The Hollow Scarefest (Edinburgh)
Dates
October 20, 2026
Doors
Early evening
Where
Lowland Fields Showground
Tickets from
Price range: £16.00 through £82.00
Book your experience
- Instant e-ticket by email, with a QR code per guest
- Secure card checkout — final total confirmed at checkout
- Every activity on the night is optional
Inside the venue
Gallery
About this
Event Description
Edinburgh draws huge Halloween tourism for its ghost-tour heritage but has never had a large-scale theme-park scare event of the kind England’s big parks run — The Hollow Scarefest fills that gap.
Each day splits in two: a fully family-safe Parkland Daylight session of rides, trails and entertainment, then a separate After Dark session for ages 12+ built around live-actor scare mazes, shows, a horror market and street food.
Tickets
- Parkland Daylight (Adult, Young Person, Child) — full daytime access including all rides and family attractions.
- After Dark (Adult, Young Person 12–15 with a guardian) — the full evening scare event.
- Family (2 adults + 2 children) — a discounted daytime family ticket.
- Season Pass — unlimited entry to both sessions across all 13 days.
Dates & times
20 October – 1 November 2026 (13 nights). Parkland Daylight runs 10:00–16:00; After Dark runs 17:30–22:30. Last entry for Daylight is 15:00 and for After Dark 21:00.
Good to know
- Two sessions each day: a family-safe Parkland Daylight session, then a separate After Dark session for ages 12+ (16+ for the most intense mazes).
- Every standard ticket includes full access to the ride zone and daytime attractions at no extra cost.
- All mazes are no-touch: actors may startle but never make physical contact. A ‘no-scare’ wristband is available on request.
- Wrap up warm and wear sensible footwear — much of the event is outdoors on parkland.
Daily Schedule — Two Distinct Experiences
The park runs two clearly separated sessions each day, with a full changeover in between so family guests never encounter night-time scare content.
| Session | Time | Audience | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight Session | 10:00 – 16:00 | All ages, families, under-12s | Rides, pumpkin trail, kids' disco maze, face painting, magic show, trick-or-treat trail, and family-friendly entertainment throughout the park. |
| Changeover | 16:00 – 17:30 | Park closed to guests | Full site reset: lighting rig, fog systems, actor call, safety checks, and a final walkthrough before the evening session opens. |
| Scarefest Session | 17:30 – 23:00 | Ages 12+ only (16+ for extreme mazes) | Live scare actors, 5 scare mazes, fire show, horror market, and late-night attractions. |
Last entry for the Daylight Session is 15:00; last entry for the Scarefest Session is 21:30. Doors close and all guests must exit within 30 minutes of the advertised end time.
Scare Mazes (Evening Session)
| Maze | Concept | Min. Age |
|---|---|---|
| The Drowned Kirk | Flooded Scottish chapel ruin. Water effects, submerged actors, bell-tower jump scare finale. | 16+ |
| Butcher's Close | Recreation of a 17th-century plague-quarantined Edinburgh close. Tight corridors, live actors, scent effects. | 15+ |
| Asylum Ward 9 | Abandoned psychiatric ward theme. Strobe lighting, restraint-chair scares, no physical contact with guests. | 16+ |
| The Corn Reaper | Outdoor maize maze with harvest-horror theme, chainsaw (no chain) actor finale; a family-lite version runs at dusk with reduced scares for younger guests. | 12+ (lite version 8+) |
| Hollow Woods | Woodland trail with hanging fog, distant howls, and a single high-intensity jump scare cabin at the midpoint. | 13+ |
All mazes are no-touch: actors may startle but never physically contact guests. Guests may request a “no-scare” wristband to pass through with reduced actor interaction.
Rides — Included in Standard Ticket
A dedicated ride zone operates on the show lake meadow throughout the Daylight Session. All rides below are included in the standard admission price at no extra cost.
| Ride | Description | Age/height guidance |
|---|---|---|
| The Hollow Wheel | A 20-metre Halloween-themed Ferris wheel with gondola seating and showground views. | All ages; under-6s with an adult |
| Samhain Carousel | A traditional carved carousel with a harvest-and-lantern paint scheme. | All ages; under-4s with an adult |
| The Pumpkin Patch Hayride | A gentle tractor-drawn hay-cart circuit around the pumpkin trail and show lake. | All ages; under-3s on a guardian's lap |
| Crypt Coaster Jr. | A small-scale family roller coaster with mild dips, no inversions. | Min. height 100cm, or 90cm with an adult |
| The Spinning Cauldrons | Tea-cup-style spinning ride in cauldron-shaped cars. | Min. height 90cm, or any age with an adult |
| Kirk Ghost Train | A dark-ride style trackless train looping through a mild-scare tunnel, lit for family viewing. | All ages; may not suit very young or easily frightened children |
Ride queues are timed and marshalled; each ride is inspected daily by a qualified engineer under standard UK fairground safety (HSE/ADIPS) requirements before opening.
Before you visit
- Entry & timings: Parkland Daylight runs 10:00–16:00 (last entry 15:00); the 12+ After Dark session runs from 17:30 (last entry 21:00–21:30). Please leave within 30 minutes of your session’s advertised end time.
- Parking & getting there: About 15 minutes from Edinburgh city centre by car, with free on-site parking and an event-evening shuttle bus from Haymarket Station.
- Code of conduct: Daylight is for all ages; After Dark is 12+ only (16+ for the most intense mazes). This is a no-touch event and a free ‘no-scare’ wristband is available on request. Please follow all steward instructions — anti-social behaviour may result in removal without a refund. Much of the event is outdoors, so dress warmly with sturdy footwear.
Getting there
Where
Venue
Lowland Fields Showground
Please allow extra travel time — several of our venues are rural, with limited public transport. Parking details are shown on your ticket.
Event dates
October 20, 2026
Instant e-ticket
In your inbox the moment you pay
Secure checkout
Encrypted card payment
Guide-supervised
Every vigil led by experienced staff
Date changes
Move night up to 48 hours before*
Still deciding
Questions
Is anything staged?
No. Nothing is staged and no outcome is ever promised. These are genuine historic buildings, investigated with structured vigils and traditional techniques.
What happens after I pay?
Your e-ticket is emailed straight away, with a unique QR code for every guest. Save it as a PDF, add it to Apple or Google Wallet, or resend it anytime from My Account.
Which ticket should I choose?
Twilight for families and first-timers, Standard for the full after-dark tour, Premium if you want a small-group vigil with equipment, VIP for the extended late session on 31 October.
Can I change my date?
You can move to another available night up to 48 hours before, subject to availability on the night you move to. Get in touch and we will sort it.
Do I need any experience?
None at all. Guides run every session, explain the equipment, and stay with your group the whole time.
Price range: £16.00 through £82.00
Early Bird — 30% off
