Have a hair-raising Halloween in Edinburgh

With a long and ghoulish history of body snatchers, witches, Jekyll and Hyde and things going bump in the night, Edinburgh is one of the ghostliest cities in the world. And with Halloween’s roots lying in the Celtic New Year festival of Samhain, where better to enjoy some truly blood-curling All Hallows fun?

From ghost hunts to ‘loudest scream’ world records, traditional Celtic fire processions to Living TV ‘Most Haunted’ celebrities, Auld Reekie is filled with fabulously frightening festivities this Halloween.

Here are some of the spookiest things to see and do in Edinburgh this Halloween…

1. EDINBURGH DUNGEONS SET TO BREAK GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS

As part of their Halloween Festival, Edinburgh Dungeons will attempt to break the world records for both ‘the most faces painted in an hour’ and the ‘world’s loudest individual scream’.

Thedungeons.com

2. GHOST HUNT NIGHT VIGIL BY AULD REEKIE TOURS

An eerie night of séances, ghost hunts, tarot card readings, psychics, ouija boards and more - all in the dark, haunted vaults proclaimed by TV’s ‘Most Haunted Live’ as their scariest location ever.

Auldreekietours.com

3. SUPERNATURAL HISTORY TOURS AT THE REAL MARY KING’S CLOSE

A night of paranormal horror at Edinburgh’s famous underground attraction. New for 2008 - see the photo of the ghostly image captured by infra-red camera and listen to tapes of spirit voices taken by Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) experts from this year’s Mary King’s Ghostfest.

Realmarykingsclose.com

4. SAMHUINN CELTIC FESTIVAL

The traditional Celtic procession of music, folk dance and pyrotechnics winds its way down the Royal Mile, culminating at Parliament Square for the main celebration. It claims to be the biggest Halloween event in the UK.

Beltane.org

5. HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NIGHT AT VOGRIE HOUSE

A grisly ghost hunt at Vogrie House, Scotland’s infamous haunted house in Midlothian, with a guest appearance by Living TV’s ‘Most Haunted’ medium Johnnie Fiori.

Visitmidlothian.org.uk

6. THE SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE

Alternative Halloween events include a spooky ‘Tell-A-Story’ evening for all the family at the Royal Botanic Garden, a Ceilidh Night focusing on the ancient Celtic traditions of Halloween with Scottish Traveller storytellers, plus a late night open storytelling session at Edinburgh’s Waverley Bar.

Scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

7. THE CADIES & WITCHERY TOURS

Led by a real life ghost (Adam Lyal, deceased - reformed highway robber), meander through the Royal Mile’s dark alleyways hearing grisly tales of witchcraft, grave-robbing and more.

Witcherytours.com