We’re celebrating Halloween in the Boro

You’re reading the October 25, 2024 edition of the Peterborough Currents email newsletter. To receive our email newsletters straight to your inbox, sign up here.

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Good morning and welcome to the arts and community newsletter from Peterborough Currents. I’m Alex, and I send this email ever Friday to catch you up on what’s happening in the community.

This week we’re focusing on Halloween in Peterborough — past and present. Inside this edition of the newsletter:

• Halloween in Peterborough was a lot more rowdy in the 1890s
• Looking back on a night of witchy music
• All Saints to host free tricks and treats this weekend 
• Rave to the Grave
• And more!

Let’s get started.

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The rowdy Halloweens of Peterborough’s early days

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, young people waged a “dark onslaught” of pranks and mischief against the citizens of Peterborough each Halloween. Vegetables were strewn indiscriminately about town, front gates were removed and hidden, peashooters were shot, and windows were broken.

By the turn of the century, people were fed up with the mayhem and the Peterborough police stepped up their patrols. By 1906, the Chief of Police was threatening a force of fifty special officers who were mobilized specifically for Halloween to catch any mischief-makers.

Over time, the pranks died down. The policing likely had an impact, but so did the Halloween Parade which was established in 1925 and gave young people something else to do on the evening.

In an article first published in 2003, historian Diane Robnik examined early newspaper coverage of Halloween in Peterborough. Her article shows how the holiday was celebrated and how local citizens responded to the night’s mischief. We’ve republished an adapted version of the article on our website. Have a read to learn what Halloween was like in Peterborough over 100 years ago.

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A night of witchy performance inspired by Practical Magic 

The John (Sadleir House’s event space) glowed orange last weekend for a witchy spectacle featuring music, drag, projections, dramatic readings, and skits all inspired by the 1998 cult classic movie Practical Magic.

Local band Babe Chorus began the evening by scattering flower petals amongst the audience and laughing as they slowly danced their way onto the stage. Cheyenne Burnett played the film’s theme song on her flute as she slowly followed her bandmates to the front of the room.

What followed was a fun, campy, and heartfelt cabaret which focused on the themes of magic, love, sisterhood, and surviving domestic abuse.

I attended the event and spoke with Cheyenne Burnett and Sarah van den Berg about how their love for the 1998 film has transformed into an annual performance tradition. Read the full story on the Peterborough Currents website by clicking the link below. 

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All Saints Spooky Walk offers free family fun this Saturday

All Saints Anglican Church is hosting their annual Spooky Walk for local families this Saturday, October 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. The afternoon will feature trick-or-treating, a free community meal, and several crafts and games.

“There’s nothing flashy or expensive about it, but it’s really sweet family fun, kind of like an old school fun fair,” said organizer Cormac Culkeen. “There’s always a metric ton of candy. We’ll have hot chocolate too and of course we always try to make sure that we’re feeding people, because that’s how you make friends.”

“One of my favourite things about the Spooky Walk is that we always get lots of new Canadians at it,” Culkeen shared as they painted some finishing touches on a stable of racing unicorns for a dice-rolling race game. “It’s really exciting and fun to share a family’s first Halloween activity.”

In addition to the Spooky Walk at All Saints, Peterborough’s Anglican community has added a second event for families living in East City. St. Luke’s Anglican Church on Armour Road will host their free Halloween event on Sunday, October 27 from 2 to 4 p.m.

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Rave to the Grave is Peterborough’s new Halloween music and arts festival

The Trent University Alternative Arts Collective (TUAAC) was founded by Ziggy Allin last fall as a place to bring together under-represented artists of many different genres and mediums. This year, they are joined by co-chair Hollis Ferguson, and together they have planned an all-out bash for Halloween. 

“This is the biggest event we’ve tried to tackle so far,” Allin said of Rave to the Grave, which will span three days and four downtown venues with events on October 31, November 1, and 2. TUAAC has partnered with Otonabeats to provide live music, DJs and dancing, in addition to drag performance, visual arts, and a costume contest.

“It’s Halloween so I just want people to get as weird as possible,” Ferguson said. “I want very bad dance moves and homemade costumes. I just want to see the pure creative joy that comes from people being their most authentic selves.” 

To learn more about the Rave to the Grave, check out TUAAC’s Instagram page.

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Looking for more Halloween events?

• B!KE, the Peterborough Community Bike Shop, will host their Halloween Glow Ride this Sunday, October 27. Cyclists can meet at Quaker Foods City Square at 6 p.m., and the group will depart at 6:30 p.m. The ride will start with a family-friendly 5-kilometre tour, returning to Quaker Foods City Square before heading out for a faster, longer, and spookier ride. 
  
• Halloween in the Booro is back this Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m., with more than 30 downtown businesses on George, Water, Hunter, Charlotte, and Sherbrooke Streets taking part in trick-or-treating, late-night shopping, and a scavenger hunt.
  
• The Creepy Doll Museum is on display at The Theatre on King this Saturday, October 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. This weird and unsettling doll collection tours Ontario every fall. Tickets for the Peterborough viewing cost $10 at the door.
  
• Spooky All Hallows Eve at Lang Pioneer Village runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26. Tickets are available online, with attractions including tractor and wagon rides, live music, a magic show, treats, and more.
  
• Hutchison House is hosting their Haunted Halloween for Kids event tomorrow (Saturday, October 26) from noon to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 per person and includes a spooky tour of Hutchison House, along with a craft activity and a treat.
  

And just in case Halloween isn’t your thing, here are some other goings on this weekend:

• Ball Pit Improv is back tonight at The Theatre on King, with two comedic teams competing for the most laughs from the audience. Tickets cost $20 at the door with an option to pay what you can. 
  
• Peterborough Concert Band and the New Canadians Centre will present Bringing People Together this Sunday, October 27, at Market Hall from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Tickets are available for both in-person seating and an online streaming pass.
  
• The 47th annual Hand of Man art and craft sale is at the Morrow Building all weekend from 5 p.m. this evening to 4 p.m. on Sunday, with 90 vendors selling everything from honey and maple syrup to clothing, pottery, stationary, and more.
  

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