🎃 Halloween in Manchester 2025
Monsters, Madness & How Not to Trash Your Flat
If you’ve been around Manchester city centre this week, you’ve probably spotted a massive green monster hanging off a building and thought, “Yeah, that’s about right for Halloween.” Welcome to the MCR Monsters Trail — and honestly, it’s one of the coolest things you’ll see this autumn.
👀 The Monsters Are Back — and They’re Huge
Seventeen giant inflatable monsters have officially taken over the city! You’ll find them clinging to rooftops at AO Arena, Arndale, Printworks, Kampus, NOMA, and even chilling above Selfridges and The Oast House.
KAMPUS
ThE giant monster has taken over KAMPUS in Manchester city center!
New faces this year include “Spooky Spice”, “Rocky Boo-Boa”, and “Bruce Springscream.” The best part? They light up at night, so grab your mates and go for a monster hunt — it’s free, fun, and very Instagram-worthy.
📸 Follow @HalloweenMCR for daily updates and new monster locations.
What’s Going On in the City
From 25-31 October 2025, the Halloween in the City programme runs across Manchester city centre with free events for all. Visit Manchester You can find spectacular roof-top creature takeover the city as MCR Monsters go live this Saturday 25 Oct until Friday 31 Oct.
Key highlights:
The “Weekender” Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 Oct is the big launch weekend, DJ’s and decortions in Spinningfields and city center!
Events include: monster fashion shows, storytelling sessions (“Monster Library”), a giant monster procession by Walk the Plank, and the Rave-Yard (for students, DJ sets etc). You can find out more here —>Visit Manchester
Buildings go green, costumes encouraged, and there’s even a sticker-hunt for monster bits around the city.
What this means for you as a student: Dress up, arrive early on the weekend if you want the full launch energy, bring your camera, and plan around the main city-centre spots (Arndale, Cathedral Gardens, Selfridges) for the visuals.
💀 Where to Grab Costumes & Stuff (Without Going Broke)
Afflecks should honestly be your go-to spot for fancy dress all year round, but it absolutely thrives during Halloween. The whole building in the Northern Quarter gets a spooky makeover, and it’s packed with costume inspiration. Inside, you’ll find American Graffiti on the second floor. The staff are super chill and always happy to help you put together something epic for your night out!
Hidden Corner is your go-to for glamming up this Halloween! From classic Halloween costumes like werewolves and witches to less spooky outfits like pirates or lifguardsThe oldest fancy dress shops in Manchester, having been running for over 50 years. Located in Arndale Centre just below the food court. If you want to avoid ques, make sure you get there earlier! , Hidden Corner has it all.
Home Bargains can also be a cheap option, as it offers a variety of costumes for you, as well as decorations to set up your house for that spooky night, when gathering with friends!
🎭 Tip: Avoid last-minute buying. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a £2 vampire cape and regret.
Hosting a Flat Party?
Let’s be honest — parties are amazing… until the next morning when your kitchen looks like a zombie film set. Here’s how to survive before, during, and after your Halloween gathering without losing your deposit (or your sanity).
Before the Party
Make a quick sweep of your space and hide anything valuable or breakable as you’ll thank yourself later. Cover sofas with a throw or blanket to protect them from mysterious drink spills, and empty all your bins before guests arrive. Have a few spare liners nearby for easy swaps throughout the night. Finally, do a quick vacuum; it instantly makes the place feel cleaner and will save you extra effort in the morning.
During the Party
Keep drinks and snacks in the kitchen or dinning area to avoid sticky surprises in bedrooms. Stick to LED candles for the spooky vibe instead of real ones (because setting your flat on fire isn’t the kind of scary we’re going for). Encourage people to leave their shoes by the door and keep a roll of paper towels ready for those inevitable “oops” moments when red wine meets carpet.
The Morning After
Start by opening all the windows to clear out the smell of “fun.” Gather bottles, cans, and rubbish first as it makes everything else easier. Wipe down all surfaces, then mop or vacuum your way back to peace and order. Take a deep breath, look around proudly, and treat yourself to a well-earned Greggs breakfast because you’ve survived Halloween night in style.
If things got a little too wild, don’t stress!! Rent For Me’s cleaning team can handle the spooky aftermath. They’ll bring your flat back to life faster than you can say “pumpkin spice latte.”