02 Oct 2024
As one of the birthplaces of Samhainn, the ancient Celtic festival that inspired Halloween, Scotland is the ultimate destination for those looking to embrace the spooky season. Whether it's family-friendly pumpkin picking or gripping ghost hunts, Scotland offers a range of thrilling activities to get into the spirit of the season. Find inspiration below for the perfect blend of fun and fright across the country:
Pumpkin Picking: The Ultimate Treat
Nothing says Halloween like a day of pumpkin picking. With farms across Scotland welcoming visitors to choose the perfect pumpkin for carving, it's an ideal seasonal outing for families and friends.
Dates: Saturday 12 – Monday 14 October, Thursday 17 – Monday 21 & Friday 25 – 27 October 2024
Price: £15 - 1 Car Ticket or it covers a group of 5 visitors using alternative transport/ walking. Access to the whole event (3 hours)
Bask in Scotland's largest pumpkin patch, an expansive 10-acre plot, home to a mesmerizing collection of over 60,000 pumpkins and squashes in 27 distinct varieties. Enjoy a stunning walk around Balgone's small lake and venture through the ghost and graveyard trail where 2km of spooky horrors await…make sure to visit the Crooked Cauldron and savour some toasted marshmallows by the lakeside.
Dates: Friday 18 - Saturday 19, Friday 25 - Sunday 27 October 2024
Price: Adult £6.00, Under 3's free.
A fun, family-friendly autumnal experience in the scenic highlands, with views across the Affric hills. Visitors can pick from a variety of pumpkins, different colours and sizes, while enjoying fun on the fun including a bale run, a barrel train and suction archery. Be sure to warm up afterwards at the tea shed, serving hot food, drinks and a selection of cakes.
- Westerton Farmers, Aberdeenshire
Dates: Friday 11 October - Thursday 31 October 2024
Price: Tickets £5 per car
Handpick the perfect pumpkin at Westerton Farm. Beat the bale maze, conquer the bale mountain and experience a barn full of fun with designated areas for under 4's and 5's to join in the fun.
- Broadslap Fruit Farm, Perthshire
Dates: Saturday 5 October - Thursday 31 October 2024
Price: Pay-for-what-you-pick size small, medium, large and for the keen pumpkin pickers, extra-large.
As well as picking pumpkins, enjoy a visit to the fantastic onsite café for a cosy cuppa and some delicious home baking. Those with little ones can stop by the play barn for some excitement.
- Pathhead Farm, Angus
Dates: Saturday 19 October – Sunday 20 October & Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 October 2024
Price: Free, no booking required
Pathhead Farm in Kirriemuir is running its famous Pumpkin patch over two weekends in October. Join the 'Fright Night' on 27 October or opt for a quieter session on the 25 October. Fancy dress encouraged, with a prize up for grabs. There will also be the opportunity for face painting, and to experience the bale fort and spooky cave.
- Ernespie Farm, Dumfries & Galloway
Dates: Saturday 12 - Wednesday 30 October 2024
Price: £9 for Members, £6.00 for Under 1yrs (including pumpkin), £13.50 for 1-3yrs (non-members), £15.50 for 4+ (non -members), £5.00 for Additional Adults, free for Under 1 yrs with no pumpkin
Pick a pumpkin and carve it on the spot with designated carving stations. Tickets also include access to the Outdoor Play area, where there is plenty for the whole family to enjoy. From Bouncy Pillows, Pedal Carts and even a converted Combine Harvester to slide down. Meet the array of animals including emus, alpacas, guinea pigs, pygmy goats, rabbits and more. With numerous photo opportunities, be sure to snap a pic whilst enjoying all the fun and games.
Dates: Opening on Saturday 5 October 2024, multiple dates available
Price: £1.50 per person
Known for its pumpkin festival, Cairnie Fruit Farm provides not only pumpkins but also a chance to enjoy tractor rides, a giant maze, and plenty of family-friendly fun. there are 20,000 pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colours ready to take home! Cairnie's hugely popular Funyard will also be open.
