The Monster Library: The Legend of the MCR Monsters

The Monster Library: The Legend of the MCR Monsters runs at Manchester Arndale on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, a live storytelling session by Z-Arts that digs into the origins of the MCR Monsters. It's a family-friendly one, and it's free to attend.

If you've lived in the city for a while, you'll know the MCR Monsters. They've been a staple of Manchester's Halloween celebrations for a decade now, created by artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas and brought to life as giant inflatable creatures by Designs in Air. Every October half term, they pop up across the city's landmarks, and this year marks their tenth anniversary with their longest trail to date. The Monster Library session opens up their backstory with storytelling and audience participation, so it's as much about joining in as it is about listening.

It's part of a wider Halloween in the City programme, run by Manchester City Centre BID from Saturday 24 to Saturday 31 October. That includes the Monsters Party Procession, designed by Walk the Plank, which brings out dancing monster puppets, towering stilt walkers and a six-piece brass band. The original MCR Monster, The Swizzeler, is also taking up residence on New Cathedral Street as part of the anniversary, so you can find it and the others scattered across the city centre throughout the half term.

The Monster Library session runs from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday, and it's free.