Thrills and chills in Montréal this Halloween! 🎃

Halloween Shivers (running September 27 to October 31, 2024) at the Space for Life’s Montréal Botanical Garden offers family friendly programming including the all-new show Même pas peur ! featuring Blandine, a small pattypan squash facing her fears with bravery and laughs. Meanwhile inside the Main Greenhouse, sorcerers Kalbacius and Petiole debate the ins and outs of magic, and back outside the newly-constructed outdoor maze is sure to delight. There’s also workshops on magic wands and potion-making, Japanese paper theatre performances presenting scary traditional folk tales and presentations on the special powers of gourds. The eye-popping Gardens of Light lantern installations are also brightly lit until October 31, 2024!

Over 20,000 Mexicans call Montréal home, and this year’s Festival Dia de muertos MTL (or Day of the Dead) celebrations are bigger than ever with a focus on the concept of Roots. Check the full programme, including skull decorating workshops, art installations and performances in the Verdun, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Lachine quartiers, a parade (with Mexican candies!) and the closing traditional altar exhibition Manalli on November 2, 2024.

The island oasis of Parc Jean-Drapeau turns spooky with Lune Noire on October 25-27, 2024. During the day, there’s family-friendly activities at the Lune Noire village at Hélène-de-Champlain Pavilion, while once the sun goes down only the truly brave at heart will want to explore the nighttime grounds of the Mount Boullé ecological corridor—better known as Mount Boooooooooullé! 👻

If anyone loves a good Halloween costume party, it’s dogs. And this year’s Pawlloween Pawty features a parade of Montréal’s best friends starting off from Outremont's Place Alice-Girard on October 26, 2024.

Ecomuseum Zoo presents Halloween-themed special events including a skill and trivia game to save the Wood Turtle from the disappeared species graveyard (in family and adults-only versions) and the escape game Rescue Mission running October 19-27, 2024. There’s additional Halloween-themed presentations on the weekends of October 19-20 and 26-27, 2024 too.

Amusement park La Ronde hosts their annual Kids Pumpkin Festival on open dates from October 5 to 27, 2024 (and Monday, October 14, 2024), including corn mazes, special performances, autumn-themed rides and story times. The family fun continues until 5:30 PM, when it’s time to get the kids safely back home. But more on that below …

Promenade Masson cuts through the heart of the Rosemont–Petite-Patrie neighbourhood, and on October 26, 2024, this friendly shopping street transforms into Massonloween. Expect Halloween characters, fun costumes, candy for the kids and some thrilling installations—some for all audiences, and somewhat more gory alternates just for adults.

Montréal’s archaeology and history complex the Pointe-à-Callière unveils its large-scale exhibition Witches—Out of the Shadows just in time for Halloween. Running October 25, 2024-April 6, 2025, the exhibition offers a deep dive into the witch throughout history. Better yet, the Witches’ Night Out event on October 31, 2024 includes tarot card readings, rituals, dances and DJs. 🧙

With over 2km of myriad twists and turns, the SOS Labyrinthe is about to get even scarier with its Witches’ Ball running October 5-27, 2024. Who knows who’s waiting around that next corner? And those thirsty for another thrill right next door won’t want to miss the MTL Zipline, flying at high speed over the Old Port of Montréal. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a ghost zipping across the sky, now’s your chance! Just follow the screams …

'Tis the season to scare the bejeezus out of yourself and your loved ones, and the Montréal Ghosts guided walks and ghost hunts through Old Montréal are the perfect way to share the creeps together. Haunted Montréal also offers ghost walks, paranormal investigations, walks focused on the Old Montréal and Griffintown quartiers and highly recommended Haunted Pub Crawls with ample opportunity to stock up on liquid courage! We, uh, might just wait for you in the pub. 😬

They’ve thrilled audiences on TV on the silver screen and now they’re taking over the theatrical stage! Things go from ooky to spooky when everyone’s favourite kooky family La Famille Addams runs from October 24-November 3, 2024 at Théâtre St-Denis. Don’t miss this en français update of the Broadway hit, now an annual Montréal family favourite.

The Pointe-à-Callière historical museum hosts The Irish Cemetery lecture digging deep into the history of the Irish burial grounds in Pointe-Sainte-Charles by bioarchaeology specialist Marine Puech on October 17, 2024. The recent construction of the REM light rail system has unveiled even more of the site—and surely some of its ghosts too.

The Montréal Intercultural Storytelling Festival (which runs from October 16-26, 2024) is sure to also feature its fair share of chills throughout its programming. Check their full programming for details here. Bring a flashlight for the full campfire ghost story experience!

Ghouls and goblins take over the Exporail / The Canadian Railway Museum as part of Railway Ghosts, some Halloween fun. Back from the dead for one last ride through the haunted station and train cars, these terrifying trains run from October 11-31, 2024. Don’t look now, but I think that’s a skeleton in the driver’s seat!

Robert Wise’s legendary masterpiece The Haunting gets a free screening at Victoria Hall in Westmount on October 30, 2024 with popcorn and special treats on hand. That walk home after dark is going to be hella creepy though, just sayin’.

Cuddle up close for safety for Candlelight Music’s Halloween programming—Halloween Classics, Horror Movie Soundtracks (both at Christ Church Cathedral) and Haunted Compositions (at Théâtre Rialto) all by twinkling candlelight. Find ticketing and scheduling details here.

Those with a cinematic bloodlust will flip their lids (with gore flying everywhere, obviously) for the SPASM Festival at Théâtre Plaza running October 23 to November 2, 2024. Don’t miss the opening party Les insolites québécois (The Unusual Quebeckers) on October 23, 2024 and the Grande soirée horreur SPASM on October 31, 2024! And if you don’t want everyone to see you scream, you can also partake in the festival’s programming online from the comfort (and safety) of your own home.

