Halloween swoops into Elora and Fergus early in October and doesn’t leave until everyone has been well and truly spooked. It’s about so much more than costumes and candy.
Monster Month is a town wide celebration of ghosts and ghouls, creepy critters and things that go bump in the night.
Don’t be scared though, it’s a family friendly creative celebration, a Halloween extravaganza like no other. Think fun, not fear.
There are pumpkins, a parade, monster music and monster sculptures, soul warming soup and bone chilling banter, spirit walks, lantern walks, tea with tall tales, menacing movies, a scarecrow tour and that’s just the tip of the witch’s hat.
The Twilight Zoo, a spook-tacular display of Tim Murton’s monster creatures is back again this year in the grounds of the Elora Centre for the Arts from Oct. 6 to 31. The sculptures are mysterious figures by day and eerie lanterns by night.
The Scare Fair visits the Twilight Zoo for one special weekend, from Oct. 19 to 21 where you can make a craft, visit the graveyard, haunted house and maze and watch the performances offered on the Sunkin’ Shipwreck Stage and Chronsters Monsters puppets at the Mausoleum Theatre.
Last year the weekend-long event attracted over three thousand adult visitors, not to mention an uncounted horde of costumed children.
In addition to the vendors Bizarre Bazaar of works for sale by local crafters and artists, fairgoers can enjoy performances by Tim Holland the puppet tamer (ventriloquist), on Oct. 19 at 6pm and Zoltan the magician performing at 4 and 7pm on Oct. 20 and at 1pm on Oct.21.
Take a turn in the craze maze, or visit the haunted house inside the Centre created by friends of the Scare Fair.
Can you dig it? A ghoulish graveyard complete with the undead to create awareness for bat conservation.
Local groups also scare up great costumes to join in like the Tutu in You, Zombie fashion show, Dead Pirate Roger’s interactive comedy swordplay and The Boo Radley Project, just to name a few.
In addition, the fair also provides a some make and take opportunities, including puppet-making workshops and pumpkin carving with a professional carver from Gothic Gourds.
The Elora Halloween Scare Fair opens Oct. 19 at 6pm and runs until 10pm Oct. 21 at the Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville St.
Tickets are $7 per person or free for ages 5 and under. Same day re-entry permitted and advanced tickets available at the Elora Centre for the Arts. For more information visit www.scarefair.ca.
This year the Wellington County Museum and Archives joins in the festivities. The perfect venue, the building itself has a colourful and storied past.
Join one of their spirit walks, day or night on Oct. 25 and Oct. 28 and see characters come back to life as they recount their tales of life at the Poor House.
The museum’s exhibition throughout the month, Death: Rituals and Traditions, is the perfect backdrop to any Halloween visit.
Too spooky? Fear not, drop in crafts and activities for the kids are on offer too on Oct. 13 so even the faintest of heart is included.
For those who prefer their Halloween served hot, perhaps in a fancy tea cup, Fergus Grand Theatre’s Haunted Tea afternoon is the place for to be. Civilised sipping will be accompanied by spooky stories of ghouls, ghosts and ghastly gatherings on Oct. 20.
Goose bumps are free and so are the lantern tours of Elora and Fergus as Halloween night creeps closer on Oct. 20, 26 and 30.
The Monster March Parade takes back the town and all are invited to turn up in costume and walk with the masses, or simply watch the locals transform into their alter egos – vampires, witches, zombies – all the spook groups are represented.
The parade takes place Oct. 20 at 6:30pm and slithers through darkest downtown Elora, ending with a complimentary cockle-warming hot drink at the Scare Fair.
For a complete schedule, visit www.scarefair.ca or www.monstermonth.ca
If you prefer a blood-curdling live voice, call the tourist office at 519 846 9841.
