Every October, Edinburgh seems to whisper ghost stories as you wander its closes and vaults. If you want Halloween that feels alive - not just trick or treating - these are my top picks. I’ve put the show I’m involved in at #1, because I really believe it’s the most fun and different of the lot.

1. Trick or Treat – An Unpredictable Halloween Magic Show for Adults

This is the one I’m most excited about. Co-created by me (Cameron Gibson) and Luke Osey (2/3rd of the “international phenomenon” show “Insane Magic”), this magic show is dark, spontaneous, cheeky, and absolutely not for kids!

Where & when: Edinburgh & Glasgow dates (Edinburgh: 26 October, 7:30pm at The Gilded Saloon; check our site for Glasgow).
What to expect: Surprises, sleight-of-hand, chaos, audience interaction, spooky fun. Magic meets unpredictability.
Why it matters: If you want something magical and a little edgy this Halloween - something completely different to the usual - this show is for you and your friends!

2. The Great Divinator: Touched by Spirits (Edinburgh Horror Festival)

Part of the amazing Edinburgh Horror Festival, this show blends vintage séance-style mind reading, drag, theatre, and an uncanny theatricality.

It hits this sweet spot of theatricality + supernatural atmosphere.
If you love being spooked by storytelling rather than just scares, this delivers.

Check out the horror festival here!

3. Conifox Adventure Park: Edinburgh’s Ultimate Halloween Festival

A big one if you want variety and an entire Halloween-style day (or evening) out.

Think pumpkin patches, haunted mazes, fire performers, discos, fun fair rides, photo opps, etc.
Great for groups, for people who like outdoors, for those who want something lively and with lots of options.

Check out their family halloween days

4. The Halloween Spook Show at The Banshee Labyrinth

This is a darker, more intimate show, perfect for when you want something eerie, magical, and atmospheric:

It’s also part of the Edinburgh Horror Festival.
Seance magic and supernatural illusions, set in Scotland’s most haunted pub.
A late-night haunted vibe. Great for after dark when you're in the mood for mystery, whispers, and a little dread.

Get tickets for the halloween spook show

5. Haunted Nights & Ghost Tours: “Raising the Dead” by Mercat Tours

If you prefer your Halloween more wandering than theatrical, this one’s for you:

“Raising the Dead” is an adults-only tour that takes you through Old Town, into the Blair Street Underground Vaults, then out to Canongate Graveyard. Mercat Tours Ltd, Edinburgh, Scotland
It’s eerie, atmospheric, and full of chilling tales: murderers, cursed souls, stories that linger. Make sure you’ve got warm clothes.

Final Thoughts

If I were planning my Halloween weekend, I’d start with Trick or Treat (you’ve got to experience something unpredictable). Then I’d take in The Great Divinator for style and storytelling, follow up with The Halloween Spook Show, and maybe end with a ghost tour like Raising the Dead.