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 Oktoberfest and 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. Celebrate Oktoberfest with beers, bratwurst and a boogie at Platform
Grab your steins and friends as the ultimate food and drink event is coming to Glasgow this October, organised by popular brewery Innis & Gunn in one of the city’s top street food venues it’s going to be a barrel of laughs, beer and more. Expected to offer a “fresh take” on the traditional Oktoberfest shenanigans, the brewers will be hosting a three-day event known as ‘Oktober Fresh’ to celebrate their finest fresh beer. Find out more about the event here.
2. Visit this spooky immersive event with thrilling rides
To get us in the spooky mood is a brand new immersive event arriving in Glasgow from October 7 to October 31 and the organisers have unveiled a frightful line-up of rides. Spooktacular will take place at Silverburn shopping centre, Pollok in the lead up to Halloween and will feature the likes of an epic rollercoaster, thrill rides for thrill seekers, a festival wheel with the best view of Glasgow, ‘little pumpkin’ rides and a scare maze. Situated in the green car park at Silverburn, Spooktacular is sure to be frightfully good fun!
3. Enjoy the last weekend of Glasgow Cocktail Week
Glasgow Cocktail Week may have already begun with its full city cocktail takeover but you still have a few more days to make the most of it. To celebrate the organisers have released cocktail tours in partnership with Bacardi for guests to explore some of the city’s best bars including recently opened The Finnieston, Radisson Red, Spiritualist and sky-high VEGA. There are three cocktail trails as part of Glasgow Cocktail Week for you to explore between September 24 and October 2.
4. Admire a soulful Candlelight Concert of Hans Zimmer’s Best Works
Get into the feels in a romantic setting at the beautiful Òran Mór this October with this stunning candlelight concert, where a string quartet of talented performers will play their own renditions to Hans Zimmer’s best works. Think This Land from The Lion King, Tennessee from Pearl Harbor and Pirates of the Caribbean suite.
5. Go pumpkin picking
It’s October which 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.
6. Time travel to The Land That Time Forgot in this year’s new GlasGLOW outdoor show
This year, GlasGLOW is bringing The Land That Time Forgot back to life, questioning the true meaning of existence and survival. Between October 26 and November 13, [trackLink link_url=”https://glasgowbotanicgardens.co.uk/“]Glasgow Botanic Gardens[/trackLink] will be transformed into the prehistoric tundra where dinosaurs and active volcanoes will prove that time does not have amnesia. The adventure trail will take up to 70 minutes, bringing chills and thrills to guests of all ages as well as some feel-good interactive light installations.
7. Hear scary film scores like never before at a candlelit concert 
As part of Fever’s Candlelight Concert series, music fans will be able to enjoy a special Halloween edition, which will see tracks from famous movies performed within the spooky, candlelit setting. Expect to hear the scores of Jaws, Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands, The Shining and so much more at the special concert, but this time, as you’ve never heard them before. Get tickets here.
8. Eat lobster and Indulge in wine at this contemporary spot
Lobster is usually one of the most expensive items on the menu: the prestigious meal is generally reserved for special occasions or payday. However, it doesn’t have to be the case anymore – you can now have lobster and wine at an affordable price at Ralph & Finns. Every Thursday and Friday, Ralph & Finns will host a weekly “Catch” nights spotlighting their local suppliers. The Ultimate Lobster Night is the restaurant’s way of celebrating Scottish food and introducing high-quality local produce to the community. For £25 per person, guests will be offered a half lobster, fries, salad and a glass of wine making it an exquisite night out. And those who aren’t too fond of lobster can also opt for a premium Aberdeen Angus ribeye steak instead for an extra £5.
9. Give the newest coffee house in town a visit
Off The Rails has opened its doors for the first time in late September, delighting weegies with decent brews and modern décor. Set to be a surefire hit, Off The Rails new menu features sandwiches developed by the skilled chefs at Rioja Finnieston including the ‘Mr Potato’ with pulled ham hock, potato salad, red onion, crispy bacon, lettuce and lime on your choice of bloomers, morning rolls, bagels, baguettes or ciabatta. Another highlight is the ‘Spanish Roaster’ with roast beef, Emmental cheese, tomato, carrots, lettuce, Jamon Serrano and chimichurri. With vegan options for the environmentally conscious, a hummus, artichoke, mushroom, crispy onion and avocado sandwich is a noteworthy addition.
10. 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.
11. Enjoy sunrise yoga with panoramic views over Glasgow at this rooftop venue
With its increasing popularity, the choices for yoga classes may seem endless, but you can now attend a free yoga and journaling session, Yo-Ga In The Sky, at YOTEL’s rooftop venue VEGA on Tuesdays at 7:30am. The classes will run between September 20 and October 11 and will be hosted by the yoga guru Jess Mackenzie. During the serene one-hour session, guests will be delighted by a gentle vinyasa flow, followed by some self-reflective, grateful journaling. Surrounded by urban views of Glasgow’s rooftops and warm rays of sunshine (weather permitting) at VEGA, yoga lovers can unwind for some well-deserved me-time.
12. Go for a boozy brunch and pizza at Pizza Punks
Every day between 11am and 3pm and until 5pm on Sundays, Pizza Punks will be hosting boozy brunches with plenty of cocktails, pizza and pasta. Pizza Punks Boozy Brunch features a line-up of cocktails that don’t mess around with fruity syrups but offer a proper good tipple paired with a Punks’ pizza or any fresh pasta. The brunch deal includes four cocktails and any pizza or pasta for £29.50, so not only can you get a little tipsy and full, but also not worry about your bank account while at it.
13. Attend an evening of potion making and tea tasting
Bird & Blend Tea Co. will become a potion-making witches den on October 6 where guests can make up love potions, money spells and taste some delicious teas. While the magic of October is in the air, wannabe potion makers will be treated to one of the Bird & Blend Tea Co. famous Tea Cocktails including Wobbly Unicorn or Butter Brew on arrival before embarking on an evening of seasonal tea tasting where expert Tea Mixologists will guide them through a sensory experience. And on October 27, another eerie event will take place where guests will be granted after-hours access to the stores for a Tea Lock-In for an exclusive evening of spooky tea tasting. Creations like Black Magic Matcha and Goth Lattes will be sure to set tea enthusiasts on a journey of ghoulish fun.