Things to Do in Toronto This Fall: Halloween to the Holidays (2026)
Things to Do in Toronto This Fall: Halloween to the Holidays (2026)
From Halloween nights to holiday lights, Toronto packs a lot into the next two months. This guide covers more than a dozen events between October 14 and December 6, starting in Bloor-Yorkville and reaching across the city. Some are free, some are ticketed, and several work just as well for grandparents and grandkids as they do for a night out. Every entry lists the date, address, cost and who it suits best, so you can pick one and go. Share it with the people you love.
Halloween in the City (October 14 to November 1)
Casa Loma: Legends of Horror
When: Evenings through Saturday, October 31. Timed entry every 30 minutes from 7 to 10 p.m., with earlier Family Hours at 5:30, 6 and 6:30 p.m. from Friday to Sunday.
Where: Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace
Cost: From about $52 with fees. A Premium ticket is about $83 and adds line bypass, two drinks, two food items and a gift bag.
Best for: Teens and adults, plus families through the earlier Family Hours
Casa Loma turns its gardens, underground tunnels and castle grounds into a 2 km walk-through Halloween trail of theatrical sets and live characters. Halfway along, a bar with a live DJ gives you a break before the second half. Expect strobes, fog, low visibility and uneven ground, so wear sturdy shoes. Children 16 and under need an adult, and strollers are not allowed. Tickets are separate from regular castle admission, and some weekend sessions have already sold out, so book ahead.
ROM Third Tuesday Nights Free
When: Tuesday, October 20 and Tuesday, November 17, 4 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park
Cost: Free. Advance tickets are required.
Best for: All ages
On the third Tuesday of every month, the ROM opens most of its galleries free of charge from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Special exhibitions are not included. Walk-in admission is no longer available, so reserve a free timed ticket online. Tickets are released two weeks before each night. Free highlights include WonderWorks, a gallery where play meets learning, and the Dawn of Life gallery.
Boo at the Zoo
When: Saturday, October 24, Sunday, October 25 and Saturday, October 31, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Toronto Zoo, Discovery Zone, 2000 Meadowvale Road
Cost: Free with zoo admission. Kids 12 and under in costume get 50% off admission when an adult pays regular admission (use code 50boo).
Best for: Families with young kids
Kids can trick-or-treat at treat stations around the Discovery Zone, meet costumed characters and animal ambassadors, enter a costume contest and walk through the Marquee of Mysteries. Thing 1 and Thing 3 are visiting the Waterside Theatre for photos. Every child needs to be with an adult.
Halloween at the Village at Black Creek
When: Saturday, October 24, Sunday, October 25 and Saturday, October 31, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: The Village at Black Creek, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway
Cost: Adults $27.45, seniors (65+) and students $24.95, children 4 to 14 $22.50, ages 3 and under free (plus HST)
Best for: Families with kids 3 to 12, and grandparents joining them
The village bills this as spooky but not scary. Families move through heritage buildings for a Witches' Lair, a slimy science show, carnival games, puppet-making with a live puppet show and stories in the Enchanted Library. It runs rain or shine, with outdoor stations moving inside if the weather turns. Costumes are encouraged, but please leave weapons and scary masks at home. Paid parking is on site.
ROM After Dark: Halloween Nights (Adults 19+)
When: Friday, October 30 (All Hallow's Eve) and Saturday, October 31 (Trick or Treat), 7:30 to 11 p.m.
Where: Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park
Cost: $40, including one drink
Best for: Adults 19+ who want a Halloween party
The ROM becomes a Halloween party after hours, with DJs, live performances, a photo booth, a food hall in the dinosaur gallery and a pumpkin patch bar. On October 30 the lineup includes a 12-piece brass-funk band and drag bingo; October 31 adds eerie projections and stilt walkers. Costumes are welcome, but no masks, props, weapons or balloons are allowed, and your face must stay visible. Bring government photo ID. The event is cashless and all sales are final.
All Hallow's Eve, Oct 30 | Trick or Treat, Oct 31
Halloween at the Bata Shoe Museum
When: Sunday, November 1, noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West
Cost: Free. Sunday admission is free for everyone.
Best for: Kids, parents and grandparents
The day after Halloween, the Bata keeps the spooky fun going with Halloween crafts, a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt through the galleries and a station where visitors can try on footwear from around the world. Costumes are encouraged, and children 12 and under need to be with an adult. The museum sits at Bloor and St. George, a one-minute walk from St. George station, so it works for grandparents who would rather skip the drive.
November in Toronto
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
When: Friday, November 6 to Sunday, November 15. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.
Where: Exhibition Place, 100 Princes' Boulevard
Cost: Ticketed. One-day tickets are sold online, and Horse Show tickets include same-day Fair entry.
