SuppliedI love to celebrate spooky season with activities ranging from extremely wholesome to absolutely terrifying. Whether it be chilling at home with my besties or boo or going out to a Halloween party, I’m always down to celebrate the season. So, if you’re like me and want to celebrate Halloween for more than one day, look no further! These are my top five spooky season events and activities in Edmonton and the surrounding areas.
1. Edmonton Corn Maze
Established in 2001, the corn maze is a classic fall activity in Edmonton. I bet that many of you have already been at least once. Though this may be a “tired” recommendation, it is still absolutely worth it! The corn maze isn’t just the maze — it has jumping pillows, farm animals, a farmers’ market, the Corn Express, a huge stack of hay, and much more.
As for tickets, the prices vary. Depending on if you go on a weekday or weekend, you can purchase them for $14 to $17. I strongly advise you to buy your tickets ahead of time to avoid being turned away if it reaches capacity. If you are planning on going at night, make sure to bring a jacket and a flashlight. Additionally, you should wear shoes that you don’t care about as it can and will get very muddy in the maze.
The huge downside of the corn maze is that it is not accessible by public transportation, so for my fellow Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) warriors, you will need to either take an Uber or go with friends who have a car.
2. Pumpkins After Dark
If you like the Glow Yeg Festival, then you will probably immensely enjoy Pumpkins After Dark. It is essentially the fall version of Glow. This event features many different photo opportunities and thousands of different pumpkins! In general, the event is full of shiny lights and wholesome spooky vibes. As for the price, tickets range from $21.62 to $26.78 online depending on what date and time you want to go. Additionally, this event is easily accessed by public transportation as it is held in Borden Park near the K-Days locations!
It’s worth noting that Pumpkins After Dark can feel like a glorified Instagram photo opportunity. This is a vibe for some, but not for all.
3. Edmonton Ghost Tours
Do you like to learn spooky and disturbing facts about the city you’re living in? Well, this is perfect for you. Edmonton Ghost Tours offers five different types of tours, one of which coincidentally includes our very own campus. That tour might be a little repetitive for us students, but there’s plenty of other options. Tickets range from $18.18 up to $43.93 depending on the date, time, and type of tour. You must buy your tickets ahead of time on Eventbrite.
I recommend wearing good walking shoes, a warm jacket, and bringing a water bottle so you’re fully prepared and can really enjoy the tour. Additionally, Nadine Bailey, the host of Edmonton Ghost Tours, also has a podcast “Haunted Canada” where you can sample her storytelling if you are on the fence about going to one of the tours. In general, the tours last around one hour, or slightly longer when the groups are bigger.
4. DARK at Fort Edmonton Park
DARK is returning for its seventh year at Fort Edmonton Park. It has four featured haunted attractions — two of which are new this year. Besides the haunted attractions, DARK has many food, drink, and merchandise opportunities located all over the park for your enjoyment. DARK is one of the less scary haunted houses in Edmonton, which might make it more or less appealing to some. Nonetheless, I would still recommend checking it out at least once. As for tickets, general admission is $50 plus service fees and GST and a fast pass is an additional $30. It’s a pricier option, but if you really like haunted houses and historical locations it’s definitely worth the money. As with the other events, you should definitely wear a jacket and wear shoes you don’t mind getting dirty.
5. Deadmonton Haunted Houses
Deadmonton is the scariest haunted house in Edmonton. Because of that I’ve personally never been, but I’ve heard that is absolutely phenomenal. Deadmonton has been running for 11 years now, but this year they’ve built three unique attractions, two of which are outside. Besides the haunted houses, Deadmonton has themed food and cocktails as well as merchandise to purchase. The Deadmonton website advises you to come in groups of five so you won’t be paired with strangers and to plan on being at the site for more than two hours. As for tickets, regular admission can be purchased for $42.99 to $52.99, depending on the day and time. But there’s also a wide range of specialty events and add-ons to choose from.
