The Monsters have landed!

They’re spooky and they’re kooky – and there is every chance they will have you howling with laughter.

Yes, a monster invasion is underway in Blackpool for what promises to be a larger-than-life Halloween celebration this week.

The 10 giant inflatable creatures have popped up on rooftops on iconic buildings along the Golden Mile and in the town centre – and the challenge is to hunt them down.

Along this free trail, look skywards and you can expect to see the likes of Bezerker, Chomper, Octoplasm, Howler, and not forgetting Sick Jagger.

The monsters will be in town from Monday 28 October to Sunday 3 November and will be visible both during the day and when they illuminate at night. Simply, grab your monster maps from the Tourist Information Centre, or download a copy here and let the hunt begin!

Luke Egan (aka Filthy Luker), Creative Director at Designs In Air, which created the monster inflatables, said: “As a Lancashire lad, born and bred (now a West Country bumpkin) I'm thrilled to be returning with more monster mayhem to Blackpool this autumn!  

“Last year, our tentacles went wild in the sea breeze on top of the Blackpool Tower, and this Halloween you can expect even more wild-eyed, monstrous, arm-waving hysteria (and that's just from our team!).

“We hope everyone gets a chance to see our colourful creatures, who will be invading rooftops all along the Golden Mile and nearby town centre to join in the Halloween events this year!”

The Monster Hunt, which is fully funded and supported by the UK Government through its Shared Prosperity Fund, is just one of an expansive programme of Halloween fun for all the family. You will find more bats, pumpkins, spooky surprises and things that go bump in the night than you can shake a magic wand at over the final week of October half-term.

These are just some of the highlights:

Thrills for Tiny Terrors

There is so much more to Halloween than just trick or treating, and the variety of spooky fun to be had in Blackpool is frightfully good. For families with small children, there are countless opportunities to soak up the atmosphere without it being too scary for the little ones. Here are a few of the more gentle events that the whole family can enjoy:

• SEA LIFE Ascarium: 5 October - 3 November

Embark on an aquatic adventure at SEA LIFE Blackpool with its interactive Ascarium! Grab a trail leaflet and prepare to navigate through the depths as you uncover the spookiest creatures of the sea.

• Halloween Tails at Peter Rabbit Explore and Play, 5 October – 3 November

Hop into a rabbit-sized world of adventure this Halloween to experience fun and games with your favourite characters from the hit Peter Rabbit™ CBeebies TV show.

Follow the trail that will lead you to Peter’s pumpkin patch for a Halloween hare-raving disco, where you’ll get to hop and dance to your favourite spooky tunes.

Family Frights

Halloween can be the most fun when the kids are old enough to get spooked whilst also being old enough to laugh it off! Here are some of the family adventures:

• Spooktacular Illuminations

With the annual Illuminations in full swing, we couldn’t help but give the display a Halloween twist.

Look out for two illuminated pumpkins on the Tower Festival Headland; a spine-tingling Tower projection show on the hour from 7pm-10pm with dancing skeletons and pumpkins; Halloween-inspired tableaux at the Cliffs section on the Promenade, including the Haunted Hotel where Frankenstein bursts through the doors; and Odyssey with its interactive floor, swirling with alien sea creatures.

• Sweeney Todd Experience at Winter Gardens, 29 October – 3 November (12+)

Step into the dark and thrilling world of Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, presented by Encore Productions at the Pavilion Theatre, Winter Gardens Blackpool and witness a musical thriller that cuts deeper than ever before.

• Fright Nights at Airhop Trampoline Park, throughout October

Jump into a spine-chilling night of scares and thrills at After Dark Fright Nights at Airhop Trampoline Park (formerly Ascent). The park transforms into a haunted arena full of eerie decorations, spooky music, and disco lights.

• Backlot Cinema – full programme of Halloween films, October 27 onwards

Enjoy some new ghostly goings-on at Blackpool’s brilliant new multiplex cinema (complete with one of the largest IMAX screens in the region). You will find a great selection of films for all ages, including some Halloween classics.

• Monster Mash Party at Abingdon Street Market – 3 November

Get ready for a spooky, fun-filled Halloween party at Abingdon Street Market on Sunday 3 November. There will be live monster-themed music, spooky dancing, and exciting activities for all the little monsters.

• The Blackpool Tower Dungeon – 27 September – 31 October

The Blackpool Tower Dungeon has launched a new scene, The Bathtub Bride, from September 27 until October 31. This chilling spectacle re-lives the infamous Brides In The Bath murders.

Grown-up Ghoulishness

Halloween isn’t just for the kids – adults can enjoy some haunting moments! There’s plenty to choose from spine-chilling attractions to exceptional entertainment:

• Journey to Hell at Pleasure Beach – 11-31 October

Pleasure Beach’s annual Halloween event promises a hair-raising experience, featuring live actors, immersive scare zones, and unlimited riding after dark.

• Pasaje del Terror - throughout October

Will you brave the UK’s longest-running and most intense scare-attraction? Located in the Casino Building at Pleasure Beach Resort, Pasaje del Terror has a theatrical setting arranged into 20 sets and with around 18 actors lurking in the darkness.

• Funny Girls Halloween Show – Running until 3 November

This Halloween, opt for a frighteningly fantastic evening at the world-famous Funny Girls with a sprinkle of outrageous fun.

For more information head to: www.visitblackpool.com/halloween

Blackpool’s Halloween programme is just one of the spectacular events in Blackpool during the autumn and winter months. Check out these:

Christmas By The Sea

The Tower Festival Headland will be turned into an outdoor winter wonderland with free skating rink, snowfalls, log cabins, festive projection shows and themed rides including the awesome Star Flyer. It opens on November 15 and runs through to January 5, 2025.

The Blackpool Illuminations

The world’s longest running light display is showing every night during our autumn and winter events season, ending on January 5, 2025. This year’s seafront display, stretching more than five miles, includes a series of new features:

• A spectacular new installation by the Illuminations’ creative curator, Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen. Entitled Disco Donkey Cavalcade, it is a celebration of one of Blackpool’s iconic beach attractions, with 12 donkeys dressed in 70s-inspired swimwear parading on a 16ft high platform, beneath a giant ice cream topped with a disco ball!

• A brand new tableau, created by Leigh Francis (aka TV star Keith Lemon) featuring a wildly imaginative and colourful design incorporating a 12ft tall dinosaur, space ship, astronaut, an airborne BMX bike, and Leigh himself flying through the skies towards The Blackpool Tower!

• A new overhead roadway section that pays homage to the hugely popular Aliens feature that graced the Illuminations display several years ago. The new section has been designed by students at Blackpool Sixth Form and includes 10 individual illustrations of Alien life!

• A larger-than-life Buzz Wire arcade game in which visitors can test their skill and nerve on a specially designed installation reflecting Blackpool’s famous skyline. Created by the Illuminations’ Lightworks team, it is located on the Golden Mile.

For more information head to www.visitblackpool.com.