Delve into Immersive Tours and Experiences
Scotland's rich history comes to life (or afterlife!) in its haunted castles and eerie ghost tours. For those seeking a thrill, there are plenty of ghostly experiences that promise to send shivers down the spine.
Dates: Thursday 31 October 2024, 7.30pm
Price: Standard £18.00, Concessions (Under 16s and Students) £16.00
Age guide: suitable for 12 and above
The National Trust for Scotland and Mostly Ghostly present, Broughton House by Candlelight. Broughton House guides will present a candlelit tour of the home of Glasgow Boy and cornerstone of the Kirkcudbright art scene E.A Hornel. Guests will then experience a collection of dark and sinister tales of Kirkcudbright and old Galloway by the Mostly Ghostly team through a sensory experience, embracing this exquisite building as it would have been in Hornel's heyday.
Dates: Saturday 12 October – Sunday 03 November 2024
Price: Book in advance from £19 per adult
Age guide: Recommended 8 years + [Under 5s not permitted entry]
Join the team at The Edinburgh Dungeon this Halloween and venture deep into the tunnels and passageways of Glamis Castle but beware…A Monster hunts the halls and is looking for its next feed! Will brave adventurers survive the Monster of Glamis and escape the Room of Skulls?
Dates: Throughout September and October 2024
Price: Free entry, donations gratefully received
Located in the ancient town of Jedburgh is Jedburgh Castle and prison, well preserved, the building is full of atmosphere and has gained a reputation for ghost sightings. Experience the jail firsthand for the ultimate Halloween thrill but be prepared!
Dates: Every Thursday throughout October only at 4:30pm, booking must be made online
Price: £14.50 per person
Pool House is well-known locally to be haunted and a location for paranormal investigations; its reputation is spreading as a hot bed of spooky activity.
Join a spooky tour to hear stories about the house's more permanent residents as well as renditions of some of the creepy history and folklore of the area.
Dates: Daily throughout October 2024
Prices: £30 per adult, £24 per child (5 to 15 years)
Step beneath the Royal Mile and shine a light on the past by joining an atmospheric lantern led tour in Edinburgh. Descend the historic steps leading down from The Royal Mile onto Mary King's Close and learn about the lives and deaths of people who used to roam the streets of Edinburgh.
Those daring to explore independently can make their own itinerary uncovering Scotland's links with magic, for more inspiration visit Scotland's Witch Trail.
Haunted Happenings: Halloween Events Across Scotland
Halloween festivities in Scotland go beyond traditional trick-or-treating. From immersive light shows to spooky festivals, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Date: Attend from 11-3pm from Tuesday 01 October 2024 - Thursday 31 October 2024
Price: Pre-booking not required, £4 per child which includes a trail map, accompanying adults will need a Grounds pass
Visit Paxton House for a spooky day out and celebrate the season. Follow the Halloween trail through the dark and mysterious woodlands and join the team for a whole series of fun events culminating in a spooktacular Halloween Fun Day on 29 October with fun for all the family. Come in Halloween disguise – all witches, warlocks, ghosts and ghouls will feel right at home!
Dates: from Friday 25 October – Sunday 03 November 2024
Price: Adults from £24, Child (age 3-15) from £9, Under 3's free
Set in the Botanic Gardens with a nail-biting new Halloween adventure entitled GlasGLOW: Trick or Treat.
A unique light and sound experience in the heart of the West End. Buckle up and discover ten epic worlds, from BoneYard and CarnEvil to Clowntown and Haunted Hoose, meet pumpkin pals at The Patch, get gooey at Marshmallowland and discover the magic of Halloween at GLOW.
- Samhuinn Fire Festival, Edinburgh– Step back in time with this spectacular celebration of fire, music, and performance as the summer ends and winter begins. This annual, free to attend event brings Celtic traditions to life in a captivating theatrical performance set against Edinburgh's dramatic backdrop.
