Halloween – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Tesco Corstorphine Extra to give away free pre-carved pumpkins

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
Thursday 29th October: Tesco Middlesbrough Coulby Newham
Friday 30th October: Tesco Newcastle Upon Tyne Extra
Saturday 31st October: Tesco Edinburgh Corstorphine Extra

More than 37,000 families in Scotland conjure up Hallowe’en savings with Tax-Free Childcare

Latest figures show 37,145 families in Scotland saved up to £2,000 a year with Tax-Free Childcare.
Working parents encouraged to sign up to Tax-Free Childcare today to save on the cost of childcare this Hallowe’en.
More than £55 million of government cash added to Tax-Free Childcare accounts in June.

More than 37,000 families in Scotland cast a savings spell and cut their childcare costs with Tax-Free Childcare HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reveals, as it encourages others to sign up ahead of the spooky school holidays.

Tax-Free Childcare helps working families with their childcare costs by saving up to £2,000 per year for each of their children up to the age of 11 or £4,000 per year up to aged 16 if the child is disabled.

Latest figures show 37,145 families in Scotland received a share of £55.7 million in government top-ups in June with each family getting an average of £93 added to their Tax-Free Childcare savings pot. For every £8 parents deposit in their child’s account, the government tops it up by £2.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Paying for childcare while you work doesn’t have to be a nightmare for your bank balance this Hallowe’en. Tax-Free Childcare can make a real difference. Go to GOV.UK to find out more today.”

Signing up to Tax-Free Childcare today means families can save on whatever Hallowe’en half term childcare plans they need as well as those for the year ahead.

Parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months towards their childcare costs. Savings can be used to pay for whatever approved childcare suits your family’s needs – nursery for younger children, before and after school clubs or activity clubs during the school holidays.

Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it’s needed. Any unused money can be withdrawn from the account at any time.

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:

have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11^th birthday. If their child has a disability, they receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16^th birthday
the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers

Full eligibility can be found on GOV.UK.

Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside the free childcare hours, subject to eligibility.

Granton Library gets ready for Halloween

We’re getting the library ready for Halloween!

We have found lots of spooky books for you to borrow, but our two wee ghosts are quite lonely on the display board!

Will you help us create some ghostly or magical friends for them?

Come along for our craft sessions this weekend!

-Friday 3:30pm

-Saturday 11am

Police praise Halloween behaviour: Now for Bonfire Night

Operation Moonbeam deployments have concluded and we’d like to thank the overwhelming majority of the public who have enjoyed the Halloween celebrations in the right spirit (no pun intended!)

A few incidents of minor antisocial behaviour involving fireworks were reported within Edinburgh, Midlothian and Glasgow, and inquiries into these are ongoing.

In total, four Dispersal Orders were issued in the South East of Edinburgh.

There have been no reports of any injuries to date.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs, Gold Commander for Operation Moonbeam, said: “I’m really encouraged that we have not seen the same levels of disorder that we experienced last Halloween and thankful that we’ve not had any reported injuries to those emergency services, bus drivers, or members of the public.

“We will continue to have enhanced resources in place over the weekend and into next week ahead of Bonfire Night and I would again encourage our communities to enjoy the coming days responsibly and help us keep everyone safe.

“I’m grateful to the public for their overwhelming support of our policing operation and my thanks go to all officers, emergency service colleagues and other key partners who have played a vital role in protecting communities, or ensuring that vital services have been provided to those who needed them.”

#OpMoonbeam

#Halloween

#KeepingPeopleSafe

Spooktacular surprise for Edinburgh’s Teenage Cancer Trust wards

Aldi has helped Teenage Cancer Trust patients and staff in Edinburgh get into the Halloween spirit by donating a range of seasonal goodies.

The wards at Western General Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children received everything from pumpkins and decorations to costumes and treats, helping young people to celebrate Halloween away from home.

Since first partnering with Teenage Cancer Trust in 2017, Aldi has raised more than £12 million for the charity, with a commitment to raise £20 million by 2031 to ensure no young person faces cancer alone.

This Halloween, 28 Teenage Cancer Trust units across the country received donations from the supermarket, giving patients, family and staff the chance to enjoy seasonal celebrations together.

Michelle Aucott, Senior Partnerships Manager at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We’re so grateful to Aldi for their continued support.

“These small seasonal gestures make a big difference, helping young people to celebrate Halloween away from home.”

Liz Fox, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, added: “We’re proud to support Teenage Cancer Trust through a wide range of fundraising events and donations. Halloween is meant to be a time of fun and thrills, so we hope that our donation will help to bring some spooky fun and joy to young people and staff this year.”

