The Sweet Treat Eating Leech

The Sweet Treat Eating Leech is coming to the Corn Exchange on Saturday 24 October, as part of a bigger Halloween weekend in the city. It's an eight-metre-long creature by Walk the Plank, and the show is built around a simple, chaotic premise: the Leech can't resist sweet treats, and it crashes a birthday party. It's a live performance, so you'll see the thing in the flesh rather than just as a static display.

If the name rings a bell, that's because the Leech is one of the MCR Monsters, the giant inflatable creatures that have been a Manchester Halloween fixture since they first appeared ten years ago. They're created by artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas and brought to life by Designs in Air. This year they're celebrating their 10th birthday with their longest trail to date, run by the Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District and sponsored by Swizzels.

The Leech is just one part of the wider Halloween in the City celebrations. The MCR Monsters trail itself runs from 24 to 31 October, with the creatures scattered across the city's landmarks. The weekend also adds a party procession of dancing monster puppets, stilt walkers and a six-piece brass band, so there's a fair bit more going on than just the one show.

The Leech will be at the Corn Exchange on Saturday 24 October, with the wider celebrations running across New Cathedral Street and Exchange Street in the city centre on Saturday 24 (10am–6pm) and Sunday 25 (10am–5pm). Admission is free.