Tag: Craigies Farm

Craigies announces Edinburgh’s biggest and best Halloween event with exciting new addition

This Halloween season, Craigies Farm is thrilled to announce its biggest and most thrilling event yet, promising to be the ultimate destination for Halloween fun in Edinburgh.

Building on last year’s success, the event is expanding to a whole new level, with an incredible 900 square metre haybale trail added to the already spectacular lineup of spooky activities.

Get ready for a spook-tacular experience as Craigies unveil their two fang-tastic events: the family friendly Craigies Pumpkin Festival by day, and Craigies Pumpkin Festival; After Dark, delivering spine-tingling adventures on the farm by night!  A memory making family day out or a date night for the brave – you decide. These immersive, family-friendly experiences are sure to create unforgettable memories.

There are tricks, treats and a lineup of activities not to be missed including target paintball shooting, a haunted harvest maze, barrel ghost train and lots more.

Craigies Farm are once again partnering with Scotland’s leading event producer NL Productions to deliver Edinburgh’s best family Halloween experience. NL Productions have delivered a number of high-profile events across the UK, including Edinburgh Zoo’s Halloween Spooktacular and will this year be delivering Dundee’s Christmas Village.

New This Year:

A 900 Square Metre Haybale Trail 

The centrepiece of this expanded Halloween offering is a 900 square meter haybale trail, adding even more thrills and excitement to the event. The Monster Bale Trail will provide a maze-like experience perfect for all ages. Get ready to navigate your way through twists and turns while encountering unexpected scary surprises around every corner and a spectacular sensory light experience.

Craigies Pumpkin Festival 

Building on the success of last year’s Spooky Days and the hugely popular PYO Pumpkins, Craigies Pumpkin Festival will offer delight and frights to families during the day. Tickets include entry to the pumpkin patch so you can get your hands on the best ones for carving (Pumpkins are purchased at an additional cost). As one of the closest pumpkin patches to Edinburgh, and with countless home-grown pumpkins of every shape and size Craigies is the perfect place to pick your own pumpkin.

Visitors can also access the Monster Bale Trail, lots of Halloween themed photo opportunities and the chance to enjoy tasty farm fresh food and drinks. It’s the perfect Halloween fun for the whole family.

Craigies Pumpkin Festival: After Dark 

Building on 2023’s inaugural Haunted Tunnels, as darkness falls, the farm transforms. This scarier, nighttime experience is designed for older children and adults.  As the sun sets, the fear factor heightens.

Visitors can navigate the brand-new haunted maze experience – Haunted Harvest – with spooky characters and immersive effects lurking around each corner. Visitors can also enjoy the pumpkin patch brilliantly illuminated and step foot in the Monster Bale Trail.

Book Now to Avoid Disappointment. 

With the incredible new addition of the Haybale Trail and popular returning events, Craigies is set to host the biggest and best Halloween event in Edinburgh.

John Sinclair, Managing Director of Craigies commented, “At Craigies Farm, we have always prided ourselves on delivering quality events and we wanted to expand on the success of last years hugely successful Halloween event with more on offer this year.

“This is Edinburgh’s top Halloween event, and we have taken on board all feedback from 2023 to create something bigger and better that delivers high-quality immersive fun for families.”

Tickets are expected to sell out quickly, so don’t delay—book your spot today for a frightfully fun day out!

For more information and to book your tickets, visit – Buy Craigies Pumpkin Festival Tickets online – Craigies Farm (digitickets.co.uk)

Enjoy a more sustainable Scottish Christmas from Craigies Farm

Experience a festive feast like no other this year from family-run Craigies Farm in South Queensferry. Fourth generation farmer and owner John Sinclair promises a selection of high-quality, locally grown produce alongside largely Scottish-sourced food and drink items for a greener Christmas celebration this year. 

Craigies is committed to reducing food miles by growing their own produce or sourcing from local suppliers as much as possible. The Sinclair family raises their own pork and lamb on the farm, guaranteeing the highest standards of quality and provenance. Highland beef comes from the neighbouring Dalmeny Estate, just a stone’s throw away. To guarantee freshness, all meat is prepared by Craigies highly-skilled on-site artisan butchers. 

