Scare in the Square event returns to Harmony Square in October with even more ‘fang’-tastic fun!

BRANTFORD, ON- The City of Brantford, in partnership with the Downtown Brantford BIA, is pleased to announce the return of the annual Scare in the Square event on Friday, October 4 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. A wide variety of family-friendly Halloween-themed activities and contests will take place at Harmony Square, 89 Dalhousie Street. Spookier activities for those aged 14 and over will take place at Mohawk Park, 51 Lynwood. Free shuttles will be available between Harmony Square and Mohawk Park.

“We are excited to celebrate the Halloween season with the community,” says Jennifer Middleton, Special Events Supervisor. “The City is extremely grateful to the Downtown Brantford BIA for their ongoing support of this event, and to local community partners for their sponsorship.”

Family-friendly activities

Families can expect all their favourite free annual Halloween activities in Harmony Square this year. Be sure to check out the charming scarecrow and carved pumpkin displays and cast your vote for your favourite. On Friday, don’t miss the HOWL-o-ween Dog Parade presented by Global Pet Foods that begins at 5:30 p.m. Costume judging will follow the parade. Kids are invited to wear their costumes and trick-or-treat downtown on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. followed by a costume judging contest for adults and children with lots of amazing prizes to be won at 4 p.m. Create a Halloween-themed craft to keep at Casper’s Craft Corner with Family Gatherings Urban EarlyON on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lace up and groove to music at the roller-skating party on Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Onsite registration is required for roller skating and rentals will be available for $10. Families can purchase tickets for children’s amusement rides and tractor-drawn hayrides with delightfully spooky stories by Icthys Theatre Productions, on Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. A full schedule of events is available at Brantford.ca/ScareintheSquare.

To enjoy extra spooky family-fun, purchase tickets for a Paranormal Tour at Brantford’s Old City Hall at 100 Wellington Street, presented by the Ontario Paranormal Society or see if you have what it takes to solve a series of puzzles in the Witches’ Hut or The Clown’s Dressing Room escape rooms, hosted by Five Nineteen Productions. Children ages 10 and under must be with an adult aged 18 or over to enter the escape rooms. Paranormal Tours are $5 per person and run hourly on Friday beginning at 5 p.m. with the last tour taking place at 9 p.m. and Saturday beginning at 3 p.m. with the last tour taking place at 9 p.m. Escape rooms are $5 per person and will be open on Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets must be purchased for the Paranormal Tours ($5), haunted house ($4), amusement rides ($7 Ride-All-Day, 1 Day Wrist Band), Escape Rooms ($5 per person per room) and the accessible tractor-drawn hayride ($2). Bundled ticket packages for multiple attractions are also offered. Visit Brantford.ca/ScareintheSquare for unbeatable package deals you won't want to miss.

Beat the lines and purchase attraction tickets in advance at the Harmony Square office at 89 Dalhousie Street, on Tuesday, September 24 or Thursday, 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased on-site at the event. Refunds will not be offered for unused tickets.          

Activities for teenagers and adults

Dare to face your fears at the Scare in the Square Chainsaw Massacre-themed Haunted House in the Mohawk Park Pavilion, open Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., $4 per person. Test your nerves against a labyrinth of spine-chilling scares and eerie surprises that promise to leave you breathless. This haunted experience is the perfect way to embrace the season, whether you're seeking a heart-pounding adventure with friends or a frightful evening of fun. You must be ages 16 or over or accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over to enter the haunted house.

It’s Purge night in Brantford for teens and adults ages 14 or over. Try to survive the trails of Mohawk Park as the hungry “purgers” will be out to participate in making you a part of history. Don't stop running until you reach the end! This event is free and takes place Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. sponsored by Heads or Tails Gaming. 

Adults ages 18 and over are invited to enjoy a free drive-in movie with a screening of the 2003 movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre at Mohawk Park on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. Youth ages 14 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over as the movie is R rated. Parking is limited so be sure to arrive early to guarantee a spot and watch out for some added jump scares!

Brantford Transit is available to attendees looking for transportation to Harmony Square, with the main terminal conveniently located only one block away. Schedules, routes and rates are available online at Brantford.ca/Transit. Free shuttles are available to take attendees to and from Harmony Square and Mohawk Park on Friday and Saturday between 6 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Shuttle pick-ups are located on Colborne Street at Harmony Square and the lower level of Mohawk Park.

Detailed schedules and information can be found at Brantford.ca/ScareintheSquare. Join the conversation on Harmony Square’s Facebook page using the hashtag #ScareintheSquare.

Volunteer opportunities

The City of Brantford is currently seeking volunteers to assist with various Scare in the Square duties. High school community hours will be available. Accepted volunteers will be required to take mandatory virtual training on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Volunteer Applications are available at Brantford.ca/ScareintheSquare and will be accepted until Tuesday, September 24, 2024.

Thank you to Brantford’s Scare in the Square sponsors

Our sincere thanks to our community sponsors for making this incredible lineup of activities possible including; Associated Paving, Boyle Plumbing and Heating, Cooperators McMillian Insurance, Downtown Brantford BIA, Family Gathering Urban EarlyON, Global Pet Foods, Heads or Tails Gaming, Hudson Public Kitchen and Bar, JH Young Jewellers, Kiddies Fun Trak, Levac’s Trophies, Millards Chartered Professional Accountants, Mitsui High-tec, Renway Energy Inc., TD Bank, and West Brant Window World. To become a sponsor for this event please contact harmonysquare@brantford.ca.

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