As the clocks go back this weekend and Scotland prepares for darker evenings, Edinburgh Zoo is getting ready to brighten the winter months with spectacular out-of-this-world illuminations.
Visitors can look forward to a dazzling after dark trail featuring glowing galaxies, giant cosmic creatures and spectacular illuminated displays, bringing a little extra magic to the darker months.
Running throughout the winter across 60 nights, from Friday 13 November until Sunday 21 February 2027, tickets are selling fast as excitement builds for this year’s spectacular trail.
TESCO TO STOCK FREE PRE-CARVED PUMPKINS IN STORE THIS HALLOWEEN
Pumpkin carving might be a Halloween tradition, but for busy families, finding the time to wrestle with a giant pumpkin and create the perfect spooky design can feel more trick than treat.
New research shows that despite pumpkin carving being one of our favourite traditions for almost half the population, just over a third (36%) of Brits say they’d appreciate a little help with pumpkin design. In response to this, Tesco is stepping in to help the UK get Halloween-ready.
For a limited time, Tesco will be giving away free pre-carved pumpkins in selected UK stores, meaning shoppers can pick up a Halloween-ready pumpkin while stocking up on everything else they need for spooky season.
From the 22nd – 31st October, a selection of spooky designs will be available for shoppers to take home, carved by Tesco’s very own pumpkin artists in residence.
The help for Britain’s pumpkin carving comes as Tesco research shows that over a quarter (28%) of Brits admit they feel pressure to carve a pumpkin good enough to proudly display on the doorstep while a third (33%) want their decorations to look as good as their neighbours’.
Lack of carving skills (26%), the mess pumpkin carving creates (19%) or simply not feeling creative enough (19%) are putting a dampener on pumpkin carving plans for Halloween lovers. In addition, over three-quarters of parents (78%) agree that they love seeing their little ones’ creativity come to life but over a third (37%) admit they would rather have a more polished pumpkin on their doorstep.
2026’s Most Memorable Moments
Tesco is also giving the Halloween staple a distinctly 2026 makeover by transforming some of the year’s biggest cultural moments into pumpkin art with professional carvers. The collection of designs is inspired by the moments Brits couldn’t stop talking about, based on new research from Tesco.
The four limited-edition designs showcase the most talkable moments of 2026 and have been meticulously sketched onto pumpkins, taking professional carvers over 50 hours. The key moments include:
The Eclipse (38%): Brits were captivated by this year’s eclipse, with the design capturing the moon’s journey across the sun. A playful nod to the nation’s inventive viewing methods, including the iconic glasses featuring within the carving.
Bayeux Tapestry (37%): Inspired by the historic tapestry’s long-awaited visit to Britain, the design celebrates one of the year’s biggest cultural moments. More than half (58%) of Brits agree the tapestry is of great historical importance.
Artemis II (31%): This moment captured the imagination of a third (33%) of Brits and a fifth (20%) admit they still dream of becoming an astronaut.
The summer’s biggest football tournament (62%): This moment spanned living rooms, pubs and fan zones, bringing together communities across the UK, with more than half (53%) saying the communal viewing experience was part of what made it so memorable.
For shoppers looking to pick up a pre-carved pumpkin at Tesco, there’ll be two designs to choose from: the Eclipse and the classic Halloween jack o’ lantern.
The pre-carved pumpkins will be available at 10 selected stores for one afternoon at each store between 22nd – 31st October.
For those who prefer to do their own carving, Tesco has a range of pumpkins available this Halloween, from cute mini munchkin pumpkins, to classic large pumpkins which are perfect for carving, starting at just 55p.
Shoppers can also pick up everything else they need for spooktacular Halloween celebrations, from costumes and decorations to sweets and party food, making Tesco a one-stop-shop for all things spooky.
