If you're after something free to do with the kids this half-term weekend, Merseyday of the Dead is back in Stockport for another year. The festival mixes Day of the Dead traditions with good old Halloween mischief, and according to the organisers, more than 1,000 families joined in last year. This time it runs on a single Saturday, 24 October 2026, with two separate sessions across the town.
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The afternoon part takes place at Merseyway Shopping Centre, 54 Great Underbank, Stockport SK1 1PD, from 12:00 to 15:00. Pick up a map outside Specsavers and head out on the Skullstock trick-or-treat trail. Along the way, there are macabre crafts and sugar skull glitter tattoo makeovers, plus performances by the Three Amigos and live music. Everything is free, but the activities run while stocks last, so turning up early gives you the best chance of getting a go at everything.
The evening session moves to Redrock, where things run from 17:00 to 19:00. The highlight for younger visitors is a safe trick-or-treat trail, which the organisers say gets busy, so arriving early is a good idea. There is also Mexican folk dancing, games, slime making and a session called Dance with the Spirits. The day wraps up with a Day of the Dead parade, and as at the afternoon event, activities are free while stocks last.
The organisers encourage everyone to dress up, whether as a skeleton, a witch, a favourite Halloween character or in a Day of the Dead style. Costumes are optional, of course, but a fair few families tend to go all out for the occasion. Merseyway's centre manager, Victoria Nichol, has described this year's event as a follow-up to last year's success, so the format will probably feel familiar to anyone who went before.
Both sessions are free, so you can come to one or both, depending on whether your household prefers a midday outing or an early evening one. With the weekend still a few days ahead, it's worth checking the latest updates from the organisers closer to the date, as details can change.
Published Date
15 October 2026
