Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW sharing trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from people who know and love this region. It’s what we love about where we live. Kawartha Localist is sponsored by Kawartha Financial Services.
There are so many things to love about Halloween: crafting creative costumes, carving pumpkins, visiting haunted houses, going trick-or-treating, indulging in endless amounts of candy, and watching horror movies that you know will make it hard to fall asleep.
Did you know Halloween traces its roots to Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival marking a new year on November 1 and the start of winter? Believing the boundary between the living and the dead blurred on October 31, the Celts lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as All Saints’ Day to honour saints and martyrs, and the Christian festival later incorporated some Samhain traditions. The prior evening became known as All Hallow’s Eve — “hallow” being an old word for saint — and eventually Halloween.
Across the greater Kawarthas region, Halloween will be full of frights to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, as well as family-friendly activities, fundraisers for the community, spooky stories — and maybe even a ghostly goat or two!
Here are 13 things to do to make the most of Halloween this year.
Bring your young ones to get their fortune read at the Hutchison House in Peterborough
Hutchison House in downtown Peterborough is combining education, creativity, family-friendly fun, and just a sprinkle of spookiness this Halloween.
Owned and operated by the Peterborough Historical Society, Hutchison House is a museum offering a glimpse of life in 1800s Ontario. It is one of the first five stone homes to be built in Peterborough and was lived in by Dr. John Hutchison, one of the earliest resident doctors in Peterborough County. Today, the society hosts guided tours and other special events including Scottish teas and heritage lunches.
From 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, ghosts and goblins will be taking over the historic house for the annual Haunted Halloween for Kids tradition. Whether you’re there for a spooky tour of the museum, to make a fun craft, to have your future read, or to enjoy some mouthwatering treats, this is an opportunity to experience Hutchison House in a whole new way. Don’t forget to come in costume!
Admission is $8 per person, or free for those under three years of age. The upper level is spooky, though the intention is not to scare.
Hutchison House is located at 270 Brock Street. To learn more, visit phs-hutchisonhouse.ca/events-calendar/haunted-halloween-for-kids-7/.
Get some shmurgles at the Ghouly Goat Spooktacular at Haute Goat in Port Hope
Goats and alpacas might not be the first thing you think of during the Halloween season, but the Ghouly Goat Spooktacular at the Haute Goat Farm in Port Hope has become an annual tradition.
Although the first two dates of Ghouly Goat Spooktacular took place this past weekend, you can still visit the 200-acre farm on Saturday, October 31 from noon to 3 p.m. for some Halloween fun. Come dressed in a costume to this free event which features spooky crafts, games, 50 per cent off wood-fired pizza, a self-led scavenger hunt, a freeze-dance competition and, for an extra cost, face painting.
And if you aren’t already in love with alpacas, you’re sure to fall hard when you see these furry animals dressed in their costumes. You can even get your photo taken with them between noon and 1 p.m. and 2 and 3 p.m.
For an additional $5, you can book 30 minutes of mini goat shmurgles, allowing you to spend time with some of the friendliest (and also costumed) Nigerian dwarf goats. While you’re at the farm, play the 18-hole disc golf course, walk the trails, dine at the Screaming Goat Café, and admire the adorable highland cows that were just welcomed home to Haute Goat.
Mini goat shmurgles are limited, so it’s best to book in advance at hautegoat.com/GoulyGoat/.
Enter the Haunted Halloween Forest at Winterdance Dogsled Tours in Haliburton County — if you dare
There are child-friendly spooky haunted experiences across the region, but the one taking over the Winterdance Dogsled Tours for Halloween is certainly not. After all, when night falls, the Spirits of Hollow Lake awaken.
Featuring live actors, sudden scares, theatrical effects, and periods of darkness, a walk through the Haunted Halloween Forest is not for the faint of heart. Recommended for ages 12 and over (younger guests are allowed at their parents’ discretion), the lantern-lit trail is only 0.7 kilometres long, but you’ll be spooked by firelight, strange characters, bubbling cauldrons, a forgotten cemetery, and many gruelling sounds-including your own screams.
Be warned — you’ll be met with more than a few surprises along the way.
The Haunted Halloween Forest can be booked between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31 for $25 plus tax. Note that, for safety reasons, pets are not allowed.
