The best Halloween happenings in the North

We've scouted out the best Halloween events in Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester, ranging from student parties and warehouse raves to comedy nights and film screenings. Reckon you've got something else worth recommending? Email jess@theskinny.co.uk with the deets.

Halloween events in Liverpool

Watch the horror master at work

There’s no more fitting way to mark the season of spook than in the presence of the man who spawned some of the 20th century’s most beloved horror and sci-fi cult favourites – most notably 1978’s slasher great, Halloween. John Carpenter is heading our way especially for this year’s Liverpool Music Week, headlining proceedings with a performance of his signature synthy film scores alongside compositions from his debut studio album, Lost Themes. Fri 28 Oct, Liverpool Olympia, 7pm, £29.50

Post-apocalyptic partying

Rebel Soul return with their fourth annual Voodoo Ball, an alt Halloween party celebrating African and Latin music and culture through live music, drumming, fire, martial arts, stunning set design and more. Formerly held in the now-defunct Kazimier, this year sees a shift in venue to the Kaz’s latest venture, Invisible Wind Factory, taking on a dystopian theme in which the ‘afroPUNKS’ and ‘afroLORDS’ are at war – in what promises to be a blend of Mad Max, Warriors and Escape from New York. Sat 29 Oct, Invisible Wind Factory, 8pm, £8-£15

A night of paranormal activity with free pizza and cocktail

The Skinny are teaming up with FACT, American Pizza Slice and Black Cow vodka for Stay away from the light…: an evening of paranormal activity. The night centres on a special Halloween screening of the Tobe Hooper cult classic Poltergeist, the terrifying story of a young family stalked and terrorized by a group of ghosts who want to kidnap their youngest daughter. Before the screening, artists Sarah Sparkes and Nathan Jones will present their research and work, considering the spiritual realm and how it breaks through into our world. Included in the ticket price is also pizza from American Pizza Slice and drinks by Black Cow vodka which will be served on arrival. Sun 30 Oct, FACT, 6pm, £11

St George's Hall by night

Seize the rare opportunity to explore the eerie innards of St George’s Hall by night, as LoveHistory Loves Horror conjures up The Chamber of Horrors: Resting Ground of the Unsaved. Here you’ll be able to navigate your way through the venue’s darkest passages and creepy cells, while the damned, the unsaved and the cursed lurk in the shadows waiting for you… Mon 24-Mon 31 Oct, St George’s Hall, times vary, £15

Halloween events in Leeds

Godfathers of grime

Leeds University Union braces itself for Metropolis Halloween, welcoming a thumping line-up that includes Roll Deep bossman and godfather of grime Wiley, along with Big Narstie, ANOTR, Zinc, Chris Lorenzo, BBC Radio 1’s Monki and many more. Kit yourself out accordingly; there’ll be prizes for the best fancy dress. Sat 29 Oct, Leeds University Union, 10pm, £20-£30

24-acre scare grounds

Taking over a historic 24-acre estate on the outskirts of Wakefield, the Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park takes the haunted house concept and blows it out of the water with live actors, authentic sets, lighting, sound, props, a food court, side stalls and more. With six zones – House of Arachnia, Forest of Freaks, The Chapter, Lockdown, The Tomb and Cleopatra’s Pillow – the grounds will come to life with mummies, zombies, clowns and more… Fri 14-Mon 31 Oct, times vary, £19

Night of the living dead

[Photo: Elouisa Georgiou]

And on Halloween proper, Leeds University Union will be back on it with the Living Dead Halloween Festival, which sees its five arenas rebranded as the Abandoned Theatre, Grave Yard, Torture Chamber, Live Scare Maze and Black Box, where you’ll find a mix of hip hop, garage, house, dance, chart and party tunes along with cinema screenings, actors, performers and more. Mon 31 Oct, Leeds University Union, 10pm, £6-£10

Halloween events in Manchester

Live-scored Hitchcock

Easily your Halloween highlight for Manchester, famed local chamber orchestra Manchester Camerata step in to provide the live sountrack for Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 psychological thriller, Psycho, which will be screened in the Grade II-listed Albert Hall. Combining classic cinema with an evocative live rendition of Bernard Herrmann's seminal soundtrack and a stunning eerie setting, this one promises atmosphere by the bucketload. You'd frankly be mad to miss it – though, let's face it, we all go a little mad sometimes... Read our full preview of Psycho Live! here. Sun 30 Oct, Albert Hall, 3pm & 8pm, £30-£35

Día de Muertos at the Mill

The rustic old mill setting of Salford’s Islington Mill becomes the perfect backdrop for a Day of the Dead spectacular, where music from 12-piece Afro-tropical-funk band Drymbago and DJs Guy Morley and Jimla are helped along by dance, theatricals and fresh food from Stomping Grounds. Bring a photo of someone you have loved and lost, and you’ll be able to add it to a shrine before lighting a candle for them. Sat 29 Oct, Islington Mill, 7pm, £7-£10

Not-so-delightful LOLs

Celebrate the silliness of Halloween with a seasonal special of The Delightful Sausage, promising alternative comedy and a collection of tales not for the fainthearted – with a suitably bizarro line-up that includes comedy troupe Gein’s Family Giftshop, whose dark sketches draw inspiration from misery and human suffering. They’ll be joined by Amy Gledhill, Bisha K Ali and Chris Cantrill. Thu 20 Oct, The Castle Hotel, 8pm, £4

Paranormal activity

Islington Mill Pot Luck Film Nights, himHallows and Textbook Studio team up for a Halloween screening of Ghostwatch, the controversial, terrifying mockumentary of 90s childhoods everywhere starring Michael Parkinson and Craig Charles, among others. At £5, tickets are by donation basis, with all funds raised going towards Islington Mill’s roof appeal. Sun 30 Oct, Islington Mill, 7pm, £5 

Halloween at Hidden

As Halloween falls on a Monday this year, Coded Rhythm are having their Halloween on the Friday beforehand, returning to Hidden to welcome London-based techno/house head Boddika – a particularly topical booking, given the recent Hannah Wants furore – along with Bhrisc, Mimic, DJ Hyphen, Kinyume, Torai, Nemmz and Coded Rhythm DJs. There's also a House of Wax Halloween special at the venue the night before, with Optimo and Point G. Fri 28 Oct, Hidden, 11pm, £5-£10

80s sci-fi, 90s gaming and superhero theme tunes

Following a successful Edinburgh run, award-winning comedy Don't Wake the Damp makes its way to Manchester just in time for Halloween. Inspired by 80s sci-fi, 90s gaming and superhero theme tunes, this monster comedy adventure promises offbeat laughs that blend the retro nostalgia of Power Rangers with the black humour of The League of Gentlemen and the all-out horror of John Carpenter's The Thing, all brought to life by Manchester-based Kill the Beast. Wed 26-Sat 29 Oct, The Lowry Studio, 8pm, £10-£12