Even the local craft and gift shows get spooky as Halloween draws near.
Just ask Kimberly Harvey-Chase of York Simcoe Events Group, who is the organizer of a series of gift shows held in Newmarket and at the Innisfil Lions Hall in Alcona.
Her spooktacular gift show, held Oct. 20-21 in Innisfil, featured vendors in costume and an invitation to kids to drop in, to trick or treat.
“This one’s always a hopping show,” noted Harvey-Chase, dressed in her best witch’s gear. “There’s a lot going on.”
And all this week, there will be a lot of Halloween-themed events for kids and families.
An Evening of Halloween
The Simcoe County Museum hosts An Evening of Halloween, Oct. 24-26, from 6-8:30 p.m. each night at the museum, 1151 Highway 26 in Minesing.
The event will include games, treats and a haunted walk. Make sure to wear your costume.
Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for youth and seniors (with ID), $5 for children, and free for museum members.
Halloween Spooktacular
The Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library hosts a Halloween Spooktacular at 425 Holland St. W., with crafts, games, a spooky room, and a scavenger hunt, on Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event is a free drop-in program for ages two and up. Wear your costume.
Boo Museum
Boo Museum at the Elman W. Campbell Museum, 134 Main St. S. in Newmarket, will also run Oct. 27 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
There will be Halloween displays, crafts and a Halloween Hunt, for ages four to 10. Admission is $3 per child.
Also, parents can meet local author Andrew Hind, who will be signing copies of his book, Canadian Monsters and Mythical Creatures, available for $16.95.
Downtown Spooktacular
The Innisfil ideaLAB & Library’s Lakeshore Branch, located at 967 Innisfil Beach Rd. in Alcona, hosts a family-friendly Downtown Spooktacular.
It will have Halloween-themed activities, from ghost stories and songs, to a photobooth, followed by trick-or-treating at businesses on Innisfil Beach Road that are displaying the Downtown Spooktacular poster.
The event runs Oct. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Halloween Boo-nanza
The Cookstown Chamber of Commerce is hosting Halloween Boo-nanza Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Halloween event will be held at 19 Queen St. in Cookstown, followed by trick-or-treating at Cookstown businesses displaying the Boonanza poster in their windows.
Halloween Fun Run
Wear a costume and come out to the Halloween Fun Run at Innisfil Beach Park in support of the Rizzardo Health & Wellness Centre on Oct. 28.
Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the run starts at 10 a.m. There will be food and prizes. Event requires a minimum donation of $10. Visit yourhealthinnisfil.ca to register online.
Spooky Time
It’s Spooky Time at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library, 425 Holland St. W., on Oct. 31 from 10-11 a.m.
Check out Halloween-themed spooky stories, rhymes and crafts, and trick-or-treating. Don’t forget to wear a costume!
Pre-register at the library’s borrower services. The cost is $4 per child.
The event is for tots 18 months to four years.
