What's On in Bristol

Halloween Rooftop Party (Imprint) — Bambalan's rooftop is one of Bristol's most beloved spots at any time of year, but dressed up for Halloween at 2:00pm it becomes something genuinely magical — spooky skyline views, crisp autumn air, and a party atmosphere that gets going while the sun is still out. At just £8–£10 this is a brilliant early-evening launchpad for the whole night ahead, or a perfectly contained treat if you want the fun without the late finish. Costumes strongly encouraged.

Back to the Future The Musical — Great Scott — this West End smash has rolled into Bristol Hippodrome and it is every bit as joyful and spectacular as you would hope, with jaw-dropping stagecraft that somehow makes a DeLorean time machine feel entirely believable. Whether you catch the 2:30pm matinee or the 7:30pm evening show, it is a production that leaves audiences grinning from ear to ear long after the final curtain. Check the website for ticket prices and availability, but do not sit on this one — it will sell out.

James Blake - Trying Times Tour — James Blake at the O2 Academy Bristol is one of those evenings you will be telling people about for years — his voice alone could fill a cathedral, and in a room this size the intimacy is extraordinary. The Trying Times Tour promises material that is both heartbreaking and euphoric, the kind of show that makes you feel deeply understood by a stranger on a stage. Doors at 7:00pm, so check the website promptly and grab your ticket before the city wakes up to what it is missing.

SuperMotive Bristol 16+ Halloween Rave — DOCUMENT Bristol opens its doors at 6:00pm for a Halloween rave that genuinely welcomes anyone aged 16 and over — a rare and brilliant thing in a city where so much nightlife defaults to over-18s. Expect serious sound, serious costumes, and a dancefloor that means business, all for £10–£30 depending on when you grab your ticket. This is the kind of event that reminds you Bristol's club culture is alive, thriving, and open to a new generation.

Black Parade - 00's Emo Anthems Halloween Party Bristol — The Fleece at 11:00pm on Halloween eve, for just £6, playing wall-to-wall My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Fall Out Boy and every other anthem that got you through your teenage years — honestly, what more needs to be said. Whether you lived this era the first time around or you are discovering it now, the communal catharsis of screaming these lyrics in a room full of people in skeleton face paint is an experience with no modern equivalent. Dig out the eyeliner and welcome to the black parade.

BLACKGOLD — Thekla — Bristol's iconic vessel moored on the Floating Harbour — is always a special setting for a gig, and BLACKGOLD at 6:30pm promises to make the most of every creaking, atmospheric inch of it. Check the website for ticket details, but clear your evening and get down to the waterfront early enough to soak in the surroundings before the music takes hold. There is something about live sound on water that hits differently, and Halloween night on the Thekla is about as atmospheric as Bristol gets.