Halloween in Toronto: Casa Loma Legends of Horror and More
Halloween in Toronto 2026: Casa Loma Legends of Horror dates and prices, Screemers, Halloween Haunt, free family events and what is worth it.
If you only do one thing for Halloween in Toronto, make it Casa Loma Legends of Horror, which runs October 3 to 31, 2026 and costs $45 online early in the month. The rest of the city’s Halloween calendar splits cleanly into two big-ticket haunts outside the core, a handful of free community events, and ghost tours for people who want stories instead of jump scares. Here is what each one actually costs, when to go, and which ones earn the money.
One note on timing. Almost everything on this list gets more expensive and more crowded in the last two weeks of October. If your dates are flexible, the first half of the month is the cheaper half.
Casa Loma Legends of Horror: dates, prices and what you get
Legends of Horror is a self-guided walk through the grounds and tunnels of the castle at 1 Austin Terrace, with live characters and built installations along the route. 2026 is its tenth year. It runs October 3 to 31, closed October 5, 6, 12 and 13.
Entry is at the Walmer Road and Davenport Road gate, which leads into the lower gardens. Not the main castle door. People get this wrong every year.
| Ticket | Online | Onsite |
|---|---|---|
| Family hours, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., select dates | $45 | $50 |
| Standard, 7 p.m. onward, Oct 3 to 15 | $45 | $50 |
| Standard, 7 p.m. onward, Oct 16 to 31 | $55 | $60 |
| VIP Premium, for two guests, Oct 3 to 15 | $150 | n/a |
| VIP Premium, for two guests, Oct 16 to 31 | $200 | n/a |
Buy online. The onsite price is $5 higher on every tier, which is a pointless surcharge to pay for walking up. VIP Premium covers two admissions, priority access and two food or drink vouchers.
What to know before you commit:
- The route is about two kilometres and the site says it takes more than an hour. There is a bar midway.
- Family hours have no live actors. That is the version for younger kids.
- Anyone 16 or under needs an adult with them.
- It is not wheelchair or walker accessible. Outdoor terrain, tunnels and multiple sets of stairs, plus fog, strobe lighting and very low visibility. The site also says it is not recommended if you are pregnant, because of the walking distance and the lack of seating.
If you would rather see the castle in daylight, Casa Loma is open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and sells date specific general admission online. Check casaloma.ca for the current price. One scheduling note from the castle: the Conservatory and Peacock Alley are closed on October 6, 2026.
For the documented history behind Casa Loma and the rest of the city’s ghost stories, we went through it site by site in our guide to Toronto’s most haunted places.
The other two big haunts: Screemers and Halloween Haunt
Both of these are north of the city and both are a bigger night out than Casa Loma. Neither is downtown, so factor in the drive.
Screemers is at Assembly Park, 80 Interchange Way in Vaughan, under a 15,000 square foot tent. It has seven walk-through mazes, a new Disassembly Park scare zone, more than 120 live actors, unlimited midway rides and a Vampire Lounge. The official site says an average visit runs about two hours, and that it is not recommended for children under 10.
| Screemers night | Ticket | Fast Pass add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Weeknights | $44.95 + HST | $25 + HST |
| Fridays to Sundays, except Oct 23 to 25 | $49.95 + HST | $25 + HST |
| Halloweekend, Oct 23 to 25 and Oct 30 to 31 | $54.95 + HST | $30 + HST |
Check screemers.ca for the full calendar of operating nights before you buy, because the tiers depend on the date.
Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan runs select nights from September 25 to November 1, 2026, starting at 6 p.m. It is the largest of the three by a wide margin: haunted mazes, scare zones, night rides and live shows across a whole theme park. Admission works differently here. You buy a date specific park ticket, and the haunted mazes need a separate Haunted Attractions Pass on top. Prices move around through the season, so get both numbers off the park’s own site before you decide it is the cheap option.
Driving to either one means parking at the other end of the night too. If you are heading downtown first, our downtown Toronto parking guide covers what the lots actually charge after 6 p.m.
Free Halloween events in Toronto
You do not have to spend anything. The best free night of the month is a parade.
