Whether you’re someone who’d love the thrill of a ghost walk and a pint in a haunted bar, or you’re a parent of little ones who’d much prefer simply carving a pumpkin, there’s plenty to do in Stirling over Halloween!
Kids are Potty about Pumpkins at Dobbies this October
Halloween activities at Dobbies
Families will love the ‘Halloween Spooktacular’ at Dobbies, Stirling. Kids can get stuck into terrifying treats from their family Afternoon Tea before getting creative with creepy craft activities and ghoulish games. Each event will hold a fancy-dress competition, so make sure your little ones wear their most Spooktacular fancy dress costume to be in with a chance of winning a prize. To book tickets (hurry!) see: https://www.dobbies.com/
Also, look out for free ‘Little Seedlings’ workshops at Dobbies during the October break, when kids can go ‘Potty About Pumpkins’. Suitable for kids from 4 to 10 years, each workshop lasts an hour and will include guided activities and learning, games, and hands-on fun. Although this is free, booking is essential. And take a look at the November events, too! For more information, see: https://hub.dobbies.com/events/upcoming-events/little-seedlings-october-holiday-club-were-potty-about-pumpkins!/
Explore haunted Stirling
Stirling Ghost Walks promise ‘fear, fun and frights for all the family’ for those who want to explore the haunted nooks and crannies of Stirling itself. Costumed actors bring comedy, drama and storytelling together to breathe life into Stirling’s ancient Old Town and its grisly past. Meet the City’s many ghosts, from Blind Alick Lyon to the Black Lady, spirits in what was once described as ‘the most densely populated supernatural square mile in all of Scotland’. The ghost walks will appeal to all ages, and take in many of Stirling’s most historic sites, from John Cowane’s Hospital to the Beheading Stone, Argyll’s Lodging and Stirling Castle. For details and tickets, see: http://www.stirlingghostwalk.com/
Stirling Walks offer daytime tours of Stirling, with all the fun, drama and history, but a lot less of the ‘fear and ‘frights’! Gor a brilliant guided tour of Stirling Old Town by day (with not a ghost in sight!), book a tour with Stirling Walks at https://stirlingwalkingtours.com/
Have a pint with a ghost
Nicky-Tam’s Bar and Bothy is not only the second-oldest pub in Stirling, it claims to be the most haunted. Renovations in 1999 were fraught with reports of apparitions and unsettling events after a photograph of what looked like a clergyman was discovered, walled into the fabric of the building. Clairvoyants visited the site three times over 1999 and 2000, and claimed that there were a number of spirits present in the building; some benign, and one more aggressive presence, perhaps the clergyman in the photo. While the events have not been fully explained, Nicky-Tams still attracts both ghost-hunters and those simply looking for home-cooked food, good beer, and great live events. If you’re thirsty on your way up to Stirling Castle – stop by for a drink – you might just spot a ghost too. For more information, see: http://www.nickytams.com/
Have a Halloween pint in Nicky Tam’s
Let Stirling Walking Tours guide you through Stirling
Photo credits:
- Stirling Castle by Night by Finlay McWalter via Wikimedia Commons: This file is licensed under the Creative CommonsAttribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
- Nicky-Tams Bar and Bothy via Trip Advisor
- Photo of Stirling Walking Tours Guide, courtesy of Stirling Walking Tours: https://stirlingwalkingtours.com/