Fall has officially arrived in Toronto, bringing with it the season of pumpkin patches, leaf peeping, and Halloween fun. There’s so much to do in and around the city this month, from Casa Loma’s epic Legends of Horror to Nuit Blanche.
Here’s our round-up of 30 enchanting things to do in Toronto this October:
1. Embrace spooky season with a Candlelight Halloween Concert
Kick off Halloween month with a chilling Candlelight Halloween Concert this October! See an enchanting string quartet cover some of your favourite horror theme songs, like Michael Jackson’s Thriller or Danny Elfman’s Beetlejuice theme song. Surrounded by the soft glow of candlelight, this mesmerizing event is sure to be a highlight of the season! Secure your tickets to these Halloween-themed Candlelight concerts here!
When:Various dates
Where: Various locations
2. Go on an overnight art crawl at Nuit Blanche
Toronto’s beloved free all-night contemporary art festival Nuit Blanche is back this October, where you can embark on an art crawl to see over 80 works of art created by talented local, national, and international artists spread throughout downtown. This year’s theme Bridging Distance welcomes audiences to “explore ways in which they experience and perceive distance”, including a number of talks, tours, and workshops that allow visitors to get closer to the creative process than ever before.
When: October 5 – 6, 2024 from 7 p.m. – 7 a.m.
Where: Various locations
3. Sip and paint at Neon Brush
Unleash your creative side and make unique, fluorescent art at Neon Brush, a painting workshop set in the dark coming to Toronto this fall! With your paintbrush in one hand and drink (alcoholic or non) in the other, this 90-minute experience is the perfect opportunity to let loose with friends or solo. With only a limited number of dates, book your time slot soon!
When: October 17 – 20, 2024
Where: Peach Berserk – 1694 Queen St W, Toronto
4. Meet larger-than-life dinosaurs at this immersive exhibit
Come face to face with life-sized moving replicas of dinosaurs this October at Dinos Alive! With over 80 specimens such as T-rex, Stegosaurus and Ankylosaurus, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time to when the majestic creatures roamed the earth. The immersive experience starts October 25, and there’s additional ticketing options for a photo op and a dinosaur costume add-on for the little ones (just in time for Halloween!) Tickets are now live. Join the waitlist here for exclusive access.
When: Launches October 25, 2024
Where: Downsview Airport Lands – 30 Hanover Rd, Toronto
5. Get spooky at Illumi
This October, Mississauga is bringing back its fan-favourite tradition Spooky at Illumi for a third consecutive year, starting October 3, 2024. Perfect for all ages, the immersive experiences lets visitors explore autumn and Halloween scenes set to the soundtracks from iconic horror movies. From whimsical jack-o-lanterns to neon skeletons, this family-friendly event will get you in the Halloween spirit!
When: October 3 – early November, 2024
Where: 7174 Derrycrest Dr, Mississauga
6. Explore a magical pastel world at Bubble Planet
If you haven’t been yet, make the time this October to explore the Bubble Planet Experience in Toronto! Awaken your inner child or take the kiddos to wander through 11 captivating bubble-themed rooms, from an Infinity Room and underwater world to a giant “bubble bath”! The fantastical landscapes will appeal to all five of your senses, and it’s nothing like you’ve ever seen before! Tickets start at $26.90 for adults and $20.90 for children.
When: Various dates
Where: 30 Hanover Road, Toronto
7. Shimmy at a stunning Flamenco show
This October, you won’t want to miss the return of Authentic Flamenco coming to The Metro Toronto Convention Centre! Witness award-winning dancer and choreographer El Yiyo perform the passionate and traditional Spanish dance alongside a number of other outstanding Spanish artists. The renowned show has amassed over 100,000 attendees worldwide, so you’ll want to grab your tickets early to secure your seats for this show!
When: October 5, 2024
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St W, Toronto
8. Face your fears at Screemers
Toronto’s favourite original haunted attraction Screemers returns this October for its 30th season of terror, coming to Assembly Park in Vaughan this October! Tiptoe through haunted mazes riddled with creepy live actors, watch spooky stage shows, and encounter realistic props. There’s also going to be exciting Midway rides, food trucks, and so much more.
When: October 11 – November 1, 2024
Where: 80 Interchange Way, Concord
9. Go apple picking at a nearby farm
Apple picking season is still ongoing this October, and there’s a number of farms a short drive away to stock up for all your fall baking needs! Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm, Pingle’s Farm Market, and Applewood Farm are all great destinations to visit this month, full of other various fall attractions like wagon rides, corn mazes, and even petting zoos.
