Scotland’s best family-friendly Halloween events

DELIGHT your children with these ghastly goings-on across Scotland this Halloween weekend

Let your little ghouls run wild this Halloween with fun festivities throughout Scotland. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

PAISLEY HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL

A two-day Halloween extravaganza in the middle of Paisley. Friday night kicks off with a parade from Paisley Museum to Abbey Close, with more than 100 volunteers in fancy dress marching alongside the Spark! LED drummers in a huge display of light and carnival fun. Saturday sees a number of family friendly activities, from pumpkin carving to screenings of kids classics such as Monsters Inc and Hocus Pocus.

30-31 Oct: Paisley Town Centre, Paisley / more info

Beltane Fire Society members prepare for the Samhuinn Fire Festival. Picture: Paul Raeburn

SAMHUINN FIRE FESTIVAL

If you’re looking for a more traditional twist on the usual Halloween events, then Edinburgh’s Beltane Fire Society will be honouring the Pagan celebration of Samhuinn, which marks the victory of the spirit of winter over summer. This fiery display will be taking place right on the Grassmarket, complete with extravagant costumes, fireworks and flaming torches.

31 Oct: The Grassmarket, Edinburgh / more info

HALLOWEEN SPOOKY CRAFTS AND TRAIL

Glasgow’s historic Tenement House will be opening its doors to little devils this Saturday for an afternoon of creepy crafts and puzzle games. There will also be a tour of the National Trust grounds in search of a ghostly presence and other secrets hidden within.

31 Oct: Tenement House, Glasgow / more info

HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

If you’re looking for something with an outdoor element, Fife’s Cairnie Fruit Farm invites visitors to pick and carve their own pumpkins, including ghostly white and ghoulish pale blue varieties. The farm will also play host to apple bobbing, face painting and, for those feeling particularly brave, torch light maze nights.

30 Oct - 2 Nov: Carnie Fruit Farm, Fife / more info

SUPERHEROES VS MONSTERS

Conquering the Halloween spookiness by separating myth from reality, this family fun day is part of the Dundee Science Festival, complete with hands-on experiments, face-painting, mask-making as well as supernatural mythbusting.

31 Oct: Dundee Science Centre, Dundee / more info