This Ghoulish Gallery Captures the Spirit of Halloween

From pets in full costume to frightfully creative fall decor, these photos provide a fun-filled glimpse of what Halloween looks like across the country.

Pumpkins with warts on them
PHOTO: CHERYL POWER

Warts and all

Nothing’s wrong with these pumpkins—the bumps and growths are all natural. Though it might make them slightly harder to carve, the texture does add an extra eeriness!

Skeleton head on a gate
PHOTO: LORRAINE MURRAY

Severed skeleton

Lorraine Murray snapped this shot of a skeleton head atop a gate—though we’re not sure whether this is a Halloween decoration, or just a year-round strategy to ward off visitors.

Check out 13 creepy Canadian facts most people don’t know.

An infant in a skeleton costume crying next to a pumpkin
PHOTO: KIM MACDONALD CAMERON

Fear of pumpkins

Kim MacDonald Cameron’s great-nephew did not enjoy his first encounter with a pumpkin, but he does look adorable in his skeleton costume.

Here’s the reason why Halloween colours are black and orange.

Dog in a bumblebee costume
PHOTO: LYNN MABLEY

Bark or buzz

This costume once belonged to the photographer herself, but Lynn Mabley decided to try it on her dog instead, and it turned out to be a perfect fit. Hopefully no one got stung!

Check out more incredibly cute Halloween costumes for dogs.

A scary sunset that looks like a face
PHOTO: DEAN MCMURRER

Somebody’s watching me

Dean McMurrer took this shot of what looks like a jack-o-lantern watching over Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Sometimes even the sky likes to dress up for Halloween!

Check out more impressive wild weather photography from across Canada.

A girl in artful corpse makeup
PHOTO: FRANK KOENIG

Masterful makeup

When one of Frank Koenig’s neighbours came trick-or-treating, he knew he had to capture that masterful makeup on camera. Very impressive!

Don’t miss these fantastic last-minute Halloween costume ideas.

Scarecrow in red dress
PHOTO: RENA NIXON

Devil in a red dress

Rena Nixon took this photo at the annual Scarecrow Festival in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia—where crows aren’t the only ones getting goosebumps!

Speaking of goosebumps, check out Canada’s best ghost tours.

Pumpkins with smiling painted faces
PHOTO: MARIANNE DETMAR

Friendly faces

Marianne Detmar paints these welcoming grins onto her pumpkins every year. She knows they’re not exactly scary, but sometimes it’s nice to see a smiling face between all the tricks and treats.

You’ll find more carving inspiration in this gallery of cool jack-o’-lanterns.

A cemetery seen through a spider web
PHOTO: ROBB GORR

Charlotte’s web

A cemetery seen through the gaps in a spider web certainly makes for some unsettling Halloween imagery, as captured here by Robb Gorr.

Explore some of Canada’s most beautiful cemeteries.

A creepy Halloween display with skeletons and candles
PHOTO: PAUL BARBER

Ghosts stirring

Paul Barber captured this creepy display on camera. It’s not clear who exactly is stirring that pot, but he’s certainly not someone you’d want to come across on a dark night. 

Read up on Canada’s most baffling unsolved mysteries.

Pumpkin with smiling, made-up face
PHOTO: OLIVIA LANE

Glam gourd

Olivia Lane sent in this picture of her pumpkin dressed to the nines and ready for some fun. The pipe-cleaner ribbon is a very cute touch.

Find out the fascinating story of how pink pumpkins became part of our Halloween decor.

Three scarecrows in dresses bathed in purple light
PHOTO: PAULA BROWN

A spirited display

This is just one of Paula Brown’s many stunning photos taken at Pumpkinferno, a pumpkin festival that takes place in Morrisburg, Ontario’s Upper Canada Village every year. Positively spook-tacular!

Here are 10 Ontario corn mazes worth getting lost in.

Dog in a teddy bear costume
PHOTO: TAMMY GREEN

Furry friend

According to Tammy Green, her dog Tucker hates to get dressed up, but he loves having his picture taken. He certainly makes a perfect model in this cuddly teddy costume.

Need help getting into the Halloween spirit? Check out the best scary movies on Netflix right now.

Pumpkin with frost on top
PHOTO: PATRICIA PARKER

Frosty the pumpkin

It wouldn’t be a true Canadian Halloween without a light dusting of snow, as captured here by Patricia Parker. But can a frosted pumpkin still hold a candle? 

Here are 10 tricks for your best Jack-o’-Lanterns ever!

Sign that reads: "Dead and Breakfast"
PHOTO: ROSA CROSS

Horrifying hospitality

Rosa Cross’ sister-in-law puts up this scary sign in her yard to conjure up the Halloween spirit. Word is that guests have been checking in to the Dead & Breakfast for 20 years—but no one’s ever checked out. 

Explore the world’s creepiest vampire haunts.

Small skeleton dolls in clothes on a shelf
PHOTO: RUSS HAYES

Double date 

Russ Hayes spotted these skeletons on display in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and had to snap a picture of their festive outfits. Looks like they’re heading to a Halloween party for the ages.

These cute pumpkin carving templates will take your jack-o’-lanterns to the next level.

Face of a grim reaper wearing a hood
PHOTO: SUE THOMPSON

Don’t fear this reaper!

Sue Thompson came across this charming character in Chatham, Ontario. Don’t let the wide-eyed stare intimidate you—that’s actually just his reaction to his last dentist bill.

Make sure to learn these corny Halloween jokes before you trick-or-treat.

Pumpkin with Tinkerbell carved on the front and a candle inside
PHOTO: DEB SANDAU

Fairy lights 

Deb Sandau’s son carved this beautiful Tinkerbell for her. Pure Halloween magic!

If you loved this gallery of Halloween in Canada, don’t miss our countdown of Canada’s most haunted places.

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