Merseyday of the Dead Stockport Returns With Free Halloween Fun 2026

Key Points

• The Merseyday of the Dead returns to Stockport town center on Saturday, 24th October 2026.
• The free and family-friendly Halloween celebration will be held at Merseyway Shopping Centre and Redrock.
• The daytime activities will be held at Merseyway from 12pm to 3pm and will feature a scary trail, crafts, glitter tattoos, and entertainment.
• The evening activities at Redrock will start from 5pm and will include safe trick-or-treat, Mexican folk dances, games, slime making, and Day of the Dead parade.
• The events follow the success of the inaugural celebration in 2025 where families dressed up as skeletons, witches, and other Halloween characters.
• Victoria Nichol, Merseyway Centre Manager, has encouraged families to attend in costumes and early to participate in activities because of availability.
• There is no charge to participate in the activities; however, organizers have advised families to come early not to be disappointed.

Stockport (Manchester Mirror) October 09, 2026 — Stockport is preparing to welcome back Merseyday of the Dead, a free Halloween celebration that will bring Day of the Dead-themed activities, live entertainment and family attractions to the town centre later this month.

As reported by Marketing Stockport, the event will return for another “free day of tricks, treats and spooky surprises” in Stockport town centre this October. The 2026 edition is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, and will use two central locations: Merseyway Shopping Centre during the day and the Redrock development in the evening.

The event combines Halloween themes with elements inspired by Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a Mexican tradition that remembers and celebrates people who have died. In Stockport, organisers have adapted the theme into a family-oriented programme of trails, crafts, performances and parades.

Merseyday of the Dead first took place in 2025. According to Stockport Council’s event listing, that inaugural event included a Skullstock trail at Merseyway, sugar skull crafts, glitter tattoos, spirit animal designs, games and a disco. It also featured a night-time Deadrock event at Redrock, with a trick-or-treat trail, Mexican folk dancing, a Day of the Dead parade, live DJs and competitions.

When and where will Merseyday of the Dead 2026 take place?

Merseyday of the Dead 2026 will be held on Saturday, October 24. The event will begin at Merseyway Shopping Centre from 12pm to 3pm, before moving to Redrock from 5pm for the evening part of the programme.

Marketing Stockport describes the event as returning to Stockport town centre with “Skullstock at Merseyway” and “Deadrock at Redrock”. The names refer to the two themed areas of the celebration: a daytime Halloween trail and activity programme at Merseyway, followed by an evening celebration at Redrock.

The event is free to attend. However, as reported by the Manchester Evening News, attendees have been reminded that all activities will be subject to availability, and early arrival is recommended for families who want to take part in popular activities.

What can families expect at Merseyway?

The daytime section of Merseyday of the Dead will take place at Merseyway between 12pm and 3pm. Families can expect a free spooky trail, craft workshops, glitter tattoo stations inspired by sugar skulls, and live entertainment.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News, the Merseyway programme will include live entertainment from acts such as the Three Amigos. The event listing from Marketing Stockport also refers to “tricks, treats and spooky surprises”, while the 2025 programme included a Skullstock trail in which children collected a map, met Day of the Dead characters and collected treats.

The daytime activities are designed for children and families. In 2025, children were able to make sugar skull keyrings, receive glitter tattoos and take part in spirit animal designs. While the 2026 programme has not been published in full detail in the available reporting, organisers have confirmed that crafts, glitter tattoos and live entertainment will form part of this year’s Merseyway offering.

What will happen at Redrock in the evening?

The celebration will move to Redrock at 5pm, where it will be transformed into “Deadrock” for the evening. Activities will include safe trick-or-treating, Mexican folk dancing, interactive games, slime-making and a Day of the Dead parade.

The Manchester Evening News reports that the evening programme will culminate in “a vibrant Day of the Dead parade”. The report also states that participants will be able to take part in a “‘D with the’ session”, although the wording in the published report appears incomplete and the exact nature of that activity is not fully clear from the available source material.

The Redrock element is intended to provide a controlled trick-or-treating environment. Victoria Nichol, Merseyway Centre Manager, told the Manchester Evening News that the secure trick-or-treat trail at Redrock is “always a favourite” and encouraged families to arrive early.

Why has the event returned for a second year?

Merseyday of the Dead is returning after what organisers describe as a successful first event in 2025. As reported by the Manchester Evening News, last year’s inaugural celebration saw many attendees wearing Halloween costumes, including skeletons and witches.