The experience is being held at 1888 Hodgson Road in Haliburton. To learn more and book your spot, visit winterdance.com/halloween/.
Experience Project Skyharvest at Escape Maze in Otonabee-South Monaghan
VIDEO: “Project Skyharvest” interactive haunted adventure
Spend your Halloween concealing and shutting down the site where the government kept a UFO investigation hidden for 45 years.
Project Skyharvest is taking over the family-owned and operated award-winning Escape Maze in the Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan. Alongside the farm’s other trail games, escape rooms, disc golf course, laser tag, and camping, Escape Maze offers a spooky seasonal experience every year that’s sure to give you a thrill.
Project Skyharvest is this year’s mission. For decades, rural Ontario farmers experienced strange patterns appearing in their fields. The occurrences were publicly dismissed but, behind closed doors, the government was partnering with our southern neighbours on a research investigation into extraterrestrial contact zones.
Today, the strange lights have returned, mysterious messages are being sent through the radio, and there are ominous whispers being heard in the dark. Your job as the civilian task force is to restore the containment systems left to decay, and decode the messages hidden in the crop circles to uncover the truth.
The escape maze is not recommended for players 13 and under, and those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Each time slot can accommodate up to 10 players for the price of $40 plus tax per player.
Project Skyharvest runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. from Thursday, October 29 to Saturday, October 31 at Escape Maze at 156 Cedar Bank Road. To learn more about the experience and book a time, visit www.projectskyharvest.ca. To learn more about Escape Maze, visit escapemaze.ca.
Do the monster mash to live music for a good cause at the Bancroft Brewing Company’s costume party
Who’s ready for a graveyard smash? The new Bancroft Brewing Company kicked off the spooky season with a fun night of family pumpkin painting, and now they’re ending the month by celebrating Halloween in a way that gives back to the community.
Bancroft Brewing Company has teamed up with Music By The Bay Live to present Halloween for Humanity, starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 31 and featuring the spookily named Canadian blues band Voodoo Pawn Shop. Get dressed up in your costume (there’s a prize for best one), sip on some cold beer, and join in the region’s ultimate Monster Mash.
The event is free, though donations to the local food bank are encouraged. Together, Bancroft is “turning generosity into groceries.”
Bancroft Brewing Company is located at 59 Hastings Street North. To learn more, follow the Facebook event page.
Go trunk-or-treating during Halloween in Haliburton hosted by the Municipality of Dysart et al
Whether your kids want to trick-or-treat or prefer to get their spook on, the Municipality of Dysart et al has them covered with Halloween in Haliburton.
On Saturday, October 31, Haliburton’s A.J. La Rue Arena will be transformed into a Halloween extravaganza for the evening, starting with Haunt & Treat from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Enjoy family-friendly activities alongside Halloween displays suitable for all ages. Kids can also get a head start on their candy collection with the trunk-or-treat event held in the parking lot. Costumes are encouraged!
Then stick around for some darker fun in the evening, with the Dysart After Dark haunted walk-through experience from 7 to 9 p.m. For ages 10 and up, the walk through the arena will feature spooky scares, eerie surprises, and lots of frights!
The municipality is still seeking trunk-or-treat participation from businesses, organizations, and community groups, as well as volunteers and decoration donations.
Admission to Halloween in Haliburton is free, but registration is required for trunk-or-treat.
The A.J. LaRue Area is located at 728 Mountain Street. To learn more about Haunt & Treat and Dysart After Dark and to register for trunk-or-treat, visit www.dysartetal.ca/explore-and-play/festivals-and-events/halloween-in-haliburton/.
See spooky displays and scarier scenes at the Maryboro Lodge Museum in Fenelon Falls
One of the oldest surviving buildings in Fenelon Falls is being turned into a celebration of Halloween.
Though it has been a community museum since 1963, over the decades Maryboro Lodge has served as a family home, community gathering place, and tourist and boarding lodge, sharing stories of the history of Fenelon Falls and the surrounding area — including spooky ones.
One floor will be a kid-friendly event full of Halloween activities, while the other floor is a spooky haunted house experience suitable only for those most brave. In past years, there have been ghosts, clowns, Beetlejuice characters, and more surprising characters that have turned Maryboro Lodge into a must-stop location when trick-or-treating.
