- 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 16th year we have had this category. We’d hoped you know what it means by now.
- Judge’s Favourite (Adult and Child)
Family-friendly Activities
FREE Halloween Roller Skate (Friday)
Skate into fun with a free Halloween-themed roller skate on Friday, October 2, 2026 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This skate takes place on the splash pad in Harmony Square downtown Brantford and is presented by Mitsui High-tec (Canada). On-site registration is required. Skate rentals are available on-site, on a first-come-first-serve for your shoe size, for $15.00 per pair plus tax. Debit, credit and cash payments are accepted. Sizes range from J12 to adult size 15.
Free HOWL-o-ween Dog Costume Contest (Friday)
Dress-up your furry friend(s) and join us at the HOWL-O-Ween Dog Parade on Friday, October 2, 2026 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Have a howl-ing good time watching them strut their stuff in their most creative costumes. This fun-filled occasion features an array of amazing prizes for various categories, along with exciting activities and treats for both pets and their owners. Don’t miss out on the chance to showcase your dogs personality at this fun event, presented by Global Pet Foods.
Free Trick-or-Treating and Stationary Jeep and Mustang Parade (Saturday)
Head over to Harmony Square to pick up your free trick-or-treat map and treat bag (while supplies last). Then explore downtown Brantford and collect treats from participating businesses marked on the map. Be warned, you may have to perform a trick before earning your treat!
The Stationary Jeep and Mustang Parade features cool jeeps and mustangs transformed into festive Halloween displays. Each vehicle is creatively decorated with spooky and fun Halloween decorations, and will be handing out candy for kids to continue trick-or-treating. Thank you to the Brantford Jeep Club and United Mustangs of Ontario.
Trick-or-treating begins at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Free Kids and Adults Costume Contest (Saturday)
Dress up in your spookiest, funniest, or most creative costume for a chance to win great prizes! The Kids & Adult Costume Contest takes place in Harmony Square from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Contest categories and rules can be found below.
We're currently seeking prize donations for both the children's and adult costume contests. If your business or organization would like to contribute, please contact us to help make this year's contest even more memorable for participants.
- Participants may win in one category only, allowing more costumes to be recognized and celebrated.
- 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 Casper’s Craft Corner
Create a free Halloween-themed keepsake craft to take home. Get crafty at Casper’s Craft Corner on Friday, October 2, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm and Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Free Boo-tique Nail Salon
Visit the free Boo-tique Nail Salon presented by Royal Nails Brantford to get your fingernails painted in a festive orange or black on Friday, October 2 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 3, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Free Thriller Dance by Quinn (Saturday)
Learn the iconic dance movies from Michael Jackson's classic hit, Thriller, with Quinn Morriss on Saturday, October 3, 2026 beginning at 5:00 p.m. Seasoned dancers or curious beginners are welcome. Master the spooky choreography, and become part of a thrilling, dance-filled adventure.
Free Character Meet and Greet
Visit some of your favourite characters on Friday, October 2, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Character Meet and Greets are presented by ServiceMaster Restore of Brantford. More details to come.
Escape Room
Rates: $5 per person, per room
Can you crack the clues and escape in time? Stay tuned for two escape room experiences from Five Nineteen Productions. Children 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older.
Purchase your tickets in the Harmony Square Office at 89 Dalhousie Street. Each Escape Room allows a minimum of two people and maximum of seven people in each room.
- Friday, October 2, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Paranormal Tours
Rates: $5 per person, per tour
Spooky Paranormal Tours run hourly beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026, with the last tour taking place at 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 3, 2026, beginning at 3:00 p.m. with the last tour taking place at 10:00 p.m. Time slotted tickets are available for purchase in the Harmony Square Office at 89 Dalhousie Street.
Where will this year's Paranormal Tours take you? You'll have to wait and see... location details coming soon!
Amusement Rides and Carnival Games
Rates: $7 per person for 1 Ride/Play- All- Day Wristband or $2 for 1 single ride/play ticket
Amusement rides are back and better than ever and new this year, we’re adding a carnival games section featuring classics like the bottle ring toss and more! Come enjoy the fun on Friday, October 2, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. It’s the perfect way to spend the day with family and friends. Presented by Millards Professional Chartered Accountants.
Subscribe to receive updates from the City
Stay up-to-date on the city’s activities, events, programs and operations by subscribing to our newsroom.
