The October half-term is here, and finding ways to keep the family entertained without breaking the bank can feel like a challenge. But this is Manchester, and our city is packed with incredible things to do that don’t cost a penny.
We’ve done the hard work for you and found the 7 best free things to do in Manchester this half-term, from spooky city-wide trails to creative workshops. This guide includes some of the best free Halloween events in Manchester alongside amazing year-round cultural spots.
Top Free Halloween Events in Manchester (Oct. 25-31)
Hunt the MCR Monsters
The famous giant inflatable monsters are back! “Halloween in the City” is one of the best free events all year. Take the family on a spooky stroll to find all the giant monsters taking over the rooftops of Manchester’s landmarks, including new ones for 2025.
This year, meet Rocky Boo-Boa, the brand-new giant inflatable rock monster who has taken up residence on the roof of Manchester Arndale. Created by the brilliant Designs in Air, the 2025 edition features seventeen monsters scattered across the city’s most iconic locations. From Hellvis at Manchester Arndale to Harry and Gordon at Selfridges, Krampus at KAMPUS, and the Medlocktopus at Mayfield Park, these larger-than-life creatures have become a beloved part of Manchester’s Halloween celebrations.
Location: Across the city centre including Manchester Arndale, Selfridges Exchange Square, Spinningfields, Harvey Nichols, The Royal Exchange Manchester, AO Arena, KAMPUS, and Mayfield Park
Dates: Saturday 25 – Friday 31 October
Special Weekend: On Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October, Halloween in the City comes alive with a special weekender featuring live performances, monster processions, fancy-dress parades, and DJs
Our Pro-Tip: After dark, the monsters are lit up in an eerie green light, making them even more spectacular. This is the perfect “Experience” content. Go and take your own photos of the monsters. An article with original photos will always outrank one with stock images.
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Explore the Hidden Horrors Trail at Heaton Park
Heaton Park is hosting free “Hidden Horrors” activities throughout half-term. The self-guided trail invites families to explore the park and spot ten spooky characters hiding around its grounds. Simply pick up your free checklist from reception and set off on your monstrous minibeast hunt.
Nature-based activities run Monday to Friday from 10:30am to 2:30pm in The Stables Courtyard. Expect microscope examinations of tiny bugs, macro lens photography, and the chance to create spooky artwork using natural materials inspired by bats, bugs, and other night-time creatures.
- Location: Heaton Park, Blackley
- Dates: Sunday 26 October – Friday 31 October
- Times: Trail available during park opening hours; activities run 10:30am-2:30pm Monday-Friday
Our Pro-Tip: The Hidden Horrors activities are perfect for younger children who want the Halloween spirit without the big scares. The nature-based crafts mixing science, art, and imagination make learning fun.
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Make Creepy Crafts at Your Local Library
Dozens of local libraries across Manchester are running free Halloween craft sessions. We’ve seen events ranging from sewing witches’ cats to creating Halloween-themed cress heads for children and families.
North City Library is hosting a Halloween craft session where families can sew their very own witches’ cat to take home on Tuesday 28 October at 2pm.
Newton Heath Library offers the same witches’ cat sewing session on Monday 27 October from 2-3pm.
For something different, Gorton Library hosts Halloween Cress Heads on Tuesday 28 October at 2:30-3:30pm, where children can design a Halloween-themed character plant-pot and give it a wild head of green cress hair.
Additional sessions are running at Beswick Library (Thursday 30 October, 2-3pm), Arcadia Library (Monday 27 October, 2:30-3:30pm), Hulme High Street Library (Wednesday 29 October, 2:30-3:30pm), and Longsight Library (Wednesday 29 October, 2:30-3:30pm).
- Location: Your local Manchester library
- Dates: Various dates throughout the week (Oct. 27-31)
- Cost: Free
Our Pro-Tip: This is where you show hyper-local expertise. Call your nearest library in advance to confirm times and whether booking is required, as these popular sessions can fill up quickly.
Meet a Triceratops at Manchester Museum
The Manchester Museum is always free and has just opened its brand-new exhibit, “Triceratops: Eat, Roam, Repeat”. This is a must-do for any dinosaur-loving kid. The exhibition opened on Saturday 25 October 2025 and runs until Sunday 22 February 2026.
Journey into the heart of the Cretaceous to meet a true prehistoric icon through vibrant displays and hands-on activities. At the heart of the exhibition is a rare, 1.9-metre-long Triceratops skull fossil, here in Manchester for a limited time only. Junior palaeontologists will love the interactive elements, including a digital touch replica of the skull and a fossil dig.
From its bird-like beak and spectacular frill to its three-horned face and rhino-like body, you’ll learn how this mighty creature lived, what it ate, and how it survived battles with fearsome foes like the terrifying T. rex.