- Haunted Horses Halloween Extravaganza at Eat, Sleep, Ride, Scottish Borders
Date: Monday 28 October 2024, 10.30am – 4.00 pm
Price: £65 for a full-day package with horse hire, £45 if bringing own horse, £30 (Single SJ/Gymkhana entry with horse hire), £15 (Single SJ/Gymkhana entry with own horse)
Whether a seasoned rider or bringing along an owned horse, there's a package for everyone. Enjoy a fun day of showjumping (at all levels) take part in Gymkhana games like Witch's Hat Barrel Race, a pumpkin & spoon race, as well as cauldron and broomstick challenges. There will also be a trick-or-treat trail ride, costume parade and lunch and light refreshments provided. To book, please email: eatsleepridecic@gmail.com
Dates: Friday 25 October (4pm – 9pm) and Saturday 26 October (2pm – 9pm) 2024
Price: Free to attend, but this year will see the introduction of new grandstand seating offering a fantastic view of the parade, with tickets priced at £15 per person
A family-friendly event featuring parades, performers, and spooky attractions, Paisley's town centre comes alive with the Halloween spirit. Enjoy street performers, creepy costumes, and plenty of interactive activities.
Date: 25 October 2024, from 6-8pm
Price: Adults £20.00
Age guide: Adults only event
Sip along while learning some spooky science at this unique event all about weird and wonderful animal skulls! Hosted by the Zoo's Discovery Rangers, this adult only event will give the opportunity to get up close and personal with a diverse collection of bones, examining their unique features and what they reveal about each species' diet, habits and history. With a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks to choose from, this is the perfect opportunity for budding biologists or those who are just curious to learn!
Dates: Witch Corner is open every day 10am- 4pm throughout October 2024.
Price: Adults £7.50, Children (3-16 years) £7.50, Under 2's: Free
Meet the creatures who live between worlds at Witch Corner this October and experience the show-stopping folklore sculptures transformed with the sights and sounds of their favourite time of year.
Abbotsford's spirits of the forest have woken up for a limited time; Halloween trail adventurers can meet them and solve their seasonal riddles to collect an edible prize.
Dates: Saturday 26 October 2024
Price: Adults (over 16 years old) £13.70 per person, Children (under 16 years) £9.38
For the first time, the Garden will host cinema events showcasing popular films using solar-powered projection. Visitors are encouraged to wrap up warm, bring snacks, and enjoy classic scary films in the gardens for an unforgettable evening:
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – Date: 26 October, 6pm
- Celebrate Halloween with a screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas. Rated PG, children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Little Shop of Horrors (1986) – Date: 26 October, 8.30pm
- Enjoy Little Shop of Horrors (1986), the classic musical comedy. (Rated PG, young people must attend with an adult).
- Pumpkin Archery at The Falkirk Wheel, Falkirk
Date: 12 October - 03 November 2024
Price: £16 per person, Max 6 participants per session
Age guidelines: Age 8+ (Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult)
This October head to The Falkirk Wheel for a spook-tacular pumpkin archery challenge. Try hitting pumpkin targets while enjoying a day filled with Halloween fun and incredible views. Whether a seasoned archer or a complete beginner, everyone is welcome, come dressed up in the best Halloween costume for a chance to win a prize.
- Lantern Tours: Mystery and Malice, Stirling Castle
Date: Friday 25 October 2024 - Saturday 26 October 2024
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Price: Adults £18.00 (16-64 years old), Children (12-15 years) £12.50
Age Guidelines: Age 12+ (All children must be accompanied by an adult)
Step into the shadows of Stirling Castle for a chilling Halloween-themed tour. Guided by lantern light, a ghastly host will unravel tales of mystery, murder, and malice from the castle's past.
Brace for spine-tingling encounters with figures from history—this experience is not for the faint-hearted and features loud noises and unexpected frights.
For more information on Halloween events, haunted tours, and where to go pumpkin picking, visit: www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/events/halloween
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