ScottishNews.com

The spookiest night of the year is nearly upon us and this year Scotland boasts a whole host of spine-tingling events, with immersive light shows, Halloween festivals and fun spooktacular woodland trails for all the family to enjoy.

 

Here are eight of the scariest attractions across the country…

 

Zombie Zoo is this year’s theme at GlasGlow’s immersive light and sound adventure in Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens and features the world’s first state-of-the-art zombie containment and conservation facility.

Meet the zoo’s rare and misunderstood residents in an unforgettable one hour outdoor adventure complete with decontamination tunnels, cutting-edge observation labs, live feeding demonstrations and dead-friendly zombies. 

Refuel in the street food village, enjoy a drink at the zombie bar and toast marshmallows in magical Marshmallowland.

With just a few spooky moments, this event is suitable for all ages.

For ticket information visit https://www.itison.com/glasglow

 

 

Step into the hauntingly beautiful forest, where winding paths are draped in cobwebs, lined with eerie graveyards, grinning skeletons, lurking spiders, a bubbling witch’s cauldron and a chilling haunted house - all brought to life by a team of costumed performers delivering just the right amount of spooks for every age. Climb aboard the free, tombstone tractor and trailer ride to the forest entrance, enjoy bewitching welcomes, fairground games, free craft activities and photo spots with spooky props, and toast marshmallows with Count Dracula.

The Spooky shop will be open for you, once you’ve parked, to purchase and stock up on lightsabres, sparkle wands, glow sticks and marshmallows for toasting, before heading down to the haunted forest. You will be transported by the tombstone tractor-taxi where the adventure begins.

Watch out for zombies, ghosts and ghouls who are hiding around every corner, waiting to give you a jump scare. 

Event runs every Friday and Saturday through October. Book through https://www.jotform.com/222570686231051

 

 

A creepy twist on the enchanted Faerie trail, take a walk though Loch Lomond’s spooky woodland through the ancient forest solving clues in your activity guide as you go and be on the lookout for spells and myths on your travels. Find all seven spells along the mile-long trail and break the Wicked Witch’s curse. The train will lead you Faerie Farm where farm friends will meet you. A pop up pumpkin patch is based within the farm park where you can pick up your own pumpkin to carve and take lots of spooky snaps. The spooky trail should take one to two hours to complete. 

Visit https://www.lochlomondfaerietrail.com to book.

 

 

For 16 years, Kelburn Castle has been home to some of Scotland’s most unforgettable Halloween events. From the very first flickering lanterns in the forest to this year’s fully immersive Nightmare experience, every trail has been a bold step to perfect the art of fear, delivering spine-tingling adventures that thrill and delight. Their 2026 event, Relic, promises to be the most intense, immersive, and thrilling scare trail yet. Every twist, turn, and shadow in the forest has been designed to deliver fear, fun, and unforgettable memories. Party passes for up to 10 people are available as well as custom bundles and a stay and scare package in a luxury yurt in the haunted forest. After dark disco The Blood Ball will run every day of the event until 11pm. Ticket information is available at https://www.kelburnhauntedforest.com/book

 

 

Enjoy unlimited rides in the dark on selected rides throughout Scotland’s Theme Park, plus entry to both of M&D’s theme park’s fully immersive scare attractions Abduction – Escape if you can and Freakshow: Final Curtain. Step inside the big top for the epic final of the Freak Show trilogy. New for 2026 is The Curse of Devil’s Island – Play at your own peril - an immersive haunted adventure golf experience. Scotland’s Scream Park contains intense scares, dark environments, loud noises, theatrical effects and strobe lighting. Participants in Abduction and Freakshow: Final Curtain must be 16 years of age or over. Guests aged 14 or 15 may participate if a parent or guardian completes a waiver on arrival. Book here https://ticket.scotlandsthemepark.com/

 

 

Recognised by VisitScotland as one of the best free family festivals in the UK, Paisley Halloween Festival is expected to bring thousands of people to Paisley town centre for some frightful Halloween fun. Inspired by the theme ‘Haunted House’, the 2026 festival invites visitors to explore a world of imagination filled with larger-than-life characters, spectacular visual performances, themed entertainment and unforgettable moments around every corner. The spectacular, 400-strong parade will wind through Paisley town centre each night from 7pm featuring world-class returning performers including spine-tingling Spark! LED Drummers and Uncle Doom and his Organ of Gloom. Plus, brand-new acts like comedic shopping trolley dance act Granny Turismo, the majestic Ember the Dragon, and spectacular mirror and sea-themed show. Lighting displays and illuminated artwork will transform streets, public spaces and buildings across the town centre as darkness falls and family-friendly rides and attractions will operate across the festival weekend at the Lagoon area and East End Park.

 

 

A spine-tingling day time adventure for the whole family. From picking the perfect pumpkin to enjoying monstrously fun activities, this seasonal celebration is packed with thrills, chills, and unforgettable autumn magic. Your ticket includes entry into the pumpkin patch, fearsome photo opportunities, witches labyrinth maze, funhouse of fear maze, Halloween character meet and greet, live music entertainment and adventure park entry. Climb, slide, jump and explore one of Scotland’s favourite family attractions before or after your Halloween activities. Show-stopping fireworks and fire performers will perform in the evening for the Halloween Pumpkin Nights events.

To book visit https://www.conifox.co.uk/

 

 

Follow the Ghastly Gardens Alloween Trail while exploring the museum gardens and see what creepy clues you can solve. Once you’ve found all the answers and solved to puzzles, don’t forget to collect your spooky reward. Look out for the Golden Pumpkin while you’re searching for clues - with only one hidden each day, the finder wins an extra special prize. Trail sheets can be prebooked online and collected from museum reception on chosen date, or purchased directly from the museum. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Book via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk