Free Halloween family festival returns to city

A number of events are planned across Manchester

A free Halloween festival is set to return to Manchester city centre this weekend.

Halloween in the City runs from Saturday to Sunday, but events such as the MCR Monsters art trail will continue through the half-term week.

The festival is open from 10:00 BST each day and will also include a "monster music festival", monster procession and a Halloween market.

Organisers from Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) said the event, now in its eighth year, was the UK's biggest Halloween celebration.

Buildings are going to turn ghoulish green

Among the Halloween monsters appearing in the city will be Wibbly Wobbly Williams at AO Arena, Hellvis at Manchester Arndale, and Wailor Swift at New Century at NOMA.

When darkness descends, some of the city's buildings will turn a ghoulish green and thousands of pumpkin lanterns will cast a glow over the city streets, the BID spokesman added.

The monsters will remain until Thursday

The main stage for the Monsters Rock! music festival is on Exchange Square, with entertainment from DJs including Fat Boy Slime and Grave Haslam from 10:00 to 19:00 on Saturday and from 10:00 to 18:00 on Sunday.

A Monster's Rock! Party Procession from the team at Walk the Plank will include monster puppets and a five-piece band. This will be on at Manchester Arndale and Market Street at 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30 on both days.

Families are also invited to join Team Trick or Team Treat Challenge running every day from 10:00 to 16:00.

Wristbands can be picked up from New Cathedral Street, near to the Zara store, with a chance for people to win points by taking part in ghoulish games.

Among several other events will be a Halloween Market in St Ann's Square from 10:00 on both days, closing at 19:00 on Saturday and at 17:00 on Sunday.