If you hear of anything spooktacular going on in Ottawa that we missed, let us know! We will keep the list updated throughout October.
For the little monsters and their families…
CANNAMORE ORCHARD SPOOKY WAGON RIDE
Oct. 9 to 31. Witches, ghouls, and body snatchers come out to play on this terrifying wagon ride through the woods. Other attractions include a haunted house, a fog maze, and a spooky village. Candy apples and other seasonal treats are available at the village store. Ages 10 and older. Attractions open on weekends only; see website for schedule. $20.
1480 County Rd. 32, Cannamore, 613-448-3633, spookywagonride.com
THE HAUNTED WALK
Oct. 9 to 31. Experienced guides tell spine-tingling tales from the city’s past during extended versions of the Haunted Walk’s permanent tours. The Original Haunted Walk takes visitors to sites around town, including the Bytown Museum, while Ghosts and the Gallows goes inside the Ottawa Jail Hostel. Ready for a real fright? Try Incident at the Bunker, an interactive zombie adventure at the Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum. See website for schedule and ticket prices.
461/2 Sparks St., 613-232-0344, hauntedwalk.com
BILLINGS ESTATE
Oct. 18 and 25: Séance. Instilling fear in many, the word “séance” refers to communications with the dead. Participate in one at Billings Estate with the help of a psychic medium. Following the experience, cider and Halloween candy will be served. $30. Oct. 31: Halloween Party. Learn about Ottawa’s haunted history, play games at the museum’s custom-made, child-friendly haunted houses, and receive a treat at the end of it all! $6 for single tickets, $10 for pairs, and $16 for families.
Billings Estate National Historic Site, 2100 Cabot St., 613-247-4830, ottawa.ca
CUMBERLAND HERITAGE VILLAGE MUSEUM
Oct. 9 to 30: Haunted Historic Village. Scares and surprises lurk around every corner at what the museum refers to as “Ottawa’s most terrifying haunted experience.” Tours begin at 7pm every Friday and Saturday night. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. $10. Oct. 25: Halloween Hijinks. Dress up in costume and go trick-or-treating at the village’s historic buildings — a variety of characters are waiting at each to hand out period-appropriate treats! 10am to 4pm. Regular admission: $7; seniors and students, $5; children five and under, free.
2940 Old Montreal Rd., 613-833-3059 ext. 221, ottawa.ca
PUMPKINFERNO
Until Nov. 1. Thousands of beautifully carved pumpkins glow in an outdoor display at Upper Canada Village, a historic site in southeastern Ontario. Images carved into the pumpkins include scenes from history, woodland animals, mythical heroes, comic book characters — even a massive, fiery dragon! Food, drinks, and snacks are available for purchase. $14; $12 for seniors; $10 for youth (ages six to 12); free for children under five. See website for opening hours.
Upper Canada Village, 13740 County Rd. 2, Morrisburg, 613-543-4328, uppercanadavillage.com
HALLOWEEN AT WATSON’S MILL
Oct. 17: Paranormal Investigation.This historic mill in Manotick is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of Ann Crosby Currier, who was killed on the premises when her skirt became caught in machinery. With the assistance of the Haunted Ottawa and Paranormal Society, participants use ghost-hunting tools to search for evidence of her spirit. 7pm to 11pm. Ages 10 and older. $25. Oct. 22 to 24: Haunted Mill.The mill is transformed into a house of horrors where actors dressed as creatures of the night attempt to terrify visitors. See website for hours. $5.
5525 Dickinson St., Manotick, 613-692-6455, watsonsmill.com
SAUNDERS FARM HAUNTING SEASON
Until Nov. 1. By day, the farm is an idyllic retreat where families can navigate mazes, visit a petting zoo, and take in some puppet shows. By night, it turns into a festival of frights that includes a walk through the Barn of Terror and a trip through the woods on the Haunted Hayride. Food vendors, gift shops, and live entertainment complete the experience. See website for hours and ticket info.
7893 Bleeks Rd., Munster, 613-838-5440, saundersfarm.com
CANADIAN MUSEUM OF NATURE
Oct. 30: Nature Nocturne: Giant Bug Invasion! Dress up in a costume inspired by the Canadian Museum of Nature’s newest exhibition, Bugs: Outside the Box, and dance the night away to music provided by Spins and Needles. Admission includes one food ticket and access to the museum’s permanent galleries. 8pm to midnight. $25.
Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod St., 613-566-4700, nature.ca
HALLOWEEN AT RIDEAU HALL Oct. 31. The visitor’s centre at the residence of Canada’s governor general is transformed for the evening into a haunted house. The governor general and his staff will be on site to hand out goodies to visitors of all ages. Free. 1 Sussex Dr., 613-991-4422, gg.ca
GREAT PUMPKIN CHARITY BALL
Oct. 31. Get dressed up in your most devilish costume and prepare to dance the night away at this fundraiser for cancer research. Groove to music provided by live bands and DJs, treat your taste buds to delicious food by Algonquin College culinary students, and vie for best-costume prizes. Tickets must be purchased in advance. 8pm to 2am. $40.
St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, 310 St. Patrick St., greatpumpkinball.com
ORLEANS ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE Friday and Saturdays in Oct. The Village of Cumberland was founded in 1800 and the struggle to survive was shared by all save one family that had a reputation to harbor witches and warlocks. It didn’t take long for hysteria to take over the village and a mob seethed into the forest to massacre the family. As the clan died, a curse was put upon the villagers and within weeks, they showed signs of distress. As each became uncontrollable, the villagers were forced to create the Orleans Asylum for the Insane. One by one the assassins were committed and forgotten in the depths of the OAI – until now. The Kiwanis Skreamers would like to invite you to visit the horrors just east of Centretown. Admission $20.00, cash only.
The Proulx Farm, Co/Skreamers, 1865 O’Toole Rd., orleanskiwanis.ca
MANSION MAYHEM (Stittsville) Oct 25. Play games and make edible haunted houses and spooky decorations. $25. goulbournmuseum.ca
HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR MONSTERS OF ALL AGES Oct 31. Hands-on crafts, games, face painting and live entertainment. $15. historymuseum.ca
HOWL-O-WEEN AT THE OTTAWA HUMANE SOCIETY. Oct 31. Tricks, treats, children’s activities and face painting. ottawahumane.ca
Spooks for the age of majority
SUNDAY NIGHT ROAST MONSTERS! Oct. 25 GregHoustonComedy.com + {Tavis Maplesden} + Pour Boy – 495 Somerset St. W. at 6 p.m. The monthly show in the Ottawa Comedy scene: Roast Of Monsters! $3 admission, $4.50 pints of Creemore Springs. See Facebook for deets.
DISCOTHEQUE HALLOWEEN PARTY AT CASINO LAC LEAMY Oct 31. Live performance of disco classics. Let’s hope Monster Mash is on the playlist. $54.50. casinosduquebec.com
PUMPKIN CARVING AT MILL ST. BREW PUB Oct. 25 Free pumpkin, scary movie, and pumpkin ale – is there anything more Halloween? Stay tuned on Facebook.