Tricks and treats: Hallowe’en fun for the whole family

The parties, parades and spooky celebrations near you

HALLOWE’EN is just around the corner – and there are a host of devilishly good and spectacularly spooky celebrations across the country.

From costume contests and apple dooking to pumpkin carving and ghostly encounters, there’s something for everyone.

Keen to learn about the historic significance of Hallowe’en? Don’t miss Tuesday’s Samhain, Spooks and Sacrifice event at the Scottish Crannog Centre in Perth.

Attend in costume and bring a jack-o’-lantern to light your way into the spirit world as you learn about the Celtic Samhain festival – the predecessor to Hallowe’en marking the end of the harvest.

With storytelling around the fire, a sacrificial wicker ram burning, apple dooking and many surprises, this is unmissable fun. Visit crannog.co.uk/events.

A spine-tingling night awaits at Scone Palace’s Spirits of Scone celebrations, running every evening and ending on Tuesday.

There are ghostly storytelling sessions in the haunted chapel and an illuminated tour on a ghostly trail, where you will explore the palace grounds, the ancient graveyard, and the ghoul’s maze. Learn more at scone-palace.co.uk/whats-on/spiritsscone.

A Hallowe’en party is being hosted by the city of Perth tonight, featuring a parade, zombie maze, tents of doom and lots of family fun. See perthcity. co.uk/perths-halloween-party.

Halloween wouldn’t be complete without a pumpkin lantern, so pick up yours at the Cairnie Pumpkin Festival this weekend. Cairnie Fruit Farm is also home to the Spooky Torchlight Maze, on from tonight until Tuesday. Prepare to be scared! Tickets should be booked in advance at cairniefruitfarm.digitickets.co.uk/tickets.

Paisley’s Hallowe’en Festival, on today and tomorrow, promises spooktacular fun, including a ball, murder mystery night and screening of The Lost Boys.

A parade through the town centre tomorrow will feature the Spark! LED Drummers, a fire garden, illuminated structures and a cinema yurt. Find out more at renfrewshireleisure.com.

TamFest is a unique celebration of both Hallowe’en and Robert Burns’s Tam o’ Shanter, with live entertainment, markets and history tours in Ayr until Sunday. If you are brave enough, visit Ayr Town Hall prison cells for a haunted house experience. Little ones can get their faces painted in the kids’ zone, and X Factor finalist Emily Middlemas performs on the main stage on Sunday. See tamfest.co.uk.

Over in Inverclyde, the Galoshans Festival is running until Tuesday with a mix of free and ticketed events. Head to the Waterfront Cinema tonight for The Rocky Horror Picture Show – fancy dress is encouraged, of course! Fall down the rabbit hole tomorrow and see Alice in Wonderland performed through dance, or see Wheesht! performed by the Beacon Arts Youth Theatre on Tuesday.

Other highlights include the Two Worlds Hallowe’en Parade, featuring samba bands, ghoulish fancy dress and some very impressive

props. For a full line-up, log on to beaconartscentre. co.uk/ galoshans-festival-2017.

For something a little different, try Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway tomorrow or on Sunday for the annual Steam and Scream trips. There will be Hallowe’en treats, a fancy dress contest and lots more spooky fun. See bkrailway.co.uk.

To learn more about the history of Hallowe’en and what’s on near you, visit visitscotland.com/blog/ events/halloween. Enjoy!