Don’t forget to visit Stan the T-Rex while you’re there! Stan is the second most complete T. rex specimen in the world and has been a star attraction at Manchester Museum for years. This cast of the famous fossil skeleton stands 40 feet long and weighs three tonnes, posed as if running flat out in pursuit of prey.
- Location: Manchester Museum, Oxford Road
- Dates: Open daily; Triceratops exhibition runs until 22 February 2026
- Cost: Free, but booking is required for timed entry slots
Our Pro-Tip: Take a photo of your kids next to the Triceratops skull. Original, user-generated content like this is pure gold for SEO. Book your free tickets in advance as hourly timeslots can fill up, especially during half-term.
During half-term week (28-31 October), the museum is also running “Create, fold and pop – your Triceratops awaits!” workshops from 11am-1pm and 2-4pm, where families can create their own 3D dino masterpieces to take home.
Play and Invent at the Science and Industry Museum
Entry to the main museum is free. The “Experiment” gallery is a fantastic, hands-on playground where kids can learn about science through interactive exhibits. You can also explore Manchester’s industrial past in the “Textiles Gallery” and “Revolution Manchester”.
The museum is open daily from 10am-5pm. Throughout October half-term, free activities for the whole family invite visitors to discover, experiment, and play with hands-on science. The newly revealed Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery (opening 17 October 2025) offers an immersive experience of the sights, smells, and sounds of the engine-driven ideas and industry that started in Manchester and changed the world.
- Location: Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Road
- Dates: Open daily 10am-5pm
- Cost: Free entry to the main museum; some special exhibitions may have a charge
Our Pro-Tip: Explain what your family’s favourite part was. “Our 7-year-old spent a full hour in the Experiment gallery playing with the light and sound exhibits.” The museum is family-friendly, wheelchair accessible, and has an indoor picnic area if you want to bring your own food.
Get Creative at Aviva Studios
The new home of Factory International is hosting free creative activities for families this half-term. Drop by The Social for free paper-crafting workshops inspired by Black icons in celebration of Black History Month.
Running Tuesday 28 to Thursday 30 October from 11am-3pm, the workshops are led by North West creative studio uptonogood.art and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tuesday 28 October: Iconic Everyday Portraits – Create a self-portrait from paper, fabric scraps, and glitter, finished with a positive affirmation celebrating identity, self-love, and diversity
Wednesday 29 October: Crafting Black Icons – Join a collaborative art project by contributing to a giant mural of key Black trailblazers from history, science, sport, and the arts
Thursday 30 October: Iconic Black Trailblazers Colouring Sheets – Choose from four colouring sheets featuring prominent Black British Icons
- Location: The Social, Aviva Studios, Water Street
- Dates: 28-30 October, 11am-3pm
- Cost: Free, drop-in (no booking required)
Our Pro-Tip: This is a new, trendy spot. Covering it shows you are “in the know” and a true Manchester expert. The workshops use recycled and sustainable materials where possible. Aviva Studios is easily accessible by tram (Deansgate or St Peter’s Square) and train (Salford Central or Deansgate).
Explore a Gothic Wonderland at The John Rylands Library
While it’s a library, this building looks more like Hogwarts. It’s free to enter and simply walking around the historic Reading Room is an amazing experience for kids and adults. The breathtaking neo-Gothic architecture feels magical and is a perfect “quiet time” activity.
The John Rylands Library is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am-5pm (last entry at 4:40pm). Built with Cumbrian sandstone shaped into towering archways adorned with mystical creatures and symbols, the library is one of Europe’s finest examples of neo-Gothic architecture.
Admission is completely free, with no booking required, though you may need to wait in line for 10-15 minutes during busier times. The library is a working research library, so quiet respect is essential, but visitors consistently praise it as breathtaking and well worth the visit.
- Location: The John Rylands Library, Deansgate
- Dates: Open Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm
- Cost: Free, no booking required
Our Pro-Tip: Frame this as a “Harry Potter” experience. “If your kids love Harry Potter, they will be in awe of this building. It’s one of Manchester’s best-kept secrets for a free ‘wow’ moment.” Avoid Saturdays if you can, as it gets very busy, especially in the afternoons. For the best photos without crowds, arrive at opening time.
Your Half-Term Tips
Keeping the kids entertained this half-term doesn’t have to be expensive. From the city-wide free Halloween events in Manchester to our world-class free museums, there is something to do every single day.
The MCR Monsters trail alone offers families the chance to explore the entire city centre while hunting for seventeen giant inflatable creatures. Combined with the free nature activities at Heaton Park, creative workshops at Aviva Studios, and the incredible cultural offerings at Manchester Museum and the Science and Industry Museum, this October half-term promises to be packed with memorable experiences.
Whether your children are aspiring palaeontologists eager to meet Stan the T-Rex and the new Triceratops skull, budding scientists ready to experiment at the Science and Industry Museum, or future artists looking to create Halloween crafts at local libraries, Manchester has something for everyone.
What did we miss? If you have a great free tip for the half-term, share it in the comments below!
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