Spooktacular Halloween fun

Halloween is just around the corner, and there are plenty of spooky events planned for kids of all ages.

Here’s a roundup of local events to get into the trick-or-treat spirit.

The Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum will host Ghoulicious on Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Intended for kids ages three to 10, this one-day event will feature craft stations, science experiments, and trick-or-treating, among other activities. Tickets cost $15 per child.

Downtown Markham will collaborate with Markham Dog Alliance to celebrate Halloween Howl 4.0 at the Pride of Canada Carousel on Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This free dog-friendly event will include a dog costume parade, costume contests, a photo booth, and over 30 vendors.

York Regional Police will host its annual Halloween at the Village event at Stouffville’s Community Safety Village on Oct. 25. This family-friendly event will feature trick-or-treating, spooky music, and a haunted maze. Visitors can register for one of two time slots: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per vehicle, with all proceeds going to United Way. Police will have more details available at yrp.ca closer to the event.

Main Street Markham will host a trick-or-treat event on Oct. 25 from noon to 2 p.m., in which participating businesses will hand out sweet treats to costumed children.

Markham Museum will host its annual ScaryFest on Oct. 25 and 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parents and guardians can bring their kids in costume to collect candy trick-or-treating, and enjoy demonstrations, a dance party, and a Mad Science show.

Markham Cycles and Markham After Hours will begin its Halloween Glow Ride at the bike hub beside Centennial GO station on Oct. 29, shortly after 6 p.m. Experienced riders will follow a mapped route riding to great tunes, stopping for pop-up dance stops.

Photo: A worker educates a young girl about wolf spiders during last year’s ScaryFest at Markham Museum. (Supplied photo)

*Story submitted by David Yin