The Big Spook

The Big Spook returns to Lincoln from 24 to 31 October, the city's annual Halloween week run by Lincoln BIG, the Business Improvement Group. It's part of the council's wider programme to get people out exploring the city, supporting local businesses and taking in the landmarks, and this year it's spread across the centre — Exchequergate, Bailgate, Waterside, Cornhill Pavement and the Cathedral Quarter.

Two things run for the full week: the Monster Invasion, with its creative installations, themed activities and family-friendly frights, and the Halloween Character Trail. There's also the Lincoln BIG Tour Bus working the same dates. The new addition for 2026 is the Family of Phantoms Parade, produced by Walk the Plank and programmed by Lincoln BIG. It's an otherworldly family gliding through the historic streets in illuminated, flowing capes, accompanied by haunting melodies and a mysterious ghost rider on wheels. That one's on Thursday 29 October, with three separate runs at 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 5.30pm.

Friday 30 October brings The Pumpkin Patch at Waterside Shopping Centre, open 11am to 4pm. Then, from 31 October to 1 November, there's The Big Spook Murder Mystery, billed as the UK's biggest outdoor mystery. It casts you as a detective investigating the fictional death of Chester Monte, Lincoln's most talked-about politician, and takes teams through the Cathedral Quarter, Lincoln Castle, the Guildhall and the Brayford. It runs 11am to 6pm on both days.

So, the Monster Invasion and the character trail run 24-31 October; the Family of Phantoms Parade is Thursday 29 October at 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 5.30pm; The Pumpkin Patch is Friday 30 October, 11am-4pm at Waterside Shopping Centre; and the murder mystery runs 31 October to 1 November, 11am-6pm.