Mississauga residents looking for Halloween fun won't have to leave the city this year. The City of Mississauga has announced a lineup of spooky and harvest-themed events running through November 1 at heritage sites, the Living Arts Centre and local libraries.
The season starts on October 17 and 18, when the Bradley Museum hosts Halloween and harvest activities from 12 to 4 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to come in costume and can gather around a campfire to roast s'mores, visit a petting zoo, sip warm apple cider and take part in a scavenger hunt, according to a City of Mississauga news release.
The following weekend, the action moves to the historic Cawthra Elliott Estate. On October 24 and 25 from 12 to 4 p.m., the "Creepy Cawthra Boo Bash" offers ghost stories, haunted crafts, an outdoor scavenger hunt, pumpkin carving and fresh kettle corn for children.
Once Halloween itself has passed, jack-o'-lanterns get a send-off of their own. On November 1 from 6 to 8 p.m., the Bradley Museum will hold "Park Your Pumpkin," a free community event where residents can stroll pumpkin-lit grounds, drink warm apple cider and enjoy popcorn by the fire before the city recycles their pumpkins for them.
Earlier that same day, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Living Arts Centre hosts a Día de los Muertos Drag Brunch. The event is hosted by Tynomi Banks and headlined by Matraka, featuring food, live performance and a Catrina makeup booth to get attendees festival-ready.
Mississauga libraries are also joining in, with story times, escape rooms, pumpkin painting, a Halloween photobooth and spooky movie screenings planned at branches across the city. The city is encouraging residents to check with their local library for details.
Readers who want themed material for the season can browse curated Halloween reading lists the city has assembled for both adults and children, with options ranging from thrillers to eerie adventures available through the Mississauga Library's digital collection.
The city is also highlighting its support for the Treat Accessibility initiative, which aims to remove barriers that keep children with disabilities from enjoying trick-or-treating. More than 400,000 children in Canada identify as having one or more disabilities that may prevent them from taking part, the release noted. Residents can find tips and more information on the initiative's website.
A full list of Halloween and harvest events across Mississauga is available at VisitMississauga.ca.