Teenage Cancer Trust works in partnership with the NHS to provide highly-trained expert staff and specialist cancer units in NHS hospitals across the UK. The charity is there at every stage from diagnosis, through treatment and after treatment.

It also brings young people with cancer together so they can support each other.  

RoSPA: Hidden horrors of Halloween

Over 80% of children’s costumes fail safety tests

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging families to take extra care this Halloween after new government testing revealed widespread safety failures in children’s costumes.

The warning follows findings from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) in 2024, which showed that more than 80 per cent of costumes tested failed basic safety checks.

Tests carried out by OPSS on 128 costumes—mostly purchased from online marketplaces—found serious issues including flammability risks and strangulation hazards. RoSPA is advising parents to only buy costumes from trusted retailers and to check for the UKCA or CE mark to ensure products meet UK safety standards.

The OPSS investigation found that 28 costumes failed flammability tests, while 59 featured cords or drawstrings that posed a strangulation risk. In addition, 98 costumes lacked essential safety labelling, making it harder for parents to assess risk.

Adrian Simpson, Head of Policy at RoSPA, said: “These results are deeply concerning. Parents need to be vigilant and check for safety markings before buying. A UKCA or CE mark means the costume has passed critical safety tests, including for fire resistance.”

Graham Russell, Chief Executive at the Office for Product Safety and Standards, said: “Fancy dress can be an enjoyable part of Halloween, but our tests showed many costumes for sale, particularly those online, pose serious risks to young children. Please take extra care before you buy.”

RoSPA is also reminding families to follow basic safety precautions during Halloween celebrations:

Avoid open flames such as candles and fireplaces.
Ensure children are supervised while trick-or-treating.
Make costumes visible with reflective strips or torches.
Avoid homemade costumes, which may not meet fire safety standards.
Check the OPSS website for product recalls before use.

RoSPA continues to work with government and industry to improve product safety and raise awareness among consumers.

The shocking scale of Halloween-related waste

As Halloween fast approaches, many are preparing for the spooky season, with a 5,000% increase in UK searches over the past month for “Halloween costumes” and a 400% increase in searches for “pumpkin carving ideas”.

However, councils across the UK are warning of levels of waste caused by discarded pumpkins, plastic costumes, and decorations.

The experts at Rainbow Rubbish Removals therefore urge households to think green this Halloween, revealing exactly how much food and plastic waste occurs during this season and tips on how to to reduce waste this year.

The True Cost of Halloween: Equivalent of 83 million plastic bottles

An estimated 42% of UK consumers buy a pumpkin for carving, equivalent to roughly 30 million pumpkins purchased.

This results in more than 18,000 tonnes of edible pumpkins ending up in the bin. Since it can take up to 20 years for a pumpkin to break down in a landfill, the environmental impact is far greater than what most people realise.

As they decompose, pumpkins release methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

Every year, around seven million Halloween costumes are thrown away in the UK, which is an estimated 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste. About 83% of these outfits are made from polyester, a material that can take anywhere from 20 to 200 years to decompose. When these synthetic fabrics break down, they release microplastics and greenhouse gases, polluting the environment and harming wildlife.

Miroslav Radov, waste expert at Rainbow Rubbish Removals commented: “Much of Halloween waste can easily be avoided. Most carved pumpkins are perfectly edible, yet millions are discarded instead of being cooked or composted.

“The popularity of single-use costumes and decorations also means tonnes of plastic end up in landfill after just one night’s use.

“With Halloween celebrations growing every year, the environmental impact is increasing, creating what councils are calling a ‘frightening trend’ of seasonal waste that puts further strain on local recycling and collection services.”

Councils calling for increased Halloween recycling

Local councils across the UK are urging residents to think twice before throwing away pumpkins, costumes, and decorations this Halloween.

Many are running pumpkin collection and composting schemes, while others are hosting costume swap events or providing dedicated recycling drop-offs for decorations. Before purchasing a brand new costume this year, check if your city offers a ‘swap shop’, as it’s a great initiative aimed at encouraging sustainable living, reducing single-use waste and helping families save money.

Emma Stokes, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, warns: “People might think leaving pumpkins out for wildlife is a good idea, but rotting pumpkins can actually harm animals, especially hedgehogs.

“We encourage everyone to enjoy their pumpkins to the fullest so try out some new recipes, or dispose of pumpkins responsibly by composting or repurposing.”

Giles Hughes, Chief Executive at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “Switching from new shop bought costumes to making something from old clothing or buying second-hand is another way to be more sustainable.

“Charity shops, apps such as Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace will all have lots of options in the weeks leading up to Halloween.”

