Family frights: Halloween fun and pumpkin picking near Manchester

Sometimes you want low level terror not full freak out. This guide is aimed at families, after all.

I’m still recovering from last year’s biggest Halloween scare – paying for four hot chocolates at Quarry Bank Mill’s 2025 fright event.

Our guide to days out with kids in the run-up to Halloween includes the best spots for pumpkin picking, themed events that are spooky rather than spine-chilling and a few of our favourite film screenings.

Now that Halloween is such a big deal, ticketed events sell out fast. If you want photogenic pumpkins in a field or an after-dark tractor ride rounded a haunted farm, you need to book now. Otherwise, your pumpkin picking will take place in the vegetable aisle of Tesco.

The options listed include the cuter end of the spooky spectrum right up to jump scares that will make braver children feel they’ve experienced the thrills of the season properly. You know what your little monster can handle and this guide helps you plan accordingly.

Whatever you choose, dressing up is very much encouraged.

We’ve sorted the fun. The costumes I’m afraid are very much down to you.