It's Halloween weekend in Ottawa, and this year it falls on a Saturday, which means there's more going on than you could possibly fit in. Free family fun at Rideau Hall, a colourful Day of the Dead Festival in the ByWard Market, haunted farms and hayrides, silent horror with live music, big shows at the NAC and hockey and soccer at TD Place.
Here's a practical guide to things to do in Ottawa from Friday, October 30 to Sunday, November 1, 2026, with dates, places and prices, plus a plan for the extra hour you get when the clocks change on Sunday.
Before you go: this guide was prepared on October 29, 2026, from event organizers and local event listings. Times, prices and availability can change, and some events sell out, so confirm details with the organizer before heading out. Several haunted attractions and 19+ events aren't suitable for young children, so check age guidance.
You don't need to spend much to have a great Halloween weekend in Ottawa. These are the best free picks.
Saturday, Oct 31, 10 a.m. to noon at Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Drive. A Halloween circus with performances, trick-or-treating, festive activities and a special Halloween concert in the historic residence. Free, and a great start for families with kids.
Oct 30 to Nov 1 in the ByWard Market (East York Street and William Street Plaza). Live music, folkloric dancers, traditional Mexican food, artisan vendors, workshops and colourful displays honouring loved ones. Free. Saturday and Sunday hours are listed as about 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A traditional altar honouring Mexican artist Diego Rivera is on display at the National Gallery of Canada (380 Sussex Drive) until November 1. Free, and it pairs well with a walk through the Market.
Many Ottawa Public Library branches, including Main, Manotick and Blackburn Hamlet, host free Halloween storytimes, crafts and screenings on Saturday, October 31. Check your branch's schedule.
Fridays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 6110 Mitch Owens Road. A historic barn full of handcrafted goods and international food, with a Día de los Muertos theme this weekend. Free to browse.
Saturday, Oct 31, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Carp Agricultural Fairgrounds, 3790 Carp Road. The last market of the 2026 season, with 80-plus producers and a Halloween theme. Free admission and parking.
Saturday, Oct 31, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tanger Outlets, 8555 Campeau Drive. A dog-friendly market with 30-plus local makers. Free admission, leashes required.
Pumpkin season wraps up this weekend, so if you haven't been yet, now's the time.
7893 Bleeks Road. Hayrides, hedge mazes, live and puppet shows, mild daytime haunts and pumpkin picking. Open daily through Sunday, Nov 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets from about $32.98.
1865 O'Toole Road, Cumberland. Pick-your-own pumpkins, a hayride, mazes, a petting farm and playgrounds. Runs through Oct 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets from about $28.36, with kids 2 and under free.
Thousands of illuminated hand-carved pumpkins along a night path in Morrisburg. Through Oct 31, 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets from about $21 and must be bought in advance online, with kids under 5 free.
If you want real scares, the region's biggest haunted attractions are in their final weekend.
Fridays and Saturdays through Oct 31, with a haunted hayride, the Barn of Terror, scare zones and street monsters. Not recommended for kids under 10. Tickets from about $62.98.
At Cannamore Orchard, 1480 County Road 32, through Oct 31. A spooky wagon ride, a house of terror and a fog maze, with daytime hours toned down for families. Tickets about $25 to $37.
1665 Frank Kenny Road, Saturday Oct 31 (gates open at 7 p.m.). A wagon ride and two haunted houses run by student volunteers. Not recommended for young children. Tickets about $12.50.
A double-feature haunted house at 1D Studios, 2935 Conroy Road, through Nov 1. Open Friday and Saturday until 1 a.m. and Sunday until 10 p.m. Tickets from about $21.36.
A 90-minute walking tour of local legends on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. through Nov 7, starting at 1549 Stittsville Main Street. Tickets from about $19.56.
Oct 30 and 31, 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthew's Anglican Church, 130 Glebe Avenue. The 1922 silent horror classic with live choral singing, organ and violin. Tickets $30.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Stravinsky Stories with the NAC Orchestra (through Sat, Oct 31, from $33). Afro-Andean Funk on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (from $34). The Irish Descendants on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (from $45). And Miguel de Armas and Friends, a Latin jazz evening at the Fourth Stage on Saturday at 8 p.m. ($35).
Evil Dead: The Musical at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans (through Sat, Oct 31, $35.99). Leonard Cohen: Ten Years Gone at the Gladstone Theatre (through Nov 7, $38). Rogers v. Rogers at the GCTC (through Nov 1, from $30). Maestro improv on Saturday at 9 p.m. at Arts Court (from $15).
Ottawa 67's vs. Brantford Bulldogs on Friday, Oct 30 at 7 p.m. (from $24.65). Atlético Ottawa vs. Forge FC on Sunday, Nov 1 at 2 p.m., the first leg of the Canadian Premier League semi-final (from $29).
Events include Noche de Muertos, a Latin Halloween party at the Ottawa Art Gallery on Saturday at 8 p.m. (early bird $29.99), and several costume nights at venues around town. Check age requirements, and plan a safe ride home.
