October hits, and suddenly Liverpool goes from mild-mannered port city to full-blown haunted carnival. Ghosts, goblins, and Scousers in fake blood start appearing faster than you can say “where’s me pint?”
It’s the one week of the year when being dramatic, loud, and slightly unhinged is perfectly acceptable and expected. So grab your costume, your coat, and possibly your dignity, because here’s how to survive seven nights of spooky chaos and exploding skies.
Day 1 – Thursday 30 October: Summon the Spirits
Ease in gently – you’ve got a long week ahead and you’ll need your liver intact. FORMAT Liverpool Halloween kicks things off tonight. It’s part nightlife, part gaming convention, part fever dream. Picture hundreds of gamers, DJs, developers, and partygoers packed into a neon-lit venue, bouncing between consoles, cocktails, and chaos. Think Comic Con after dark, but louder and with more glitter.
If crowds aren’t your thing, you can still get your fright fix. The Haunted History Tour is a walking experience through Liverpool’s darker corners, where guides mix local legends with gruesome truths about the city’s past. The Dead House Tour, meanwhile, takes you beneath St George’s Hall into the old morgue — yes, the actual morgue — where prisoners were stored after executions.
Wrap it all up with a pint down by Albert Dock, where the water glows black under the streetlights and seagulls sound just a bit too human after midnight. The perfect start to a week that’s only going to get stranger.
Day 2 – Friday 31 October: The City Loses Its Mind
Halloween! On! A! Friday! You’ve been warned. The city centre turns into a parade of the dead, the undead, and a surprising number of nurses who clearly missed the memo about weather-appropriate clothing.
Start your night at Old Skool Bingo – Halloween Special at Modo. It’s exactly what it sounds like: part bingo night, part rave, with ’90s throwbacks, dance-offs, and prizes that range from brilliant to utterly pointless. The hosts are half comedians, half chaos gremlins, and the crowd sings louder than the speakers. It’s not dignified, but it is unforgettable.
By midnight, you’ll have danced with Dracula, argued with a skeleton over chips, and lost someone dressed as a traffic cone. Don’t worry, Liverpool always returns its lost souls by morning.
Day 3 – Saturday 1 November: Resurrection Day
Still alive? Miraculous.
The Liverpool Halloween Bar Crawl is the city’s unofficial endurance test, a boozy pilgrimage through some of its busiest bars, powered by shots, glow sticks, and increasingly poor decisions. Expect DJs, costume contests, and at least one person who’s dressed as a traffic cone for the second night in a row. By the end, you’ll have danced in three postcodes and probably tried to order chips from a bouncer.
If your bloodstream is pleading for mercy, trade vodka for fireworks instead. Moreton Bonfire & Fireworks Night kicks off early evening with a massive bonfire, funfair rides, and a proper fireworks display at 8 pm. It’s got that old-school British bonfire feel: the smell of smoke, the sound of kids waving sparklers, and burgers that somehow taste better outdoors.
Or, if you’re in the mood for something a little more cultural (and slightly surreal), make the short trip to Southport for the Day of the Dead Festival at Adventure Coast. Think face paint, mariachi bands, and fireworks so over the top they could wake the ancestors.
Day 4 – Sunday 2 November: The Hangover Strikes Back
Start with a greasy breakfast at one of the city’s cafés around Bold Street or the Baltic Triangle. You’ll need something heavy enough to absorb the last two nights of questionable decisions. Once you’re vaguely human again, head to St James’ Cemetery, the eerie sunken graveyard tucked beneath Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral. It’s gothic, peaceful, and just the right mix of beautiful and unsettling. Over 50,000 souls are buried there.
If even walking feels ambitious, retreat to a pub instead. The Philharmonic Dining Rooms or Ye Cracke are perfect for hiding from daylight with a roast dinner and a pint. Or, if the only thing you can handle is sitting in the dark, the Plaza Community Cinema often screens classic horror films through the weekend.
Days 5 & 6 – Monday and Tuesday, 3 & 4 November: The Calm Before the Crackle
If your body’s begging for mercy, take these days to actually recover. Go for a slow wander around Sefton Park, grab a hot chocolate from Bold Street Coffee, and remind yourself what vegetables look like. The Royal Albert Dock is great for lazy evenings. The Everyman Theatre often has murder mysteries or late-autumn plays running this week too, if you fancy sitting down without holding a drink.
But if you’re still running on Halloween energy (or denial), there’s plenty happening after dark. Bars like Baltic Market, Kazimier Garden, and Pins Social Club keep the Halloween vibe going with live DJs and leftover costumes.
Day 7 – Wednesday 5 November: Boom.
It’s time to set stuff on fire (legally, mostly). Bonfire Night lands midweek, and Liverpool doesn’t care that it’s a school night. Wrap up, head out, and pick your battleground. Hightown Cricket Club is the big one, with a roaring bonfire, fireworks blasting, and half the region pretending they don’t mind the cold. Waterloo Tennis Club offers a cosier version for anyone who prefers not to lose feeling in their toes. And if you fancy something louder than your hangover, cross the river to Future Yard in Birkenhead, where the fireworks come with live music and enough bass to rattle the ghosts back into their graves.
Everywhere you turn, the air smells like smoke, sugar, and victory. Congratulations. You’ve made it through Liverpool’s most ridiculous, spectacular week.
Final Tips
Plan ahead. Book early. Don’t wear heels unless you enjoy suffering. Bring a coat you don’t love, because it will smell like bonfire for the rest of its natural life. Keep a portable charger, an open mind, and a strong stomach. And remember: in Liverpool during Halloween week, everyone’s a bit of a mess, but at least it’s a festive one.
