In case I’ve never mentioned it before, I’m a bit of a a huge Halloween nerd. From costume planning(you can see my DIY Poison Ivy costume here) to pumpkin carving and all the spooky things in between, I adore Halloween. For me, moving to Toronto has one HUGE pro(besides, you know, university): Halloween events. Coming from a little town where the only Halloween event was the showing of Rocky Horror(no shade thrown-I’m going to really miss attending this year), this is huge. So here, I’ve collected 10 different events I’m hoping to go to(or wish I could but can’t because of a 19+ age limit).
Ripley’s “Dark Waters”
This spooky take on the aquarium allows you full access to all the galleries through the night. This 19+ event has a bar on site, with food and drink available, along with dancing and a costume party.
Open Friday, October 27th
City Ghost Tour
This walking tour of Toronto is a fun mix of scepticism and spookiness, with the tales of historically haunted sites combined with discussion of the scientific possibility of ghosts, what they might be, what ghost hunting involves and natural phenomena that may explain the ghost sitings. The best part? This tour is free!
Open varied dates, book in advance
Shaun of the Dead Experience
A part of the Secret sessions, this Movie experience involves the transformation of the Monarch Tavern into the famous Winchester from the 2004 zombie movie, Shaun of the Dead. The Secret Sessions fuse the film experience with live theatre, creating an entirely new, captivating night.
Open Friday, October 27th
Friday Night Live at the ROM
Similar to Ripley’s event, the “Wicked” theme of this FNL at the ROM allows you access to the museum, with food, drinks, music, and spooky tours of the exhibits. People are encouraged to wear costumes! Due to the availability of alcohol, this too is a 19+event.
Open Friday, October 27th
Screemers Scream Park
Toronto’s ‘scream park’ has many different scary attractions and a ‘vampire lounge’ in case you want a break from the screams. With the choice between seven different attractions, with themes such as ‘Zombie Prison’, ‘Hours of Cards’, and a wax museum of Slasher characters, there’s a huge array of options.
Open various dates October 6th to Halloween
Kensington Costume Planning
Kensington Market is the boho and vintage centre of Toronto, filled with second-hand stores, as well as costume stores. The perfect place to buy a costume, or to DIY your own.
Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland
Halloween Haunt is a traditional Halloween event, combining the wonderful world of Wonderland with the horrors of Halloween. The opening of the amusement park until late at night, combined with the costumed scarers, mazes, scare zones, and performances lead to the perfect mix of fun and fear. Feel like scaring yourself more? Try out a few of their haunted maze-great if you want to hear even your most macho friends scream like a five-year-old girl.
Open throughout October
Creepy Escape Rooms
Escape rooms of all types are now all over Toronto, but there’s nothing quite like the fear-fueled ones to get your heart rate up. Great for a larger group, this team building opportunity will have you thinking through puzzles to save yourself.
Some of the best-rated escape rooms include The Riddle Room and Captive Escape Rooms.
Legends of Horror at Casa Loma
This use of promenade theatre allows guests to go at their own pace through the lower gardens of Casa Loma and into the castle itself. Filled with recognisable horror characters, the story unfolds throughout the walk, which takes on average about an hour.
Open October 18th-Halloween
Haunted High Park
High Park is creepy enough at night, but you throw in this ghost walk and tour, with the promise of a Victorian seance, and you’re sure to get into the spooky spirit.
Open October 19, 20, 22, 27, 28 and 29
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these, what you think, and if it got you in the ~spooky mood~
