toronto: what to do, what to do?
Filed Under Events | October 28, 2010
If your kids think Halloween is all about trick o’ treating, this weekend is a great opportunity to go way beyond candy collection! With pumpkin carving contests, spooktacular haunted house tours and ghostly walks, and plenty of events to show those costumes off, kids will love the weekend-long celebrations. And if you’re looking for a less festive event the much-loved musical duo, Bobs & LoLo, will only be a short drive away. And don’t forget our list of ongoing Halloween fun in case you need more to do!
Bobs & LoLo Concert
Sunday, October 31st, 2 pm, River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich Centre, Guelph
Bobs & LoLo – the musical duo regularly featured on Treehouse TV – are excited to bring their action packed, musical adventures to Guelph, Ontario! Dedicated to connecting kids to the natural world with music, movement and make-believe, Bobs & LoLo’s energetic and interactive show is sure to have kids singing and dancing along. Come in costume and stick around after the show to meet Bobs & LoLo: www.riverrun.ca
Pumpkin Carving Contest
Sunday, October 31st, 11 am – Noon, Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto
Bring the kids and their creativity to Casa Loma to carve out the funniest, or scariest pumpkin imaginable. All participants will receive a Trick or Treat loot bag, and are welcome to take their carved pumpkin home for Halloween night: www.casaloma.org
Halloween Howl
Saturday, October 30th & Sunday, October 31st, 11 am & 2 pm, Solar Stage Children’s Theatre, 100 Upper Madison Avenue, North York
Lovable children’s performers, Soli & Rob, lead the audience in an interactive Halloween concert. This musical duo will mesmerize children with their light-spirited songs about pumpkins, trick or treating, and Halloween fun. The popular Alistair Ant and his puppet friends are also sure to make an appearance! For ages three to eight: www.solarstage.on.ca
Howling Hootenanny
Saturday, October 30th – Sunday, October 31st, 11 am – 4:30 pm, Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, Toronto
Visit for a Halloween celebration with haunted mazes, creepy creature shows, circus acts, storytelling, pumpkin carving, and more! Enjoy old-time Halloween traditions in the historic village, or watch a great performance in the Event Pavilion: www.blackcreek.ca
Boo At The Zoo
October 30th – 31st, 10 am – 4 pm, Zellers Discovery Zone, Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Toronto
Navigate the hay maze, drink from the cauldron of Boo Brew, and take part in the Critters and Costumes Parade at 12 pm & 2 pm daily. Families will enjoy storytelling, animal meet & greets, and busker shows, and best of all, up to two kids in costume (12 and under) get in free when accompanied by an adult. Please help the Zoo be ‘green’ this Halloween by bringing your own Trick-or-Treat reusable bag: www.torontozoo.com
Monster Bash
Saturday, October 30th, 7 pm – 9 pm, High Park Family Fun Place, 2968 Dundas Street West, Toronto
A family-friendly Halloween celebration – don’t forget to bring a costume! Kids will love the Trick or Treat scavenger hunt, plus refreshments and festive goodies, and everyone will enjoy the Halloween songs and crafts: www.hpfamilyfunplace.ca
Halloween Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 30th, 3 pm – 8:30 pm, Scrivener Square, 10 Scrivener Square (Yonge & Malborough), Toronto
Family-friendly activities and fun with face painting, stilt walkers, balloon animals, and much more! Get the chills in the spooky haunted house, or warm up with some delicious hot apple cider or roasted corn. The Nightmare Before Christmas will be screened outdoors (6:30 pm) so be sure to bundle up: www.rosedalemainstreet.ca
Haunted High Park For Families
Saturday, October 30th, various times, Colborne Lodge, Colborne Lodge Drive, Toronto
Visit Colborne Lodge and its grounds at night, hear ghostly tales and legends that have been told about the Lodge and High Park, and enjoy the included refreshments. Not recommended for kids under eight: www.highpark.org
KidSpark: A Bug’s World
Saturday, October 30th, 2 pm, Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Road, Toronto
Come explore the world of bugs! Learn about bugs from Ontario and how they help us. Finally, create your own bug to take home. For kids from four to eight: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
Ghosts Of The Garrison
Thursday, October 28th – Saturday, October 30th, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm, Fort York National Historic Site, 250 Fort York Boulevard, Toronto
Hear stories from the friendly ghostly visitors who haunt the grounds of the Fort at night! Great fun for the whole family, although best for kids five years of age and up. Please call to pre-register: www.toronto.ca
Children’s Halloween Party
Sunday, October 31st, 2 pm – 5 pm, Strada Restaurant, 2279 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Join in for an afternoon of cookie decorating, games, treats, crafts, spooky story telling or walk thru the haunted hallway… if you dare! Costumes are strongly encouraged, and an adult must accompany kids. This event is best for ages two to 10, and proceeds will be donated to Unicef: www.villarestaurant.ca
Movie Night – High Park Family Fun Place
Friday, October 29th, 7 pm – 9 pm, 2968 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Who doesn’t love a little friendly monster fun for Halloween weekend? Bring the family for a showing of Monsters Inc. Movie is free with playground admission: www.hpfamilyfunplace.ca
Halloween Costume Bonanza!