Customers can shop an array of delicious vegetables including potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower and carrots – all cultivated on Craigies Farm. Buy them loose or oven-ready as Christmas sides with options like traditional roast potatoes and maple-roasted root vegetables. You’ll find homegrown ingredients in the popular Craigies range of homemade condiments, including windfall apple chutney, red onion marmalade and festive spiced cranberry sauce. 

Satisfying sweet tooths, Craigies have a mouthwatering selection of home-baked goods with traditional Christmas cake, indulgent chocolate yule log, and mince pies all on offer. 

Craigies Farm Shop proudly stocks a range of products from local Scottish producers such as Ramsay of Carluke bacon, Mellis artisan cheeses, and Cairn O’Mohr craft wine. 

For the main event, this year Craigies has opted to stock free-range, organically reared turkeys from fellow family-run farm, Northumberland Poultry.

Striving to locate the best in poultry as close to Scotland as possible has not been easy due to widespread shortages, but Craigies are confident their turkeys from the North East are the very best in quality and taste. 

Lastly, in addition to its wide range of delectable food and drink, Craigies Little Farmers on-site toyshop stocks a menagerie of wonderful toys and unique gifts like high-quality Bruder farm toys, Orange Tree wooden toys, and adorable Keel cuddly toys. 

Key deadlines:  

Christmas orders can be made up until Sunday 10th December for delivery up till 24th December, or customers can book for click & collect for a convenient festive shopping experience. 

John Sinclair, owner of Craigies Farm, commented: “At Craigies our focus is always on quality. We want to give our customers the very best produce for a memorable Christmas. We raise our own meat and grow our own veg where possible, and only choose suppliers that are as committed to quality as we are.  

“We’re thrilled to be offering our own pork and lamb as well as beef from our neighbours. With a focus on quality and provenance, we’re confident that a Craigies Christmas offers the very best for festive feasting this year!” 

Experience the magic of Christmas at Cragies Farm Santa Adventure

Get ready to embark on a magical journey like no other as Craigies Farm presents “Santa Adventure,” an enchanting Christmas event that promises to transport you to a world of twinkling lights, festive wonder, and heartwarming moments. Building on the resounding success of previous years, Christmas at Craigies is back, bigger and better than ever before.

Experience the Magic of Craigies as we invite you to step through the magic door and embark on a captivating journey to the North Pole, where you will play a crucial role in saving Christmas. Craigie’s Farm have teamed up with NL Productions to transform their polytunnels into a dazzling display of colourful lights, creating an immersive lighting experience that will leave you spellbound.

A Quest to Save Christmas – Santa Claus has encountered a problem of epic proportions – he’s lost the magical word that powers the start of his sleigh. Now, it’s up to you to join this magical quest and help Santa recover the missing word. The fate of Christmas itself hangs in the balance.

As you journey through the North Pole, you’ll encounter beloved characters, including Mrs. Claus, Santa’s industrious elves, and a host of other surprises, making your adventure all the more memorable.

Craigies’ Santa Adventure is not just an event; it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the enchantment of Christmas and create cherished memories with your loved ones.

Families will enjoy one-on-one time with Santa, ensuring an intimate and high-quality experience. Upon successfully helping Santa and saving Christmas, you’ll be rewarded with a special gift to take home as a token of gratitude for your invaluable assistance.

John Sinclair, Managing Director of Craigies commented, “At Craigies Farm, we have always prided ourselves on delivering a quality Christmas experience where the focus is on spending time with family and having fun together.

“We are building on the success of previous years and partnering with NL Productions to create an immersive lighting experience within our polytunnels.

“The experience will once again feature amazing performers who will guide families on a great adventure to the North Pole, playing a crucial role in saving Christmas. There is guaranteed fun for both adults and children, ensuring everyone can create unforgettable festive memories together.”