When: Various dates
Where: Various locations
10. Get spooked at Canada’s Wonderland Halloween Haunt
One of the best places to get a real scare this Halloween is Canada’s Wonderland for their annual Halloween Haunt event. Running from September 27 through November 2, the park will undergo a sinister transformation featuring five hair-raising scare zones complete with hundreds of monsters, terrifying live entertainment, haunted mazes, and thrilling theme park night rides. If you’ve always wanted to play a monster, they’re now hiring for the upcoming season where you’ll literally get paid to scare guests!
When: Select nights from September 27 – November 2, 2024
Where: Canada’s Wonderland – 9580 Jane St, Vaughan
11. Cheer on the Toronto Raptors
NBA season is back this October, and there’s nothing like the buzzing excitement of cheering on the 2019 NBA Finals champions at Scotiabank Arena. Visit the NBA website to see their upcoming schedule of games and to get your tickets!
When: Season starts October 6, 2024
Where: Scotiabank Arena – 40 Bay St., Toronto
12. See intricate pumpkin carvings at Pumpkins After Dark
Just under an hour from Toronto, over in Milton, is a family-friend activity in Toronto perfect for Halloween. Country Heritage Park will be putting on Pumpkins After Dark, a grand display of dazzling lights, spooky installations, and more pumpkins than a pumpkin patch. Over 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins will be on display inspired by a myriad of different characters, countries, and more.
When: September 28 – October 30, 2024
Where: 8560 Tremaine Road, Milton
13. Attend the final Pedestrian Sunday at Kensington Market
Toronto’s favourite monthly street festival will have their final event of the year in October, meaning we won’t see Kensington Market’s Pedestrian Sundays again until May 2025. October 27 will be your last chance to wander the market’s eclectic streets car-free, with tons of vendors, performers, artists, and more to shop and visit.
When: October 27, 2024
Where: Kensington Market, Toronto
14. Tiptoe through Legends of Horror at Casa Loma
Every October, the grounds of Toronto’s iconic Casa Loma transforms into a terrifying immersive theatrical experience. Legends of Horror features a 2 km trail to explore, which leads you through the lower gardens before winding its way through the castle’s tunnels and darkest spaces complete with horrifying character actors. For those with little ones, they also offer Family Hours earlier in the evening without actors before it gets too dark!
When: October 3 – November 2, 2024
Where: Casa Loma – 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto
15. Take a road trip to some of Ontario’s most haunted destinations
Ontario certainly has its fair share of dark secrets, and ghost hunters have a long list of places to check off their list in this province. From old, rickety lighthouses to haunted jails, we’ve rounded up some of the most spooky destinations to road trip to this fall.
16. Go on unlimited rides at this fall festival
This October, Toronto’s annual PumpkinFest returns for four days of fun, including midway rides, inflatables, a gigantic pumpkin patch, food trucks, live entertainment, photo ops, and so much more! Taking over Downsview Park from October 11 – 14, 2024, your ticket will gain you access to unlimited midway rides, games, live entertainment, and a variety of attractions.
When: October 11 – 14
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Where: Downsview Park – 35 Carl Hall Road, Toronto
17. Catch a Toronto Maple Leafs Game
The boys in blue return to the ice this October, and maybe this will finally be the year they take the Stanley Cup! Cheer on your favourite NHL team at Scotiabank Arena once the season kicks off on October 3. Check out the NHL website for their full schedule of upcoming games.
When: Season starts October 3, 2024
Where: Scotiabank Arena – 40 Bay St., Toronto
18. Unravel a dark plot at Black Creek Pioneer Village
A terrible evil force has possessed the people of the Village of Black Creek, and it’s your mission to help them break free from the curse! This fall, participate in Toronto’s largest escape room at Black Creek Pioneer Village, Where Dark Things Dwell. Solve puzzles with your friends or family and see if you can escape – before it’s too late! The epic escape room has dates from September through November, with tickets starting at $28.84 and up depending on your time slot.
When: Various dates from September through November
Where: Black Creek Pioneer Village – 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, Toronto
19. Get lost in a 6.5-acre corn maze
Pingle’s Farm is once again hosting their beloved Harvest Festival, with nonstop fun fall activities to enjoy for the whole family. Pick up a pumpkin from their epic pumpkin patch, go apple picking, try not to get lost in their massive 6.5-acre corn maze, and indulge in some seasonal sweet treats.
When: September 6 – October 31, 2024
Where: Pingle’s Farm Market – 1805 Taunton Rd, Hampton
20. Do the Monster Mash on Church Street
Celebrate October 31st at Canada’s biggest Halloween block party, Halloween on Church Street. Toronto’s iconic Village will transform into a massive street party for the evening, becoming a pedestrian-only boulevard as of 6 p.m. Thousands will flock in their best costumes, and the street’s shops, restaurants, and bars will host various themed events and activities. The best part? It’s completely free to attend!
