By Justin Allec

Halloween doesn’t last long enough. Even more distressing is that it’s on a Tuesday this year. Well, that’s all the more reason to get out for one of these proven events that help celebrate the season, the harvest, or All Hallows Eve itself. With events for kids or just the kid in you, Thunder Bay has no shortage of ways to get scary.

Movie Night on the Waterfront
When: October 27 at 7 pm
Where: Marina Park
Cost: Free
All Ages

A seasonal extension of the city’s summer series of Movie Nights on the Waterfront, this year’s Halloween selection will be the family-friendly Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. As the first adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s iconic series, this 2001 film offers spooky atmosphere and malevolent magic galore. Come early with chairs or blankets to save a spot. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
thunderbay.ca

Terror in William’s Town: The Witches’ Plague
When: Every Thursday to Sunday in October; tours starting at 7 pm
Where: Fort William Historical Park
Cost: $15 per person, reservations required
All Ages, with 18+ tours also available

Fort William’s Haunted Fort Nights always manage to extricate true terror. With an unbeatably creepy location, wide cast of characters, elaborate props and scenes, and a unifying story to keep your tour group moving, it’s over an hour of macabre chills projected from a more superstitious time.
fwhp.ca/haunted-fort-night

Pumpkinfest
When: Weekends starting Friday, September 29 to Sunday, October 29 at 11 am–5 pm
Where: Gammondale Farm, 426 McCluskey Drive
Cost: $10 per person over the age of 2
All Ages

Pumpkinfest celebrates autumn by turning the farm’s harvest into a carnival! Featuring plenty of rides, food, games, farm animals, and of course, pumpkins, it’s a jam-packed day of fun for everyone. Check out the different mazes or the Boo! Barn for a something a little scarier, and don’t forget to choose your ultimate pumpkin for carving.
gammondalefarm.com/pumpkinfest/

The Hunger
When: October 28 starting at 8 pm
Where: Downtown Port Arthur – Venues include Crocks, Black Pirates Pub, The Foundry, Red Lion Smokehouse, El Tres, and The Sovereign Room
Cost: $20 for entry to venues, otherwise free to wander
Age: 19+

The crown jewel event of Definitely Superior’s art calendar and now in its twelfth year, The Hunger boasts some impressive numbers—over fifty performers, over forty musical acts, six venues, and attendance in the thousands—but it’s the overall transgressive attitude of the downtown party that brings the celebration. The barriers between reality and the fantastic easily bleed through on this night, and most people have as much fun on the streets as they do in the venues. Leave your “mask” at home; for one night, here’s a chance to come as you are.
definitelysuperior.com/the-hunger-12/

Photo by Patrick Chondon

Symphony Spooktacular
When: October 29 at 3.30 pm
Where: Grassroots Church, 1250 Balmoral Ave
Cost: Adult $16.50, student + child $8.50, family pass $37.00 or season pass
All Ages

The right music sets the right mood, and for Halloween that means pieces of music that sends chills down your spine. Incoming conductor-in-residence Simon Rivard directs the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra as they present this family concert full of seasonal favourites such as themes from Psycho, Harry Potter, and Thriller. Come dressed for the scary scenes and expect a few treats… or tricks!
tbso.ca/events/symphony-spooktacular/