Phil O’Halloran, NL Productions Event Producer, shares his enthusiasm for the event, emphasizing the magical experience, commenting: “It is fantastic to once again be partnering with Craigies Farm.

“Halloween at Craigies has been a great success, and it is very exciting to now be converting the polytunnels into a beautiful winter wonderland. Craigies has a reputation for a quality family experience at Christmas, and we can’t wait to add another level of immersion this year.

“We can’t wait to see families enjoying their adventure to the North Pole!”

Dates and Times

Dates: 25th November – 23rd December

  • 25th – 26th November
  • 2nd – 3rd December
  • 9th – 10th December
  • 16th – 17th December
  • 23rd December

Times: 9am – 5pm each day

Join us at Craigies for a winter wonderland like no other. For more information, ticket bookings, and updates, visit our website https://craigies.co.uk/

Almost 7,000 pumpkins picked at Craigies Farm as Halloween events launched

Craigies Farm in South Queensferry has seen nearly 7,000 pumpkins picked so far this October. This comes as they launch their family-friendly Halloween events last weekend.

The daytime Spooky Days and nighttime Haunted Tunnels events invite kids and grown-ups alike to explore the farm, play terrifyingly fun games, meet a colourful cast of characters, and enjoy illuminations at night.

Pumpkin picking is included with tickets to both events, with 6,662 pumpkins having been picked since October 1st.

The Halloween events are the perfect blend of scary and fun, offering families a unique day out this October.

Tickets can be purchased online here: https://craigies.digitickets.co.uk/tickets

Halloween events at Craigies Farm

Family-friendly farm village, Craigies Farm in South Queensferry, is welcoming the arrival of October by inviting some spooky visitors to its pumpkin fields!

The popular day-out destination will once again open its popular pick-your-own pumpkin patch on October 1st, and new for this year will also host two Halloween-themed events out in the fields too!

The ‘Spooky Days’ daytime event is perfect for families with younger children, while the nighttime ‘Haunted Tunnels‘ have slightly more scares suitable for older children and families.

Both events will feature a spooky cast of roaming characters, spine-tingling props, interactive games, storytellers and at night time, there will be fantastic illuminated light shows too!

Tickets for all events can be booked online here: https://craigies.co.uk/events-activities/

Halloween Tunnels of Terror & Pumpkins at Craigies Farm

Craigies Farm is super excited to announce that we have not one, but TWO fang-tastic new Halloween events to enjoy this spooky season at Craigies! 

In addition to our popular pumpkin patch, we will have a daytime event for younger children, the Spooky Tunnels, plus a scarier nighttime event for older children and adults, the terrifying Tunnels of Terror! 

During the day, the ‘Spooky Tunnels’ will offer little frights tailored for younger visitors and those with additional needs. Meet a cast of colourful characters, play scarily good games and hear tales from our spooky storytellers. 

As night falls, the fear factor rises, turning the Spooky Tunnels into the ‘Tunnels of Terror’ – perfect for older kids and adults. Expect creepy costumed characters roaming the fields, and a series of immersive themed tunnels – PLUS, we are also adding a brand new after-dark illuminated experience, offering boo-tiful photo opportunities! 

Grab your tickets at craigies.co.uk

When: Taking place on dates throughout October

Where: Craigies Farm, South Queensferry

Cost:  £1.50 – £16

Craigies Farm launches Halloween spooktacular with pumpkin picking, Tunnels of Terror and illuminations

Craigies Farm, the much-loved family friendly destination in South Queensferry, has launched new Halloween events for this October, alongside their popular pick-your-own pumpkins. 

Halloween at Craigies will feature the return of their pumpkin patch, with views over the picturesque South Queensferry countryside. New for this year, the fields will also feature ‘Tunnels of Terror’, providing frights and spooky fun for the whole family! Costumed characters will provide fun scares throughout the themed tunnels to provide a truly immersive experience.

