Let the spooky season begin

From ghost tours to haunted houses to drive-through light shows, Ethan Rotberg rounds up events that have a distinctly creepy flair

Halloween Haunt at Wonderland

Nothing screams October like Halloween Haunt at Canada's Wonderland. On select nights through Oct. 31, Wonderland is transformed into a scary amusement park. This year’s terrors include more than 500 monsters, scare zones, street performers, music, thrilling night rides and live shows.

Legends of Horror

The grounds of Casa Loma have once again become an immersive haunted trail. The two-kilometre path begins in the lower gardens and winds its way through the tunnels and darkest spaces never before open to the public. Family hours begin at 5 p.m., with standard hours starting at 7 p.m. Visit legendsofhorror.ca for information and tickets.

Toronto Haunted Walks

The Haunted Walk operates several ghostly walking tours for those wanting a closer look at Toronto’s spookiest sites. Choose from the Ghosts of Black Creek Pioneer Village, the Spirits of the Distillery District Ghost Tour or the Original Haunted Walk, which features some of the most spine-tingling ghost stories from the earliest days of the city. Visit hauntedwalk.com for more information.

Spooktacular Light Show

One of the largest Halloween drive-through light shows in the GTA is happening now at the Mount Joy GO station in Markham. It features more than a million lights along a two-kilometre route, with fun characters, a pumpkin-filled drive-through tunnel and 3D displays.

Ghost Walks at Exhibition Place

Would you be surprised to learn that Exhibition Place may be haunted? The Horticulture Building was once used as a temporary morgue; the site was a bloody battlefield during the War of 1812; and the grounds were once home to two military forts. Daily two-hour tours start at 7 p.m. and run until Oct. 29.

Halloween Nights of Lights

After selling out last year, the Nights of Lights returns to the Richmond Hill GO Station on select nights until the end of October. This year's experience will feature more than 1.5 million lights animated and synchronized to your favourite Halloween tunes along with a new drive-through trick-or-treat lane, where costumed actors will deliver candy. Visit nightsoflights.ca for more information.