With Halloween approaching, the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) is bringing back Halloween in the Booro on Saturday, October 24, with a new addition extending the scary fun into the evening.
Running from 4 to 6 p.m., the free family-friendly event will feature trick-or-treating at more than 50 businesses throughout downtown Peterborough and East City, along with costumed characters, decorated storefronts, a family fun zone, and costume contests for kids, adults, and pets.
New this year, families can head to Quaker Foods City Square after trick-or-treating for a free outdoor screening of the 2015 family adventure comedy Goosebumps at 6:30 p.m. The screening is sponsored by Curate & Co., a new luxury home decor and lifestyle boutique at 386 Water Street.
This will be the fifth consecutive year for Halloween in the Booro. Along with giving children a place to trick-or-treat before Halloween itself, the annual event is intended to introduce families to independent businesses in the downtown and encourage people to spend time in the core.
“Halloween in the Booro has grown into a real downtown tradition for local families, and we’re excited to keep building on it,” said Peterborough DBIA executive director Nour Mazloum in a media release.
“There’s something so special about seeing so many local businesses, families, and community partners all get involved. Adding a movie this year extends the celebration beyond trick-or-treating and gives families one more reason to make a night of it downtown.”
Costumed characters will roam George Street and surrounding blocks during the afternoon, while the family fun zone will feature a Halloween-themed photo opportunity and costume contests.
World’s Finest Chocolate, one of the world’s largest suppliers of chocolate for fundraising, is also sponsoring this year’s event by providing Halloween treats to participating businesses.
“Chocolate has a special way of bringing people together,” said Jennifer King, the company’s director of Canadian sales. “We’re proud to support Halloween in the Booro and celebrate the local schools, teams, and community groups that use fundraising to make great things happen all year long.”
Following the afternoon activities, the screening of Goosebumps will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Quaker Foods City Square on Charlotte Street just east of Aylmer Street.
Based on R.L. Stine’s popular children’s horror book series, Goosebumps is a horror comedy starring Jack Black as a fictionalized version of Stine who, alongside his teenage daughter and their new neighbour, must save their hometown after all the monsters from the Goosebumps books magically escape from their original manuscripts and wreak havoc.
VIDEO: “Goosebumps” trailer
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for the outdoor movie. Free parking will be available at the adjacent King Street Parkade. The screening will be cancelled if it rains.
Families can plan their trick-or-treating route using the official Halloween in the Booro map at
theboro.ca/program/halloween/ or through The Boro on Instagram and Facebook. The map will identify participating businesses, accessible entrances, and family-friendly stops.
