by Theresa Tesolin
While trick or treating is reserved for little ones, adults have their tales of ghosts and haunted houses. Here’s a roundup of haunted tours and events across the country that are sure to give you goose bumps. [Image credit: iStock.com/RomoloTavani]
All Hallows’ Eve is an ancient Celtic tradition that marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the colder, darker season. It’s believed the boundaries between earthly and otherworldly creatures and spirits blurred on this night. Lucky for us, the traditional spirit of Halloween is alive and well across Canada with a variety of haunted tours and attractions.
Ghostly Walks, Victoria: Once a rough-and-tumble seaport town, Victoria had its share of shady characters and paranormal activity. Developed by a historian who has selected from the best of 500 reported ghost stories, Ghostly Walks reveals some of the scariest true stories.
Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tour: This 2.5-hour tour covers a lot of ground in Vancouver, from Gastown to Stanley Park and beyond, as it delves into the haunted places and stories of this ghostly city.
Spooktacular at Fort Edmonton: The historical old fort and buildings create the perfect backdrop for a night of scares. The Dead Centre of Town at the Hotel Selkirk has “made grown men faint.”
Haunted Hollywood by Haunted Calgary: With hundreds of volunteers dedicated to creating the largest yard haunting, you’ll be scared silly for a good cause – all proceeds go to charity.
Fort Battleford Halloween Haunted Fort, Battleford. As the site of The Conflict of 1885 and home of the North-West Rebellion/Resistance, Fort Battleford is rife with history. Check out five haunted historical buildings — only for the brave of heart.
Halloween Haunt at the Selkirk Marine Museum, Selkirk: Celebrate Halloween on three different ships. The S.S. Keenora is a real haunted ship for those over 15 years old. The “exit with dignity” door halfway through the tour is a testament to its scare-factor.
Six Pines Haunted Attractions, Winnipeg: While there are family friendly events during the day, such as a petting zoo and a Little Red Riding Hood and Woodsman guide, the really chillers happen at night. The R-rated “Fear by Night” event features attractions such as The Barn of Doom. They warn pregnant women to come at their own risk.
The Haunted Walk of Ottawa: Ottawa, rich in history, is the perfect place for a haunted walking tour of famous sites. You’ll be greeted by a cloaked figure carrying a lantern as you walk through a graveyard, the Carleton County Jail and a haunted high school.
Screemers Indoor Haunted Scream Park, Toronto: Get ready to scream at seven themed haunted houses including an asylum, dungeon and a wax museum. Take a break from the fright by visiting the outdoor midway.
Fear Farm, Kitchener: The Fear Farm is a 100-acre scream-fest complete with a haunted forest hayride, maniacal clowns and zombies in a cornfield. Not for the faint of heart or for little ones.
Haunted Village (Village Québécois d'Antan): An entire village comprised of 26 haunted sites is dedicated to thrills and chills. Walk along the darkened streets at your own risk.
Montreal Ghosts Walk: If the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal could talk, they might tell something of the unsettling stories and gruesome acts of criminals past.
Haunted Hike, Fredericton: Horror meets theatre in this guided walking tour by the Calithumpians troupe, a local performance group. Walk through historic downtown and learn about Fredericton’s chilling origins.
RiverBreeze Fear Farm: The Bloodfields, Truro: Urban legend has it that the Bloodfield farm is the site where three farm children froze to death one winter and where the parents took revenge upon the townspeople. Wander through the two corn mazes and four haunted houses at your own risk.
St. John’s Haunted Hikes: With its location by the foggy harbour, St. John’s is North America’s oldest city and the perfect place for a ghost tour. Learn about St. John’s sordid origins and true tales of love and murder.
Halloween is the perfect time for thrill-seekers to get a shot of adrenaline with the many haunted houses and attractions across Canada. You may discover that the creepiest stories are the historical ones based on truth.
