Get into the spirit this Halloween with a range of family-friendly spooky experiences.
Halloween is fast approaching and where better to celebrate it than Edinburgh, one of Europe’s most haunted cities.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best things to see, do and experience in the city this spooky season, to ensure you have a frightfully good time!
Halloween Tours with Mercat Tours
Unveiling the spirits of Edinburgh’s deepest underground and darkest tales, join Mercat Tours for a traditional Celtic Halloween as they celebrate with a programme of spine-tingling tours.
Their Halloween Tours include visits to Edinburgh’s haunted underground vaults, exploring the sinister side of Halloween in the Old Town, a ghost tour of the city’s spookier closes and vaults, and visiting Canongate graveyard under cover of darkness. Please note, some tours are adults only.
Halloween Tours run from 27 to 31 October. Book in advance online.
Halloween Happenings at Dalkeith Country Park
Located around 10 miles from the centre of Edinburgh, Dalkeith Country Park are hosting Halloween Happenings, which runs throughout the school holidays and is packed with events, activities and workshops.
The Park’s biggest spooky season to date includes pumpkin picking, scary storytelling and creepy cookie decorating, craft and crochet workshops.
Also joining the list of scary events is Adventure Cinema. Movie lovers can enjoy outdoor screenings of seasonal films such as The Lost Boys, Hocus Pocus and Ghostbusters. The Halloween spectacular will finish with a bang as Fawkes Festival is set to light up the sky with a firework and laser extravaganza.
Events run on selected dates from 13 to 29 October and should be pre-booked online.
Edinburgh Horror Festival
Prepare to have a horror-filled time as Edinburgh Horror Festival hosts a mix of theatre, storytelling, comedy, cabaret and magic, tours and workshops.
The Festival takes place from 26 to 31 October, with events held at either the city’s Banshee Labyrinth or Lauriston Castle.
Halloween at Craigies
Alongside their popular pick-your-own pumpkins, Craigies Farm at South Queensferry is hosting a variety of family-friendly Halloween thrills.
Spooky Days will offer little frights designed especially for younger visitors and those with additional support needs. Meet a cast of colourful characters, hear tales from a spooky storyteller, take part in ghoulish games, snap some photos with creepy props and enjoy a spectacular sensory light experience. Then as night descends, the tunnels become the Haunted Tunnels. Designed for older children and adults, these offer a frighteningly good time for those brave enough to venture through them!
Spooky Days and Haunted Tunnels run on selected dates from 13 to 29 October. See website for further details.
Halloween at Edinburgh Zoo
Join Edinburgh Zoo and its variety of animals for a range of Halloween inspired events for all ages.
Start of the day with a Zoo Boo Breakfast. Taking place before the zoo opens, it includes a tour with the discovery rangers, followed by a delicious breakfast in the Gannet Fish Bar. Or create a spooky and tasty pumpkin treat for the zoo’s residents at Carve a Treat.
Are you brave enough to visit the zoo after dark? Halloween Hoots will welcome guests after the gates have closed for the day and is a great chance to learn more about the creatures that live here.
Available on specific dates from 27 to 31 October. See website for further details.
Conifox Halloween Festival
Get spooked this Halloween with Conifox Adventure Park!
The Adventure Park at Kirkliston, around 10 miles from Edinburgh city centre, is fully geared up for the excitement of Halloween. Pay a visit to the dark forest, witches labyrinth and broomstick flying school. Gasp at the thrilling fire performer and fireworks display or show off your best moves at the monster disco.
Conifox Halloween Festival takes place from 14 to 31 October. All events should be pre-booked online.
Children’s Classic Concerts Myths & Monsters
Get ready for a supernatural musical adventure with Children’s Classic Concerts Myths & Monsters.
Coming to the Usher Hall for one night only (29 October), this family-friendly show will take theatre goers to the land of make-believe with tales of fantastic magical creatures.
Book your ticket now on the Usher Hall website.
Halloween Hunt at Camera Obscura & World of Illusions Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s oldest visitor attraction, Camera Obscura & World of Illusions Edinburgh are getting into the Halloween spirit with all kinds of spooky fun – dare you brave the ghostly projections, scary portraits and hair-raising photo ops! They’ve also created a Haunting Halloween Hunt – track down all the creepy characters lurking around the building and collect a sweet treat reward.
Available daily from 06 October to 04 November. Online booking recommended.
Lantern Led and True Crime Tours with The Real Mary King’s Close
Step down onto forgotten streets and unveil the dark side of Edinburgh’s history at The Real Mary King’s Close.
This October, The Real Mary King’s Close is bringing back its atmospheric Lantern Led Tour and True Crime Tour – the perfect way to experience Halloween in Edinburgh. Guests will be able to choose between stepping beneath the Royal Mile into complete darkness to learn about Edinburgh’s shadowy past, and examining real criminal offences that happened on Mary King’s Close.
Both tours run from 13 to 31 October. The True Crimes Tour is open to 18+ years. Tickets for both must be pre-booked.
Pumpkin Picking in Edinburgh
Looking to create the ultimate Halloween accessory, a scary pumpkin? Why not make a day of it – there are several places in Edinburgh and the Lothians offering pumpkin picking.
