Family Activities and Events for Halloween in Toronto

Looking to get into the Halloween spirit with your family? Then you’ve come to the right place! This year, Halloween in Toronto is packed with kid-friendly events that give your kids (and you) the excuse to dress up in costume, enjoy some candy and entertain yourself with life’s (slightly) darker side. Below we’ve rounded up Halloween-themed events taking place in and around Toronto over the next couple of weeks, including several that are free! We’re sure you’ll find something here to entertain your little ghoul.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Spooktacular Events and Family Fun for Halloween in Toronto

Camp Spooky

On Now Until Sunday October 29
1 Canada’s Wonderland Dr., Vaughan

Wonderland’s Haunt, with its live actors dressed as zombies, ghouls and other creepies, might be too intense for the little ones but thankfully there is Camp Spooky, a kinder, gentler Halloween event that’s perfect for the under-12 set. Kids can collect treats, watch (and sometimes even participate) in special shows, explore mazes, and more, all while in their Halloween costumes. And of course (most) of the usual rides and games are open. All the fun is covered by your Wonderland ticket, which costs around $45 if purchased online (and kids under three are free).

Crafts and Spooky Stories at your Local Toronto Public Library

Various Dates
Various Locations

Multiple Toronto Public Library branches are hosting Halloween activities this year. On October 28, the Fort York Library will guide kids ages three through six and up through creating Halloween crafts and share some sorta scary stories while
on the same date over at the Scarborough Civic Centre, your little ones can learn about 3D printing and get a printed Halloween accessory. For a look at all of the Toronto Public Library’s October kids’ programming, visit their website.

Halloween fun isn’t restricted to the Toronto library system. Vaughan Public Libraries is hosting its annual Halloween Howl costume party on various dates, at various branches. Many other GTA libraries have also organized kid-friendly events to celebrate October 31 so be sure to check out what your local branch has planned.

Halloween Fun at the City of Toronto Museums

On Now Until October 31
Various Locations

Six of the historic museums/sites run by the City of Toronto will be hosting Halloween-themed events this year. Head to the Scarborough Museum (1007 Brimley Rd.) and, depending on the time, take in a Halloween diorama workshop or a gothic collage workshop. Or stop by the Todmorden Mills Heritage Site and Arts Centre (67 Pottery Rd.) where your family can enjoy some spooky stories and hear from worldly opera-inspired arias. These events are a mix of drop-in and registered and while most are free, some do have a small fee.

Halloween Night of Lights & Pumpkinville

On Now Until October 31
Scarborough Town Centre, 500 Progress Ave., Toronto

This two-in-one event features a walk-through experience and a cute, Halloween-themed fun fair. Over two million LED and RGB lights synchronised to spooky tunes, as well as pumpkin carvings and other seasonal décor, line a “trail” that will take around 45 minutes to walk. It wraps up at Pumpkinville, where you’ll find carnival rides, tons of photo ops and even a beer
garden complete with food trucks. Pumpkinville opens at noon on weekends while Night of Lights gets started once it gets dark out. Tickets for the whole experience start at $15 for kids ages two-12 (under two is free) and admission to just Pumpkinville can be purchased for $13 per person. Some nights are also pet-friendly!

Illumi Halloween

Now Until October 31
7174 Derry Crest Dr., Mississauga

The “dazzling world of lights” known as Illumi gets into the Halloween season by incorporating dozens of brightly lit pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts, and other chilling creatures of the night into its stunning displays. The site’s usual 14 “universes” are also on display and ready to be explored by your family. The GTA’s largest light show starts at 6:30 p.m. 6:45 p.m. or 7 p.m., depending on the date, and tickets start as low as $15 per person.

Pumpkins After Dark

On Now Until October 31
Country Heritage Park, 8560 Tremaine Rd., Milton

This award-winning outdoor walk-through event returns to help get your family into a Halloween frame-of-mind. The experience has grown even bigger and in 2023 will feature 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins. There will also be live pumpkin-carving demonstrations, fall treats and sweets and other forms of Halloween fun. Your family can even bring your pets every Wednesday night. All tickets must be purchased in advance and are available for a starting price of $18 for kids, with a four-ticket family pack available for around $80.

Halloween Boo Barn

Saturday October 21 & Sunday October 22
Riverdale Farm, 201 Winchester St., Toronto

Need a Halloween-themed activity for this weekend? Or looking to do something with the kids that won’t break the bank? Then this annual event at Riverdale Farm might be right for your family. Venture through a scary (but not too scary) barn, do some crafts, get your face painted and even carve a pumpkin. And of course all the farm’s usual animal pals will be hanging around. Admission is free but you are encouraged to donate $5 for each pumpkin your family carves.

