There are loads of things to do in Glasgow at Halloween, and a huge number of Halloween events in Glasgow (and beyond) every year. A few years ago I couldn’t find anywhere with lots of them in one place, so I made a wee list of some we’ve enjoyed, and lots that I quite like the sound of!
The list is usually more extensive, but this year things are definitely still dialled down a bit compared to previous years. However I’ve found some free events, events in Glasgow and some brilliant events at locations farther afield. All of them are family friendly, and all of them sound like fantastic fun! So without further ado, here we go!
Walks and Trails
Paisley Halloween Festival @ Paisley
28th & 31st October | Free
This year’s Paisley Halloween Festival will take place as an illuminated trail of installations and light displays around Paisley Abbey, Town Hall and the River Cart. There will be alien invasions, creatures from the deep and a constellation of stars providing some fun, free family entertainment. The trail will be illuminated from 5pm-10pm, from Thursday 28th October until Monday 1st November. Visitors can head along and explore the trail in their own time.
Suitable for all ages | No ticket required | More info
Scary Faerie Trail @ Loch Lomond Faerie Trail, Luss
1st – 31st October, 9am-5pm | £8
Our day time trail aimed at families and younger children. Some mildly scary moments in an otherwise whimsical journey through our magical woodland, finishing at our very special Pumpkin Patch!
Suitable for all ages | More info
Halloween Pumpkin Hunt @ RSPB Lochwinnoch
14th – 20th October, 10am – 4pm | £3 plus entry fee
Creepy clues, magic and potions will help you round this trail. Simply pop into the visitor centre to collect a special Halloween pumpkin activity bag including your very own Halloween pumpkin spotting sheet with activity booklet plus certificate and more. It’s a great way to enjoy the nature this half-term!
Suitable for all ages (we did the dino egg one at Easter and it was great for young kids) | Drop in | More info
Halloween Treasure Trail @ RSPB Loch Leven
Various weekend dates between 11th & 31st October | £3 plus entry fee
Carlin Maggie the old witch of Bishop Hill is back, and she’s left some items lying around Loch Leven!Can you help find them in our spooky Halloween treasure hunt? Drop in anytime between 10am – 4pm and pick up your treasure map at the visitor centre. See how many objects you can find!
Suitable for all ages (we did the dino egg one over Easter and I’d say it was great for young kids) | Drop in | No booking necessary | More info
Halloween Encounter @ Loch Lomond Faerie Trail, Luss
8th – 31st October, 5.30-8.30pm | £15
Running every 10 minutes from 5:30pm, our evening trail is a very special new addition, aimed at older children and adults. Take part in a mysterious journey through our haunted woods with lights, sounds and special effects. Our expert guides will try to keep you safe and deposit you at our specially created Pumpkin Patch where you can enjoy street food and alcoholic drinks. Beware!
Age 8+ only | More info
Halloween Parties
Minimanoeuvres Halloween Spooktacular @ Room 2, Nelson Mandela Place
31st October, 12 noon – 2.30pm | £TBC
Club parties for adults that your kids can come along to. With brilliant DJ’s, fully stocked bar, food and a ton of activities to entertain kids. This is a really brilliant party with a great atmosphere. Prizes for best costumes!
Suitable for all ages | Info & tickets
Wish Upon A Star Halloween Bash @ Dance 2 Inspire Studio, Paisley
30th & 31st October, 3 & 5pm
Party along with Pumpkin Jack, the sea witch, Rapunzel or Maleficent this Halloween, with lots of games and activities to entertain the kids. Wish Upon A Star parties are brilliant for kids, complete with photographer, face painting and tuck shop.
Suitable for kids up to around age 9 | Info & tickets
Crafts, Spells & Messy Play
Halloween Party @ Messy Nessies
TBC | TBC
All the mess you could ever want, all in one place. Great sensory activity, and one you probably don’t want to do at home!
Suitable for crawling kids to about age 4 | Info & booking
Totnosh Halloween Spooktacular @ Totnosh Headquarters
30th October | £15.50
Your budding chef can join us for some frighteningly good fun as we make some gruesomely good Halloween treats. Book now – if you dare!
