🎃 Riverside Halloween Fest
Free family Halloween festival in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood — costumes, pumpkins, and community spirit
Date
Sun, Oct 25
Time
11 AM–3 PM
Cost
FREE 🆓
For Kids
Family ✓
Free Halloween fun for the whole family in the Riverside neighbourhood. Pumpkin decorating, face painting, haunted house, DJ, treats, and a dog costume contest with prizes. Dogs welcome. Optional Riverside Ghost Walk at 1 PM ($5). Community-organized and totally free.
🎃 Pumpkin decorating
👻 Haunted house
🐕 Dog costume contest
🎨 Face painting
🎧 DJ & live music
💡 FREE for everyone. RSVP recommended (free tickets via riverside-to.com/halloween-fest). Dogs and costumes encouraged. Ghost Walk optional ($5). Park at street or lot nearby — easy TTC access.
What to Expect
🎃 Pumpkin Patch & Decorating
A free pumpkin patch with pumpkins available to take home. A dedicated decorating station lets kids paint, marker, and embellish their pumpkins with paint pens, stickers, and supplies. It’s messy, creative, and thoroughly Halloween.
👻 Haunted House
A family-friendly haunted experience designed for kids and adults who enjoy a gentle scare. Not a genuine horror attraction — more atmosphere, decorations, and themed rooms with Halloween fun. Costumed performers add to the spooky vibe.
🎨 Face Painting & Crafts
Professional face painters transform kids into witches, vampires, skeletons, animals, and more. Mask-making and other Halloween crafts are available throughout the event. Lines can get long at peak times — arrive early or mid-afternoon for shorter waits.
🎧 DJ & Live Entertainment
A DJ spins Halloween-themed music throughout the day, with dance floor space for kids to groove. Live music and dance performances happen at various times. The energy is family-friendly and community-driven — not a nightclub vibe.
🐕 Dog Costume Contest
Dogs (in costume or costume-optional) compete in a dog costume contest with judging and prizes. A dedicated dog photobooth and dog-friendly treats and vendors cater to your four-legged friends. Dogs are fully welcome — this isn’t a “no dogs allowed” park on this day.
🎪 Community Vendors
Local vendors set up booths selling Halloween crafts, pet products, food, and community items. It’s a great opportunity to support local small businesses and pick up handmade Halloween gear. Vendor mix changes yearly based on community participation.
🚶 Optional Riverside Ghost Walk
At 1:00 PM, join the Riverside Ghost Walk ($5 + Eventbrite fees). Local guides share spooky stories and historical tales from the Riverside neighbourhood — family-friendly Halloween storytelling, not a horror tour. Separate advance booking required.
Essentials
🎟️ Admission & Booking
Completely free. Free RSVP tickets available at riverside-to.com/halloween-fest (recommended for RSVPs and event updates). Ghost Walk optional at $5 + Eventbrite fees — book separately.
📍 Location & Times
Joel Weeks Park (10 Thompson Street, steps north of Queen Street East), Toronto, ON M4E 4E8. Sunday, October 25, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Ghost Walk at 1:00 PM (separate booking).
🚗 Parking & Transit
Street parking available around Joel Weeks Park and nearby. Residential permit parking in some areas. Easy transit: TTC streetcar and bus serve the Riverside neighbourhood (Queen Street East and Thompson Street).
👥 Best For
Families with young kids (ages 3–12), dog owners, neighborhood residents, and anyone looking for free, community-driven Halloween fun. Multigenerational groups welcome.
🎭 Costume Tips
Costumes are encouraged but optional. Wear comfortable shoes — you’ll be walking around. Many families come in partial costumes (just a mask or shirt) if full costumes feel too much. October 25 weather in Toronto: expect 5–10°C (40–50°F), so layer under costumes.
🐕 Bring Your Dog
Dogs are fully welcome. Dog costume contest has prizes. Bring a leash, water bowl, and treats. Dog-friendly vendors on-site. If your dog gets overwhelmed, quieter areas exist away from the main DJ/music zone.
Questions Answered
Why Go to Riverside Halloween Fest
Because it’s free, family-friendly, community-driven, and genuinely fun. No ticket prices, no long lines, no corporate branding — just neighbours coming together to celebrate Halloween. The pumpkin patch, face painting, and dog costume contest deliver real Halloween magic for families. Dogs are genuinely welcome, which is rare at community events. The Riverside neighbourhood is beautiful and walkable; exploring the area before or after the fest is a bonus. If you want Halloween without the price tag or theme park hassle, this is it.
Details may change — always confirm on the Riverside website for tickets, updates, and details before heading out.
Location
Get DirectionsJoel Weeks Park, 10 Thompson Street, Toronto, ON, M4E 4E8