Drop by 99 Francis Street West between 5 and 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. To learn more, visit maryboro.ca.
Test your bravery at Chaos Carnival’s “The Dark Circus” forest walk in Selwyn Township
For the fourth year, Chaos Carnival is back to spread frights and instill nightmares in even the bravest of souls.
Kristin Scheurer first put on the haunted forest walk as a birthday party for her son’s friend, then quickly saw there was a need for a spooky forest walk-through in the region. Every year since, her terrifying forest experience has continued to grow.
This year’s theme is “The Dark Circus” and features all kinds of spooky characters like the Ring Master, the twisted clown, a blind fortune teller, and other creatures you don’t want to meet face-to-face in the empty woods. This experience is performed by actors from as young as eight to over 50.
Chaos Carnival runs on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31 from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at 1734 Fifth Line in Selwyn, with no ticket sales after 10:30 p.m. Tickets are only available on site and cost $15, with a portion of proceeds donated to hospice care and a local youth sports team.
Entry is first come, first served, with the walk recommended for ages 12 and up.
Don’t forget to come back to Chaos Carnival next year, because Scheurer says they’re already planning the theme of “Alyssa’s Asylum,” and they hope to introduce a hayride to add to the experience.
Explore spooky legends and folklore at the Haunting in Minden Hills
The fourth annual Haunting in Minden Hills is returning to the Minden Hills Cultural Centre on Saturday, October 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year, the family-friendly event will be exploring urban legends and folklore, with spooky activities and mysterious tales for all ages.
Activities include the witch dance workshop by Haliburton’s Dance Happens Here, face painting by Pockets the Clown, palm readings by Catherine Harper, scavenger hunts, Halloween games, and colouring and crafts about mythical legends.
There will also be costume parade contests, hot chocolate and popcorn to keep you warm, colouring contests, and pumpkin carving contests.
You’re encouraged to come dressed in your costume and wander through the spooky, themed displays and go on a scavenger hunt, solving riddles for a chance to earn a prize donated by local businesses.
The Minden Hills Cultural Centre is located at 176 Bobcaygeon Road in Minden. Admission is by donation.
See the exceptional Halloween display at 4 Payne Crescent in Port Hope
You might think going on the hunt for themed displays and decorations is a Christmas activity, but who says it can’t be for Halloween as well?
One family in Port Hope has been going above and beyond on their Halloween decorations for years, and they seem to go bigger and better every year.
From ghosts, cemeteries, and skeletons to Michael Myers, Pennywise, witches, jars of eyeballs, and plenty more — all the creatures that live in your most haunting nightmares are gathered at 4 Payne Crescent. The creative, expansive, and sometimes interactive displays are accompanied by eerie music, flashing lights, smoke, and bone-chilling surprises.
There is no fee to view or walk through the display, though non-perishable food items are being collected to be donated to the Northumberland Food Share. The family is also accepting donations to go towards next year’s display.
The lights at 4 Payne Crescent are on from dark until roughly 9 p.m. from Sunday until Thursday, while lights, music, and fog will be on Fridays and Saturdays until roughly 10:30 p.m. Guests are invited to also walk through during the day, through the props will not be turned on — except on Saturday, October 31, when they will run all day.
Do the time warp again at the Rocky Horror Picture Show in Peterborough
Grab your newspapers, rolls of toilet paper, noisemakers, and rubber gloves because Mosaic Arts Collective is presenting Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show from October 30 to November 1 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough.
Mother-son duo Barbara Taylor-Mills and Drew Taylor-Grigg recently launched Mosaic Arts Collective as a non-profit organization to create an accessible, free, and grassroots environment for local artists to display their work to the community. The collective will be arranging events and opportunities for artists working in a range of mediums.
Taylor-Mills has always dreamed of directing The Rocky Horror Show, which is why the 50-year-old cult classic is the first major production being presented by the collective.
Popularized by the movie that came after it, the musical tells the story of sweethearts Brad and Janet who, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Elaborate dance numbers and rock songs reveal Frank-N-Furter’s latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.”
