Nine swing dances to haunt this Halloween weekend, from Cardiff to Edinburgh
We counted the dated listings in the Gazette's directory and found nine swing dances this weekend: five Halloween socials tonight and four gentler Sunday afternoons and evenings.
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and the UK's swing scenes have not let the chance slip by. Counting the dated events in our own listings for Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, the Gazette finds nine swing dances across England, Wales and Scotland, plus a daytime workshop for shag fans. Five of them are costume parties tonight; the other four are Sunday dances for anyone who would rather keep their fangs in the drawer.
Saturday night: five Halloween socials
- Bedford: Swingsters hosts its Halloween Hop at Great Barford Village Hall from 8pm to 11.30pm, with live music from Cody Lee & His Rhythm Keys. Early-bird tickets have closed; the listing gives £27 online or on the door.
- Birmingham: The Swing Era's Spookeasy takes over The Moseley Hive from 7pm, and starts with a beginners' taster lesson, so newcomers can join in. Tickets are booked through the organiser's DanceCloud page.
- Cardiff: The Swing Project throws its Spooky Swing Out Halloween Party at St Mary's Hall in Pontcanna, 8pm to 11pm.
- Swindon: Just Jive Lindy Hop's Spooky Saturday Social, themed Angels & Demons, runs from 7pm to 10pm at St Margaret's Church Centre. It is £8 on the door, open to all levels, and costumes are encouraged. There is no bar, but tea, coffee and soft drinks are served.
- Fareham: The Lindy Club lists a Spooky Social tonight at £12 in advance or £15 on the door. The venue was not on the listing we checked, so look at the club's events page before setting off.
Earlier in the day, Cardiff also has a Collegiate Shag bootcamp with Jim & Nicky at St Mary's Hall, from noon to 4pm: fundamentals first, then a session for more adventurous dancers. A full day costs £30, half a day £18.
Sunday: four quieter dances
- Harrogate: St John Ambulance Yorkshire Dales holds a tea dance at the Bilton Club, 12.45pm to 4.30pm. The £10 ticket covers a workshop, the dance, and tea or coffee with cake, and no experience is needed.
- Cambridge: the Sunday tea dance at the end of the Cambridge Lindy Exchange is the only part of the weekend sold on the door, at £15.
- Edinburgh: Edinbop's Balboa weekend closes with a Sunday social at the Columcille Centre, 3.30pm to 5pm.
- London: Sunshine Swing's Brixton's Got Rhythm is at Craft Metropolis on Coldharbour Lane. The time was not listed, so check with the organiser first.
A word on the count
These nine come from the dated events in our directory, each taken from the organiser's own website or booking page in the last fortnight. Our what's on page carries the full list, alongside the regular weekly classes and socials, and any changes we spot. Plans do shift, especially for themed nights, so it is always worth a quick look at the organiser's page or social media before you travel. If we have missed your Halloween dance, we would be glad to hear about it.
How to join in
Never danced before? Several of these nights welcome newcomers, and Birmingham's includes a taster lesson. Our guide to what Lindy Hop is and what to expect at your first class will settle the nerves. After the pumpkins are gone, use classes near me to find a weekly beginners' night, or browse the festivals calendar for the bigger weekends still to come.
Find it on Swing Out UK
Sources
- Swing Out UK – what's on listings (listings.json)
- Swingsters – Halloween Hop with Cody Lee (opens in a new tab)
- The Swing Era – DanceCloud events (opens in a new tab)
- The Swing Project – sign up and workshops (opens in a new tab)
- Just Jive Lindy Hop – dates to dance (opens in a new tab)
- The Lindy Club – events (opens in a new tab)
- St John Ambulance Yorkshire Dales – tea dance tickets (opens in a new tab)
- Edinbop – Edinburgh Balboa weekend (opens in a new tab)
- Sunshine Swing (opens in a new tab)
Part of the Gazette's daily front page. See every edition or October 2026.