Enjoy everything from haunted forests to pirate booty, for there is no better place to celebrate Halloween than cottage country. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and scare up some spooky spirit!
The Kawarthas
The Kawarthas are host to some truly spooktacular events this Halloween season. From historical ghost walks to a hike through a haunted forest, there is surely something to satisfy even the most discriminating of fright-seekers.
The Trent Valley Archives in Peterborough are hosting their annual Little Lake Cemetery Twilight Pageant, a lantern-led guided tour where guests learn about the town’s darker history and some of its famous and infamous celebrities. Actors dressed in historical attire are ready to scare you with true stories of murder in a graveyard setting. The tour departs every 15 minutes and finishes off with ghoulish refreshments.
Not scary enough for you? Get your heart racing on the Haunted Trail Hike at the Gamiing Nature Centre in Bobcaygeon on October 26th. You never know what strange creatures of the night lurk in the woods. This event is not for the faint of heart, so be prepared for the scariest walk of the year!
Haliburton Highlands
Two very spooky events in the Haliburton Highlands guarantee that you and your whole family will have a delightfully bone-chilling Halloween.
Partake in the Halloween Howl at the Ganaraska Forest on October 26th—there will be a spooky night hike, pumpkin carving, and eerie crafts for the little ones. Warm your bones by the campfire and listen to ghost stories before you embark on a night walk in the woods.
Feeling brave? Then come out for the Haunted Trail and Mad House at the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve on October 27th. Allow your hosts for the night to lead you along a haunted trail where tormented souls are rumored to dwell. Those brave enough to complete the trek will be in for a real treat at the top of the trail where a Mad House awaits. Enter if you dare!
Muskoka
Let the Spirits Rise in downtown Gravenhurst! Come out for a family-friendly night of tricks and treats that promises to be frightfully festive! An all-day event, it includes trick or treating for the kids, live music and entertainment, a pumpkin parade and a blood-curdling zombie walk. The evening will be capped off in true Halloween style with a reading of Edgar Allen Poe’s classic The Raven and a screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show for the older crowd. Don’t miss out on this bewitching good time!
Simcoe
Visit Discovery Harbour in Penetanguishene for the third annual Haunted Harbour, a Halloween event like no other in cottage country! Release your inner swashbuckler and travel back in time as the harbour is transformed into a 19th century pirate’s domain. Beware of booby traps and the witch’s cauldron as you make your way across these haunted quarters. You will encounter treasure-seeking skeletons and a haunted house to scare both young and old. At the end of the tour, children can stop by the centre to make a craft to take home as a souvenir. Shiver me timbers!
Jump on your broomstick and head on over to the Wye Marsh in Midland to add a bit of nature to your All Hallows Eve. Keep the little goblins entertained during the day with pumpkin bowling, a scavenger hunt and Halloween themed arts and crafts. In the evening, the marsh provides the perfect setting for the Marsh Monster Mystery, a one of a kind interactive detective game. It’ll be a howling’ good time!
