10 Family-Friendly Events & Festivals in October

When? 26 September to 5 October 2025

This ten-day literary festival turns Scotland’s National Book Town into a hub of storytelling and imagination. The Big Wig children’s programme runs across both weekends, offering storytelling sessions, author visits, illustration workshops and interactive performances for children aged up to 13. Families can make the most of the festival’s Family Day Pass (£20 for up to five people), which grants access to all children’s events on a single day making for an affordable and culturally enriching outing. With plenty of bookshops, cafés and coastal scenery to explore between events, it’s a perfect match for book-loving families. 

When? 2 October –  2 November 2025

Set in Faskally Wood near Pitlochry, The Enchanted Forest is an autumn classic. Scotland’s famous light and sound show attracts thousands of visitors each year. Join hands and wander through an immersive trail of glowing trees, projected imagery, and music carefully choreographed to the visual spectacle unfolding against the forest backdrop. Children can especially enjoy interactive elements of the installation that react to sound or touch, while parents are sure to find the atmosphere equally beguiling. Food and drink stalls are dotted around the route if you’re feeling peckish. 

When? 3 – 26 October

This epic-scale Halloween funfair is back in a new, accessible riverside location. Running daily through October, the event packs a punch with thrilling rides such as the high-octane Air Max pendulum and rollercoaster thrills alongside family-friendly staples including a Waltzer, Ferris wheel, Big Apple coaster and a classic ghost train. Wee ones are catered for with plenty of mini-rides, carnival games and gentler fare. There’s also food stalls, and an array of Halloween-themed displays providing spooky photo ops. Parking is free and tickets are sold as wristbands, giving unlimited rides during each four-hour session. Price is based on height rather than age. 

When? Mid-October 2025

You can’t go wrong with a trip to Glasgow’s landmark museum. A perennial family favourite, it runs a series of free, creative drop-in workshops over half-term, which this year involves exploring objects and displays themed around Black History Month. It’s also the perfect spot to get in the mood for Halloween, with plenty of spooky corners and mysterious artefacts to discover. Before you leave, linger in the East Court, where Sophie Cave’s eerie Floating Heads hover overhead, or explore the dimly lit Ancient Egyptian gallery with its mysterious sarcophagus and gleaming statue of Sekhmet – fascinating, unsettling, and maybe home to a ghost or two. Meanwhile, the nearby Kelvin Hall is running hands-on Monster Mascots crafting sessions, while the Burrell Collection is hosting a special Medieval Day, complete with knights and other costumed characters ready to regale young visitors with living-history fun, crafts and storytelling.

When? 10–18 October 2025

Scotland’s flagship Gaelic festival returns to Lochaber this October, offering a rich programme of competitions, performances and Gaelic culture for all ages. Among the most popular fixtures is the Children’s Ceilidh – a friendly evening dance designed especially for kids and their parents – which traditionally follows early-week events and brings a joyful close to the day’s events. The wider programme also includes Gaelic Bookbug, Lego Club, art workshops and informal music sessions run by the Sradagan and Sruth youth programmes. Put simply, it’s a lively and accessible way to introduce your kids to Scotland’s rich musical heritage. 

When? October 2025

Pumpkin pickers are spoilt for choice at  Balgone Farm. It’s the biggest pumpkin patch in Scotland, growing an incredible 60,000 pumpkins of every shape and size each year. Spend hours exploring the fields, picking your favourites to take home, and posing for photos among the vivid rows of orange. Seasonal trails and themed activities make things extra fun for children, while the scenic views over East Lothian countryside make it a refreshing outdoor day trip.  

When? October 2025

This autumn, Stirling Castle’s haunted heritage takes centre stage with a trio of events. During the Great Big Living History Week, the castle transforms into a bustling time-travel stage, where costumed knights, musicians, and artisans bring its storied past to vivid, hands-on life. Families can then dive into crafting with Halloween Shenanigans – think creepy crafts, ghoulish games, and playful storytelling aginst the backdrop of these ancient walls. And for those brave enough, the Lantern Tours lead families through echoing halls, torch-lit corridors, and the castle’s graveyard beyond.

When? Open daily

Located just outside Edinburgh, Jupiter Artland is a sculpture park where art blends seamlessly with nature. Children love clambering over the undulating grassy mounds of Charles Jencks’s Cells of Life and exploring woodland trails dotted with striking artworks by leading contemporary artists. This October, new exhibitions unveiled include Georg Wilson: The Earth Exhales and Florence Peake: To Love and To Cherish. The park’s most unusual highlight is the colourful Gateway art-pool, where families can book an outdoor dip (children aged 4 and over are welcome with adult supervision). Sunset Thursdays also coax families to linger after dark, with the café and shop open late for hot drinks or an early supper. 

When? 24 October – 2 November 2025

Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens undergoes its own transformation each autumn, morphing into an illuminated wonderland for GlasGLOW. This year’s theme, Miles Better celebrates iconic moments from the city’s past and present, from the Garden Festival to “Clockwork Orange” (the nickname for the Glasgow Subway). Follow the trail through larger-than-life light installations, enjoy themed areas such as Marshmallowland and the Patch, and refuel at a gourmet street-food village.  

When? 24 October - 2 November 2025

With just a short ferry crossing, a day trip to Arran is always a good idea and this year the island’s Festival of Food and Drink adds even more reason to visit. Running across half-term, the festival features tastings, markets, as well as family-friendly events such as markets and farm visits where children can discover where their food comes from while sampling seasonal treats. Meanwhile, adults can feast on seafood, cheeses and craft drinks. Beyond the festival, take the time to enjoy the island in all its autumnal glory with gentle coastal strolls like Fisherman’s Walk, which has sea views and sandy stretches. Delicious food, fun and fresh air – what more do you need?