Tam is a carefree, heavy-drinking farmer who prefers the warmth of the local pub and the company of his friends over his domestic responsibilities. He possesses a reckless energy and a healthy appetite for creamy ales, which often cloud his judgment. Prone to ignoring his wife's warnings, his natural curiosity and lack of impulse control push him to investigate the brightly lit, abandoned church on his ride home.

Kate is Tam's sullen and disapproving wife. She waits at home on dark and stormy nights, nursing her wrath while her husband drinks away their time and money at the tavern. She acts as the voice of reason in the narrative, accurately predicting that Tam's reckless behavior will eventually lead to a disastrous encounter with the supernatural.

Meg, sometimes referred to as Maggie, is Tam's steadfast and dependable grey mare. She dutifully carries her master through mud, rain, and howling winds. Despite her own fear of the paranormal entities occupying Alloway's Church, she remains fiercely loyal and pushes forward at Tam's frantic urging when the hellish chase begins.

Nannie is a young, strong, and supple witch who joins the unholy coven dancing to the devil's music. She wears a dangerously short, inherited underskirt made of Paisley cloth. Her frenzied and enthusiastic dancing catches Tam's eye, but her terrifying speed and wrath make her the primary threat when the demonic legion discovers his presence.

Johnny, also known as Souter Johnny, is a cobbler and Tam's most ancient, trusted drinking crony. He spends his nights drinking heavily with Tam at the local pub, entertaining the room with his strangest stories. He represents the communal warmth and distraction that keeps Tam from returning home to his duties.

Old Nick is the devil himself, appearing in the abandoned Alloway's Church in the form of a massive, grim, and shaggy black dog. He serves as the architect of the unholy gathering, providing the driving music for the warlocks and witches by forcefully squeezing his bagpipes to fuel their increasingly wild dancing.

The landlady operates the public house where Tam and Johnny take shelter. She grows increasingly gracious with Tam as the night progresses, sharing sweet and precious secret favors that encourage him to continue delaying his journey home.

The landlord operates the tavern where the farmers and peddlers gather. He provides a ready, joyful chorus to Cobbler Johnny's queer stories, adding to the warm, inviting atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the dangerous storm raging outside.