Scare in the Square

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Get dressed up in your Halloween best and join us Friday, October 7 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 8, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for a weekend of memories.

Brantford turns into a spook-tacular place filled with fall and Halloween themed events. Activities include trick-or-treating, live music, Haunted House, Escape Rooms, Zombie Survival Run, Ghost Hunts, Halloween Roller Skate presented by West Brant Window World, Casper’s Craft Corner, HOWL-o-ween Dog Parade presented by Global Pet Foods, costume contests, and more! Take your photo with scarecrow and pumpkin carving displays throughout the square. On Saturday, bring a food donation for the Brantford Food Bank to receive your free trick-or-treat bag, while supplies last.  All activities are free unless otherwise listed. Tickets are available to purchase at the Harmony Square office located in Harmony Square or at Mohawk Park. Free shuttle bus rides are also available between Harmony Square and Mohawk Park activities. Please contact Brantford Lift for accessible shuttle services.

You can view all events at calendar.brantford.ca/HarmonySquare

Schedule for Friday, October 7

  • 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Casper’s Craft Corner presented by Family Gatherings Urban EarlyON 
  • 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Photo booth presented by TD
  • 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tractor drawn hayrides presented by Millards Chartered Professional Accountants ($2.00 per hayride)
  • 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Paranormal Society Ghost Hunts at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, located at 88 Dalhousie Street ($4.00 per person) 
  • 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Witches’ Hut Escape Room by Five Nineteen Production ($5.00 per person)
  • 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Clown’s Dressing Room Escape Room by Five Nineteen Production ($5.00 per person)
  • 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Vote for your favourite Scarecrow, Business Pumpkin and Community Pumpkin Carving
  • 5:30 p.m. HOWL-o-ween Dog Parade presented by Global Pet Foods (awards to follow)
  • 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Halloween Roller Skate presented by West Brant Window World (on-site registration is required and rentals are available) 
  • 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Halloween Movie-themed Haunted House at Mohawk Park brought to you by Fright Club ($3.00 per person) Free shuttle bus rides are available. Participants must be ages 14 or over, or accompanied by an adult.
  • 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Zombie Survival Run through Mohawk Park forest. Free shuttle bus rides are available from 6:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.

Schedule for Saturday, October 8

Bring a non-perishable food donation for the Brantford Food Bank and get a free trick-or-treat bag, while supplies last, in Harmony Square.

  • 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Vote for your favourite Scarecrow, Business Pumpkin and Community Pumpkin Carving
  • 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Witches’ Hunt Escape Room by Five Nineteen Production ($5.00 per person)
  • 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Clown’s Dressing Room Escape Room by Five Nineteen Production ($5.00 per person)
  • 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Amusement Rides presented by Hudson Public ($5.00 per person)
  • 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Marco the Clown
  • 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Ronno and The Lunch Bag Lizard sponsored by Your Neighbourhood Credit Union (Main Stage)
  • 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Photo booth presented by Mitsui High-tec (Canada) Inc, Wilfrid Laurier Brantford and Millards Chartered Professional Accountants 
  • 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Trick-or-Treating (Don't forget to pick-up your trick-or-treat map in Harmony Square for a list of locations)
  • 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. Casper’s Craft Corner presented by Family Gatherings Urban EarlyON 
  • 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Costume Contest judging and pumpkin and scarecrow display winners to be announced (Bell Stage)
  • 5:00 p.m. Learn the famous Thriller dance with Quinn Morriss
  • 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tractor drawn hayrides presented by Millards Chartered Professional Accountants ($2.00 per person)
  • 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Ontario Paranormal Society: Ghost Hunts in the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, located at 88 Dalhousie Street.
  • 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Studio 5678: Spook du Soleil Aerial Performance
  • 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Live music with Heckle the Band performing famous rock hits
  • 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Halloween Movie-themed Haunted House at Mohawk Park brought to you by Fright Club ($3.00 per person) Free shuttle bus rides are available. Participants must be ages 14 or over, or accompanied by an adult.
  • 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Zombie Survival Run through Mohawk Park forest. Free shuttle bus rides are available from 6:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.
  • 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Live music headliner BarCode performing classic rock and top 40 hits
FREE Halloween Roller Skate (Friday only) 

The Halloween Roller Skate is presented by West Brant Window World. On-site registration is required and is limited to one time slot, per person. Retro Rollers Inc. roller skate rentals are available on-site, on a first-come-first-serve for your shoe size, for $10.00 per pair. Debit, credit and cash payments are accepted. Sizes range from J12 to adult size 15. 

Time slots:

  • 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • 7:45 to 8:45 p.m.
  • 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Rink Rules:

  • Helmets and safety gear are strongly recommended
  • Roller skaters must all skate in the same direction as others at all times.
  • Please refrain from carrying your child on the roller rink
  • Extreme speed/racing while roller skating is not permitted
  • No food and drink allowed on the roller rink
  • Headsets, cell phones and hand held electronic devices are not permitted
  • No horseplay, games or sports permitted
  • Stunts, tricks and/or roller skating backwards is not permitted
  • Costumes need to be safe to skate in with clear visibility and no dragging garments.
HOWL-o-ween Dog Costumer Contest Details (Friday only)

The HOWL-o-ween Dog Parade is presented by Global Pet Foods.

