At some point, Halloween in Calgary evolved from a single night of costumed fun to a whole month of chills… and without a plan, it can be overwhelming. Fear Not! Here’s our guide to a full week of ghoulish fun for all.
October 24
Ghoulish Grown-ups: It’s adult night at Screamfest, which means you can sip a cocktail while exploring numerous haunted houses and more. screamfest.ca.
Frightful Families: Ghouls’ Night Out offers monster meet-and-greets, haunted tours and more for the whole family at Heritage Park. heritagepark.ca.
Bargain Banshees: Take a tour through the haunted corners of Lougheed House. Superstitions and Secrets: The Dark Side of Victorian Society is only $15. lougheedhouse.com.
October 25
Ghoulish Grown-ups: The Big Tiddy Goth Girls Halloween Variety Show promises interactive activities and terrifyingly hilarious comedy at The Blox Arts Centre. theblox.ca.
Frightful Families: Enjoy barnyard activities and grab a fresh pumpkin at Calgary Farmyard’s Fall Days. calgaryfarmyard.com.
Bargain Banshees: The Haunted Frat House Party at the Back Alley offers free admission before 10 p.m. if you register online! backalleycalgary.com.
October 26
Ghoulish Grown-ups: There are many wild Halloween party options; we recommend Hang The DJ: Halloween edition at Dickens. The bar always goes all out with decorations, and this year’s theme is “Isolation.” dickensyyc.com.
Frightful Families: Run Calgary’s Dash of Doom is a family (and pet!) friendly night race in support of AARCS. runyyc.ca.
Bargain Banshees: Walk the YYC teams up with the Calgary Association of Paranormal Investigations to guide free tours of Calgary’s most haunted corners. historywranglertours.ca.
October 27
Ghoulish Grown-ups: Catch Vertigo Theatre’s spooky production of gothic horror story The Woman In Black. vertigotheatre.com.
Frightful Families: Halloween Family Skate at the Olympic Oval includes stamp collecting and treats for the young ones. oval.ucalgary.ca.
Bargain Banshees: Head to Crossroads Market, take pictures with the giant skeletons that guard the halls, and grab a farm-fresh pumpkin to carve up in the evening.
October 28
Ghoulish Grown-ups: Start the week with a cocktail at Shelter and enjoy the sinister fallout vibes.
Frightful Families: Load the family in the car and cruise around, checking out Halloween decorations. I’ve seen some fantastic displays in Lynwood, Mount Royal, Crescent Heights and Rocky Ridge.
Bargain Banshees: Get ready for Halloween with a cheap costume date! Visit Goodwill or Women in Need and grab a pre-made costume or a bed sheet to activate your inner ghost.
October 29
Ghoulish Grown-ups: Cauldron Comedy is an open-mic comedy show every Tuesday at The Potion Room, an atmospheric magic-themed cocktail bar.
Frightful Families: Pumpkins After Dark features over 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins. calgary.pumpkinsafterdark.com.
Bargain Banshees: Grab a friend for a DIY haunted pub crawl! The Hose and Hound, Elephant & Castle (formerly Rose & Crown) and Rouge Restaurant are just a few allegedly haunted spots.
October 30
Ghoulish Grown-ups: The Black Lagoon Halloween pop-up is in full swing at Blind Tiger, featuring creepy cocktails with a spooky ambiance. Follow @blindtigeryyc on Instagram for updates.
Frightful Families: Enjoy live renditions of music from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloween and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice at the Candlelight Orchestra: Halloween Special. candlelightexperience.com.
Bargain Banshees: Horror Movie Trivia at Dickens is only $5, and you might even see the writer of this article co-hosting! Pro-tip: brush up on John Carpenter.
Halloween
Ghoulish Grown-ups: The Train of Terror, Canada’s only moving haunted house, is the perfect way to spend Halloween night. aspencrossing.com.
Frightful Families: Take the kids to Okotoks for Nightmare In The Campground, a series of outdoor haunted houses at the Lions Campground. Then, trick or treat to your heart’s content.
Bargain Banshees: Resurrect those movie rental vibes. Hit Rough Cut Video or Video Game Trader for a cheap Halloween DVD (I recommend Trick ‘R Treat), grab some cheap snacks from Dollarama, turn the lights off and have a fang-tastic night.