Best for: All ages
The Royal brings agriculture competitions, local food, cooking sessions and the Royal Horse Show indoors to Exhibition Place for ten days. It works for every generation, with something to see whether you come for the animals, the food or the horses. Getting there is easy without a car: take the Exhibition GO station, the 29 Dufferin bus or the 509 Harbourfront and 511 Bathurst streetcars.
Distillery Winter Village
When: Opens Thursday, November 12 with the tree lighting at 6 p.m. Runs to Sunday, January 3, 2027.
Where: The Distillery Historic District, 55 Mill Street
Cost: Free before 4 p.m. daily and all day Monday to Wednesday through December 13. Ticketed from 4 p.m. Friday to Sunday, Thursdays in December and daily December 14 to 31. Tickets start at $16 plus HST and fees.
Best for: All ages
Toronto's Christmas market fills the cobblestone laneways with lights, carollers, artisan vendors and festive food and drink, and Santa makes an appearance too. Opening night counts down to the lighting of Canada's most iconic Christmas tree, and profits from those tickets go to charity partners. For a calmer visit, come before 4 p.m., since you need to be inside the gates by then to enter free. Kids 9 and under are always free. Tickets are sold online only, with no box office on site. Santa's schedule and the full lineup are due in late October.
Winter Village | FAQ and tickets
Bloor Street Entertains: 30th Anniversary
When: Thursday, November 19. Cocktails 6:30 p.m., dinner 7:30 p.m., after-party 9:30 p.m.
Where: Dinners at fashion houses and venues across Bloor-Yorkville, then the after-party at the Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park
Cost: Ticketed gala. Tickets and tables are through CANFAR.
Best for: Adults who want a night out for a cause
For 30 years, CANFAR's Bloor Street Entertains has raised money for HIV research. This anniversary edition brings more than 20 dinners and over 1,100 guests to fashion houses and signature venues across Bloor-Yorkville, followed by an after-party at the ROM with headliner Robin S. A silent auction stays open until 4 p.m. on November 20.
Holiday Magic in Bloor-Yorkville
When: Saturday, November 21 (time to be announced)
Where: Cumberland Street and the Village of Yorkville Park, 115 Cumberland Street
Cost: Free in past years
Best for: All ages
The Bloor-Yorkville BIA kicks off the holiday season with an open-air concert and a neighbourhood lighting ceremony on Cumberland Street and in the Village of Yorkville Park. It is a family-friendly way to get into the festive spirit.
The Original Santa Claus Parade
When: Sunday, November 22, 12:30 p.m.
Where: Starts at Christie Street and Bloor Street West and ends at Front Street and Jarvis Street. Santa reaches the end at about 3:30 p.m.
Cost: Free to watch along the route
Best for: All ages
The 122nd parade covers about 6.5 km and takes roughly 90 minutes to pass any one spot. It runs rain or shine and airs on Citytv. To skip the drive, take GO to Union Station and walk east on Front Street to catch the end of the route.
Cavalcade of Lights
When: Late November (opening night date to be announced)
Where: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West
Cost: See the City of Toronto's page for details
Best for: All ages
Toronto's winter festival has been running since 1967. Opening night brings live performances and the lighting of the city's official Christmas tree, followed by nightly skating and festive light installations through the season. In recent years the festival opened on the last Saturday of November. The City will announce this year's date.
Early December
Fleurs de Villes JOYEUX
When: Wednesday, December 2 to Sunday, December 6
Where: Throughout Bloor-Yorkville
Cost: Free in past years
Best for: All ages
Fleurs de Villes returns this season with a floral trail of installations across the neighbourhood. The JOYEUX theme celebrates the joy of the season with the festival's mannequins, adorned entryways and other displays covered in holiday blooms, created by some of Toronto's favourite florists and sponsored by the Bloor-Yorkville BIA. Past editions were best enjoyed in daylight, with pop-up flower markets and carollers along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What free things can we do in Toronto this fall?
The ROM opens most galleries free on Third Tuesday nights (October 20 and November 17, book ahead). The Bata Shoe Museum is free every Sunday, including its Halloween day on November 1. The Distillery Winter Village is free before 4 p.m. daily and all day Monday to Wednesday through December 13.
What is there for kids on Halloween?
Boo at the Zoo and Halloween at the Village at Black Creek both run on October 24, 25 and 31. The Bata Shoe Museum has a free family Halloween day on November 1.
What are good outings for grandparents and grandkids?
The Bata Shoe Museum on a Sunday, the ROM on a Third Tuesday night, the Distillery Winter Village before 4 p.m. and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair all suit every age. Black Creek offers a seniors' admission price.
What can adults do for Halloween in Toronto?
ROM After Dark runs on October 30 and 31 for guests 19 and over. Casa Loma's Legends of Horror trail runs evenings through October 31.
When does the Distillery Winter Village open, and when is the tree lighting?
It opens Thursday, November 12 with the tree lighting at 6 p.m., and runs to January 3, 2027. Opening night is ticketed.
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