BY ALEX KINSELLA | OCTOBER 2021
The leaves on the ground and cooler temperatures mean it’s time for our annual searches for mittens, hats, and hoodies. Fall in Waterloo Region is one of the most beautiful times of the year.
We’ve got great options to get out and explore — whether you’re looking to get out for a bike ride, find the perfect leaf-peeping spot, discover a new family hike favourite, or send chills up your spine.
That’s right, it’s Halloween time too, and we’ve got a list of ways to face your fears (please, no spiders) throughout our community.
Halloween
Bingemans Screampark
Bingemans, Kitchener | Oct. 27 to Oct. 31
Get your fright on at Bingemans Screampark with six different blood-curdling experiences to get your Halloween started. From the Lot to the Shivering Woods, there’s something to scare every ghoul in your group!
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Spells + Stardust Night Market Bazaar
44 Gaukel Street, Kitchener | Oct. 29 | 4 to 9 PM
Discover the magic in Downtown Kitchener with the Spells + Stardust Night Market Bazaar. This witchy bazaar is taking over the public space in front of 44 Gaukel Street next to Victoria Park. The market is your chance to check out crystals, jewelry, scary baked goods, witchy vintage finds, potions, lotions, and more. The Spells + Stardust Night Market Bazaar is brought to you by Midnight Raven Studio and the Downtown Kitchener team.
Hack-O-Lanterns
THEMUSEUM, Kitchener | Oct. 28 | 7 PM
Want to scare up your jack-o-lantern game at THEMUSEUM with Hack-O-Lanterns. Their ghastly team will walk you through making your own glowing, motion-activated jack-o-lantern.
St. Jacobs Pumpkin Parade
King Street, St. Jacobs | Oct. 29 | 6 to 8 PM
Explore the restaurants and shops of St. Jacobs, all while checking out some creepy and creative pumpkins in the St. Jacobs Pumpkin Parade. There’ll be costume and pumpkin carving contests and other special events along King Street.
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Halloween Spooktacular Party
466 Queen Street S, Kitchener | Oct. 29 and 30
The Schneider Haus National Historic Site invites you to some horrific historical fun with their Halloween Spooktacular Party. Children can explore their haunted forest, hear fun and eerie stories from the Region of Waterloo Libraries, and even make their own personalized magic wand to take home!
Macabre Mask-erade
74 Grand Ave S, Cambridge | Oct. 29 | 8 to 1 AM
Creep Cambridge is host to the Macabre Mask-erade at Tapestry Hall. It’s an evening of scarily delicious apps and cocktails, costumes, live music, and more.
Spooky Outdoor Improv Workshop
9 Samuel Street, Kitchener | Oct. 30 | 7 to 9 PM
This isn’t your average improv workshop. Comedian and director Ben Gorodetsky is hosting the Spooky Outdoor Improv Workshop at The branches in Kitchener. In this one-hour workshop, you’ll learn the basics of the Yes And approach and then put your scary skills to work in a one-hour Halloween-themed improv jam. The event is pay what you can too.
Halloween Tours in DTK
Downtown Kitchener | Oct. 30 and 31
Do you dare explore the darker side of Downtown Kitchener? The Halloween Tours in DTK from Badass Berlin Tours features local historian Kyle Smith taking you for an evening walk through the back alleys and side streets of Downtown Kitchener to learn about the “scary, sexy, or just plain weird characters that have called our town home.”
Trick-or-Treating in Downtown Kitchener and Uptown Waterloo
Grab your little monsters and head down to Goudie’s Lane (across the street from Vogelsang Green) in Downtown Kitchener on Oct. 30 from 4 to 7 PM for an eerie early evening of free trick-or-treating. The event is brought to you by the businesses in Downtown Kitchener and the DTK team. Then on Oct. 31, the businesses of Uptown Waterloo invite your little ghouls and goblins for some uptown trick-or-treating.
Howloween Pooch Party
Gaukel Street, Kitchener | Oct. 31 | 12 to 3 PM
Halloween has gone to the dogs this year. Leader of the Pack and Dog-Friendly KW want to see your dogs in costume at the Howloween Pooch Party. The event is free to watch, and there’s a (probably haunted) pet-themed pop-up vendors market.
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Hallowqueer
Kitchener Market | Oct. 31 | 7 PM
Rainbow Reels invites you to Hallowqueer. It’s a live concert with Janice Jo Lee at The Kitchener Market. The evening includes a costume contest, photo booth, TWB Brewing Cooperative Beer, Four All Ice Cream, Lenjo Bakes tasty treats, and more.
Later in the fall
Sure, spooky things are fun (and frightening), but there’s more to fall than trick-or-treating and ghosts and goblins as another favourite holiday is just around the corner!
St. Jacobs Sparkles
The annual St. Jacobs Sparkles event starts on Nov. 12. Explore the shops of St. Jacobs while enjoying thousands of sparkling lights throughout the village. There will also be photo booths, a Fire Fighter Burn Barrel, live music, and more.
We hope you get out and enjoy the frightening and festive events throughout Waterloo Region!
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*****
Alex Kinsella is a freelance writer and marketer based in Waterloo Region. He’s the guy behind TL;WR – Waterloo Region’s weekly events newsletter. He’s worked with some of Canada’s most well-known tech companies in roles including customer success, development, product management, PR, social media and marketing.
Alex has contributed to publications including BetaKit, Grand Magazine, Community Edition and more. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
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