Trick or treat?! If you’re wondering where to ask this question this weekend, I got you.
Many Toronto neighbourhoods don’t play about their Halloween celebrations — from going all out on decorations to stocking up on candy for the costumed kids (and adults) knocking on their doors or even shutting down streets for hosting block parties.
So if you’re wondering where the action is, here’s a list of neighbourhoods that regularly get shoutouts for treating tricksters. This list is curated with recommendations from The Green Line staff, Reddit, neighbourhood Facebook groups and more. If you have strong opinions on what’s the best street to trick or treat, please let me know!
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Start in your own neighbourhood
As a hyperlocal journalist, I’d be remiss not to suggest that you should start in your own neighbourhood. Halloween is a great time to walk around your street, meet some of your neighbours if you haven’t already and really feel that sense of local community.
If you’re in local Facebook groups, neighbours will often share plans for block parties, how many kids they’ve seen in previous years and the busiest time of the evening. That can give you a good sense of how your corner of town celebrates the night.
Cabbagetown
Gorgeous Victorian architecture, massive spooky decorations and even small businesses participating…what more could you need for a trick-or-treating itinerary?
If you live around downtown east, Cabbagetown is definitely a popular go-to spot for Halloween.
You’ll find well-decorated houses around the neighbourhood, especially around Riverdale Park West, where the local police division is hosting its own treats table on the corner of Sumach Street and Winchester Street. This is a good first stop because starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, community officers will be there to offer safety tips, as well as free glow bracelets to keep little ones visible, courtesy of the neighbourhood’s Business Improvement Area (BIA).
Many local businesses are also participating in the festivities, with special discounts or freebies, including candy for children. The local Irish pub, Stout, is even offering the adult trick-or-treaters free cans of beer or cider. You can check a full list of what’s going on through the Cabbagetown BIA’s Instagram.
Church-Wellesley
Gay Halloween anyone? Whether your queer friend group is planning a niche and obscure meme reference costume or not, there’s lots of fun to be had on Church Street.
Six blocks in Church-Wellesley are hosting a huge Halloween party with a main performance stage, The Witches’ Brew Beer Garden, on Church Street and Maitland Street for two nights, Oct. 30 and 31.
You can expect thrilling music, fabulous drag queens, daring costumes, tributes to Dolly Parton and Michael Jackson and much more. You must be 19+ to enter the main stage area. Many bars will also be open until 4 a.m.
You can check the full performance lineup and details on halloweenonchurch.ca.
Dufferin Grove
Curious how I know Dufferin Grove goes hard for Halloween?
Last weekend, I joined local puppeteers and Halloween enthusiasts in the yearly Night of Dread celebration hosted by Clay and Paper Theatre in Dufferin Grove Park. Even a week before Halloween, people paraded in intricate handmade costumes, held up eerie yet mesmerizing masks, danced their hearts out and marched around the park to challenge their fears in the dark of the night. While the Night of Dread is over, I have no doubt this will be a fun corner to be around for Halloween.
Roncesvalles
Roncesvalles is another spot where you might want to catch the Halloween action this weekend. Trick-or-treating aside, the neighbourhood is also home to a few spooky arts programs, from stacked witchy screenings at The Revue cinema featuring Practical Magic, Hocus Pocus and more, to the “Nightmare on Roncesvalles” art gallery show at Northern Contemporary.
You can also come back to Roncesvalles’ famous Sorauren Pumpkin Parade on Nov. 1.
Greenwood-Coxwell
The Green Line’s editor-in-chief Anita Li says Woodfield Road in Greenwood-Coxwell, her neighbourhood, has an amazing Halloween street party and is great for young kids. I take her review very seriously because she’s a huge Halloween fan herself. It also tops the online lists when it comes to Halloween rankings.
Britannia Avenue Halloween Bash Block Party
The Rockcliffe-Smythe community is hosting its second Halloween block party, the Britannia Avenue Bash. Join for “bites and spooky sights” on Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
High Park North
Pacific Avenue in High Park is another popular Halloween destination known for years for homes displaying unique decorations in their front yards. One Reddit user said their home saw over 600 trick-or-treaters in recent years, so expect a crowd.
The Kingsway
If you’re looking for kid-friendly fun, The Kingsway is hosting a Pumpkinfest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. around 2912 Bloor St. W.
You’ll find face painting, an hourly costume contest with prizes, live entertainment by The Circus Arts Society, a vendor market and an arts and crafts space for kids. Of course, you can also trick or treat at neighbourhood stores. You can check updates here.
The Beaches
The Beach BIA is hosting Halloween on Queen from 2 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 31, featuring a community costume parade.
Gather at Ivan Forrest Gardens at 1:30 p.m. to head together to Kew Gardens for spooky activities and trick-or-treating at local businesses.
More top-rated Halloweeny streets to visit
- Bain Avenue in Riverdale, deemed a must-walk by the Internet. Last year, the Bain Apartments Co-op had spooky pumpkins, ghosts and monsters projected on the walls.
- Longboat Avenue in downtown, another top-rated trick-or-treating destination in downtown just south of The Esplanade.
- Browning Avenue, between Pape and Broadview. “Legendary,” — Reddit user.
- Langford Avenue in the east is preparing for hundreds of trick-or-treaters to stop by this weekend.
- Hanna Road in Leaside is known for being a more upscale neighbourhood, but also said to go all out for Halloween with kid-friendly celebrations.
- Forest Hill in North York is also known for over-the-top Halloween decorations that could be worth your while to check out.
- Ward Island is another internet favourite for trick or treating. The island association used to host a Halloween dance in previous years, but no plans were shared for this time around.
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