🎉 Wee Weekender | 24–25 October – Halloween Parades, Gladiators & Glow Sticks! 🎃🏮🤼

Hello Wee Weekenders! 👋

It's a big one this week. Thirteen things to choose from, and most of them involve a costume.

There's the Paisley Halloween Festival with its giant parade, Gladiators Live at the Hydro, and a free spooky day at Provan Hall. There's also a ceilidh for toddlers and a model railway show, for the kids who'd rather skip the ghosts.

Here's what's on 👇

🎃 FUNtron 3000 Halloween Spooktacularthon

Ryan and his unhelpful apprentice Rudy Rat have accidentally let a load of not very scary Halloween characters loose in the lab. The only fix is an epic party. Expect jokes with a ghost, jamming with a werewolf and dancing with a bat.

📍 The Dockyard Social, Glasgow West End
⏰ Sunday 25 October, midday–2.30pm
💷 £10 (includes 1 free adult)
👉 More info

👻 Paisley Halloween Festival

Free, award-winning and properly huge. This year's theme is Haunted House, with a 400-strong parade through the town centre from 7pm each night. Alongside it you'll find street performers, light installations and a funfair, so there's plenty to see before and after.

📍 Paisley town centre
⏰ Friday 23 October, 4pm–9pm / Saturday 24 October, 2pm–9pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🤼 Gladiators Live

Contenders, ready! The Gladiators from the BBC series are back in the arena for a two-hour live show. There are stunts, head-to-head battles and the Eliminator finale. It's a good one if your kids watch the telly version.

📍 The OVO Hydro, Glasgow West End
⏰ 23–25 October (see website for times)
💷 See website
👉 More info

🌊 Doon The Watter

Two sisters head off on a trip "doon the watter" to their favourite island. Along the way there are stories of mermaids, seabirds and mischievous seal pups, told with music and puppets. It's made for little ones aged 0–5, and the 1pm show comes with a 30-minute workshop afterwards.

📍 Lanternhouse, Cumbernauld
⏰ Sunday 25 October, 1pm & 3pm
💷 £8
👉 More info

🎶 Ceilidh Tots

A live concert for preschoolers with reels, jigs and Gaelic waltzes instead of Baby Shark. The wee ones can wander about, dance and have a go on the mini instruments. Grown-ups can join in or just sit back and enjoy the tunes.

📍 Hillhead Sports Club, Glasgow West End
⏰ Saturday 24 October, 9.45am / 11am / 12.15pm (quiet session, limited spaces)
💷 £11.50
👉 More info

🏚️ Spooky Special

A free day out at one of Glasgow's oldest houses, which is also rumoured to be one of its most haunted. There's a spooky trail, crafts, face painting and a clay ghost to take home. Parking's free too, which is always a win.

📍 Provan Hall, Glasgow East End
⏰ Saturday 24 October, 11am–3pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🎨 Halloween Workshop

A screen-free craft session where kids paint a sugar skull and make a pumpkin garland and giant autumn leaves. They also build a spider-racing craft and then test it out. Everything comes home with them.

📍 Fort Matilda Bowling Club, Greenock
⏰ Saturday 24 October, 2pm–4pm
💷 £19.50
👉 More info

🦹 Villain Halloween Party

No tricks, just treats at this free party full of mischievous villains. There are games, songs and playful surprises. Kids can come dressed as their favourite hero or villain.

📍 AlonA Hotel, Motherwell
⏰ Sunday 25 October, 1pm–2:30pm
💷 Free
👉 More info

🐶 Hoopy Halloween

Hoopy the Huddle Hound is hosting his Halloween spectacular in the Kerrydale suite at Celtic Park. Dress up and join in with themed food, magical entertainment, games and competitions.

📍 Celtic Park, Glasgow East End
⏰ Sunday 25 October, 11am (the listing also says 12pm–3pm, so check before you go)
💷 Adult £20 / Child under 12 £14
👉 More info

🎪 Children's Classic Concerts: Creepy Carnival

Cobwebbed Ferris wheels, rusty "Roller Ghosters" and a fairground that's seen better days. Presenter Owen Gunnell is joined by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the RSNO Children's Chorus. A lovely way to introduce kids to live orchestral music.

📍 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow City Centre
⏰ Saturday 24 October, 3pm
💷 See website
👉 More info

🚂 Cathcart Model Railway Exhibition

Now in its 58th year, with more than thirteen layouts to look at. Kids (and adults) can have a go at driving the trains. There's a buffet with hot snacks and cakes, which helps.

📍 Pollokshaws Burgh Hall, Glasgow South Side
⏰ Saturday 24 October, 10am–5pm / Sunday 25 October, 10am–4pm
💷 Adults £7 / Concession £6.50 / Children £3 / Family (2+2) £16
👉 More info

🎌 Koyo Con – Glasgow Anime Con

One for your anime-obsessed big bairns. It's a one-day anime and manga event with an autumn theme and some Halloween prop sets. There are panels, tournaments, cosplay competitions, workshops and screenings.

📍 SEC Centre, Glasgow West End
⏰ Saturday 24 October, 10am–5pm
💷 £10.92–£26.52 (plus £0.50 fee per paid order)
👉 More info

🏮 Battlefield Lantern Parade

A nice, gentle way to end the weekend. Meet at Battlefield Primary at 6.15pm, then walk through the streets to Finns Place on Ledard Road. Dressing up and bringing lanterns or glow sticks is very much encouraged.

📍 Starts at Battlefield Primary, ends at Finns Place, Ledard Road
⏰ Sunday 25 October, 6.15pm (leaves 6.30pm)
💷 Free
👉 More info

That's your weekend sorted, Wee Weekenders! 🎃

Whether you're lining up at the Paisley parade, cheering on the Gladiators or just doing a quiet lap of a model railway, there's a lot here to keep everyone happy. Don't forget the costume bag, and maybe a few snacks for the car.

Have a good one, and let us know where you end up!

Catch you next week,
Wee Weekender 💛