What’s On: Halloween Events

Oct 25, 2007 04:30 AM

While All Hallow’s Eve isn’t for almost another week, there are plenty of thrills and chills to be had leading up to the big night, for both kids and adults. Here’s a sampling of events.

Night of Dread from Clay and Paper Theatre enjoys its eighth year of parading private and collective fears through Dufferin Grove Park. Musicians, puppeteers, dancers and stilt walkers join in the fun which coincides with many of the world’s festivals of death and remembrance. Parade starts Sat. 5:45 p.m. from Dufferin Grove Park, south of Bloor St. W.; it returns to the park where festivities continue from 7 p.m. ($10 sugg., black & white dress code), Info: www.clayandpapertheatre.org.

Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland has mazes, more than 300 monsters, rides and more to get you into a spooky mood. Tomorrow – Sun. 7 p.m.-midnight and again Oct. 31 ($26.95 at haunt.canadaswonderland.com). 9580 Jane St., Vaughan. Info: 416-832-7000.

Screemers indoor scream park has 6 haunted walk-through attractions, more than 100 live creatures, the Midway of Madness and performances by Santini – The Dark Master of Escape. Runs through Oct. 31. Recommended for ages 10 and up (tickets at 416-979-3327). Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place. www.screemers.ca.

The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre offers spooky tours that highlight some of the ghost stories from over the years, as well as showing the history and restoration of the complex. Recommended for Ages 6+. Mon. 6:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. ($12/$8/$6 at door). 189 Yonge St. Info: 416-314-2871.

Haunted High Park offers a spooky look at historic Colborne Lodge and tales of ghostly Grenadiers and other eerie High Park legends. Tonight & tomorrow 7 p.m. for ages 18+ ($15); Sat. 6:30 p.m. for families with kids ages 8+ ($10/$5). Colborne Lodge Dr., north of the Queensway. Info: 416-392-6916.

Ghosts of the Garrison is Fort York’s take on the spooky season, with ghost stories by lamp light and more. Tomorrow & Sat. 7:30 p.m. ($10/$5). 100 Garrison Rd., Info: 416-392-6907.

Montgomery’s Inn offers a night of bone-chilling stories with “The Haunted Heart and Other Terrifying Tales,” Sat. 7:30 p.m. ($20). 4709 Dundas St. W., Info: 416-394-8113.

Open Book: Toronto Halloween Horror Readings offers up Ontario’s scarier books and covers everything from teen murder mysteries to werewolf tales. Authors include John Robert Colombo and Edo Van Belkom, Shane Peacock and others. Tomorrow 8 p.m. in the attic of Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Rd. (free, limited capacity). openbooktoronto.com.

Phantoms of the Organ featuring the spooky organ music works by Bach, Chopin, and more. Tomorrow, 10 p.m. Wear your costumes. Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E., Info: 416-363-0331 ext. 26.

The Return of a Little Fright Music features songs from the world of musical theatre, performed by the TrypTych Trio and other musicians. Sun. 7:30 p.m. ($20). Trinity Presbyterian Church West Hall Theatre, 2737 Bayview Ave. Info: www.tryptych.org or 416-763-5066 ext. 1.

Museums of Mississauga hold their annual family event “Tricks or Treats: Historic Halloween Fun” with a costume contest, reptile shows, music, spooky tours, tarot card readings, kids’ crafts and more. Sun. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. ($12 family admission). Benares House, 1507 Clarkson Rd. N.

Haunted Halloween Village at Markham Museum for kids 10 and under offers ghost stories, guided walks, Halloween activities and treats. Each family can decorate a pumpkin to take home. Fri.-Sat. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. (Regular admission applies). 9350 Hwy 48 (Markham Rd.). www.markhammuseum.ca

Rock n’ Roll Halloween Party and Inclusion Awareness concert featuring The Founders and The Faded Genes; dress up for costume contest. Fri. 6:30 p.m. ($10). 50 Fairfax Cres.

Solar Stage Children’s Theatre presents It’s Hallowe’en, Boo!, Tom Vandenberg’s puppet show with Teddy Bear trying to solve his costume dilemma. Sat. & Sun. 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. For ages 4-8 ($13 at 416-368-8031). Madison Centre concourse, 4950 Yonge St.

Haunted Sounds at the Mall Halloween show with a costumed band performing spooky songs. Shows take place Sat. 2:30 p.m. at South Common Centre, Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. & Erin Mills Pkwy, Miss.; Sun. 2 p.m. at Cedarbrae Mall, Markham Rd. & Lawrence Ave. E.; Sun. 6 p.m. at Bridlewood Mall, Warden Ave. & Finch Ave. E.

