Whether you’re planning to celebrate with a spooky amount of cocktails, are looking for some freakish family fun or prefer to stay at home and dish out the treats. Here’s a handy guide to the best things to do this Halloween.
Where: Stretford Foodhall
When: From 25th - 31st October with kids’ activities on the 31st from 12-4pm
The independent community hub is planning a spooky week of fun and games for all the family. From Monday October 25th, the Foodhall’s famous refill stations will be filled with Halloween booty from Mrs Hammonds Sweets at Afflecks - offering a zero waste chance to stock up for trick or treating.
There’ll be a frighteningly fun Halloween quiz on the 26th, with a £50 bar tab up for grabs for the winning team. On 31st October, the Foodhall will become a family Halloween Hub throughout the day. Staff will be in fancy dress and the whole venue will be given a spooky makeover. Families are invited to come in fancy dress too and there'll be spot prizes for those the best dressed. There'll be kids face painting, a ghoulish colouring in competition and a family friendly disco as well as Halloween cakes supplied by Planet Doughnut and Silver Apples.
Stretford Foodhall, Chester Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 9BD
Where: Your place
When: Halloween
If you’re planning to stay at home answering the door to mini ghouls and witches, you’re going to need some sustenance. The team at Didsbury-based Dough-Re-Me Pizza can lend a hand with their scarily delicious pizza creations.
There are three Spooky Night In pizza kits to choose from. Each contains either one, two or four portions of Dough-Re-Me’s 48 hour fermented ghoulish charcoal pizza dough, mozzarella, San Marzano tomato sauce, olive oil, fresh basil, salt and pepper, vegetarian parmesan, flour, and edible spooky decorations.
Pudding has also been ‘taken scare of’ too with one, two or four portions of ghastly double chocolate cookie dough, with a selection of toppings and edible Halloween themed decorations to top off your fiendish creations.
Dough-Re- Me Spooky Night In kits are £14.95 for one, £21.95 for two and the famiglia for four people is £32.95. Available for nationwide delivery. Orders need to be placed no later than midnight on 27th October.
To place your order visit: www.dough-re-me.co.uk
Where: Ducie Street Warehouse
When: From Friday 29th October - Tuesday 2nd November
Expect a lively programme to mark Día de Muertos – the colourful Mexican celebration of life. The stunning Grade-II listed building will be transformed into a lively, carnival-esque space. Guests will be welcomed with marigold flowers and traditional ornaments of Dia de Muertos. Papel picado will be hung throughout the venue and the DJ booth will be decorated in homage to the Marian shrines in Mexico City.
Saturday 30th will showcase the best of live DJs, brass bands, mariachi, performers from dancers to contortionist, fire entertainment, face painter and tarot readers. On Tuesday 2nd November - the official day for Día de Muertos in Mexico – there’ll be live entertainment, traditional Spanish guitar and Tango performances.
A specially curated menu will feature small plates such as Calabaza en Tache with candied Pumpkin, Pork Enchiladas, Grilled Chicken Breast with mole negro; finishing off with a sweet Churro with salted caramel ice cream and dulce de leche. A special Día de Muertos collaboration with PATRÓN Tequila will see limited edition themed cocktails.
The Día de Muertos events are open to all and with free entry. If you want to spend the night at Native Manchester – book with code TREAT15 to save 15%.
Visit Ducie Street Warehouse for more info
Where: The Blues Kitchen
When: Friday 29th October
The best musicians in town will be taking to The Blues Kitchen Concert Hall stage for three live sets of spooky Halloween and voodoo inspired soul & funk. Get down early to make the most of £5 cocktails during happy hour from 5pm-7pm, but stay all night to enjoy DJs playing timeless grooves until the small hours of the morning. Halloween fancy dress is welcomed and entry fee, although get your name down on the guest list to avoid disappointment, or book an area here now.
Where: Hatch, Oxford Road
When: From 12pm – 5pm on Sunday 31st October
For the fourth year running, Hatch presents Howl’oween! - Manchester’s free to attend Halloween party for Hounds. Fancy dress is an essential part of Halloween so Hatch is hosting its very own ‘Spooky Pooch’ competition (12-3pm) where the ‘Best Dressed Dog’s will be crowned. This will be judged by a killer combo of dog groomer extraordinaire, Tom Heaton-Clarke from BBC’s Pooch Perfect along with a panel of some of Manchester finest stylists and costume designers. There’ll be trophies and hampers for the Best Small Dog, Best Medium Dog, Best Large Dogand Best Owner / Dog Combo.
A doggie disco will be hosted by local DJs The Swaywards. Pups are welcome to throw some shapes alongside their owners. There’ll also be Pop-Pups from for a mut-market to remember running from 12-5pm with a number of dog themed market stalls.
Find out more at Hatch.mcr.com-----
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