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How to celebrate Halloween in Edinburgh?
Halloween or All Hallows Eve is a festival which marks the beginning of winter and explores the connection between the living and the dead. It’s a modern version of the ancient Celtic festival Samhuinn, and is widely celebrated across Scotland on 31st October each year. Scotland’s capital is known as one of the spookiest cities in the UK, and so there are lots of organised events on for Halloween in Edinburgh. It is advisable to book early, where required, as they are very popular with both locals and tourists.
Things to do for Halloween in Edinburgh 2025
- Edinburgh Dungeon, an immersive journey through Edinburgh’s dark past, various dates
- The Ghost Bus, a spine-chilling bus ride through the streets of Edinburgh, various dates
- Escape The Past, escape rooms based on tales of the city’s dark history, various dates
- Department of Magic, magic potions tavern and magic-themed escape rooms, various dates
- Escape Reality, a choice of escape rooms themed with vampires, spirits and more! various dates
- Doomed Dead & Buried Tour, a walking tour of Edinburgh’s spookiest spots, various dates
- Hidden & Haunted Ghost Tour, an eerie walk through the streets of Edinburgh, various dates
- Haunted Vaults Walking Tour, delve into the vaults with Auld Reekie Tours, various dates
- Terror Walking Tour, venture into the underground vaults for a terrifying tour, various dates
- Spooky Season at Edinburgh Zoo, pumpkin carving, Halloween dining, wicked encounters, various dates
- Halloween at Edinburgh Castle, dark stories and mysterious events at the castle, various dates
- Halloween at Craigmillar Castle, Halloween shenanigans and mythical trails are afoot, various dates
- Botanics Halloween Trail, a family-friendly trail around the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 11 – 19 Oct
- Camera Obscura Halloween Hunt, a spooky trail around the popular visitor attraction, 11 Oct – 2 Nov
- Edinburgh Horror Festival, a programme of horror-themed shows and events, 23 – 31 Oct
- The Carnevil, a spooky carnival night with Bongo’s Bingo at the Corn Exchange, 24 & 31 Oct, 1 Nov
- Children’s Classic Concerts Fright at the Museum, spooky concert at the Usher Hall, 26 Oct
- Halloween at Trinity House, Halloween tales from Trinity House in Leith, 27 – 28 Oct
- Samhuinn Fire Parade, spectacular parade to celebrate the ancient Celtic festival of Samhuinn, 31 Oct
- Annasach’s Hallowe’en Ceilidh, traditional Scottish dance with a Halloween theme, 31 Oct
- Ghostbusters in Concert, experience the 1984 movie with live orchestra at the Usher Hall, 31 Oct
- Haunted Drams: Ghost & Whisky Experience, haunted tour with a dram of whisky, 31 Oct – 1 Nov
- Saints and Sinners, a Halloween and All Saints’ Day themed walk in Holyrood Park, 31 Oct – 2 Nov
- Terminal V Halloween, techno, bass and electro, festival at the Royal Highland Centre, 1 Nov
Traditional Halloween festivities in Scotland
Fancy dress – Dressing up in costume as spooky characters. For example, skeletons, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, vampires and witches.
Dooking – Also called ‘Bobbing for Apples’. A game played using a barrel filled with water and floating apples. Players must bend over the barrel with arms behind their backs and pick the apples out using only their teeth. The person who gets the most apples over a fixed period of time is the winner.
Guising – This tradition originated in Scotland in the 19th century. Children would dress up in costume and go door-to-door around the neighbourhood performing in return for food and coins. This is similar to ‘trick-or-treating’, a popular custom from North America where children knock on doors asking for sweets and treats.
Carving lanterns – Spooky faces are carved into hollowed-out turnips or pumpkins and candles placed inside to create a festive lantern.
Telling ghost stories or watching horror films – Turning out the lights to tell scary stories or watch horror movies is sure to scare everyone silly.
Halloween parties – Both adults and children throw parties incorporating some or all of the above activities. Along with the usual food, drink, music and games.
