Several new elements have been added to this year's Fright Night event at Canatara Park.
The free annual event, hosted in partnership with the City of Sarnia and the Seaway Kiwanis Club, is scheduled for Saturday, October 24.
"We're adding some strolling Halloween entertainment," said City of Sarnia Recreation Coordinator Rebecca Warren. "The other thing we are also adding is trick-or-treat vendors, so those vendors are local businesses and organizations."
Seven vendors have signed up to participate. They will provide an interactive activity as well as a treat (at no cost).
"One of the businesses is going to have a 'boo-tiful' community map and kids can decorate a business to add to the map. There's going to be Halloween cornhole and witch hat ring toss, there's going to be historical house information, a photo booth," said Warren. "Touch-a-truck will be returning as it has in years past, Halloween crafts, games, tile painting, and then we also have a group that's going to be coming with miniature ponies."
An additional escape room will be added to the event (The Clown's Dressing Room Escape Room).
"[It] was quite popular last year," Warren said. "Last year was the first year for that, so we've added an additional one to combat the crowds we see in that area."
Pumpkin carving demonstrations will also return this year after a brief hiatus in 2025.
"We have pumpkin alley and there's different schools that participate in carving pumpkins, so that will be located along the south end of the park," she said. "In there we're also going to have a pumpkin carver. He'll be doing a demonstration during the event, it'll be a surprise as to what at this time."
Warren said the annual event typically attracts close to 10,000 attendees, but attendance varies depending on the weather.
"It is a very family-friendly event, so that under 10 age group is the most common," she said. "But this is one of the events that I find does reach a bit of the older youth crowd as well -- more so than our Easter or Christmas events. This one seems to span a wider age range."
Warren said the self-guided haunted areas do have varying scare levels, with some geared toward young children and others for older youth.
"The maze of horrors that's in the Seaway Kiwanis Pavilion, that's the scariest one," Warren said.
Attendees are encouraged to dress up, while keeping safety in mind.
"Of course we have lighting in the area but it is dark if you're parking in the beach parking lot, which is where a lot of the parking is in that park, use the pathways to get there. Maybe wear some reflective [items] on your costumes," suggested Warren.
Volunteers started installing decorations and displays on October 13. Warren said set up and tear down is where they need the most help.
"There's a ton of work that goes into making the place look as it does," she said.
Fright Night will run from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. near the Animal Farm.
However, Park Service Road/Cathcart Boulevard west of Lake Chipican Drive will be closed from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on October 24 to accommodate the event.
Full details and an event map can be found on the city's website.
