Be involved

Our main attraction and everyone’s favourite part about Halloween is the candy! Each year between 500 and 800 children hit the streets visiting businesses and organizations throughout downtown Brantford to get sweet treats on Saturday, October 4 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Businesses/organizations looking to be involved by handing out candy will be listed in the trick-or-treat site map provided to participating families. Your business/organization must be located downtown Brantford.

Join the fun! Be involved in this popular event by decorating your storefront. Email one photo of your awesome display to harmonysquare@brantford.ca by Sunday, September 28, 2025 and City staff will share it on the Harmony Square Facebook and Instagram pages. The photo with the most likes/hearts by 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025, will win bragging rights and a plaque with their business/organization name engraved on it to display until next year's event. You don’t have to be located downtown Brantford to participate. All Brantford businesses/organizations are welcome to join the fun.

Apply to participate [button with link to Get Involved Application]

Brantford schools, community centres, businesses and organizations are challenged to decorate or carve a pumpkin and enter the Pumpkin Carving contest for Scare in the Square attendees to judge. Winners receive bragging rights, a plaque engraved with their business/organization name on it to display until next year's event and winning photos will be shared to Harmony Square’s Facebook and Instagram page.

Pumpkin carving design guidelines:

• Group entries can submit up to three pumpkins into the contest.
  (Children’s pumpkin Carving Contest only)
• Pumpkins must not exceed a width of 1.5 feet by 1.5 feet, or height of 3 feet.
• Logos are permitted on pumpkins for additional promotions.
• Pumpkins submitted must be weather-resistant and stand on their own without support.
• Due to the family-friendly nature of this event, products, images or logos referencing or related to cannabis or alcohol will not be accepted.
• Flammable objects, sharp items, or store-bought masks cannot be permitted for the public’s safety.
• Religious or political statements on displays will be removed.
• Electrical plug-ins/outlets will not be available. Pumpkins with solar or battery-power are welcomed.
• Pumpkins that are purchased in a store, are plastic or ceramic will not be accepted.
• The City of Brantford is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged pumpkins.

Pumpkin entry drop-off and pick-up instructions:

• Entries must be delivered to Harmony Square (89 Dalhousie Street) on Friday, October 3, 2025 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Email harmonysquare@brantford.ca at least one-week prior to October 3 if this delivery time frame does not work to arrange a mutually agreed upon alternative drop off day and time.
• On October 3 before 4:00 p.m., someone from your organization must meet with a staff member on site to have your pumpkin placed on display.
• All entries must be picked up no later than 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025. Any pumpkins left after this time will be removed and discarded unless alternative plans have previously been made with City staff.

The community and visitors will have the opportunity to view the scarecrows on display and vote for their favourite one. This will allow for businesses to both advertise and partake in a community event in a creative manner. This contest is open to any Brantford business/organization.

Winners will receive bragging rights, a plaque engraved with their name to display for the year and winning photos will be shared to Harmony Square’s Facebook and Instagram page.

Scarecrow design guidelines:

• Scarecrows must not exceed a width of 4 feet by 4 feet, or height of 8 feet.
• Logos are permitted on your scarecrow for additional promotions, as long as they are not depicting products referencing or related to cannabis or alcohol.
• Scarecrows submitted must be weather-resistant and stand on their own without support.
• Due to the family-friendly nature of this event, products, images or logos referencing or related to cannabis or alcohol will not be accepted.
• Flammable objects, sharp items, or store-bought masks cannot be permitted for the public’s safety.
• Religious or political statements on displays will be removed.
• Electrical plug-ins/outlets will not be available. Scarecrow with solar or battery-power are welcomed.
• The City of Brantford is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged pumpkins.

Scarecrow entry and drop-off and pick-up instructions:

• One scarecrow t-frame will be provided and delivered to the address listed on the application on Monday, September 22, 2025. The scarecrow's standing base will not be provided for the design process. Alternative arrangements can be made with event staff if Monday, September 22 does not work for drop-off by emailing harmonysquare@brantford.ca.
• Participants must deliver entries to Harmony Square on Friday, October 3, 2025 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If drop off on October 3 is not possible, an alternative day and time prior to October 3 can be arranged with event staff.
• Upon arrival on October 3, place your scarecrow in a base and inform events staff that you have dropped off your scarecrow.
• Scarecrow entries must be removed no later than 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025. Please leave City of Brantford owned t-frames and bases. Any scarecrows left after this time will be removed and discarded unless alternative plans have been previously made.

We are looking for businesses/organizations to help make this event even more exciting by providing prizes for the dog costume contest on Friday, October 3, 2025 and the adult and children costume contest on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

• Downtown Brantford BIA

• Co-operators – McMillan Insurance
• Kiddie Fun Trak
• TD Bank Group

• Five Nineteen Productions
• Fright Club
• Global Pet Foods Brantford

• Heads or Tails Gaming

• Healthcare & Municipal Employees’ Credit Union

• JH Young Jeweller

• Lancaster Construction/Bins

• Millards Chartered Professional Accountants

• The Ontario Paranormal Society

• Domino's Pizza
• Family Gathering Urban Early ON
• Lens Mill Store Brantford

• Mitsui High-tec (Canada), Inc

• Renway Energy Inc
• ServiceMaster Restore of Brantford
• YNCU

• Brantwood Farms
• Boyle Plumbing and Heating
• Fabulash Lounge
• Levac’s
• Mission Thrift Store Brantford

• West Brant Window World