Nature Nocturne's Black and White Ball at the Canadian Museum of Nature on Friday, October 30 is listed as sold out, so keep it in mind for next year.
Catch Nosferatu with live music on the Glebe, or an Ottawa 67's game at TD Place. Or go for a scare at Midway Massacre or Frightfest.
Start at Rideau HALLoween (10 a.m.), then walk over to the Day of the Dead Festival in the ByWard Market. After an early dinner, go trick-or-treating or head out for sKreamers, a show at the NAC or a costume party.
Take in the last day of PumpkinFest at Saunders Farm, browse the Orléans Comic Book and Novelty Show (free, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Place d'Orléans), or cheer on Atlético Ottawa at 2 p.m. The Day of the Dead Festival runs until 6 p.m.
| Event | When | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rideau HALLoween: Under the Big Top | Sat, Oct 31, 10 a.m. to noon | Rideau Hall, 1 Sussex Dr | Free |
| Day of the Dead Festival | Oct 30 to Nov 1 | ByWard Market | Free |
| One World Bazaar | Fri to Sun, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 6110 Mitch Owens Rd, Manotick | Free to browse |
| Carp Farmers' Market Spook-tacular | Sat, Oct 31, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. | 3790 Carp Rd | Free |
| PumpkinFest | Through Sun, Nov 1 | Saunders Farm, 7893 Bleeks Rd | From about $32.98 |
| Pumpkin Fest | Through Sat, Oct 31 | Proulx Farm, 1865 O'Toole Rd | From about $28.36 |
| PumpkInferno | Through Oct 31, 7 to 10 p.m. | Upper Canada Village, Morrisburg | From about $21 |
| Frightfest | Fri and Sat through Oct 31 | Saunders Farm | From about $62.98 |
| Nosferatu with live music | Oct 30 and 31, 7:30 p.m. | St. Matthew's Anglican, 130 Glebe Ave | $30 |
| Ottawa 67's vs. Brantford | Fri, Oct 30, 7 p.m. | TD Place | From about $24.65 |
| Atlético Ottawa vs. Forge FC | Sun, Nov 1, 2 p.m. | TD Place | From about $29 |
Clocks go back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, so you gain an hour of sleep, and an hour of morning light. It's also a handy reminder for the home chores that are easy to forget before winter.
Fire officials commonly recommend testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replacing batteries when the clocks change. It takes a few minutes.
Replace your furnace filter and make sure vents aren't blocked before the heating season really kicks in.
Disconnect and drain hoses, shut off outdoor taps if you haven't, and clear leaves from eavestroughs and drains before the first freeze.
If you're thinking about moving, Halloween night is a great time to see a community in action. Walk your shortlisted streets between about 5 and 8 p.m. and notice how many porch lights are on, how kids and families use the sidewalks, how busy the traffic is and how it feels after dark. It tells you things a listing never will.
Use reflective tape, glow sticks or flashlights, and choose costumes that don't drag or block vision. Remember it's already getting dark early.
Cross at corners, watch for cars in driveways, and drivers should slow down on residential streets, especially around 5 to 8 p.m.
Turn on your porch light, clear steps and walkways of leaves and clutter, and keep pets away from the door.
What are the best free things to do in Ottawa this Halloween weekend?
Rideau HALLoween at Rideau Hall, the Day of the Dead Festival in the ByWard Market, One World Bazaar in Manotick, the Carp Farmers' Market Spook-tacular and library Halloween events are all free.
What are the best Halloween events for kids in Ottawa?
Rideau HALLoween on Saturday morning, PumpkinFest at Saunders Farm and Pumpkin Fest at Proulx Farm are good family picks, along with free library events. Check age guidance for haunted attractions.
What time do the clocks change this weekend?
Clocks go back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, ending daylight saving time. You gain an hour.
Is the Day of the Dead Festival free?
Yes. Ottawa's Day of the Dead Festival in the ByWard Market runs October 30 to November 1 and is free to attend.
When do the pumpkin patches and haunted attractions close?
Many close this weekend. Proulx Farm, PumpkInferno, Frightfest, Acres of Terror and sKreamers run through October 31, and Saunders Farm's PumpkinFest and Midway Massacre run through November 1.
What can I do on Sunday, November 1 in Ottawa?
Catch the last day of the Day of the Dead Festival and PumpkinFest, browse the Orléans Comic Book and Novelty Show, go to the Ottawa Wedding Show or Rock N' Gem Show at the Cohere Centre, or watch Atlético Ottawa at TD Place at 2 p.m.
Thinking of making a move this winter?
The Ali Realty Group team is happy to talk about buying or selling in Ottawa, any time of year. Call us at 613-327-0131 or visit alirealtygroup.com.
Halloween weekend is one of the best of the year in Ottawa, with something for every age and budget, from a free morning at Rideau Hall to a haunted farm at night, a show at the NAC and a game at TD Place. Pick a few favourites, dress for the cold, and enjoy the extra hour on Sunday.
Happy Halloween from all of us at Ali Realty Group.