Learn to read the cards at Halloween Tea & Tarot Workshop on October 13, 2024, and interpret the leaves at the Halloween tea cup fortune telling workshop on October 25, 2024 both at Bar à beurre Vieux Mtl. Both a good option to check if you’ll survive whatever other Halloween events you’ve got on your calendar.

Zone Z hosts A Night of Terror You Won’t Forget on October 29, 2024 featuring ghost stories with a local origin, scary costumes and hot chocolate to soothe the soul at least a little bit. They’ll also open the doors of the Z HAUNTED HOUSE on October 31, 2024 with spooky surprises lurking in the shadows.

SLASHER—Improvised Comedic Horror is sure to make you chuckle and choke in equal measure at Theatre VME/Mile End Improv on October 4, 2024. Not even the actors know who the killer is or where the story will take them…

La Ronde's annual Fright Fest returns from October 5-27, 2024, for the first time transforming the entire park into nine Scare Zones sure to shock your socks off even more than the epic rides and iconic roller coasters that are even scarier in the dark. The classic opening show The Awakening featuring over 75 monsters and ghouls is also bigger than ever, and more than 100 creatures roam the park waiting to jump out from every dark corner. And trust us, if you hear a chainsaw drop what you’re doing and run. You’ve been warned.

Each year, the twisted minds behind Malefycia transform your goriest horror movie fantasies into an immersive in-person experience with a new performance each year that requires a waiver before entry. Like we do every year, we'd suggest attendees don’t wear anything they won’t want to get stained, because the blood and guts are sure to fly. Their 2025 tagline is “Grossness Guaranteed,” so consider yourselves forewarned!

There’s a reason why the LGBTQ+ community calls Halloween “gay Christmas” and Montréal’s vibrant drag community, including its leading lights Rita Baga, Gisèle Lullaby, Michel Dorion and Uma Gahd and many others, present Halloween-themed performances all month long. If anyone does Halloween right, it’s the queens—keep an eye on the QueerMTL Things to Do page for a full listing of drag events throughout October and beyond!

Dammit, Janet, if you haven’t experienced Rocky Horror with a rabid audience, you haven’t lived! It’s time to don those fishnets and get ready to dodge those flying hot dogs when the iconic Théâtre Rialto and St. George’s Church host the Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball on October 31 to November 2, 2024. As always, crowd participation is encouraged. And those wanting the in-person experience shouldn’t pass up the chance to experience Mainline Theatre’s performances of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show from October 19 to November 2, 2024.

La Voûte cabaret, housed in a converted bank building, presents their full-on Halloween costume ball on October 31, 2024, modelled after the Instagram-hit soirées held by model Heidi Klum. It’s the perfect spot to show off your gory best. 

Synth and goth lovers have a busy calendar this Halloween season with SYNTHOWEEN (a synth music and 1980s dance party) at Bar Le Ritz PDB on October 25, 2024, the Cave of Bats GOTHOWEEN Costume Party also at Bar Le Ritz PDB on October 26, 2024 and The Dark Eighties Halloween at Cabaret Berlin on October 31, 2024. 

Cirque de Boudoir presents their MONSTROCITY on October 26, 2024 at Théâtre Paradoxe. In their own words, it’s no less than Montréal’s Kinkiest Halloween event, featuring techno and electronic DJs, circus and fetish performances, and an easy dresscode—fetish or extreme costumes. 🙀

Seven Deadly Sins / The Halloween Party takes over Muzique on October 31, 2024. Attendees are asked to pick their vice in advance—although we’re pretty sure revellers will engage in more than just one. Meanwhile, Jet Night Club hosts Montréal Halloween Thriller 2024 with a costumed crowd dancing the night away to club anthems, top 40, hip-hop, house and mashups along with professional photographers and videographers in attendance to document the shenanigans. 

Featuring DJs, burlesque and a karaoke competition, Villains Only: Halloween Edition at Pub Le Sainte-Élisabeth on October 26, 2024 gives you the chance to costume up as the iconic movie or TV baddie of your choice. The provided mood board includes references from Nosferatu to Misery’s Annie Wilkes, so expect to see all of your faves.

Sure to be one of the coolest parties of the season, GET YOUR FREAK ON—A Missy Elliott Themed Halloween Costume Party features a load of DJs and an unforgettable parade of Missy Elliotts all putting their thangs down, flipping it and reversing it at Poubelle Magnifique on October 27, 2024. 

Montréal’s Persian community will gather at در مونترال Halloween پارتی بزرگ (or Big Halloween Party in Montréal) at Karina’s Club with music from DJ Plus and a crowd in full costume and at Biggest Persian Halloween Party - بزرگترين پارتى هالووين در مونترال at Cave Club with DJ Sam, both on October 26, 2024.

Featuring tattoos, tarot and live art, HALLOWEEN Beneath the Church invades Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes church in the hipster Verdun neighbourhood on October 25, 2024. Performances from Aligo, Welltones and Old Soul fill out the night. 

Burlesque fans are well served this Halloween season with Spooky Soirée on October 17, 2024, Poletergeist—Pole Dance, Burlesque & Comedy Halloween Show on October 25, 2024, the all-QTBIPOC sensual performance art troupe Lust Cove’s Pumpkin Pie on October 11, 2024 and the Full Moon Frolic Candyass Cabaret Friday on October 18, 2024, all at the legendary Café Cléopatra.

Happy Halloween!