Saturday, October 30th & Sunday, October 31st, Noon – 4 pm, Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Join us for an afternoon of Halloween fun! Play dress up, participate in shoo-crafts, see the exhibitions, and vote on which is the Museum’s spookiest shoe: www.batashoemuseum.ca
Halloween Fiesta at Evergreen Brick Works
Sunday, October 31st, 11 am – 4 pm, Evergreen Brickworks, 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
Bring the little ones in full costume and come celebrate Halloween fun and Día de los Muertos, a Latin-American holiday to honour the dead. Bring a bag of healthy, non-perishable food to support the Daily Bread Food Bank. In return for every donation, participants will receive a GE Market bag: www.ebw.evergreen.ca
Halloween Family Dance Party
Sunday, October 31st, 2 pm – 4 pm, Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street, Toronto
Do you disco in your party dress or pirouette in your PJ’s? Or maybe you tango in your t-shirt and Conga in your clogs? However you get your groove on, get ready for the return of our funky Family Dance Parties. Featuring family-friendly music spun by a groovy line-up of DJ’s guaranteed to get you dancing. Wear your costume for some spooky fun dance moves with our guest dance artist! All ages welcome: www.theatredirect.ca
Farther Afield:
Howlers Of The Moon
Friday, October 29th, 6:30 pm – 10 pm, Kortright Centre, 9550 Pine Valley Road, Woodbridge
Enjoy a themed Halloween dinner, walk the spooky Kortright trails, meet Howlers of the Moon and other Halloween creatures. Finish off the evening around a roaring bonfire while sipping hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows. Recommended for ages eight and up: www.kortright.org
The Haunted Forest
Saturday, October 30th, 6 pm – 9 pm, Terra Cotta Conservation Area, 14452 Winston Churchill Boulevard, Halton Hills
Enjoy an evening of spooky fun for children 10 and under, including a haunted spirit walk, scary pavilion, storytellers, bonfires, games, a barbecue and more! An adult must accompany kids: www.creditvalleyca.ca
Halloween Party Hosted By Captain Black Eye
Sunday, October 31st, 6 pm – 8 pm, Creative Play Indoor Playground, 539 Westney Road South, Ajax
Pirate Captain Black Eyes is parking his haunted pirate ship at Creative Play! Join the Pirate to celebrate the spookiest day of the year. Loads of fun and prizes for best costumes, but remember to register soon to avoid disappointment: www.creativeplay.ca
Halloween On Ice Skate
Sunday, October 31st, Bond Lake Arena 2:30 pm – 4 pm, Ed Sackfield Arena 1:30 pm – 3 pm, Elgin Barrow Arena 2:45 pm – 4:15 pm, Tom Graham Arena 2:30 pm – 4 pm, Richmond Hill
Skate for a “twoonie!” Trick ‘or’ Treat with skates on your feet and you’ll be given something good to eat. Please be safety conscious when choosing a costume for skating to wear to the Halloween on Ice Skate. Please note the following items are not permitted: costumes that drag on the ice; masks that have poor visibility; fake blood (that will stain the ice); and fake weapons: www.richmondhill.ca
Want to help us make this weekend guide even more bursting with fun? Just email us your family-friendly happenings, festivals, fairs and workshops in the Greater Toronto area.
And we wanted to remind you to always call or visit the website for event info before you head out just in case any changes have been made since we posted it. And of course, have fun!
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