Newmarket events in October offer plenty of tricks and treats

Mark ghost tours, haunted Halloween trail and pumpkin parade in your calendars

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 17, 2023
Lisa Queen

With Halloween around the corner, here are or some spooktacular ways to get into the ghoulish spirit in Newmarket this month.

GHOST OF OLD TOWN HALL TOUR

There’s still time to try to take a Ghosts of Old Town Hall tour, running the nights of Oct. 18 and 25.

Presented by Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home, guests will be taken on a guided walking tour of historic downtown Main Street where they will learn about the many suspicious events and anecdotes that have haunted the area since the 1880s.

After the walking tour, guests will be invited into Old Town Hall where they will get to learn more about paranormal activity and experience a live paranormal investigation, hosted by the Georgina Paranormal Society.

The tours are for adults only.

The cost is $20 per person.

Registration is for Newmarket residents only. Limited spots are available.

Participants on the wait-list will only be contacted if a spot becomes available.

Visit newmarket.perfectmind.com to register.

The codes to register are:

Oct. 18

7 to 8:30 p.m. (code: 15707)

7:30 to 9 p.m. (code: 15708)

Oct. 25

7 to 8:30 p.m. (code: 15710)

8:30 to 9 p.m. (code: 15711)

Tours run rain or shine.

Arrive at Old Town Hall at 460 Botsford St. at least 10 minutes early and check in with town staff.

While tours are not allowed to be filmed or recorded, there will be opportunities for photos.

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN TRAIL

A one-kilometre portion of the Dave Kerwin Trail will be transformed with scary decorations, lighting, sound effects and actors in costume. Join in ... if you dare.

The town advises:

The intention of the Haunted Halloween Trail is to scare and frighten all guests.

We strongly recommend only those aged 10-plus attend.

Arrive early with the expectation that there will be a lineup.

Entry will be managed by town staff to ensure optimal attendee experience.

The town reserves the right to close the lineup at any time during the event to ensure all those currently in line will have the opportunity to participate.

The safety of staff, sponsors, vendors, actors, volunteers and participants remains our highest priority.

The town reserves the right to determine if anyone is in violation of its code of conduct, with the ability to ask any of those found in violation to leave immediately.

Code of Conduct

Attendees do not wear costumes or Halloween makeup to the event. Attendees are respectful toward staff, sponsors, vendors, actors, volunteers, other attendees, animatronics and all event materials at all times.

No pets are permitted.

Running is not permitted.

Attendees are not permitted to touch anyone or anything related to the event.

Dates are Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Location is the Dave Kerwin Trail (entrance at the Environmental Park at 325 Woodspring Ave).

Children under 12 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Registration is not required. This free event is on a first-come, first serve basis.

Parking: There is limited parking available on site. Park on residential side streets where signs permit. Parking is not permitted on Woodspring Avenue.

Inclement Weather: Check newmarket.ca/ThingsToDo/Pages/Recreation%20and%20Culture/Events/Haunted-Halloween-Trail.aspx for the most up-to-date information on the status of the trail in the event of inclement weather.

PUMPKIN PARADE

Don’t close the door on Halloween fun come Nov. 1.

Calling all pumpkin carvers and Halloween enthusiasts, bring your creative jack-o-lantern(s) down to Riverwalk Commons at 200 Doug Duncan Dr. on Nov. 1 between 3 and 6 p.m. for one last chance to show off your Halloween creation and a chance to win a prize in the Jack-of-all-Lanterns, cutest pumpkin, scariest pumpkin and most creative categories.

Winners take home a $100 gift card to the Newmarket restaurant of their choice.

Residents are invited to view and vote on the pumpkins from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Commons.

Pumpkins may be carved and/or painted.

Pumpkins will be provided with a number for guests to reference when voting on their favourite pumpkin.

The town will provide LED tea lights to insert into each pumpkin, where applicable.

All pumpkins at the end of the event will be placed into yard waste.

Participants must be Newmarket residents.

The event is presented by Riverwalk Wealth, Juliane Goyette and Brian Lavoie, financial advisors.