For the little devils

Get in amongst everything the spooky season has to offer at Paisley Halloween Festival (Thursday 26–Saturday 28 October), where walking trails, fire shows and flying vampires are just a few of the spectacles on offer. 

If you’re on the East Coast, head to Craigies Farm in South Queensferry for daytime pumpkin picking and terrifically terrifying games and illuminations at night as part of their Haunted Tunnels events (Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 October).

If your little ones like science and dressing up, Glasgow Science Centre’s Halloween Family Party (Friday 27 October) will be their event of the year. Kids can dissect Frankenstein’s Monster, embark on ghost trails, paint spooky pebbles and fill up at the Treats Not Tricks cafe to their heart’s content, from 6pm-9pm. 

Horror celluloid classics

As The Exorcist franchise explodes back into the public consciousness with The Exorcist: Believer, William Friedkin’s incomparable original celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Catch the latest instalment in cinemas now, or head to the DCA in Dundee for a one-off anniversary screening of the 1973 classic on Tuesday 31 October at 8.30pm. 

Also screening this Halloween eve is Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of The Shining (Tuesday 31 October). See Jack Nicholson’s manic face on the big screen for one night only at Edinburgh’s Cameo cinema at 8.15pm. 

If 1930s horror is more your thing, Glasgow Film Theatre is screening a Garret Fort double bill featuring James Whale’s Frankenstein (1931) and Tod Browning’s Dracula (1931) (Tuesday 31 October, 7pm; 9pm). Bela Lugosi’s interpretation of the legendary vampire may reek of cheese nowadays, but we defy anyone not to be spooked by Boris Karloff’s uniquely empathetic monster. 

Creepy culturistas

Speaking of iconic horror films, experience the spine-tingling live score of Alfred Hitchcock’s Oscar-winning Psycho performed live by the Edinburgh Philharmonic Orchestra at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh (Saturday 28 October). 

Terror is the theme for this multidisciplinary evening of performance at the gothic environs of Edinburgh’s Banshee Labyrinth. The Dream Extortionist: A Collection Of Nightmares (Tuesday 31 October) sees Ashleen Lewis and Ellie Higgins combine spoken word, visual art and movement in a performance that promises (and threatens) to ‘haunt your sleep eternally’. 

Watering holes for the bloodthirsty 

You may be able to enjoy this immersive concept bar all year round, but what better time to check out Cocktail Geeks’ The Last Of Us-themed installation than Halloween weekend? Booking is strongly advised.

Devil Of Brooklyn in Glasgow’s Merchant City is a cocktail bar with a speakeasy twist. Order from their Dante’s Inferno-themed drink list where purgatory, wrath, heresy and greed are just some of the inspirations behind each drink.

Finally, Irn-Bru is teaming up with Glasgow’s El Perro Negro to host the ultimate Halloween party for single people who have been ghosted (geddit?). The restaurant will provide a backdrop to the perfect date-night which promises tricks and treats, including an Irn-Bru inspired menu and cocktail selection. More details can be found on Irn-Bru’s Instagram page.

Late-night hangs

Following its annual springtime festival, Terminal V is back at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh for Halloween Trilogy this weekend (Friday 27 – Sunday 29 October). As always, techno, electronica and dance music will take centre stage as headliners 999999999, blk., Nina Kraviz and more take to the Area V mainstage. Here are five acts we recommend seeing this year. 

Dress up and party among vintage vehicles, subway stations and artefacts on display at Glasgow’s Riverside Museum to the sound of disco and the sight of vampire drag queens at  Melting Pot x Riverside Museum Halloween Party (Saturday 28 October).

For those who like getting down to the Latin sounds of reggaeton, salsa, dembow and dancehall, Glasgow’s Mango are hosting Ganas De Halloween on Friday 27 October which guarantees all of the above. 

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