Victoria Nichol, the Merseyway Centre Manager, said: “Last year’s Merseyday of the Dead was such a success that we couldn’t let it fade away, so we’re excited to bring it back for a second edition.”

She added that organisers are looking forward to welcoming families back to Merseyway and Redrock for another event filled with activities. According to the Manchester Evening News, Nichol said: “From the Skullstock trail to glitter makeovers, slime crafting, dancing, and the Deadrock parade, there will be plenty to keep little witches, wizards, skeletons, and superheroes entertained throughout the day.”

What have organisers said about costumes and safety?

Organisers are encouraging families to wear Halloween costumes. Victoria Nichol told the Manchester Evening News: “We really want families to embrace the spirit of Halloween this year, so don your most impressive costumes.”

She also said: “We hope to see Stockport filled with skeletons, witches, and everything in between. It’s the perfect opportunity to go all out and enjoy a full day of fun.”

Safety has also been highlighted by the organisers. Nichol said: “We want everyone to have a fantastic yet safe Halloween. The secure trick-or-treat trail at Redrock is always a favourite, so we encourage families to arrive early.”

The advice to arrive early is significant because, although entry to the event is free, activities are subject to availability. Families planning to attend the Redrock evening section may therefore need to allow extra time for travel and arrival.

Is Merseyday of the Dead free to attend?

Yes. Merseyday of the Dead is a free event. Marketing Stockport describes it as “another free day of tricks, treats and spooky surprises” in Stockport town centre.

The Manchester Evening News also confirms that admission to the event is free. However, free entry does not guarantee access to every activity, because organisers have stated that all activities will be subject to availability.

There is no indication in the available reporting that tickets are required. Families should therefore plan to attend on the day, although early arrival has been advised by the event organisers.

How does the event fit into Stockport’s Halloween offer?

Merseyday of the Dead forms part of a wider programme of Halloween and autumn activities in Stockport and Greater Manchester. The event is expected to bring visitors into the town centre, with activities spread across Merseyway and Redrock.

Marketing Stockport has previously reported that Merseyway attracted 10 million visitors in 2025, with Merseyday of the Dead listed among the centre’s seasonal highlights alongside its summer and Christmas programmes. The same report said that Merseyday of the Dead was expected to return in 2026.

The 2026 event also comes as Stockport continues to promote its town-centre events calendar. Stockport Council’s events listings show a range of free and paid activities across the borough during October, including workshops, tours, markets and seasonal events.

Background of the development

Merseyday of the Dead began in Stockport in 2025 as a free, family-friendly Halloween event combining spooky seasonal activities with Day of the Dead-inspired visuals and entertainment. The first event took place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 12pm to 7pm, according to Stockport Council’s event listing.

The 2025 programme included a Skullstock trail at Merseyway from midday to 3pm, where children collected maps, met Day of the Dead characters and collected tricks and treats. Free crafts included sugar skull keyrings, while glitter tattoos and spirit animal designs were also available.

Later that day, Redrock was rebranded as Deadrock from 5pm to 7pm. The evening programme included a trick-or-treat trail, performances by a Mexican folk dance group, a Day of the Dead parade, a themed disco, live DJs, games and competitions.

The return in 2026 follows that first edition and expands the event’s presence across Merseyway and Redrock. Marketing Stockport announced the return on October 9, 2026, while the Manchester Evening News reported further details on October 8, 2026, including the October 24 date, activity timings and comments from Merseyway Centre Manager Victoria Nichol.

Prediction: How could this affect Stockport families and local businesses?

For Stockport families, Merseyday of the Dead provides a free, central and structured alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating. The split between daytime activities at Merseyway and evening activities at Redrock gives parents flexibility to attend for a shorter visit or stay for the full programme.

The event may also encourage families to spend longer in the town centre. Although admission is free, visitors attending trails, crafts, performances and parades may also use nearby shops, cafés and food outlets. This could provide a seasonal boost for businesses in and around Merseyway and Redrock, particularly on a Saturday close to Halloween.

For local families, the main practical impact is likely to be increased demand for popular activities. Organisers have already advised early arrival because activities are subject to availability. Families planning to attend should therefore consider arriving before the daytime programme begins at 12pm or before the Redrock evening section starts at 5pm.

If the second edition attracts a similar level of interest to the 2025 event, Merseyday of the Dead could become a regular part of Stockport’s Halloween calendar. That would give families a predictable annual event while supporting the town centre’s efforts to bring visitors into Merseyway, Redrock and the wider town-centre area.