October is one of the most popular date idea months of the year! With autumn in full swing and Halloween right around the corner, there are tons of frightening and festive events to experience.
Check out these spooktacular events happening in and around Ottawa to celebrate haunting season.
1. Pumpkins After Dark
This spooky season, check out one of Canada’s best fall date ideas at Wesley Clover Parks! Pumpkins After Dark features over 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins for a one-of-a-kind walk through experience.
Explore the magical pathway of lit pumpkin sculptures and displays, with music, sounds and special effects. With classic Halloween characters, dinosaurs and dragons, movie and pop culture icons – this family friendly event has something for everyone!
When: Until October 31st (select nights)
Where: 401 Corkstown Rd, Nepean, Ontario
2. Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village
Take an after-dark tour through a spectacular outdoor exhibit of over 9,000 artistically designed and hand-carved pumpkins. Pumpkinferno takes visitors through a mesmerizing world of illuminated pumpkins, all beautifully displayed in a myriad of eclectic themes along the streets and paths of Upper Canada Village’s historic landscape. They always add new exhibits each year to keep things fresh and exciting!
You can also enjoy harvest dining, seasonal treats, shopping, and kids play stations.
When: Until October 31st
Where: 13740 County Rd 2, Morrisburg, Ontario
3. Scary Movies at The Mayfair Theatre
The Mayfair Theatre is one of Ottawa’s last two neighbourhood cinemas and one of the oldest surviving independent movie houses in all of Canada. It is one of the few surviving examples of an “atmospheric cinema”, built with a particular theme to enhance the movie-going experience and draw the movie-goer into the world of the film’s imagination.
The theatre’s programming includes independent, second-run, and classic films. This October, you can catch various scary and spooky movies including MaXXXine, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Exorcist, and more.
When: Various dates (check website for screening schedule)
Where: 1074 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario
4. Saunders Farm
This award-winning family farm is 100 acres of aMAZEing fun and food this fall season.
FrightFest at Saunders is now on until October 31 bringing re-VAMP-ed haunts, arcade games, live performances, farm-fresh food, and a brand new haunt – The Sawmill!
For the little ones (or those faint of heart!), PumpkinFest is a Canadian family tradition. This wholesome farm event includes tons of outdoor attractions, including pumpkin picking from our amazing pre-picked selection of pumpkins, hedge mazes, jumbo jumpers, play structures, wagon rides, a zipline, and so much more.
When: PumpkinFest is on until October 27th (weekends only) and FrightFest is on until October 31
Where: 7893 Bleeks Rd, Ottawa, Ontario
5. Aventure Outaouais Ottawa Valley Haunted Tour
Join Aventure Outaouais for what will certainly be an eventful evening! Accompanied by your local storyteller, Brandon, you will be taken on a haunted tour of 4 historical villages in the Ottawa Valley in Quebec. Learn about Canada’s first registered poltergeist, the lost lumberman’s bride, Jacques Cadieux’s passing, Ghost Hill, the Ghost of Hannah, the Witches of Eardly, and many more!
When: Until November 2nd (select nights)
Where: Many pick-up and drop-off options are available within downtown Ottawa and Gatineau
6. Cannamore Orchard Acres of Terror
Cannamore Orchard is celebrating their 32nd year of Acres of Terror! This annual Halloween event features a spooky tractor-pulled wagon ride, a terrifying haunted house, an interactive Halloween-themed village, and an indoor fog maze.
This is a limited-ticket experience so be sure to pre-book your tickets online before your visit!
When: Until October 30th (select nights)
Where: 1480 County Road 32, Crysler, Ontario
7. Candlelight Concerts: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics
Candlelight Concerts bring the magic of live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Ottawa. This Halloween season, discover a haunted evening of Halloween classics at Knox Presbyterian Church under the gentle glow of candlelight.
When: October 31st at 6:30 p.m. & 8:45 p.m.
Where: 120 Lisgar St, Ottawa, Ontario
8. sKreamers
sKreamers is a creative fundraising project operated by the Kiwanis Club of Orleans. Your ticket includes one scary wagon ride, along with one tour each of their two scary houses of horror. This is the perfect event to get your dose of fright this Halloween while also giving back to the community!
When: Every Friday & Saturday in October along with October 31st
Where: Proulx Farm (1865 O’Toole Rd, Ottawa, Ontario)
9. 1D Studios: Behind The Screams
Step right up, thrill-seekers and horror aficionados! Behind the Screams is Andi Cryst’s Interactive Haunted House presented by 1D Studios, where the ordinary conga line haunts are left in the dust. Dive into a world of spine-chilling excitement with multiple unique experiences, tailored just for you. Whether you are assigned the sinister path of the cast side or the eerie journey of the crew side, each hair-raising adventure guarantees a scream you won’t soon forget!
They will also be hosting a costume party on October 31st from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Come decked out in your coolest costume for your chance to win a Behind the Screams swag bag and tickets to their next haunt!
When: Until November 3rd (select nights)
Where: 2935 Conroy Rd, Ottawa, Ontario
10. Ottawa Public Library Halloween Double Feature
Ottawa Bad Movie Nights and Ottawa Public Library are delighted to present a bone-chilling double-bill of Body Bags (5PM) and The Monster Squad (7PM).
The films are free to attend and will take place in the Main branch auditorium.
Note: These films are intended for a mature audience. Body Bags is 91 minutes and The Monster Squad is 82 minutes. In English.
When: October 30th at 5:00 p.m.
Where: 120 Metcalfe St, Ottawa, Ontario
Ready for something slower-paced now? Don’t worry – find date ideas of all kinds right here!
