5 Fun (and Spooky) Things to Do This Halloween in Ottawa

Spooky season is upon us and if you're in Ottawa, there's lots of things to do to celebrate.

There are lots of activities, including virtual ones, happening throughout the city and surrounding area. Whether you're looking to get truly spooked, or just want to get a cute photo with a bunch of pumpkins, we got you covered!

Here are five things happening this Halloween in the Ottawa area: 

Ottawa Ghost Tours

Ok, it's an obvious one. But there's a reason ghost tours are so popular, especially around this time of year.

It's a great way to learn about local lore and history, while also getting that adrenaline of being a little spooked!

If that sounds like your thing, we recommend the Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa. On this tour, you'll hear some of the most chilling ghost stories from the Ottawa area. You will be led by lantern light to some of the spookiest haunted spots, including the Bytown Museum, the Fairmont Château Laurier, and Ottawa’s haunted high school. This tour is the right about of spooky for all ages and there are tour dates available between now and Halloween. Check their website for full details.

Pumpkin Fest

If you're looking for something a little less spooky and more festive, you may want to check out Ferme Proulx et Érablière's 27th Annual Pumpkin Fest!

From now until October 31, the place is transformed into a giant Halloween playground. It's the perfect spot to have a picnic and enjoy the fall weather in a country setting. They'll have activities for the whole family including cornfield mazes, wagon rides, a petting farm and much more!

The farm is just a few minutes from Orleans and 30 minutes east of downtown Ottawa. Check out their website for a full list of hours of operation and activities.

Fright Fest at Saunders Farm

For those looking to get truly spooked, you may want to check out the 30th Annual Fright Fest on Saunders Farm.

Frightfest at Saunders Farm is Canada's #1 Haunted Attraction with multiple haunted attractions, street theatre, fresh food and homemade confections.

This year, guests can experience five immersive Haunts including The Coven, Haunted Hayride, The Barn of Terror, Shambles and The Cemetery Scare Zone.

Also new to the festival this year is the CiderHouse taproom featuring Saunders Cider’s seasonal Ciders and delicious foods. The attraction is open throughout the week of Halloween.  For more information and to purchase tickets, check out their website.

A Haunting At Home– A Paranormal Adventure (Virtual Event)

If you're looking for some scary virtual Halloween events, the folks at The Haunted Walk (who also bring you the Ottawa Ghost Tours) have the experience for you!

The Haunting at Home is a ghostly online audio experience where you turn the lights down and conduct a series of fun and spooky experiments in your own home. This online experience promises a "spine-tingling and thought-provoking night of supernatural thrills & chills."

Think you can handle it? Go to their website for more info and to sign up.

Ottawa Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are a fun activity to do with friends and family any time of year, but Halloween is the perfect time to try out some of the more spooky rooms. 

For instance, Escape Manor has a variety of scary-themed rooms at their Ottawa locations, you and your friends can try to escape "Cabin 13", "The Asylum" or "The Darkness".

At their Hintonburg location (Hi, neighbour!) they have a "Psycho" themed room.

Over at Jigsaw Escape Rooms, they have rooms such as "A Cabin in the Woods" and "The Byward Market Butcher."  We're getting goosebumps just reading these titles.

There you have it, five fun (and spooky) things to do in the Ottawa area this Halloween.

Whatever you have planned, we hope you have a fun and safe celebration!