7 Spooky Things to Do Around Town this October
Story by Sidney Ulakovic, Featured Photo by Chad Kirvan
Halloween, treasured by young and old alike, is right around the corner and there is no shortage of ways to get in the spooky spirit, from harvests and haunts to frightful films and fantastic festivals. Whether you’re looking for tricks or treats, we’ve got you covered. Here are seven ways to celebrate the Halloween season before it disappears like a ghost in the night!
Pumpkinfest
When: September 30 – October 29, 11 am
Where: Gammondale Farm
Cost: $19.75 +HST for anyone 2 years old and over
Age: All ages
Celebrate the magic of autumn at Gammondale Farm as they host their 29th annual Pumpkinfest, 5 weekends of wholesome fall fun we’ve come to look forward to every year. Pick out an amazing pumpkin to take home for jack-o-lantern carving or send it through the sky on the Pumpkin Catapult. Staple attractions like the Pumpkin Train and Boo Barn will run along with new attractions, such as the No Left Turns Maze.
Tickets can be purchased online.
Photo by Tara Geroge. Canada’s largest pumpkin catapult at Gammondale Farm.
Haunted Fort Night: Mother of all Madness
When: Various Times
Where: Fort William Historical Park
Cost: $20
Age: 12+
This year’s Haunted Fort Night alludes to a cryptic legend lurking in the shadows. Tickets for this event are sold out, but keep your eyes peeled on social media for ticket resales from those who can’t make it. If you’re lucky you may be able to score some tickets to this highly anticipated annual event.
Haunted Harbour Family Days
When: October 4 at 4 pm, October 7 at 11 am
Where: Marina Park at the Alexander Henry
Cost: $15
Age: 5+
Haunted Harbour is hosting some Halloween fun for the little ones in support of the Transportation Museum of Thunder Bay and Our Kids Count. Families can tour the spooky ship and will have plenty of crafts and games to enjoy afterwards. You can read more about Haunted Harbour on page 53 of the October issue.
To inquire about purchasing tickets, call Sonia at 807-623-0292 extension 243. The adult version of Haunted Harbour is sold out.
Ghost Walk
When: October 7, 8 pm
Where: Waverly Park
Cost: $25
Age: 18+ recommended. Minors must be accompanied by adults.
They say Halloween is the time where the veil between the living and the dead thins. If you’re itching for a ghostly encounter, join Lucky Paranormal for a chance to become a paranormal investigator for a night. On the Ghost Walk, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art paranormal equipment as your guides blend local history, ghost stories, and their own paranormal encounters as you walk into the chilly October night.
Tickets can be purchased online. Lucky Paranormal will be running a few other events throughout October, so be sure to check those out if just one night won’t meet your paranormal quota.
Slate River Slaughter
When: Various Times
Where: 661 Highway 130
Cost: By donation
Age: All ages
All ages are welcome but Slate River Slaughter warns all who dare step foot onto the long, dark path leading in that nothing is scarier than the bush at night. This year marks Slate River Slaughter’s 11th go at having us willingly jump out of our skin. This time they’ll be back with a new terrifying adventure, as well as a Family Night offering a scaled back version of their production for the younger crowd to enjoy.
The walk will run over various dates and times this October, so be sure to check their Facebook page for details. While the event is run by donation only, tickets will be required for entry and can be reserved online.
Terror in the Bay Film Festival
When: October 18 – 21, 7 pm
Where: Paramount Theatre
Cost: $15 for one night pass, $45 for festival pass
Age: 18+
Do you like scary movies? You can watch a whole lot of them this month at Maple Tops Paramount Theatre with the return of Terror in the Bay Film Festival. For details, check out our story about the festival on page 36 of the October issue.
Tickets are still available for purchase online.
Photo by Chondon Photography. People in costume at a past celebration of The Hunger.
The Hunger
When: October 28, 9 pm
Where: North-side downtown core. Venues include The Foundry, Black Pirates Pub, Atmos, The Paramount, Nortenos Cantina, The Sovereign Room, Port Arthur Legion Branch 5, Red Lion Smokehouse.
Cost: $20
Age: 19+
The 16th edition of Thunder Bay’s favourite downtown-wide Halloween party is back at the end of the month with 60 performance acts, 42 live bands and DJs, and over 250 musicians and performers. No advance tickets required, just pay $20 cover once at any of the nine participating venues and you can explore them all at your leisure. Stay tuned for a full schedule, as Definitely Superior Art Gallery will be announcing it shortly on their website.
Photo by Noah Fugere. Part of the display on The Trail of Purgatory.
The Trail of Purgatory
When: Various Dates
Where: 115 Pennock Drive
Cost: By Donation
Age: All ages
Noah Fugere and his family’s love for all things scary is back with another iteration of their Halloween display and walk-through, The Trail of Purgatory, which will run every Friday and Saturday for the month of October. Sprawling over the family’s backyard, all who dare to enter can expect jump scares from live actors and animatronics through displays that range from creepy carnival to bloody chop shop. New to the walk this year is a photo booth at the end, where family and friends can capture the moment they survived The Trail of Purgatory.
Fugere is also hosting kid friendly nights every Sunday and Wednesday which will exclude jump scares from live actors and have reduced volume on animatronics to keep Halloween fun for the whole family. More information about dates and times is available through The Trail of Purgatory’s Facebook page.
