Halloween in Toronto: Parades, Festival & Events 2024

Zombies, vampires, killer clowns, and other undead creatures typical for the Halloween masquerade, along with horror stories, scary movies, and spooky soundtracks—all these contribute to the frightening, fun atmosphere of Toronto during Halloween.

Halloween Events in Toronto

Some of the most frequented Halloween events in Toronto include the Halloween Haunt at Canada's Wonderland, Toronto After Dark Film Festival, Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Halloween concerts, Pumpkin Parades, and other theme-based costumed parties. Thousands of people spill out onto the streets of Ontario's capital to collectively experience the spooky atmosphere and celebrate one of the last fall holidays.

Halloween Haunt (September 27-October 27, 2024 on selected dates)

Canada's signature amusement park, Canada's Wonderland, annually holds an eerie attraction not for the faint of heart, the Halloween Haunt. The park magically transforms into a ghost town, scaring its visitors with zombies and terrifying decorations. The featured attractions include several eerie rides, eight mazes with monsters lurking behind every corner, and five scare zones. Live entertainment accompanies the whole event. Halloween Haunt is recommended only to individuals over 13 years old and prohibits entry in costumes and Halloween makeup.

Toronto After Dark Film Festival (October 16-22, 2024)

Held at the Scotiabank Theatre, one of the biggest cinemas in Toronto, the After Dark Film Festival showcases the best of horror, sci-fi, and thriller movies. If you prefer celebrating Halloween by watching scary films, this event might be just for you. The lineup features ten feature films from independent filmmakers and 30 shorts. The screenings generally take place at 7 pm and 9:30 pm, with an additional daytime screening at 4 pm on the weekends. Regular tickets cost $16 per screening or $14 per screening if you purchase passes to multiple films.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Nightmare Before Christmas (October 18-19, 2024)

Each year, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra puts on a spectacular performance of the Halloween classics to celebrate the spooky season. This time, they chose to honor Tim Burton's iconic animation film, "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The movie is screened live while the orchestra sets off in a dramatic rendition of its soundtrack, complimenting its eerie atmosphere. The concert is held at the Roy Thomson Hall at 7:30 pm on October 18th and at 2 pm and 7:30 pm on October 19th. Tickets range from $57 to $151.

Pumpkin Parade in Toronto (November 1, 2024)

A heartwarming, family-friendly tradition of Torontonians are the pumpkin parades, which take place in the selected locations of the city, usually parks. What started as a one-time celebration at the Sorauren Park back in 2004 expanded to more than 40 parks and brings joy to people of all ages. Locals and guests of the city are encouraged to carve out their jack-o-lanterns and bring them to one of the participating parks.

Thousands of spooky pumpkins light up the pathways in the green spaces, gleaming in the dark. Some of the popular spots include Berczy Park, Riverdale Park West, Withrow Park, and Vermont Square Park. The pumpkins are generally placed from 4 pm until 9 or 11 pm.