How to make a difference at home:

Reducing Halloween waste doesn’t have to be difficult, as just a few simple swaps can make a far less damaging impact on the environment:

Compost your pumpkins – Cook the edible parts for soup or alternative recipes such as pumpkin pie, and compost the leftovers instead of binning them.
Reuse or swap costumes – Trade with friends or shop second-hand to cut down on single-use plastics.
Choose sustainable decorations – Opt for recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable materials instead of plastic-heavy decor.
Recycle right – Separate recyclable items like cardboard and bottles, and check your local council’s Halloween recycling guidance.
Plan your purchases – Buy only what you need and avoid excessive packaging or disposable partyware.
Get creative – Upcycle old clothes and household materials into unique DIY costumes and decorations.

WICKED INSPIRED: Halloween at The Ivy Edinburgh

This spooky season, take a stroll down the yellow brick road and into The Ivy On The Square, Edinburgh as it transforms into The Ivy Emerald City. With a magical dessert, perfectly pink and gloriously green cocktails, Halloween is not to be missed this year at The Ivy.

From 25th October, The Ivy in Edinburgh will be serving up a wickedly delicious dessert, perfect for rounding off a meal this spooky season. Crafted exclusively for the occasion, The Emerald City Apple sees a chilled apple parfait perched on a golden blondie bed with milk foam, accompanied by a raspberry coulis.

Complete with a green witch’s hand and a cloud of candy floss, the dessert is an indulgent and enchanting treat for guests with a sweet tooth.

A hand reaching for an apple in a bowl

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Sip like a “Good Witch” or a “Bad Witch” with The Ivy’s spellbinding cocktails

Carefully crafted by The Ivy Collection’s expert team of mixologists, this Halloween sees a duo of delicious cocktails launch to celebrate the season:

Bound to be a popular choice for those with a taste of something tart but sweet, the Rhubarb Bubble sees Ketel One vodka, Rhubarb Mead and Doppelgänger Aperitivo blended with a touch of vanilla and served with a magical sprinkling of raspberry sugar dust.

Meanwhile, the Emerald Magic Margarita is definitely a good deed, combining Casamigos tequila with Beesou Honey liqueur and matcha cold brew with a dash of lime and geranium syrup – a dusting of Tajin on the rim casting a spell of heat.

A glass with a drink in it

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Guests are invited to book their table [here] to avoid disappointment.

Halloween descends upon Edinburgh!

Creepy treats and eerie encounters are making their way to Historic Scotland sites across the country this October, with a range of family-friendly Halloween events.

Edinburgh Castle will transform into Edin-boo! Castle as it opens its gates to Halloween Shenanigans on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, inviting visitors to come and explore some of the darker tales of history, with Living History performers sharing stories of ghosts and dastardly doings.

On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, Craigmillar Castle becomes Craig-thriller Castle, with Halloween Shenanigans.

Visitors can hear from the Master of Owls himself, who will be on hand to delve into the myths and legends surrounding owls. There will even be a chance to meet the winged creatures up close. A magical storyteller will also be on site to share scary stories, songs, riddles and even some magic.

Families can also explore the Mythical Mystery Hunt, discovering some of the magical and mystical creatures of Scottish folklore. This self-guided activity is taking place at sites across the country, including Edinburgh Castle and Craigmillar Castle, until Sunday 2 November and is included in admission.

Kit Reid, Head of Experience at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming visitors across the country for a ghoulishly good time this October.

Halloween is a great way to explore the chills and thrills of the darker parts of these iconic historic sites. From Living History performers sharing eerie stories to a family-friendly Mythical Mystery Hunt, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into the Halloween Spirit.”

Members can also collect their exclusive History Hunt Halloween card at any of these events.

Find out more about The History Hunt at:

historicenvironment.scot/membership/history-hunt.

For further information and to book tickets, visit historicenvironment.scot/whats-on.

Daytime entry is free for Historic Scotland members.

Halloween: Freaky Fungi at Granton Castle Walled Garden

FREAKY FUNGI!

Samhain/Halloween on 31 October, 1-3 pm at Granton Castle Walled Garden

Join Mycobee and discover the power of functional mushrooms and their benefits for our well-being. Explore, learn, and try some mushroom tea.

Each of Mycobee’s Functional Fungi events is themed around a different festive occasion. What does a Fungi Halloween party look like? Take part and find out!

All events are free to join. To book your place, email Mycobee stating the date and time of the event you would like to book: info@mycobee.org.

More info: https://f.mtr.cool/xsdelhrstv

#grantoncastlewalledgarden