a third year, bringing with it next level barbecue food, drinks, live music and DJs.
Deansgate Square will once again host a weekend of BBQs from some of Manchester’s best restaurants, including Hawksmoor, who will be serving up the ultimate steak sandwich.
Also serving up some top scran will be Knight’s Caribbean BBQ, Japanese robata by Kitten, Food Sorcery Cookery School, and Chit ‘n’ Chaat with Indian street food.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Plus, there’s £3.50 pints all day and other drinks deals exclusively for Manchester’s Finest subscribers – so make sure you get signed up.
The free event is taking place on Saturday August 31st and Sunday September 1st, down at one of the city centre’s most exciting new neighbourhoods, New Jackson.
Both Saturday and Sunday’s day-long parties are free to attend with tickets. Saturday will feature Rinse.FM residents Habitat, DJ G2 & Friends, soulful drum and bass from Rare Groove, and Manchester’s longest-running club night, Funkademia.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Sunday is curated by Gigpig and is all about the bands, including rising jazz superstar Kemani Anderson, electro-soul singer Yemi Bolatiwa, 60s and 70s-inspired blues duo Corduroy Moustache, singer-songwriters Ruby J and Grace Kelly, as well as a set from DJ Lenny.
Live From The Grill 2024 is happening at Deansgate Square, New Jackson, M15 4TN, from 12pm till 8pm both days.
Tickets are free, grab them here.
What's On
Manchester’s biggest after work drinks with FREE pints happening this week
Get yourself down!
What promises to be Manchester’s biggest after work drinks is happening this week, and you can head down for a pint on us.
Manchester’s Finest is serving up complimentary drinks at a secret location in town, and you’re invited to enjoy an after work drink on the house.
This is in collaboration with the new ChinChin app, which helps you organise nights out with your mates.
Manchester’s Finest Group
The massive after work social is happening this week, on Thursday August 15th.
Simply head to the secret location from 5.30pm to enjoy one of 400 pints being given away – choose from Amstel, Inch’s cider or a soft drink.
The fastest and easiest way to make plans with friends, download the ChinChin app to find out where to head and join in the fun.
Manchester’s Finest Group
To secure your invite (and free pint), create your ChinChin account, click the link to let us know you’re coming, and head to the secret spot – which will be revealed on the app.
And if that’s not enough, ChinChin will also throw in £5 Uber credit for attendees to safely get home too – redeem it when you first check-in on ChinChin.
Please drink responsibly.
What's On
The North’s best street food is coming to Manchester this weekend
The best street food is coming to Manchester
The British Street Food Awards Northern heats are coming to Freight Island this weekend, bringing with it some of the region’s best street food.
Part of the largest street food competition in the world, the free event arrives in the city this summer this weekend, August 17th and 18th.
The Northern champion will be selected by a panel of judges: Matty White, known for his work on Manchester’s Finest and Steph’s Packed Lunch, Luke Payne, chef at The Pack Horse in Hayfield, and British Street Food Awards founder and food journalist Richard Johnson.
Hello Oriental
The participating traders have now been released, along with their taster dishes which are all available at £6.50, as well as an additional ‘killer dish’.
You can sample Caribbean food from Back-a-yard Jamaican, Baldy’s artisan pies, Burgerism, Colombo Street’s Sri Lankan street food, and Asian fusion from Fuku, and Hello Oriental.
There’s Greek classics from Mega Gyros, Mia’s Arepas, Pattersons fried chicken, Indian street food from Payal, Rio-Mex’s fusion of Brazilian and Mexican street food, and BBQ from Smoking Coal.
British Street Food Awards
Don’t miss traditional Malaysian cuisine from Syiok-Lah, That Ziki’s Greek street food with a modern twist, and Zapp, who are bringing traditional Polish street food.
Past winners of the prestigious award include MEATliquor, Wingmans and BAO. The winner of this year’s competition will head to London for the UK finals in September.
And in even better news, you can head down yourself and try all of the North’s best street food over the weekend.
Colombo Street
You can also have your say in the People’s Choice award, with the winners of both announced on August 18th.
The awards coincide with Freight’s summer of top tier – and free – music programming too, with Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip headlining Sunday’s line-up, alongside the Body Heat DJs.
Grab your free tickets here.
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Manchester’s biggest after work drinks with FREE pints happening this week