Boo at the Zoo Halloween Spooktacular!

Saturday & Sunday October 21 & 22 and October 28 & 29
2000 Meadowvale Rd., Toronto

Celebrate Halloween alongside bears, tigers, bats, and a few famous costumed heroes. On October 21 and 22 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Star Wars characters will be on site. Then the following weekend, DC and Marvel superheroes will be present and ready to pose with your little ones (and even you if you ask nicely). Both weekends will feature select animals being treated to giant pumpkins. While access to the zoo usually starts at $26 (and varies by date), kids who are 12 and under who come in a costume get 50 per cent off their admission. If you’re buying your tickets online, use promo code boo2023.

BooFest

Saturday & Sunday October 21 & 22 and October 28 & 29
Assembly Park, 80 Interchange Way, Vaughan

You’re invited to travel to Vaughan and explore the eerie world of BooFest! There you’ll find everything needed for a chillingly good time including midway rides, a petting zoo and lots of tasty food. And since it’s Halloween, there’s also a 3D haunted house, pumpkin painting, and a corn maze. Admission is free (and includes a free pumpkin while supplies last) but purchased tickets or a $25 ride-all-day pass is required to access the rides.

Halloween at the Village

Saturday & Sunday October 21 & 22 and October 28 & 29
Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Pkwy., Toronto

Get ready for some old fashion spooky fun at Black Creek Pioneer Village. In addition to the usual historical actors and presentations, there will be all kinds of Halloween-themed extras including a slimy science show, creepy carnival games, and the opportunity to learn “the wicked skills of witchcraft and wizardry, including the recipe for concocting a powerful witches’ brew.” Kids are encouraged to dress in costume, even if they don’t exactly suit the Village’s 1860s setting. Tickets start at $18, with kids two and under being free.

Halloween Hoopla

Saturday & Sunday October 21 & 22 and October 28 & 29
100 City Centre Dr., Parking Lot 6, Mississauga

Looking for some Halloween fun out in Peel Region? Then head to the Square One’s Parking Lot 6 for an outdoor party packed with the essentials: Midway rides and games, tasty food, and dinosaurs! And because it’s Halloween, there will also be trick or treating, pumpkin painting and a haunted maze. Admission is $8.85 per person with ride tickets starting at $2 (most rides require two to three tickets).

Pumpkin Patch & Halloween Train Ride

Saturday & Sunday October 21 & 22 and October 28 & 29
York-Durham Heritage Railway, 19 Railway St., Uxbridge

If your kids love trains, they’ll love this outing, which includes a round trip on a historic train. Enjoy live entertainment on the train while your family takes in the fall colours, ideally dressed in your Halloween costumes. Then take in this experience’s other activities: wagon rides, a pumpkin patch (every family gets to take home a gourd) and a kiddie train. There will also be food available for purchase. Multiple train trips run each day and tickets start at around $10 for kids.

The Halloween Fest at Lower Bay Station

Saturday October 28 & Sunday October 29
1240 Bay St., Toronto (enter Bay Station through the Cumberland Street level automatic entrance)

If you’ve ever wanted to check out the legendary Lower Bay Station, here’s your chance. Choose “to brave the haunted subway train” or opt to check out the more kid-friend trick or treat train. Learn about space’s extensive history as a filming location, try to win some giveaways and browse through both TTC merchandise and the “garage sale” where your family might discover a “hidden gem.” Access for this United Way fundraiser is $5 a person (kids under two are free).

Trick or Treat at the Bata Shoe Museum

Saturday October 28 & Sunday October 29
327 Bloor St. W., Toronto

Have the kids practice their trick or treating skills while you check out the hundreds of shoes that are on display at the Bata Shoe Museum. Between candy stations, take part in crafts, challenge the museum’s popular iSpy game cards, and dress up at the try-on station. Kids in costume get free entry and a take-home craft kit (while they last) while the admission fee for adults is $14.

Halloween & Dia de Muertos Parties at BOK Play Café

Halloween Party: October 31
Dia de Muertos Party: November 1 & 2
259 Danforth Ave., Toronto

This year, Halloween falls on a Tuesday meaning most Halloween parties won’t take place on the actual holiday. But not Bok Play Cafe’s Halloween bash. Designed primarily for the under-five set, this party includes games, snacks, and some indoor trick or treating. The party lasts for two hours and three time slots are available: 10am, 1pm and 4pm. Tickets, which are good for one child and one adult, are $25.

Bok is also celebrating the Day of the Dead with two Dia de Muertos parties, one from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on November 1, and one from 10 a.m. to noon on November 2. This event, which is also $25 a ticket, will feature skull decorating and a tasty snack of hot cacao and traditional bread.