When: October 31, 2024
Where: Church Street, Toronto
21. Visit a pumpkin patch
A staple fall bucket list activity is to stop by your local pumpkin patch and pick a few up for Halloween carving! One of the closest to the city is Downey’s Farm Market, found over in Caledon. Their annual fall event PumpkinFest is back from September 21 through October 31, featuring wagon rides, farm animals, live entertainment, and so much more.
When: September 21 – October 31, 2024
Where: 13682 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon
22. Participate in a spine-tingling séance
Communicate with the other side this Halloween season at The Stanley Garrison Séance, led by renowned séance host Jaymes White known for his sold-out events. Not for the faint of heart, guests 18 and older will get the opportunity to encounter the spirits that are said to inhabit the historic Stanley Barracks, which is rarely open to the public. Tickets are priced at $68.66 per person.
When: September 27 – November 30, 2024
Where: Stanley Barracks – 11 Princes’ Blvd. at Exhibition Place, Toronto
23. Try one of the best new restaurants in Canada
In September, Air Canada revealed their 2024 list for the Best New Restaurants In Canada, with six Toronto-based restaurants making this year’s cut among the 30 nominees! If you’ve been searching for a new restaurant to try, consider heading to one of these hot spots, ranging from Korean BBQ to inventive Latin American cuisine.
When: Any time
Where: Various locations
24. Catch a horror movie screening for free
See a classic horror movie for free this October in Toronto’s historic Distillery District, which will be hosting four Halloween-themed movie nights presented by Soulpepper Theatre Company at the Yonge Centre for the Performing Arts. The line-up includes The Shining, Funny Games, Ready or Not, and Midsommar on October 4, 11, 18, and October 25.
When: October 4, 11, 18, 25, 2024
Where: Yonge Centre for the Performing Arts – 50 Tank House Lane, Toronto
25. Join a ghost walk through Exhibition Place
Uncover the secret history behind Exhibition Place’s landmark buildings this Halloween season with an evening haunted ghost walk. Led by Steve Collie from After Dark Tours, this two-hour tour takes you behind closed doors, revealing the well-kept secrets and origins of our other-worldly neighbours. Tickets are priced at $15 with all proceeds going to United Way.
When: October 4 – 29, 2024
Where: General Services Building at Exhibition Place – 2 Manitoba Drive, Toronto
26. Watch Ontario salmon migrate upstream
From early September through late October, you can witness countless Chinook, Atlantic, and Coho Salmon travelling upstream in local rivers to lay their eggs in shallow waters before the winter, when the water temperatures fall between 3 – 18 degrees Celsius. The spectacular event is a phenomenal sight as the salmon leap out of the water during the final trip of their lives!
When: Early September through late October
Where: Local rivers and bodies of water
27. Shop for witchy wares at the Hallowmas Market
This spooky season, stop by the annual Hallowmas Market brought to you by the Toronto Dark Arts Market, featuring over 35 artisans with a focus on all things “weird and wonderful”. From skull-shaped candles to spooky handmade goods, you won’t want to miss it!
When: October 12, 2024
Where: Ground Control, 1279 Queen St W
28. Dare to enter Martino Manor
Lauded as Toronto’s most terrifying haunted attraction, Martino Manor’s 3-story haunted house isn’t for the faint of heart! The spine-chilling experience in Etobicoke features a scary manor guests can explore filled with authentic Victorian and Depression Era decor, along with a spooky outdoor maze complete with live actors, advanced animatronics, and film-quality set design. Creep through eerie settings like the well house, mausoleum, morgue, chapel, and solarium. Martino Manor opens for the season on October 4, and tickets range from $19.99 – $29.99 available at the door.
When: October 4 – November 2, 2024
Where: 7 McIntosh Ave, Etobicoke
29. Grab flowers at the final Toronto Flower Market of the year
It’s your last opportunity to stop by the Toronto Flower Market for 2024, which will be popping up at the corner of Queen and Shaw for their seasonal market on Saturday, October 12. With tons of vendors selling all kinds of flowers from local Ontario farms, you can also find gifts, crafts, plant accessories, and so much more. This month’s event occurs on August 17.
When: October 12, 2024
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: CAMH
1001 Queen St West, Toronto
30. Carve pumpkins at Riverdale Farm
Toronto’s Riverdale Farm is bringing back their annual Boo Barn experience, featuring tons of festive family-friendly fun including pumpkin carving, crafts, face painting and more! Happening October 19 and 20, admission is free, though they would appreciate cash donations of $5 which go to help the farm’s operations.
When: October 19 – 20, 2024
Where: Riverdale Farm – 201 Winchester St, Toronto