Contest Categories:

  • Best Homemade Costume: These costumes must be made with love, and made by hand, this is no store-bought creation!
  • Best Dog and Owner Costume Combo: humans must be in costume! Multiple humans and pets allowed.
  • Most Creative Costume: this is the "OMG, I would have never thought of that!" category.
  • Funniest Costume: if you split a gut laughing when you see it, we've found the winner!
  • Best Large Dog Costume:dogs must be over 30 pounds, with the best costume
  • Best Small Dog Costume:dogs must be under 30 pounds, with the best costume
  • Best Movie/TV Character Costume: bring on Harry Potter and Yoda - the best movie costume wins!
  • Best Superhero Costume: these dogs have super costumes and super powers!

Contest Rules:

  • Winners can only win in one category, no repeat winners
  • All dogs must remain leashed and be with an adult at all times
  • No dogs without vaccinations
  • Rabies and vaccinations must be current
  • Dogs must wear I.D. tags at all times
  • No dogs in heat
  • No aggressive dogs
  • Please pick-up after your dog
  • Costumes must be safe and comfortable for dogs
  • City employees have the right to ask you and your dog to leave if deemed necessary
  • By entering this contest you are agreeing to have your photo taken with the potential of it being used on social media and/or for marketing purposes
Trick-or-Treaters Costume Contest (Saturday only)

Contest Categories:

  • Best Homemade Costume (Adult and Child): This costume must be made with love, and made by hand, this is no store-bought creation!
  • Most Realistic (Adult and Child): the costume that makes us all do a double take, it’s so real.
  • Best Group/Family: This costume is the best for a group of three or more people.
  • Best Couple: Best family-friendly couple costume 
  • Best Special Effects (Adult and Child): this is the “wow how did they do that?!” category
  • Best Classic Costume -(Adult and Child): Pumpkin? Vampire? Witch? This costume makes you think “now this is what Halloween is all about!”  
  • Best Fairytale Costume (Adult and Child): This costume straight out of a fairytale book
  • Punniest Costume (Adult and Child): The costume that in equal measures makes you laugh and roll your eyes.
  • Best Superhero/Villain (Adult and Child): we need a hero (or villain)!
  • Best Zombie (Adult and Child): it’s the 15th year we have had this category. We’d hoped you know what it means by now.

Contest Rules

  • Winners can only win in one category, no repeat winners.
  • By entering this contest you are agreeing to have your photo taken with the potential of it being used on social media and/or for marketing.
FREE Shuttle Bus 

Take the free shuttle bus ride from Harmony Square down the winding lanes of Mohawk Park to visit the Halloween Movie themed Haunted House (fees apply) located inside the pavillion or to take part in the Zombie Survival Run through Mohawk forest. Will you make it back alive? You'll have to find out! Free parking is also available at Mohawk Park for those that wish to drive to this event separately. Shuttle bus rides are free and leave from Harmony Square every 20-minutes beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the last bus leaving Mohawk Park at 10:15 p.m. 

Please contact Brantford Lift for accessible shuttle services. This service is free of charge for transportation between Mohawk Park and Harmony Square.

Haunted House at Mohawk Park ($3.00 per person)

Enter the Halloween movie-themed Haunted House if you dare! Entrance is available on Friday and Saturday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and is brought to you by the Fright Club. Tickets are available for purchase at the Harmony Square office located in Harmony Square or at Mohawk Park outside the pavillion. Participants must be ages 14 or over, or accompanied by an adult. The Haunted Bus shuttle is also available. 

FREE Zombie Survival Run at Mohawk Park 
We challenge you to the Zombie Survival Run through Mohawk Forest. Get through the course without getting infected by flesh eating zombies. Your two flags represent your life line. Don't let the zombies take your lifeline and drain your energy. Don't stop running until you reach the end! This event is free and takes place Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and is brought to you by Heads or Tails Gaming. The Haunted Bus shuttle is also available.

Event prices and packages

All events are free unless otherwise noted below. 

Details
ActivityCost
Tractor drawn hayride $2.00 per person
Haunted House (Halloween Movie themed) $3.00 per person
Ghost Hunt $4.00 per person
Ride-all-day wristband $5.00 per person
Witches' Hut Escape Room  $5.00 per person
Clown's Dressing Room Escape Room $5.00 per person
PACKAGE DEAL (includes Tractor drawn hayride, Haunted House, and Ghost Hunt) $8.00 per person

Important Escape Room information: participants must be 10 years or over to go in the Escape Room without an adult. Each Escape Room allows a minimum of two people and maximum of 7 people in each room.

Volunteering

Do you love Halloween and want to get involved? We also offer community service hours for high school students! We would love to have you join our team of volunteers for the Scare in the Square event. Please email harmonysquare@brantford.ca. to get a volunteer application or for more information.

Contact info

Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #ScareintheSquare. You can call us at 519-759-4150 or email us for more information.

Image Gallery

Photo Gallery: 2022 Scare in the Square will appear here on the public site.

Sponsors

 Downtown Brantford Business Improvement Area  Wilfrid Laurier University  Boyle Plumbing & Heating
 Brantwood Farms Express Employment Professionals  Fresh Co 
 Global Pet Foods Family Gatherings  Hudson Public Kitchen + Bar 
 J.H. Young Fine Jewellers Levacs   Millards Chartered Professional Accountants 
 Six Nations of the Grand River Len's Mill Stores   YNCU
 TD Bank West Brant Window World  Heads or Tails Gaming 
The Fright Club The Ontario Paranormal Society  5IVE9TEEN Productions 
 Mitsui Hight-tec (Canada) Inc. Platinum Fire Equipment Inc.