Scare in the Square

Thanks for another spook-tacular year at Scare in the Square. Subscribe to this page below to receive updates for event details happening in 2024. See you next yearGet dressed up in your Halloween best and join us Friday, October 6 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 7, 2023 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, Escape Rooms, Paranormal Tours, 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. Tickets are available to purchase at the Harmony Square office located in Harmony Square.

New this year-watch the live broadcast of the OHL Brantford Bulldogs sold-out Home Opener game at the Brantford and District Civic Centre on Saturday in the Square and cheer along with fellow hockey fans! Bring down your lawn chair and join the viewing.

Tickets

You can now purchase tickets in advance! Skip the lines and pre-purchase your tickets at the Harmony Square office on Monday, September 25 and Thursday, September 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please note that all ticket sales are final and will not be refunded for any reason. You can also purchase tickets on the day of the event on-site at Harmony Square. All events are free unless noted below.

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

Schedules

Friday, October 6, 2023

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. Accessible tractor drawn hayrides presented by Millards Chartered Professional Accountants ($2.00 per hayride)
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Amusement Rides presented by Hudson Public and Associated Paving and Materials Ltd.($7.00 per person)
5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Ontario Paranormal Society: Paranormal Tours at the Brant County Museum and Archives, located at 57 Charlotte St ($5.00 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. Golden Gambit 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/Community Pumpkin and Children's 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)
7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Nightmare House: Enter at your own risk. You must be ages 14 or over to enter. Sponsored by Heads or Tails Gaming Inc.

Saturday, October 7, 2023

12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Vote for your favourite Scarecrow, Business/Community Pumpkin and Children's 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. Golden Gambit Escape Room by Five Nineteen Production ($5.00 per person)
12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Amusement Rides presented by Hudson Public and Associated Paving and Materials Ltd.($7.00 per person)
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Character Meet and Greet with the Tower Princess and Tower Witch
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Marco the Clown presented by Mitsui High-tec Canada Inc
2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Casper’s Craft Corner presented by Family Gatherings Urban EarlyON (while supplies last)
12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Owen Anderson Magic Show (Main Stage)
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Barry-O kidshow (Main Stage)
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Photo booth presented by 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 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Stationary Jeep Parade by The Jeep Club
3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Ontario Paranormal Society: Paranormal Tours at the Brant County Museum and Archives, located at 57 Charlotte St ($5.00 per person)
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 Wheelchair accessible ($2.00 per person)
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Studio 5678: Spook du Soleil Performance
6:00 p.m. Disney Trivia Game at Hudson Public, located at 93 Dalhousie Street beside Harmony Square. Registration is required by calling 519-304-4561.
7:00 p.m. Live broadcast of the OHL Bulldogs sold-out Home Opener game taking place at the Brantford and District Civic Centre in the Square and come with fellow hockey fans! Bring your lawn chair and join the viewing.
7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Nightmare House: Enter at your own risk. You must be ages 14 or over to enter. Sponsored by Heads or Tails Gaming Inc.

More event details

FREE Halloween Roller Skate (Friday only)

The Halloween Roller Skate is presented by West Brant Window World. On-site registration is required. 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.

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 Costume Contest (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.

Kids dressed up for Halloween in Harmony Square holding treat bags

Paranormal Tour ($5.00 per person)

This year the Paranormal Tour will be held at the Brant County Museum and Archives, located at 57 Charlotte St. Tours will run every hour from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday. Time slotted tickets are available for purchase in the Harmony Square Office.

Directions to the Brant County Museum and Archives: from Harmony Square turn right onto Dalhousie Street, left onto Charlotte Street, then proceed two blocks. It will be on the right hand side of the street.

Event prices and packages

All events are free unless otherwise noted below. The prices listed below do not include applicable taxes. Refunds are not available.

Details
Activity	Cost (+HST)
Tractor drawn hayride	$2.00 per person
Paranormal Tours (Time slotted tickets)	$5.00 per person
One (1) Ride-all-Day wristband	$7.00 per person
Witches' Hut Escape Room (Time slotted tickets)	$5.00 per person
Golden Gambit Escape Room (Time slotted tickets)	$5.00 per person
Package option 1 (includes a Ride-All-Day wristband valid for both Friday and Saturday event days)	$10.00 per person
Package option 2 (includes tractor drawn hayride, entry into one Escape Room of your choice, and a Paranormal Tour.)	$11.00 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.

Parking and Transit

Brantford Transit

Consider using Brantford Transit to get to our event. You can find routes and schedules at Brantford.ca/Transit.

Municipal Parking

Market Centre Parkade: free municipal parking is available on Saturday between the Brantford and District Civic Centre and Harmony Square. The entrance is located at 59 Icomm Drive.
Darling Street Municipal Parking Lot No. 3: a paid parking lot is available and located next to the Brantford Transit Main Bus Terminal.
King Street Municipal Parking Lot No. 4: a paid parking lot is available and located between Dalhousie Street and Colborne Street off King Street.

A central pay station is available at the Municipal Parking Lots No. 3 and 4 where coins, Mastercard and Visa credit cards are accepted. Rates can be found at Brantford.ca/Parking.

Social media

Join the conversation on the Harmony Square Facebook page or Instagram page using the hashtag #ScareintheSquare.

Image gallery

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

Volunteering

Thank you to all those that volunteered for this year's event. We are no longer accepting applications.We are looking for volunteers ages 14 and over to on October 6 and/or 7, 2023. Task opportunities include; HOWL-o-ween dog Parade, Casper's Craft Corner, Escape Rooms, Wagon Ride, Paranormal Tour, roller skate sign-in, set up and take down and more. High school community service hours are available upon request. If you have any questions, please email harmonysquare@brantford.ca