Things to Do in Canada 248

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9 Unique, Haunted, or Eerie Canadian Locations to Enjoy Halloween

In what might be the most unique Halloween in Canada, police and volunteers literally patrol for polar bears to keep trick-or-treaters safe. It’s the only town in the world with a “Bear Patrol” instead of a neighbourhood watch. After all, the end of October is peak polar bear season within the town, and no one wants their kids to become the treat.

The Haunted Village Québécois d’Antan (Drummondville, QC)

This historic 19th-century-style village rethinks itself every fall into a full-on haunted experience called Le Village Hanté. It’s not just pumpkins and candy — it’s an immersive “cursed village” atmosphere with creepy décor, stories and walk-throughs. If you like haunted houses, imagine an entire village!

Monster Month in Elora + Fergus (Ontario)

Elora and nearby Fergus host a month-long “Monster Month” in October, with giant lantern sculptures, cemetery tours, eerie village atmosphere and more. Some describe it as “Tim Burton meets small-town Ontario.” Sounds like a great place to enjoy Halloween!

Pumpkinferno in Penetanguishene (Discovery Harbour, Ontario)

This historic waterfront village transforms itself into “Pumpkinferno” with glowing pumpkin sculptures (5,000+ of them!), haunted “ship” displays, fire shows, and more.

Meet “The Hag “ on Bell Island, Newfoundland and Labrador

Looking for something more “real”? Known for the “hag” legend in its swamps and haunted mine tunnels, this is known as Canada’s most haunted island, making it a great place to explore around Halloween.

Travel tip: Visit the old mine trail and join a ghost walk at dusk

Visit Tranquille Sanatorium in Kamloops, BC

Once a tuberculosis hospital, this labyrinthine property still stands — complete with underground tunnels, crumbling wards, and ghost stories galore. Legend says: Lights flicker in abandoned hallways and voices echo underground. There used to be tours, but we can’t find any information on them anymore. However, just walking around the place at night would be creepy.

Tip: It’s near the Thompson River — great for eerie fog shots.

Dine in a Haunted Restaurant in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Once a mortuary during the Halifax Explosion and Titanic recovery, Five Fishermen Restaurant is now a place for fine dining where staff regularly report phantom footsteps and crashing dishes. Book yourself a late-night dinner here on Halloween for added fun.

Listen to the Dungarvon Whooper in Miramichi, New Brunswick

Looking for a spooky October walk? How about a classic Maritime ghost story — a murdered cook who howls through the woods when the wind picks up. Locals still claim to hear the “whoop” echoing from the forest each fall. Considering the fog usually rolls in thicker during late October, the ambiance is that much spookier.

Stay the Night at Algonquin Resort, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, NB

This historic seaside hotel is home to a variety of “ghosts”, including a bellhop who reportedly helps guests — sometimes even before they check in. Throw in a crying bridge and rooms where electrical equipment goes bonkers, and you’ve got yourself a wonderful place to spend the night on Halloween. You can even join tours with paranormal investigators.

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While we don’t have any “haunted” videos of Canada just yet, we did capture one of the coolest celebrations in the world a couple of years ago in Mexico. Rather than Halloween, Mexico celebrated Day of the Dead from Nov 1 - 2, honouring their loved ones who have passed away. We’ve seen a lot of things on this planet, and Day of the Dead is easily one of the most memorable.

Beaver Bites

• Famous for handing out “star ratings” to high-end restaurants, The Michelin Guide is expanding beyond restaurant reviews into other lifestyle and travel areas, including hotel and wine recommendations. It turns out that despite its fame and recognition, the brand is facing stiff competition from online influencers. In fact, a recent Expedia report found that 73% of travellers have made booking decisions based directly on influencer recommendations. Our only question is… won’t they still face that same competition for hotel and wine reviews?
  
  

• We were big Stranger Things fans when the show first aired years ago, so we’d be pretty stoked for this experience in Toronto that Netflix is teasing…
  
  

• Who doesn’t like a good deal? These are the cheapest times to book your holiday flights.
  
  

• Move over, sun destinations. Vancouver Island has been dubbed “North America’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” for 2025 by the World Travel Awards.
  
  

• Like a scene from “The Last of Us”, this once-thriving town in BC is now the largest ghost town in Canada.
  
  

• With digital displays, updated amenities and preserved Gothic Revival architecture, Niagara Falls’ historic train station gets a major upgrade.
  
  

• With luggage prices going up, it’s time we all start packing less. Here are 12 hacks for squeezing all your stuff into a carry-on.

International Departures

Just for Fun

• We consider ourselves Blue Rodeo fans, but certainly not to the level of these fans in Florenceville, New Brunswick, who built a corn maze of the band members’ faces.
  
  

• Everyone should see Banff, Alberta, at least once, but just prepare for crowds. The park receives around 4.2 million visitors every year despite having a population of only 9,000. Parks Canada is now implementing a new system to mitigate tourist congestion.
  
  

• Bike share can be great for both locals and tourists alike, and in Toronto, it’s growing rapidly, rising from just 220,000 in 2017 to 1.2 million this past year, making it one of the fastest-growing bike share programs in North America.

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