Be Involved

There are several ways your business/organization can be involved with Brantford’s beloved Scare in the Square event happening on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 5, 2026. This fang-tastic event takes place at both Harmony Square (89 Dalhousie Street) and Mohawk Park (51 Lynnwood Drive).

The event features free family-friendly activities, including trick-or-treating, Halloween Roller Skate, Casper’s Craft Corner, Thriller dance, HOWL-O-Ween Dog Parade and contests and more, plus new this year: Silent Disco! Grab a pair of headphones, choose your favourite playlist, and dance like nobody’s watching. Attendees can purchase tickets to additional fun like Escape Rooms, Paranormal Tours, the Haunted House and more exciting activities.

Be involved at the Scare in the Square event

There are several ways a business, organization, school or group can be involved in Brantford's biggest Halloween event of the year! Find out how you can get involved below:

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 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Businesses and organizations located in downtown Brantford can participate in the Trick-or-Treat program and be featured on the official trick-or-treat map distributed to families. Organizations located outside of downtown can still join the fun by becoming an event sponsor and handing out candy onsite at Scare in the Square.

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 27, 2026 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 3, 2026, 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.

Brantford schools, community centres, businesses and organizations are challenged to submit a decorated or carved pumpkin in our Pumpkin Carving Contest. Scare in the Square attendees will have the opportunity to view the entries and vote for their favourites. 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:

  • Contest participants must provide their own pumpkin into the contest – pumpkins will not be provided.
  • 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.
  • Family friendly 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 2, 2026 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 2 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 5, 2026. Any pumpkins left after this time will be removed and discarded unless alternative plans have previously been made with City staff.

Brantford businesses and organizations are invited to create a scarecrow in advance and submit it for display during Scare in the Square. Attendees and visitors will have the opportunity to view the scarecrows on display and vote for their favourite, providing a fun and creative way to showcase your organization while participating in a community event.

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 21, 2026. The scarecrow's standing base will not be provided for the design process. Alternative arrangements can be made with event staff if Monday, September 21 does not work for drop-off by emailing harmonysquare@brantford.ca.
  • Participants must deliver entries to Harmony Square on Friday, October 2, 2026 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If drop off on October 2 is not possible, an alternative day and time prior to October 2 can be arranged with event staff.
  • Upon arrival on October 2, 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 5, 2026. 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 2, 2026 and the adult and children costume contest on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Apply to participte

Be a volunteer

Each year, Scare in the Square attracts an estimated 7,000 visitors of all ages to our vibrant downtown – made possible with the help of dedicated volunteers! If you're interested in being part of this exciting community event, we invite you to get involved and make a meaningful impact.

Volunteer Applications will be available in September 2026. Please check back to this webpage or visit the City of Brantford’s Volunteer Page: www.Brantford.ca/Volunteer.

Be a sponsor

Each year, the Scare in the Square attracts an estimated 7,000 visitors of all ages to our wonderful downtown! Learn how your company or brand can be involved in Scare in the Square by emailing harmonysquare@brantford.ca. To become a sponsor and help support this free event for the community fill out the online application link below. If you have any questions please email us at harmonysquare@brantford.ca or call 519-759-4150 ext. 5074

Apply to be a sponsor

2026 Sponsors

Our sincere thanks to our community sponsors below for making this incredible lineup of activities possible.

   

 

Be a Marketplace Vendor

Marketplace vendor applications will be available in September 2026. Email harmonysquare@brantford.ca if you would like to be included in next year’s Marketplace Vendor Application.

Be a Food Vendor

Food vendor applications will be available September 2026.  Email harmonysquare@brantford.ca if you would like to be emailed this year’s Food Vendor Application.

Contact Us

City of Brantford
58 Dalhousie Street
P.O. Box 818
Brantford, Ontario
N3T 2J2 

519-759-4150

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