Frank-N-Furter will be played by Ell Parker of My Fair Lady, while the rest of the cast and crew is made up of veteran and first-time performers. Guests will be given a program outlining the appropriate callouts and welcoming guests to have fun with it.
Priced at $30 for regular seating and $40 for cabaret seating, there are a limited number of tickets available for each show, with performances on Friday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, October 31 at 3 p.m. and 11 p.m., and Sunday, November 1 at 4 p.m. To see if any seats are still available, visit markethall.org.
Join a paranormal investigation at the Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives in Lindsay
This Halloween, discover the hidden stories of the spirits found in the Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives in Lindsay — one of Ontario’s most haunted locations.
Originally built in 1863, the building was formerly the Victoria County Gaol or Lindsay Jail. It received heritage designation in 2000 and saw continued use as a correctional institution until 2003. Today, it’s used as a museum to share the history of the region, though very little has changed about the cell area from the original design.
On Firday, October 30, you have the opportunity to experience the museum in an all-new way by joining a paranormal investigation by Supernatural Mysteries Inc.
You’ll see and hear evidence of paranormal activity captured by the investigation team, explore the jails, and use the professional equipment. The museum is one of the team’s favourite locations to explore, and they’ve had many experiences seeing orbs and shadows, hearing voices, and even feeling a mysterious presence.
Maybe you’ll be visited by prisoner William Brooks, who was jailed in 1908 and later was the jail’s first death by suicide. Or maybe you’ll connect with the five men who were sentenced to be hung in the courtyard. Whichever ghostly apparition you hear from is sure to have a story to tell.
Kawartha Lakes Museum & Archives is located at 50 Victoria Avenue North. The three-hour paranormal investigations begin at 6 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are priced at $40 and can be booked at shop-klmuseumarchives.square.site/events. If you can’t make it or tickets are sold out, Supernatural Mysteries Inc. will be returning on December 11.
Dive into spooky stories during a ghost walk in Cobourg and a self-guided IT tour in Port Hope
Sometimes the scariest things are scary because they’re true. That’s what makes ghost walks around old towns so engaging. And with some towns as old as those in the Kawarthas, you know there will be some unbelievable stories.
Every Friday throughout October, the Town of Cobourg has been hosting a ghost walk experience full of chilling tales, legends, and strange occurrences that have taken place over centuries. Narrator Andrew Hall guides guests by lantern through the town’s historic streets, where history will come to life in the most storied landmarks.
The tour promises stories and whispers of royal scandals at Victoria Hall as well as spine-tingling stories of the spirits wandering the streets. Tours are priced at $15 and tka place at 6:20 p.m. and 8 p.m. To learn more, visit experiencecobourg.ca/festivals-events/ghost-walks/.
If the ghost walks sell out, there’s another option in nearby Port Hope, and this one is free.
If, like me, your older brother instilled in you a fear of clowns by making you watch the films based on Stephen King’s IT on repeat as a child, taking a walking tour of Derry might just be the scariest thing on our roundup.
Port Hope is often visited by film and horror fanatics wanting to see where Pennywise was brought to life, and the town has put together a thorough self-guided walk of the filming locations, which have been updated with set locations for the 2025 IT: Welcome to Derry TV series.
You’ll visit the places that made iconic Derry landmarks in the films and series, including the Capitol Theatre, the Hotel Carlyle and Restaurant, and Walter Street and bridge. Did you know the memorable “Quality Meats” sign and alleyway mural where Pennywise makes a terrifying appearance can still be found between 26 and 28 Walton Street? It’s become a favourite spot to take photos!
To learn more about the IT Walking Tour and to download the guide, visit visitporthope.ca/en/plan-your-stay/it-walking-tour.aspx.
Kawartha Localist is an editorial series from kawarthaNOW celebrating the places, experiences, businesses, and communities that make our region extraordinary. Written by people who live here, work here, and have spent nearly 30 years exploring the Kawarthas and surrounding region, each edition shares trusted local recommendations, hidden gems, and favourite discoveries from across Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and Hastings Highlands.
Whether you’re looking for your next hiking trail, favourite patio, scenic drive, farmers’ market, or weekend adventure, Kawartha Localist is what we love about where we live.
Kawartha Localist is sponsored by Kawartha Financial Services.