During the day, in addition to the pumpkin patch, the Spooky Tunnels will offer little frights designed especially with younger visitors and those with additional support needs in mind. Meet a cast of colourful characters, hear tales from our spooky storyteller, take part in ghoulish games, snap some photos with creepy props and enjoy a spectacular sensory light experience.

As the sun goes down the fear factor creeps up, and at night the Spooky Tunnels become the Tunnels of Terror. Designed for older children and adults, these fun scares will keep the entire family on their toes and crying with laughter!

In the evening, we are also adding a brand new after-dark illuminated experience. From spiders and scarecrows to skeletons and ghosts, there’s plenty to get you into the Halloween spirit. Join us for a pumpkin picking adventure in our eerie patch, brave the Tunnels of Terror filled with fun scares for all ages, meet a range of scary characters waiting in the shadows, and take boo-tiful family photos at our illuminated photo opps.

Created in partnership with NL Productions, the team behind the Castle of Light at Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh Zoo’s Spooktacular and Christmas Nights, visitors can be assured of a high-quality immersive event experience.

The daytime Spooky Tunnels and evening Tunnels of Terror events will run on selected dates starting from 13th October.

The pumpkin fields will be open for the month of October, with tickets being released weekly depending on availability.

Tickets for the events and pumpkin picking can be booked online at: craigies.co.uk

Craigies Farm Owner John Sinclair commented: “Our pumpkin patch has always been popular, but we are taking it to the next level with our exciting new Halloween events this year. With both day and night time events taking place, there truly is something for every family, no matter hold old the kids are.

“The illuminations will be a spectacular sight and we can’t wait to see our fields transformed – we are expecting tickets to fly out the door, so I would recommend booking early to secure your visit.”

Phil O’Halloran, Managing Director at NL Productions added: “NL Productions are hugely excited to be working with Craigies to deliver what will be an amazing Halloween experience for all the family. Craigies is a wonderful visitor attraction, offering a great family day out.

“We admire their high level of customer service and provenance. Being able to bring our events expertise to the table and work together to take the existing Halloween offering to the next level will be thrilling and we can’t wait for families to come and experience it!”

Craigie’s Farm develops ‘udderly brilliant’ new adventure park!

A family-run Scottish farm village is set to open a new adventure farm park and café in June, thanks to a £500,000 funding package from Bank of Scotland.

Craigie’s Farm in Queensferry is home to a deli café, shop and farm park, and is run by John Sinclair and his family, who took over the operation from his parents in 1995.

The new Little Farmers adventure farm park will house a timber play park for children and a new café seating 150 people.

The 1200m² development doubles the current size of the park, and now features a newly revamped animal shed with six pens of animals for visitors to meet.

To support the development, the business approached Bank of Scotland and received a £500,000 funding package and a £65,000 Clean Growth Funding Initiative (CGFI) loan to acquire a 120kW ground source heat pump and a 50kW solar installation which will help reduce the business’ carbon footprint.

The Clean Growth Funding Initiative offers discounted lending for green purposes to help businesses reduce their environmental impact.

The new attraction is now set to open on 8th June and the business will be looking to hire 10 new members of staff after all current staff have been brought back from furlough.

John Sinclair, founder of Craigie’s Farm, said: “Craigie’s Farm normally welcomes more than a quarter of a million visitors a year with people travelling from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fife to visit our café and farm shop.

“The pandemic has been challenging for the business, but it also gave us an opportunity to develop Little Farmers. Thanks to the support from Bank of Scotland we’ve been able to complete the new development that will provide more activities for visitors and boost employment in the local area.

“As restrictions continue to ease, we are looking forward to getting back to some form of normality and hope the opening of Little Farmers will give us a real boost this summer.”

Julie McLaren, relationship manager at Bank of Scotland, said: “Craigie’s Farm is a long-standing customer of Bank of Scotland and we were more than happy to support the business’ Little Farmers expansion with a development funding package and CGFI loan to set the project in motion.

”When the pandemic forced the construction of the new development to grind to a halt, we also assisted the business with a six-figure Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan (CBIL) to enable it to manage the disruption and quickly re-start the project once restrictions allowed.

