Halloween Weekend in South & Central Ontario: Kids, Dogs and Pumpkin Parades (Oct 30 – Nov 1)

Darnell and Sofia bought their first house in Bradford this spring, and on Monday Sofia sent me a text I loved: "Okay Jenn, it's our first Halloween in the new neighbourhood. Where do we even start?"

Their daughter Amara is six and has picked a costume: a pumpkin, "but a fancy one." Their rescue dog, Juno, has no say in her costume at all. And Darnell's parents are coming up from Scarborough for the weekend, so the plan needs to work for everyone from Grandma to the dog.

So I put together a list for them, and it turned out to be a great snapshot of what's on across South and Central Ontario on Halloween weekend, Friday, October 30 to Sunday, November 1, 2026. Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, and the clocks fall back one hour early Sunday morning, so everyone gets an extra hour of sleep after the candy.

Saturday morning: costumes, markets and treats

Barrie Farmers' Market Halloween and Indoor Opening Day, Barrie. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 70 Collier Street. It's the first day of the indoor market season, with on-site pumpkin carving and a costume contest with prizes. Event details

Trick or Treat at Park Place, Barrie. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Start in the Village Courtyard (100 Mapleview Drive East) to pick up a passport and map, then collect treats at participating stores. Finished passports go in a draw for prizes, and hot dogs are available for a $2 donation to YouthReach. Event details

Spooky Spectacular, Newmarket. Saturday, 10 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Elman W. Campbell Museum (134 Main Street South). Kids learn the history of Halloween with mask-making, a scavenger hunt with prizes and loot bags. It's $6.69 per child (ages 2 to 12), and you register ahead through the Town. Event details

Downtown Whitby Trick or Treat, Durham. Saturday, noon to 3 p.m. at participating downtown businesses. It's free, with a scavenger hunt, balloon twisting, a photo booth, character meet-and-greets, the Toronto Ghostbusters and a real fire truck to explore. Event details

Saturday afternoon: small-town Halloween

Family-friendly Halloween Haunt, Georgina Military Museum. Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m. at 26061 Woodbine Avenue, just south of Keswick. Admission is free, and donations to the Georgina Food Pantry are welcome. Event details

Haunted Halloween for Kids, Hutchison House, Peterborough. Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m. at 270 Brock Street. Kids can take a spooky tour of the historic museum, make a craft, have their fortune told and enjoy a treat. It's $8 per person (under 3 free), and the museum says the upstairs is a little spooky but not meant to scare. Event details

From Heather to Homeland, Bradford. If Grandma would like a quieter hour, the BWG Local History Association presents this one-woman play about a Scottish settler family who made their final home in Bradford's Scotch Settlement. Saturday, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library (425 Holland Street West). Event details

For Juno (and every other dog in costume)

Tricks for Treats: A Halloween Dog Party, Toronto. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Deck at Clarence Square, hosted by the Toronto Downtown West BIA. It's free, with a DJ, treats and a costume contest with categories like Best in Boo and Double Trouble for the best duo. Matching costumes with your pup are highly encouraged. Event details

Closer to home, a crisp Sunday morning walk is the perfect way to spend that extra hour. Our guide to dog-friendly parks and trails in Newmarket has a few favourites.

For older kids who want a real scare

Haunted Hollows Scream Park, East Gwillimbury. Select nights through Sunday, November 1, 7 to 10:30 p.m. at 18444 Yonge Street, just north of Newmarket. Expect a 35 to 40 minute haunted forest walk with live scare actors, plus a haunted house, haunted mini putt and carnival games. Tickets are timed and popular nights can sell out. This one is for teens and brave grown-ups, not little ones. Event details

The Haunted Forest at Bruce's Mill, Whitchurch-Stouffville. Saturday, October 31, at Bruce's Mill Conservation Park (3291 Stouffville Road). It's a live murder mystery on a forest trail by Shadowpath Theatre Productions, with tickets from about $25. Event details

Sunday: one last farm day and pumpkin parades

Fall Fun Festival, Brooks Farms, Mount Albert. This is the final weekend, open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last admission 3 p.m.). There are wagon rides, a corn maze, jumping pillows, farm animals and pumpkin cannon shows (some attractions are weather permitting). Event details

Once Halloween is over, don't toss the jack-o'-lantern yet. Several towns give pumpkins one last night to shine on Sunday, and with the clocks falling back it'll be dark by about 5 p.m., which is perfect for glowing pumpkins.

Pumpkin Parade, Newmarket. Sunday, November 1 at Mulock Park (33 Mulock Drive). Drop off your carved or painted pumpkins from 3 to 6 p.m., then come back for the lit showcase and contest from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and vote for your favourites. Event details

Pumpkin Walk, Innisfil. Sunday, 5 to 8 p.m. at Innisfil Beach Park (676 Innisfil Beach Road). Drop pumpkins off from 11 a.m., then stroll the lit walkway. Afterward, local farmers collect the pumpkins for livestock feed or compost. Event details

Pumpkin Parade and Illuminated Tales, Toronto. Sunday, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Sackville Park in Corktown, followed by a pay-what-you-can guided history walk from 7 to 8 p.m. Event details

What Darnell and Sofia picked

In the end, they're starting Saturday at the Barrie Farmers' Market so Amara can enter the costume contest, then heading home to trick-or-treat on their own street for the first time. Sunday is the Innisfil Pumpkin Walk, just up the road, with Grandma, Grandpa and Juno along for the stroll.

Sofia told me the best part of the planning was realizing how much there is to do within 20 minutes of their new front door. I hear that from a lot of families. When people ask me where they should live, I often ask them back, "Where do you want to spend your Saturdays?" From Barrie and Bradford to Newmarket, Georgina, Durham and the Kawarthas, there's a good answer almost everywhere in South and Central Ontario.

Thinking about a move?

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Event details were checked on each organizer's official page and can change, so please confirm times, tickets and weather updates before you head out.

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This is an illustrative story based on common client situations.