Night of Dread is in its 27th year, run by Clay and Paper Theatre in the Davenport community. The pageant is on October 24, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with giant puppets, fire spinners, stilt walkers, installations and live music. The wider festival runs October 8 to 24 and includes free hands-on puppet and mask workshops. All of it is free.
The City of Toronto history museums have free general admission year-round, and they add Halloween programming through October. Two on the calendar this year:
- A Haunting on a Hill? mystery at Spadina Museum, October 23 at 6:30 p.m.
- Halloween Pumpkin Hunt at Fort York, October 24 at 2 p.m.
Lantern tours and other Halloween events are listed on the City’s museums calendar between September 11 and December 10, 2026. Some of those are ticketed, so check the price on the listing rather than assuming. They sell out most years.
For more that costs nothing at all, we keep a running list of free things to do in Toronto.
Ghost tours: stories instead of scares
If being chased by an actor is not the appeal, a walking tour is the better buy. The Haunted Walk runs guided tours through the month and most of them are 75 minutes.
| Tour | Adult | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Original Haunted Walk of Toronto | $32.99 | 75 min |
| Campus Secrets and Spectres, U of T | $32.99 | 75 min |
| Spirits of the Distillery District | $32.99 | 75 min |
| Ghosts of the Don Valley, Evergreen Brick Works | $32.99 | 75 min |
| Ghosts of the Village at Black Creek | $34.99 | 75 min |
| Toronto’s Haunted Harbour, by boat | $55.00 | 90 min |
Most tours are $5 cheaper Monday to Wednesday. The Original Haunted Walk meets in the courtyard in front of the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is on Line 1 and easy to reach without a car. New to the system? Start with our TTC beginner’s guide.
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What is actually worth it
- Best single night, any age: Legends of Horror, 7 p.m. entry, booked online before October 16 at $45.
- Best with young kids: Legends of Horror family hours, 5 p.m., no live actors. Or the Fort York pumpkin hunt, free.
- Best for teenagers who want to be scared: Screemers on a weeknight at $44.95, which buys the same seven mazes as Halloweekend for $10 less.
- Best whole-day option: Halloween Haunt, because you get the park and the rides along with the mazes.
- Best free night: Night of Dread, October 24.
- Best for history: the Original Haunted Walk on a Monday or Tuesday, when it drops $5.
Prices, dates and hours were checked in October 2026. Halloween programming changes every year and some of these events sell out, so confirm on the official site before you go.
Quick answers
How much are Casa Loma Legends of Horror tickets?
Standard entry from 7 p.m. is $45 online for October 3 to 15 and $55 online for October 16 to 31. Onsite prices are $5 higher on every tier. Family hours from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on select dates are $45 online.
What are the Legends of Horror 2026 dates?
October 3 to 31, 2026, closed October 5, 6, 12 and 13. Standard entry starts at 7 p.m. and family hours run 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on select dates.
Is Legends of Horror scary for kids?
Family hours run without live actors, which is the version to pick for younger children. Anyone 16 or under needs an adult with them, and the standard 7 p.m. route uses fog, strobe lighting and very low visibility.
How long does Legends of Horror take?
It is a self-guided two kilometre walk through the grounds and tunnels, and the official site says it takes more than an hour. There is a bar partway along the route.
What is there to do in Toronto for Halloween 2026?
Legends of Horror at Casa Loma runs October 3 to 31. Screemers in Vaughan and Halloween Haunt at Canada's Wonderland are the other big-ticket haunts. The free options are Night of Dread on October 24 and the City's history museums, which have free general admission.
Is Halloween in Toronto worth planning around?
The three big haunts all sell date specific tickets and the last two weekends cost more, so booking the week before Halloween saves money and guarantees entry. Free events like Night of Dread do not need tickets at all.
Sources
- Casa Loma: Legends of Horror (opens in new tab)
- Casa Loma (opens in new tab)
- SCREEMERS (opens in new tab)
- Canada's Wonderland: Events (opens in new tab)
- City of Toronto: History Museums (opens in new tab)
- Clay and Paper Theatre: Night of Dread (opens in new tab)
- The Haunted Walk: Toronto Tours (opens in new tab)
Prices, hours and schedules change. Check the official site before you go. Spot something out of date? Email info@truecitytourism.com. Some links may be affiliate links. Disclosure.