A Brief History of the Spooky Sleepover

NB: This is a ticketed event. You can get a ticket via TickerTailor from the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre.

On Tuesday 28th October, 2025, we’ll be returning to the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre in Edinburgh to deliver a unique lecture on the history and science of spooky sleepover games.

For many people, a staple part of any childhood sleepover were games like Bloody Mary, Sandman, The Midnight Game or Charlie Charlie – games that, on the surface, seem like eerie dabbling with the occult… but which also served as bonding exercises, tests of nerve, and ways of playing with tension, fear and fun.

Grab a dressing gown, fill up a hot water bottle, settle in and join us for this a short presentation on the history of these strange but familiar games – including their origins and how they achieve their paranormal effects. Then join in if you dare as we try out a range of classic spooky sleepover activities – activities like:

• The Mirror Game
• Bloody Mary
• The Pencil Game
• Levitation
• Concentrate
• Spooky storytelling
• Ideomotor games

In true sleepover fashion, we’ll take a break at the midway point for some hot chocolate and a snack, and to discuss everything we’ve experienced!

You can participate as much or as little as you wish in any of the activities, and are welcome just to watch if you prefer. We’ll be discussing the history of Ouija, but won’t be using a Ouija board at this event.

And all of this will be taking place in the beautiful surroundings of the (possibly haunted) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre. If that sounds like fun, you can pick up a ticket directly from them.