Participating stores (each store has pre-carved pumpkins for one day only):
Thursday 22nd October: Tesco Risca Extra
Friday 23rd October: Tesco Cheltenham Superstore
Saturday 24th October: Tesco New Oscott Extra
Sunday 25th October: Tesco Nottingham Top Valley Extra
Monday 26th October: Tesco Sheffield Extra
Tuesday 27th October: Tesco Stockport Extra
Wednesday 28th October: Tesco York Tadcaster Road Extra
Our volunteers at Trinity & Corstorphine have made amazing progress on both sites over the summer!
We’re riding the momentum and continuing our weekly volunteering sessions into autumn so come along and join the friendly and wonderful volunteer crew. No matter your experience level, we’ll have a job for you to get stuck in with!
Look for us at the former bowling pavilion in Victoria Park (Trinity) on Wednesday & Fridays, and at St Margaret’s Park (Corstorphine) on Saturdays!
Next week we are joined by local author, Leona Thomas, as she shares her past works, how she researched family history, and gives tips on the writing process.
Come along for free on Monday 19th October at 6:30pm.
POLICE are appealing for information to help trace 36-year-old Herman Alapiki who has been reported missing in Edinburgh.
Herman was last seen in the Easter Dalry Road area around 2.15pm on Saturday, 10 October, and there are growing concerns for his welfare.
He is described as 6ft 3ins, bald, with a tanned complexion. When last seen, he was wearing a black jacket, black trousers, brown boots and a black beanie hat.
Inspector Jordan Kerr said: “Herman is known to like walking all over the city, including the Dean Village, Union Canal path and Corstorphine.
“He also likes walking in the Pentland Hills. However, it is out of character for him to be out of contact for so long.
“There are significant concerns for him and we are appealing for anyone with information on his whereabouts to call police on 101, quoting incident 2284 of Saturday, 10 October, 2026.”
The October holidays are here, so it’s the perfect time to check out our holiday programme! We’ve got a few extra children’s events on, plus our usual Bookbug and adult events.
Everything is free, just come along for the start of the event and join in!
Scotland comes together to celebrate the joy of reading
More than 90,000 people took part in Wee Read as Scotland came together yesterday to celebrate the joy of reading – smashing the campaign’s original target of 50,000 pledges.
Wee Read, led by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) and funded by the Scottish Government as part of the National Year of Reading 2026, invited people across Scotland to make a simple pledge to read on 7 October. The campaign reached its 50,000 pledge target more than a week before the official reading moment, with a total of 90,717 people pledging to get involved.
Across the country, people of all ages and interests joined the national reading moment, making time to enjoy whatever they like from novels and poetry to comics, magazines, newspapers, recipes and more.
Libraries, schools, workplaces, families and communities marked the day in their own ways, creating a shared celebration of reading and demonstrating that there is no single way to take part.
Activity ranged from East Renfrewshire’s dedicated Harry Potter readings and South Lanarkshire’s Gruffalo scavenger hunt, to a BSL Bookbug session in Paisley, school visits in Edinburgh and Midlothian, family activities in South Lanarkshire and community reading sessions in Inverclyde.
In Motherwell, a readathon in the library’s immersive room surrounded readers with calming imagery of their choice, before the Wee Read mantra video and a message from Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan were showcased.
Across the length and breadth of the country, libraries and communities also hosted reading hours, storytelling, book swaps, quizzes and crafts, reflecting the many different ways people came together to make time for reading.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan said: “I’m delighted to support Wee Read. Stories, songs and words form the bedrock of our lives, our culture, our history and our future. Scotland’s plays, books and comics are internationally renowned, as are our playwrights, authors and illustrators.
“Reading and writing play a lifelong role in learning and wellbeing, and in tackling poverty, which remains a key priority for this Government. That’s why we’re taking action to improve access to books and encourage reading for pleasure, through programmes including Bookbug, Read Write Count with the First Minister, Reading Schools, and the School Library and Public Library Improvement Funds.
“Just a few minutes of reading for enjoyment reduces stress and improves wellbeing, and for children it has a positive impact on learning and attainment at school. By taking part in Wee Read, you’re joining thousands across Scotland helping us build a country where reading is valued, shared and enjoyed by all.”
