Don’t go batty searching for Halloween-themed activities over the next few days.
With just about a week to go before little ghosts and goblins arrive at your front door, what is there to do in the interim in Innisfil for a good scare or two? Plenty, actually.
Here are just a few ideas:
Gilford Haunted Mansion
For the fifth consecutive year, the Gilford Haunted Mansion has returned. Located on a property at 2008 Gilford Rd., guests enter through a “cemetery” decorated with tombstones, coffins and skeletons, then wind their way past a huge Jack Skellington inflatable to an old horse barn — the mansion, if you will — where their senses are overloaded with different areas for almost every nightmare scenario. There’s a doll room, a maze, a witch’s lair, an operating room and a hallway with giant spiders. It is open from 5 to 7 p.m. for children, before getting scarier between 7 and 10 p.m., each night until Oct. 30. Admission is cash only and set at $8 per adult and $2 for each child.
Friday Harbour’s Hallowalk
This is the third year the resort has hosted the Hallowalk, which winds through 10 themed exhibits across one kilometre of the site's nature preserve. The pathway is adorned with lights, pumpkins and surprises. Themed zones feature moving parts, special effects and motion sensors. As well, costumed characters offer plenty of thrills and chills throughout the roughly 15-minute Hallowalk experience. It'll be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Get tickets online at eventbrite.ca.
Spooktacular trick-or-treating
The Spooktacular Trick or Treat event takes place on Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children are invited to dress up in their Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat with their families at businesses showing a Spooktacular participant’s sign. A list of participating businesses will be available on johnnyburger.ca or at the restaurant (847 Innisfil Beach Rd.) on the day of the event. Unlike previous years, there will be no costume contest, but children are invited to take a Halloween photo with a spooky background — imposed via green screen — at the Innisfil ideaLAB and Library's Lakeshore branch (967 Innisfil Beach Rd.).
Innisfil House Decorating Contest
About 30 homes have signed up to decorate in the fifth rendition of this annual contest. Online voting runs from 6 to 9 p.m. each night between Oct. 25 and 31, and you can cast a ballot daily. There are a number of prizes available to participating homes. This contest was started at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way for families to safely get out and enjoy Halloween. The map and voting details go live tomorrow. Get more information on the Connecting Innisfil Facebook page.
