Autumn is fully underway as the sun starts to set earlier and the temperature drops but that doesn’t mean there’s little fun to be had. With awesome festivities such as Halloween taking place this month, it means we needn’t have to stay indoors. Plus, October is bursting with events and performances for you to indulge in, let alone the food and drink. So, without further ado, here’s our guide to the best things to do in Glasgow to make for an epic October.
1. Enjoy discounted cocktails at Glasgow Cocktail Fortnight
Taking place from September 25 to October 8, Glasgow Cocktail Fortnight (aka Glasgow Cocktail Week) is set to bring the party with a jam-packed line-up of fun immersive events, secret takeovers, brunches, masterclasses and immersive tastings announced in partnership with famous alcohol brands. Over 50 of Glasgow’s most-loved venues are taking part to bring memorable moments and delicious drinks to the festival, including popular cocktail hangouts, such as Absent Ear, a modern Scottish pub, The Gate, sky-high venue VEGA, or the negroni and wine bar Malo.
2. Play social darts at this lively Glasgow bar
Flight Club is a social darts bar and a competitive socialising concept ready to welcome friendly competition. Located on George Street, Flight Club has livened up Glasgow’s bar scene, offering visitors a chance to participate in multiplayer games, as well as indulge in creative cocktails and small bites.
3. Admire a soulful Candlelight Concert of Hans Zimmer’s Best Works
Get into the feels in a romantic setting at the beautiful Merchants House of Glasgow on October 18 with this stunning candlelight concert, where a string quartet of talented performers will play their own renditions of Hans Zimmer’s best works, surrounded by a sea of candles. Think This Land from ‘The Lion King’, Tennessee from Pearl Harbor and Pirates of the Caribbean suite.
Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer - 4.55 · 324 reviews
4. Go pumpkin picking
It’s October which means seasonal events like Halloween and Bonfire Night are creeping our way, plus the huge countdown to Christmas. But first on the agenda for autumn has to be Halloween. Whether you’re doing it for the ‘gram or just absolutely love getting your carve on, there are a number of pumpkin patches near Glasgow you can visit this autumn. From the start of October through to Halloween, pumpkin patches near Glasgow will not only be brimming with pumpkins but also plenty of activities to get involved in from carving to photoshoots with your produce. Check out the best pumpkin patches near Glasgow where you can pick your own pumpkins here.
5. Get transported to a Glasgow-themed spooky world in this year’s new GlasGLOW outdoor show
GlasGLOW is bringing back its annual event bringing the essence of Halloween and life beyond death to the city. Between October 24 and November 9, Glasgow Botanic Gardens will be transformed into the 80s world “Glasgow’s Miles Better”. The adventure trail will take up to 70 minutes, bringing chills and thrills to guests of all ages, along with some feel-good interactive light installations.
6. Visit the spookiest spots in the city on the Haunted Glasgow City Exploration Game
Embrace the spooky season with a ghostly journey around one of the most haunted cities in the world. This hair-raising tour sends you around Glasgow to uncover clues and find out all sorts of sinister stories about the buildings that are brimming with a dark history. Kicking off from Glasgow Central Station, the 65-minute experience sends you to 14 different locations, each one more haunting than the last. Make sure to enlist the brightest minds you know and brush up on your Sherlock, you’ll need all the help you get as you search the city for answers.
7. Check out this country-themed bar with a bull pit
Rock, rodeo and all things American fans will be over the moon to find out there is a themed bar in Glasgow, boasting a bull pit, live rock music every night and live sports. As a result, the new venue Maggie’s Rock ‘n’ Rodeo will become Scotland’s first country-themed bar. Go check it out and have the best time!
8. Go to the rudest cafe in the UK
Located on Minard Road in Shawlands, Rude Cookies is a women-led independent business where you don’t have to be scared of swearing. Rude Cookies calls themselves “the baddest bakery in Glasgow”, and could possibly be considered the rudest cafe in the UK with their uncensored cookies. On top of being decked in pink, the cafe boasts funny artwork, and a very special door handle that you will just have to go see for yourself (wink wink).
9. Attend an evening of disco at the Riverside Museum
The night of October 31 will be as memorable as they get, with its disco revolution in ‘Optimo Halloween – Espookio made us do it’. Visitors will be granted a chance to visit an era of pure decadence, excess, glamour and music with a one-of-a-kind event inside Glasgow’s contemporary venue. So, just dress up in your best fancy dress and get your groove on this Halloween! You can book your tickets here.
10. Get transported to ancient Egypt at this incredible immersive exhibition
Ancient Egypt fans, rejoice! There is still time to visit the incredible Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition at the Scottish Event Campus, boasting majestic 360-degree projections, a hologram room, a VR experience and an interactive metaverse experience. The immersive exhibition marries science, history and technology, giving visitors a window into the time of Tutankhamun. You can book your tickets here.
11. Try ice baths, infrared saunas, red light therapy and other high-tech treatments
Holon is Glasgow’s newest health and wellbeing centre in Glasgow’s West End, offering ice bath and infrared sauna sessions, red light therapy, HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy), VR and more. What is more, there is a quaint room upstairs for yoga classes, where guests can disconnect from their everyday struggles by giving their minds a break.
12. Go see ‘The Tina Turner’ musical
Award-winning ‘TINA – The Tina Turner Musical’ is coming to Kings Theatre Glasgow between September 23 & October 4, directed by the sensational Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia) and presented in association with Tina Turner herself. Explore the story of the Queen of Rock’n’Roll herself, who was brave enough to dream big and persevere. You can book your tickets here.