The campaign also highlighted the important role Scotland’s libraries play in helping people find something they enjoy and make reading part of their everyday life – beyond the national reading moment.
With free access to a wide range of reading materials, alongside digital resources, reading groups, events and activities, libraries offer something for people at every stage of life.
Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, said: “Reaching over 90,000 pledges for Wee Read is a fantastic achievement and a wonderful reflection of the enthusiasm for reading across Scotland.
“We set out with a simple ambition – to give people a reason to make time for reading and to celebrate the many different ways that reading can be part of our lives. Seeing so many people, communities and organisations take part has really brought that notion to life.
“Whether someone read for five minutes or fifty, picked up an old favourite or discovered something completely new, we hope Wee Read reminded them of the joy that reading can bring and, importantly, encouraged people to keep that habit going beyond 7 October.”
Wee Read forms part of the UK’s National Year of Reading 2026, a year-long celebration of the pleasure, inspiration, connection and opportunities that reading brings.
Alison added: “Wee Read may have taken place on one day but the campaign’s message is intended to last much longer: there is no right way to read, every read counts and there is always time to read something you enjoy.
“Our libraries are here all year round to help people find their next read, discover something new and connect with their community. And if you didn’t manage to join in with Wee Read, that’s no reason to miss out – you can pick up something new at any time.
“We’d encourage everyone to keep that spirit going, make space for reading and turn to their local library for inspiration, new ideas and everything else it has to offer.”
Find out more and discover ways to keep reading at www.WeeRead.scot.
Share your Wee Read memories and recommendations using #WeeRead26.
The free event, held in Edinburgh, was for people affected by cancer, including those undergoing active treatment or recovery, as well as their carers, families and friends.
The event featured a range of stalls providing nutritional support, legal advice and wellbeing services for visitors.
The team at Tesco Corstorphine Extra in Edinburgh has donated £100 to Scottish cancer charity Cancer Card, helping support a free health and wellbeing event for people affected by cancer, as well as their carers, families and friends.
The donation from the store was used by the Edinburgh-based charity to provide refreshments, including snacks, teas and coffees, at its Health & Wellbeing Event held at the James Watt Building at Heriot-Watt University on 23 August.
The event provided attendees, many of whom are undergoing active treatment or are in recovery, with access to valuable resources including guest speakers, practical advice and opportunities to connect directly with cancer charities and support services.
Visitors were able to browse a range of stalls offering support relevant to their individual needs, including nutritional guidance from The Rehab Dietitian, legal advice from Balfour + Manson, and hair loss support from Aderans Trend Co Wigs.
Cancer Card also welcomed a number of charities and support organisations, including Bowel Cancer UK, Macmillan and House of Hope, helping attendees access a wide range of information and advice.
The event also included several optional breakout sessions for attendees, including Look Good Feel Better, chair Pilates from Sano Yoga, Styling and Wellbeing from Pam Millan, and stories of strength shared by guest speakers.
Ian Pirrie, Chair of Cancer Card, said: “We bring together a wide range of support services to help those affected by cancer understand what support is available to them. We were delighted to collaborate with other fantastic cancer charities and support services to help make this event happen.
“A massive thank you to all the cancer support teams who attended and to Tesco for their generous donation.”
Deborah Brown, Community Champion at Tesco Corstorphine Extra, said: “Our team is hugely passionate about playing any part we can to support the fantastic charities found within our local community.
“Cancer affects so many people and their families, so we hope this donation helped Cancer Card deliver a valuable event for patients and their loved ones across Edinburgh.”
Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “Our stores work hard throughout the year to support their local communities through donations, so it is fantastic that the Edinburgh Corstorphine Tesco team has been able to support Cancer Card with its Health & Wellbeing Event.”
HELP BUILD NEW CROFTS AT TRINITY & CORSTORPHINE
