The premier city of Quebec has so very much to speak for it: a unique mix of European and American culture, a strong commitment to diversity, and a fair number of hybrid holiday traditions that reflect its special status. Halloween is no exception!
First things first. Montreal can be said to shine at this time of year, in physical terms, due to an extension of the fall colors most have come to expect from New England and the Canadian Maritimes. Check out the fall foliage as you come into the city, and you won’t be disappointed there.
Now, what to do and where to go? The most general celebration in town, suitable for both adults and accompanied children, is the Fright Fest at La Ronde (a Six Flags amusement park), where the familiar theme park format becomes a showcase for seasonal thrills and chills.
Another all-ages activity is the Fantomes de Montreal ghost walk. You’ll never look at Old Montreal the same way again, and all participants will pick up a healthy dose of city history as well.
A free event, again held each year in the city, is the Zombie Walk, where you’ll be able to watch or even join a parade. This will delight old and young alike, and in some ways it is clearly reminiscent of Francophile celebrations in other North American cities, most notably New Orleans. Routes will be announced each year in advance.
And in the weeks leading up to the fateful date, it would be worth your time to investigate the number of labyrinths, mazes, haunted houses, and even pumpkin/farm-oriented events throughout (the Old Port, the Montreal Botanical Garden, and McMaze come to mind, though the specifics are far too numerous to list here).
Night events for Halloween are equally profuse, and adult fun is never neglected in Montreal. From the largest Rocky Horror Picture Show event in North America to La Maudite Halloween, an annual costume ball at the Theatre Plaza, you’ll be able to find precisely the right event to match your seasonal desires and energies. Other noteworthy events include the Grande Masquerade on Place Jacques-Cartier Square, the Halloween Howler Club Crawl (complete with bus!), and a slew of private club affairs, complete with featured DJ’s and other musical entertainments to suit every taste from Jazz to Electronica and House Music.
Searching for these events each year will also be a relatively simple matter: not only does the local paper “The Mirror” offer relevant cultural and entertainment listings throughout the year, in print and online, there are also weekly and monthly papers to be had in many club venues throughout Montreal’s central districts.
Go, and enjoy! Montreal has plenty to offer for Halloween.