Toronto Ghost & Cemetery Tours Nightly two-hour ghost tour through downtown; Sat. & Sun. tours through Mt. Pleasant Cemetery or the Necropolis in Cabbagetown ($25). Full info at 416-367-0380 or www.genovatours.com

More For the Adults

The Artwherk presents The Ryan G. Hinds Hallowe’en Spook-tacular featuring a cabaret fundraiser with performances by Donnarama, Nicole Rose Bond and others. Mon. 9 p.m. ($5). Goodhandy’s, 120 Church St.

The Hartlettes burlesque troupe present their 4th annual Monster Mash Bash, with “witchy women, conjoined twins and devilish dolls” plus dancing and a best costume contest. Wed. 8:30 p.m. ($10 and up). Revival, 783 College St.

The Music Gallery’s Halloween Show of Doom featuring doom metal with James Plotkin, Tim Wyskida, Nadja. Sat. 8 p.m. ($12 adv at ticketweb.ca/$17 at door). The Music Gallery, 197 John St.

Halloween Swing Ball with the Shannon Butcher Swing Band Sat. 9 p.m.; Charleston lessons 7 p.m., Lindy Hop 8 p.m. Prizes for best costumes. ($15-$18). Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd. Info: www.swingtoronto.com

Singles Halloween Haunted Toronto Ghost Tour starts with a social mixer then takes a lantern-lit look at the spookier side of the city. Wed. 6:30 p.m. from the Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur Ave. ($30). Registration/info at www.meetmarketadventures.com

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/270104

The Star

Insight

Are we scared yet?

Grab your Ouija boards and take a Halloween trip into the beyond through some of T.O.’s spookiest and most majestic haunts

1.Toronto Don Jail

(Gerrard and Broadview) The most notorious prison in Canada was closed in 1993, leaving a slew of horror stories boarded up inside its barred confines, including the legend of a blond-haired ghost. True believers say the spirit of the woman, who hanged herself, still inhabits the jail’s rotunda.

2. Old City Hall

(Queen and Bay) Two Star reporters eager to test the theory that Old City Hall is haunted by the ghosts of the last men condemned to hang in Canada reported “cool fogs” and “weird sounds” during a sleepover. A strange presence has also been reported by visitors in the northwest attic.

3. Church of St. Mary Magdalene

(Manning and Ulster) The Grey Lady of St. Mary Magdalene has appeared to several of the church’s choirmasters over the years. Her arrival is usually announced, they say, by a whiff of cheap perfume.

4. Hillside Church

(Old Finch and Reesor) Reports of strange noises and “screams” (peacocks from the nearby Toronto Zoo? the ghost of the young girl murdered at nearby Old Finch bridge?) continue to swirl around this 1877 church and cemetery in a remote wooded corner of the Rouge Valley that time forgot. Leaves rustle without the force of wind here.

5. Gibraltar Point Lighthouse

(Ward’s Island) The original lighthouse keeper, Radan Muller, was murdered under mysterious circumstances on a cold night in January 1815. One story says he was thrown from the top of the lighthouse and that his ghost is still searching for his body parts believed buried in the vicinity.

6. Soldier’s Memorial

(University of Toronto) Are those strange flashes of light sometimes seen through the tower’s windows an otherworldly sign of the presence of a repairman who plunged 43 metres to his death while polishing the carillon’s bells in the 1930s? Or a message from the dead soldiers memorialized below?

7. Greenbrae Circuit

(Markham and Lawrence) According to the Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society, the presence of native spirits, awakened when home construction in the mid-50s disturbed a 14th-century Iroquois burial ground, are often felt — accompanied by a mysterious smell of fish.

8. St. Lawrence Market

(Front and Jarvis) The city’s original City Hall also housed its first police station and jails, where the tortured souls of those beaten and whipped in public outside the Market are said to linger.

9. St. Michael’s Hospital

(30 Bond) Staff and former patients say Sister Vincenza, “Vinnie” to her friends, a nun who used to work at the hospital, is still doing her rounds in Ward 7b — turning lights on and off, with a black, circling chasm where her face should be. Is that a Code Blue we hear?

10. Jarvis Street Baptist Church

None of the literature we came across suggests Jarvis Street Baptist is haunted. But lore says the winged goblins adorning this church’s arches, which have to rate as the spookiest in the city, are to chase away evil spirits. Just what omens is the church hiding?

NOW | OCTOBER 25 – 31, 2007 | VOL. 27 NO. 8

http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2007-10-25/news_insight.php

Now Toronto

I was very lucky today because I happened upon a copy of Haunted Toronto by John Robert Columbo for only $19.99 US on Ebay! I saw a copy on Amazon for over $675!! I am really looking forward to it! Speaking of Ebay I have seen a lot of haunted items listed on there. The scariest was a possessed clown doll that would walk the halls of the seller’s home, so much so, in fact, that it’s shoes were worn. Very spooky! Go ahead and take a look for yourself and search the word “haunted” next time your on Ebay… I dare you.