The Scottish Paranormal Festival

The Scottish Paranormal Festival

Various venues in Stirling, until Sunday

Stirling celebrates the world of the unknown with four days of debates, storytelling, ghost walks, theatre, comedy, and film.  Skeptics and believers alike can attend a fascinating range of talks with writers, academics and assorted experts on poltergeists, cryptozoology, aliens, and unexplained phenomena.  Film showings include genre classics Don't Look Back, Rosemary's Baby and Nosferatu - plus the first Scottish screenings of a little-known Polish version of seminal gothic novel The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, to be introduced by Alasdair Gray.  www.paranormalscotland.com

Night in the Garden

Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, daily

A rare opportunity to explore Edinburgh's Botanic Gardens after dark with this new outdoor evening light trail designed by Scottish artists Malcolm Innes and Euan Winton.  Running alongside a series of magical, atmospheric installations, the 1km route ends up at the terrace cafe by Inverleith House, where you can refuel while enjoying views of the city's skyline.  Lasting about an hour and suitable for all ages, it's on every night except Mondays until November 23.  Tickets are £12.50 (£6 children), available in advance only.  www.rbge.org.uk/botaniclights

Hallowe'en Drive-In Movies

Glasgow and Motherwell, Friday-Sunday

Big screen Hallowe'en thrills in the comfort of your own car with Itison's Drive-In Movies event in Glasgow's Victoria Park from tomorrow.  Included are late night screenings of The Shining and Hallowe'en II and family showings of eighties hits Ghostbusters and The Goonies, plus ritzy refreshments from Street Food Cartel organisers Scoop.  At £26 a car, the last few tickets are available at www.itison.com.  Strathclyde Country Park-based M&Ds are also hosting their annual drive-in weekend.  At £24 a car, films include grisly Oscar-winner The Silence of The Lambs, and recent Pixar hit Monsters University.  scotlandsthemepark.com. 

Samhuinn Fire Festival

Royal Mile, Edinburgh, tomorrow

The transition between summer and winter, marked in dramatic fashion with a colourful torchlit procession through the centre of Edinburgh.  Organised by the community arts group responsible for Calton Hill's Beltane celebrations, Samhuinn incorporates elements of Celtic myth, street theatre, and performance art.  A newly expanded route starts out from The Royal Mile at 9pm before winding down Cockburn Street and on to The Mound precinct for a spectacular finale featuring drums, dancing, and acrobatics.  Free, but donations encouraged.  beltanefiresociety.wordpress.com

Dundee Science Festival

Dundee, from Saturday

An inspirational and entertaining celebration of Scotland's latest scientific research and innovation, with over 100 talks, shows, experiments, workshops, activities and interactive exhibitions taking place across the city over the next two weeks.  Much of the focus is on engineering, technology and the physical world, but the event's most ambitious programme to date also touches on art, music, food and drink for the first time.  This weekend, look out for free family days at Old Steeple Church (Saturday) plus Dundee Science Centre and the Overgate Centre (both Sunday).  www.dundeesciencefestival.org

Theatre Royal Ghost Tours

Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Thursday, Friday and Sunday

Whether or not Glasgow's oldest theatre is actually haunted, it isn't often there's the chance to explore such a grand old Victorian building after hours.  Naturally enough given the timing there will be a spine-tingling twist to proceedings, with each tour weaving in tales from the darker side of the theatre's past, including devastating fires suffered in 1879 and 1895.  Scheduled after evening performances this week, the run continues also into November, before returning for another week of dates in early December.  Tickets are £12.  www.atgtickets.com/glasgow

Hopetoun Bonfire and Fireworks Night

Hopetoun House, West Lothian, Saturday

This year's big city firework displays are all on Bonfire Night itself next Wednesday.  However, there some early options this weekend in places such as Strathaven, Elie, Haddington and Aberlady - as well as Myreside in Edinburgh.  Possibly the swankiest of all is in the grounds of Hopetoun House near South Queensferry.  Starting at 4pm, the A-listed stately home provides a suitably elegant backdrop for performances from Edinburgh Rock Choir and fire dancing troupe Aviatrix, before the touch-paper is lit on a dazzling pyrotechnics show at 6.30pm.  Tickets are £12 (children £6).  www.hopetoun.co.uk

Scottish Drum Fair

St Mungo's High, Falkirk, Sunday

Scotland's only annual music show dedicated entirely to drums and percussion returns to Falkirk on Sunday for a third year.  The day features workshops for those looking to improve their groove, along with live performances and a trade exhibition focusing on gear and equipment from the biggest names in the business.  Special guests include former Paul Weller and Style Council drummer Steve White, plus top session players Gabor Dornyev and Robin Guy.  Running from noon until 6pm, tickets are £10 on the door.  www.scottishdrumfair.co.uk

Hallowe'en Fright Night

Glasgow Science Centre, tomorrow

Not an IMAX screening of the eighties horror classic, but a huge and scary science party night for families.  Along with spooky storytelling, slime-making workshops, and live dissections, visitors can tuck into a zombie buffet, meet creepy critters, and get creative with craft activities.  The best-dressed guisers can strut their stuff in a costume catwalk competition, while Science Centre staff face off in a series of blood-curdling challenges in the final of Halloween Fear Factor 2014.  On from 6pm to 9.30pm, tickets are £6.  www.glasgowsciencecentre.org

Dunoon Big Revival Weekender

Dunoon, Friday and Saturday

A new Mod-inspired music festival and seaside scootering event, starting tomorrow night with performances from a range of R&B and 60s-inspired bands across venues in the town.  A classic scooter ride out and show takes place at Dunoon Pier on Saturday afternoon, with live music continuing through the afternoon.  Scottish ska heroes Bombskare headline the weekend's main gig at Dunoon Burgh Hall (£8-£10) from 8pm.  Scooter-riding festival-goers can also take advantage of complimentary ferry tickets between McInroy's Point and Hunters Quay on Saturday.  www.skiddle.com/e/12262565/

Don't Miss

Macmillan Glasgow Art Show

M&Co, Renfrew, from Sunday

See and shop for new artworks while raising money for charity with the return of Macmillan Cancer Fund's art show, this year celebrating its 30th anniversary.  Featuring the work of 300 amateur and professional artists from across Scotland, exhibits range in price from £50 to £5000.  www.macmillanglasgowartshow.com