What is Halloween?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While traditions vary around the world, people celebrate Halloween on October 31 in Canada and the United States. People dress up, play pranks, go trick-or-treating, and do a little thrill seeking. The word \u201cHalloween\u201d comes from the original name, \u201cAll Hallows\u2019 Eve.\u201d The holiday\u2019s origin is Samhain<\/a>, an ancient Celtic festival, where people would wear costumes to ward off ghosts, leading to our current custom of dressing up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Halloween marks the eve of All Hallows\u2019 Day on November 1 which starts a traditional period of observance for the dead. Ancient peoples used to gather to pay homage to the dead by offering sacrifices and lighting bonfires. Over time, people began doing something called \u201cmumming\u201d which was dressing up as scary creatures and performing in exchange for food<\/a> and drinks. Some consider mumming the predecessor to trick-or-treating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re preparing your Halloween schedule, here are a few suggestions for Halloween activities and trips you can enjoy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After a year of on-and-off lockdowns, no one would blame you for asking, \u201cIs Halloween cancelled in Ontario?\u201d Not at all. You should certainly take precautions, but there are a lot of Halloween activities happening in Ontario for you to check out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Vaughan, ON<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time: <\/strong>30 minutes from downtown Toronto<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description:<\/strong> This is one of the easiest day trips from Toronto since you\u2019re barely leaving the city. A half hour drive from downtown Toronto, you can easily get to Wonderland to spend your day at Halloween Haunt. It\u2019s been on hold since the pandemic started, but this \u201cscream park\u201d is officially back on select nights from September 24 to October 31<\/a>. Guests can enjoy night rides, live shows, street performers, and scare zones. You\u2019ll also need to be on the lookout for over 500 monsters roaming the park. To keep visitors safe, the park has transformed indoor haunted mazes into new outdoor experiences. Admission is $31.99 plus tax<\/a> per guest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Niagara Falls, ON<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time: <\/strong>1 hour from downtown Toronto<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description: <\/strong>One of the most popular day trips in Ontario any time of year is heading to Niagara Falls, but there are also seasonal offerings if you choose to head there this fall. Haunt Manor Hayrides and Haunted Houses<\/a> is considered one of the scariest attractions in all of Canada. It\u2019s a 220-year old farm rumoured to be haunted by the ghosts of soldiers from the War of 1812. If ghost stories aren\u2019t your thing, there\u2019s also a theatrical hayride, corn maze, and several haunted houses that the staff switches up every year to keep things interesting. General admission for the full attraction is $40.75 plus tax<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Niagara Falls, ON<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time: <\/strong>1 hour from downtown Toronto<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description: <\/strong>If the Haunt Manor doesn\u2019t satisfy your history craving, check out the Drummond Hill Cemetery<\/a> in Niagara Falls where their famous tours are officially back. A costumed guide leads guests through one of the most historic resting places in Canada. As you walk through the grounds, you\u2019ll stumble across re-enactments of some of the lives of people who lived in the area. Keep in mind that tickets have to be purchased in advance and that this is a rain-or-shine event, so book your tickets now and be sure to bring an umbrella. Tickets are $12 per person<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Crysler, ON<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time: <\/strong>4 hours from downtown Toronto<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description:<\/strong> If you\u2019re looking for a long day trip from Toronto, consider checking out Acres of the Terror in Cannamore Orchard<\/a>. Formerly the Spooky Wagon Ride, the Acres of Terror is a four-part experience. Hop on the Spooky Wagon Ride where you can tour the 60-acre property with a witch or warlock as your guide. You\u2019ll meet 30 actors playing out spooky scenes around every corner. Next, you can creep into the House of Terror where you\u2019ll have to use your wits and bravery to make it out in one piece. Then, take a walk through the Spooky Village, where you can have one-of-a-kind experiences such as shopping for a coffin at the Coffin Maker\u2019s House or donating some blood at the Vampire\u2019s House. Finally, wrap the day up with a little confusion at the Fog Maze where you\u2019ll have to focus hard to make it to the end. General day time admission is $25, while general night admission is $32<\/a>. There are special rates available for families as well as specific time slots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Book a car in Ontario<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Spending your spooky season in Quebec? There are all kinds of creepy adventures you can take. Whether you want to get your steps in while taking a ghost walking tour or take in a little Quebec history while lounging around in a park, there are several options for Halloween activities in Quebec. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Quebec City, QC<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time:<\/strong> Walking tours begin at the Morin Cultural Centre<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description:<\/strong> Officially called, \u201cLes Promenades Fant\u00f4mes\u201d<\/a>, these walking tours are a chilling walk back in time to the crime and punishment of New France. Your spooky host will send a shiver down your spine with tales of what happened on Quebec\u2019s streets over a century ago. After you get your steps in, you can treat yourself to a late dinner in one of Quebec City\u2019s many restaurants. Depending on the tour you select, tickets are $16.53 to $19.13 per person<\/a> and the tours last a little over an hour. It\u2019s an easy day trip within Montreal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Montreal, QC<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time:<\/strong> 15 minutes from downtown Montreal<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description:<\/strong> La Ronde, a Montreal-based amusement park under the Six Flags umbrella, offers nights of frights and fun. You can catch the usual thrills on the amusement park rides during the day before wandering through the spooky haunted houses at night. La Ronde goes from a traditional theme park to an eerie metallic jungle of vampires, ghouls, and zombies ready to scare unsuspecting guests. Tickets start at $29.99<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Quebec City, QC<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time: <\/strong>Downtown Quebec City<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description:<\/strong> Have a little downtime while also learning some history. You can spend Halloween on the Plains of Abraham where a battle between the French and the English decided the fate of New France and the future of Quebec were decided<\/a>. Today, it\u2019s mainly a park used for relaxing and outdoor activities, but during the Halloween season<\/a> it offers the Halloween Garden, Stories to Wake the Dead, a Halloween treasure hunt, falconry demonstrations, and presentations within Martello Tower. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Book a car in Quebec<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Halloween fun operates on a spectrum where you can choose whether you\u2019d like to be absolutely terrified or you\u2019d just like to enjoy the fall colours. In Alberta, you\u2019ve got all kinds of options, from screaming your lungs out at Screamfest to picking out your favourite nice, plump pumpkin at Pumpkin Palooza. Check out some of the cool Halloween activities available in Alberta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Location:<\/strong> Calgary, AB (Calgary Stampede Grandstand)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time:<\/strong> Downtown Calgary<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description: <\/strong>Halloween lovers can get all the Halloween they want at Screamfest<\/a>, an experience that straight up promises guests they will scream. There are an outrageous number of things to do at this 100% Halloween-focused event. You can check out the outdoor haunted houses, such as the creepy \u201cClown Town\u201d or the terrifying \u201cWhat Lurks in the Dark\u201d venue where you\u2019re forced to listen to the sounds of screams while trying to rely on senses other than sight. You can also check out thrill rides like \u201cThe Screamer\u201d and \u201cCoffin Ride\u201d, watch a movie in The Screaming Room, and grab some refreshments from the nearby food trucks and beer lounge. General admission tickets are $25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Vegreville, AB<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time: <\/strong>1 hour from Edmonton<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description: <\/strong>Pack up the car for a Halloween-inspired day trip from Edmonton. What started off as a fun family activity in 2008 quickly turned into the community event of the season. Originally held in Sherwood Park, The Haunted Hike<\/a> is now hosted in a warehouse just outside of Edmonton. You can navigate all kinds of spooky rooms packed with actors and thrills around every corner. The Haunted Hike offers both Scary Hours (for adults) and Not So Scary House(for kids). The kids tour offers 18 rooms to walk through with no actors so little ones don\u2019t have to worry about anything too startling lurking in the dark. General admission is $15<\/a> while the kids\u2019 tour is $5<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Calgary, AB<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time: <\/strong>20 minutes from downtown Calgary<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description: <\/strong>Book some time in your calendar for a leisurely day trip in Calgary. Check out Pumpkin Palooza at Cobb\u2019s Adventure Park & Corn Maze<\/a>. Once you\u2019ve found your pumpkin, there\u2019s no need to call it a day. You can meet the animals at the petting zoo, including iguana, alpacas, baby kangaroos, and even fainting goats. You can also enjoy tractor rides, mini golf, and more. General admission tickets are $19.75<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Book a car in Alberta<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The west has some of the best Halloween games, activities, and sights. Some of them even come custom-made like the Vancouver Mysteries experience in Vancouver. If you\u2019re not a fan of doing detective work, you can opt for some more relaxed excursions like a trip around a farm or pumpkin patch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Location:<\/strong> Vancouver, BC<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Time:<\/strong> the games start in downtown Vancouver, close to Waterfront Station<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description: <\/strong>Engage your mind by signing up for a mystery game organized by Vancouver Mysteries<\/a>. You can save the planet or solve a murder in the streets of Vancouver in a uniquely designed outdoor adventure experience for two to six players. If you\u2019ve got more than six players, no problem! You\u2019ll be split up into teams and asked to compete. Before your game starts, Vancouver Mysteries sends you instructions including your starting point. One of the Vancouver Mysteries team members arrives in character as Agent X with all the materials you need to embark on your journey. Prices vary per experience. An outdoor experience costs $35 per person<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Chilliwack, BC<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Distance: <\/strong>1 hour from downtown Vancouver<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description:<\/strong> Petey\u2019s Pumpkin Patch<\/a> offers fun for the whole family. In addition to picking up a pumpkin for your household Jack-o\u2019-Lantern, there\u2019s a petting zoo, and train rides as well as playing areas. It\u2019s $10 for an individual general admission ticket and $30 for a family of four. Petey\u2019s Pumpkin Patch is located on Fraser Farms in Fraser Valley which makes for a nice scenic drive there and back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Location: <\/strong>Abbotsford, BC<\/p>\n\n\n\n Driving Distance: <\/strong>1 hour from downtown Vancouver<\/p>\n\n\n\n Description:<\/strong> Whether you want something that\u2019s a little more relaxed or you want to amp up the fear factor, Maan Farms<\/a> has got something for everyone. If you want something that all ages will enjoy you can check out the play area and pumpkin patch. If you\u2019re an older crowd and you want a scream or two, take a stab at The Haunted Corn Maze for a nice fright. Tickets for Maan Farms Haunts 2021 are $45 per person with options to buy a Fast Pass or an Immediate Access Pass. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy is Halloween celebrated and when did Halloween start? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What to do on Halloween in Ontario<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHalloween Haunt at Wonderland<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Haunt Manor at Niagara Falls<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Drummond Hill Cemetery Tours in Niagara Falls<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Acres of Terror in Cannamore Orchard<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What to do on Halloween in Quebec<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGhost Walking Tours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Fright Fest in La Ronde<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Halloween on the Plains of Abraham<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What to do on Halloween in Alberta<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nScreamfest<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Haunted Hike<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Pumpkin Palooza<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What to do on Halloween in British Columbia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nVancouver Mysteries<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Petey\u2019s Pumpkin Patch <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maan Farms<\/h4>\n\n\n\n