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7 Halloween Activities in Ottawa and Gatineau
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Every year in late October, I do the same thing: book a night in Ottawa, dig out my headlamp and a costume of questionable quality, then run through the dark with hundreds of strangers in costume. The BougeBouge Gatineau Halloween Race has become my fall ritual.
After going back year after year, I figured it would be a shame to make the trip just for the race. So here’s my list of side quests to turn it into a full weekend.
Some are spooky. Others, not at all. You get to choose your level…
For thrill seekers
Spend the night in a real jail
Saintlo Ottawa Jail is housed in the former Carleton County Gaol, built in 1862. Today, it’s a hostel, but the walls haven’t forgotten a thing. The guided tour takes you through the cell blocks and the former death row. My advice? Do it before spending the night. Or after, if you’d rather sleep peacefully.
And yes, it’s a real cell, bars and all. My little tradition: before lights out, pick a scary book or queue up a horror series with your cellmate. Instant atmosphere. Sleeping solo? Best of luck.
Run through the dark in costume
On October 24, BougeBouge Gatineau hosts its special Halloween race: 1, 2, 5 or 10 km at night, in costume, with a headlamp. It’s literally the reason I stay in Ottawa every fall. A tip from a regular: test your costume before race day. Running 5 km with a cape whipping you in the face is an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
See Ottawa after dark
The Haunted Walk leads you through the city’s ghost stories and darker chapters on foot. It’s a great way to rediscover streets you may have walked before, this time through a completely different lens. Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll earn them.
Put your nerves to the test at FrightFest
At Saunders Farm, FrightFest brings several haunted attractions together in the countryside west of Ottawa. It’s not for kids or anyone who screams easily.
For anyone who prefers fall without the screams
Take in the fall colours from Gatineau Park
Instead of sticking to downtown, drive into Gatineau Park and make your way to Champlain Lookout. The view over the Ottawa Valley is well worth the detour. By late October, peak colour may have come and gone, but the copper tones and low late day light have a magic of their own.
Grab a drink with a view
Copper Spirits & Sights, on the rooftop of the Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market, overlooks Parliament, the market and the Gatineau Hills. Outdoor fire pits keep the terrace cozy, even on a crisp October evening. Get there in time for sunset.
Pumpkins and mazes
Saunders Farm has a much gentler daytime side too, with pumpkin picking, wagon rides and mazes. Perfect if you’re travelling with kids or with someone who flat out refuses to set foot in a haunted house. We all know one.
Halloween in Ottawa is about more than one night in costume. Between ghost stories, fall colours and pumpkins on front porches, the city has plenty to make you jump and just as much to warm you up. My ideal combo: the race at night, a night in a cell, then coffee and fall colours the next morning.
Which side quest are you tackling first?
FAQ
What are the best Halloween activities to do in Ottawa?
What are the best Halloween activities to do in Ottawa?
Run the BougeBouge Gatineau Halloween Race in costume, join a Haunted Walk through Ottawa or explore the haunted attractions at FrightFest. For an extra-spooky weekend, spend the night in a former jail cell at Saintlo Ottawa Jail.
Which Halloween activities in Ottawa are best for thrill seekers?
Which Halloween activities in Ottawa are best for thrill seekers?
Take a Haunted Walk after dark, test your nerves at FrightFest or tour the cell blocks and former death row at Saintlo Ottawa Jail. You can even sleep in a real cell to keep the Halloween atmosphere going all night.
Are there family-friendly Halloween activities near Ottawa?
Are there family-friendly Halloween activities near Ottawa?
Yes. Visit Saunders Farm during the day for pumpkin picking, wagon rides and mazes. You can also admire the fall colours in Gatineau Park for a seasonal outing without the scares.
Gabrielle Asselin
Ariel Waller