Classes for 2-7 or 8-12 yr olds | Info & booking
Days & Evenings Out
Glasglow @ Glasgow Botanic Gardens
12th – 27th October, 10am – 5.30pm | Regular admission applies
This outdoor, walk through, light and sound extravaganza is back for its fourth year in Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens. This year a toxic gloop is overtaking the city, and you have been tasked to investigate and find the source. The Botanics will be totally transformed with some incredible installations. Glasglow lasts roughly 60-90 minutes and there’s street food carts and marshmallow toasting too.
Suitable for all ages. | Info & tickets
Halloween Adventure @ Blair Drummond
8th – 31st October, 10am – 5.30pm | Regular admission applies
Head out on a Halloween Adventure with safari animals, dinosaurs, play park a fun outdoor trick-or-treat trail and lots more. Or why not take a walk through the pumpkin patch and pick the perfect halloween lantern!
All activities are included in ticket price.
Suitable for all ages. | Info & tickets
CULT! @ Kelburn Estate, Largs
14th October – 31st November | £13.50
A child has gone missing in the woods. You are tasked with finding her, but as you venture deeper into the forest you will discover an evil conspiracy and sinister terrors. Demonic worship, human sacrifice, and unholy creatures await you when you experience CULT.
This event is pretty spooky, so definitely one for the slightly older kids. | Info & tickets
Freaky Forest: Alien Hunt @ Kelburn Estate, Largs
9th – 17th October | £6, Kids 3 & under free
Search for clues in The Secret Forest to find the hidden Alien and decide if you will help it to phone home or turn it over to the mysterious government agents. We’ll also have some themed trails around the site, pop-up Halloween activities, and on-the-spot prizes for best costumes. Costumes encouraged!
Suitable for all ages | Info & tickets
Pumpkin Picking
The Pumpkin Patch @ Arnprior Farm
11th – 31st October | £6.50 (cost for parking, redeemable against a pumpkin)
This event is honestly one of the highlights of our year. With over 7000 pumpkins for you to choose from, just hit the patch and find your perfect pumpkins. You’ll find big orange ones, green warty ones, white ones and stripy ones, whatever takes your fancy.
As well as pumpkin picking, there are also lots of activities to keep you busy including: food trucks, face painting, chainsaw carving, quad pods, digging for turnips.
Suitable for any age | Advance booked highly recommended as it will sell out | Info & tickets
The Pumpkin Festival @ Strathclyde Park
9th – 31st October | £10.95 kids/£8.50 adults/Under 2’s go free
Your Pumpkin Festival ticket includes storytelling by Folksy Theatre, bash a pumpkin game, pumpkin treasure trail, pumpkin patch & the pumpkin express themed train.
Autumnal hot and cold treats available.
Suitable for any age | Advance booked highly recommended | Info & booking
Pick a pumpkin @ East Yonderton Farm
9th – 31st October | Pay for our pumpkin
If you just want to simply go and choose your own pumpkin for carving, this is the one. Sweet and simple. Pay for pumpkins by weight.
Suitable for all ages | Advance booking required | Pay for pumpkins by weight on the day
Family Halloween Movies
This section will be updated shortly
Other Halloween Events
Children’s Classic Concerts: Ghost Ship @ The Royal Concert Hall
30th October, 3pm | From £12.10
Ahoy! Family favourite and first mate, Owen, has been given orders by the dreaded Cap’n Tootlepuff on his orchestral odyssey to create a swash-buckling supernatural show aboard HMS CC-Sea this Hallowe’en. Along with his band of ghostly pirates from the RSNO and RSNO Junior Chorus, he’s ready to give a Jaws-dropping performance that’ll impress phantom fans in the audience. With creepy classics, spooky sound waves and nautical nonsense up his sleeves (Owen knows the ropes) …Ghost Ship will reel you in for more!
Recommended for age 4-12 | Advance booking required | Info & tickets