“At Bank of Scotland, we will continue to stand by businesses through these unpredictable times and support them every step of the way to achieve their growth goals and sustainable ambitions.”

Here’s food for thought – free summer events!

 

The FOOD for THOUGHT FORUM, in association with Pilton Community Health Project and Barri Grubb, has highlighted a feast of free food events across the Forth area over the summer holidays. How’s this top ten for tempting treats?:

Saturday 7 July 11 – 2pm

West Pilton Community Garden & Planting Day

West Pilton Place, next to Pilton Youth & Children’s Project Greenhouse – all welcome, just turn up!

 

Tuesday 10 July 10am – 12 noon

Craigroyston Cookery

Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road – phone to book on 538 7285 or 477 7801.

 

Thursday 12 July 1 – 3.30pm

PEP Summer Fayre

West Pilton Park – all welcome, just turn up!

 

Tuesday 17 July 10am – 12 noon

Craigroyston Cookery

Craigroyston High Schoo, Pennywell Road – phone 538 7285 or 477 7801 to book.

 

Thursday 19 July 11am – 1pm

Spanish Cooking at Barri Grubb

Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway – To book your place call 551 1671.

 

Tuesday 24 July, 11am – 1pm

Fabby Food Store Picnic and Barbecue

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – just turn up!

 

Tuesday 24 July 11am – 1pm

Simple Snacks at Millennium Centre Summer Youth Club

Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Muirhouse Medway – call 467 3578 to book.

 

Wednesday 1 August 12.30 – 4pm

Trip to the Botanics’ Edible Garden

Bus leaves The Haven Project, Craigroyston Primary School. To book, call 551 1671.

 

Saturday 4 August 1 – 4pm

Granton Community Gardens Barbecue

Corner of Boswall Parkway and Wardieburn Road – just turn up!

 

Wednesday 8 August 11.30 – 3.30pm

Trip to Craigies Farm

Bus leaves PCHP, Boswall Parkway. Phone to book on 551 1671.

 

 

 

Here's food for thought – free summer events!

 

The FOOD for THOUGHT FORUM, in association with Pilton Community Health Project and Barri Grubb, has highlighted a feast of free food events across the Forth area over the summer holidays. How’s this top ten for tempting treats?:

Saturday 7 July 11 – 2pm

West Pilton Community Garden & Planting Day

West Pilton Place, next to Pilton Youth & Children’s Project Greenhouse – all welcome, just turn up!

 

Tuesday 10 July 10am – 12 noon

Craigroyston Cookery

Craigroyston High School, Pennywell Road – phone to book on 538 7285 or 477 7801.

 

Thursday 12 July 1 – 3.30pm

PEP Summer Fayre

West Pilton Park – all welcome, just turn up!

 

Tuesday 17 July 10am – 12 noon

Craigroyston Cookery

Craigroyston High Schoo, Pennywell Road – phone 538 7285 or 477 7801 to book.

 

Thursday 19 July 11am – 1pm

Spanish Cooking at Barri Grubb

Pilton Community Health Project, Boswall Parkway – To book your place call 551 1671.

 

Tuesday 24 July, 11am – 1pm

Fabby Food Store Picnic and Barbecue

West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre – just turn up!

 

Tuesday 24 July 11am – 1pm

Simple Snacks at Millennium Centre Summer Youth Club

Muirhouse Millennium Centre, Muirhouse Medway – call 467 3578 to book.

 

Wednesday 1 August 12.30 – 4pm

Trip to the Botanics’ Edible Garden

Bus leaves The Haven Project, Craigroyston Primary School. To book, call 551 1671.

 

Saturday 4 August 1 – 4pm

Granton Community Gardens Barbecue

Corner of Boswall Parkway and Wardieburn Road – just turn up!

 

Wednesday 8 August 11.30 – 3.30pm

Trip to Craigies Farm

Bus leaves PCHP, Boswall Parkway. Phone to book on 551 1671.