During the fall season in Kingston, you will find ghostly adventures and so much more. On its surface, Kingston is a charming and historic city, but as you dig a little deeper, you’ll uncover spooky neighborhoods, a frightening military fort, and plenty of tales of ghosts and ghouls. Read on to discover how you can experience Kingston’s spooky side.
Legend: 🎃 (family-friendly), 👻 (mature audience)
Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario St
Available daily starting at 6:30 pm
Kingston’s well-known red trolley is normally reserved for tours to the city’s most famous landmarks, but as the sun sets it veers off course to several of Kingston’s sites that have haunted stories. At one stop, you’ll peer across Cedar Island and perhaps see the fair maiden ghost. You’ll also get to see the vacant Rockwood Asylum, rumored to be haunted by ghosts of its deceased patients and doctors.
Visit Kingston Trolley Tours’ website or the Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario Street (open Sun.–Thurs. 9:30 am–6:30 pm & Fri.–Sat. 9:30 am–7 pm) to book your tour.
Read: Explore Kingston’s spookiest ghosts and mysteries to learn more about the ghost trolleys and cruises.
Fort Henry, 1 Fort Henry Dr
Available Thursdays–Sundays, October 3–November 1
Are you brave enough to step foot in a haunted garrison after dark? Fort Fright returns to Fort Henry. Step into the shadows for an electrifying experience as darkness descends upon Fort Henry once again, transforming this historic site into a nightmarish realm of creatures and monsters. For those who aren’t afraid of the dark, Dark Nights takes over on Thursdays, October 9, 16, 23, and 30, plunging Fort Fright into near complete darkness.
For dates and ticket information, visit Fort Henry’s website or the Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario Street (open Sun.–Thurs. 9:30 am–6:30 pm & Fri.–Sat. 9:30 am–7 pm).
On select Wednesdays in October (October 1, 8, 15, and 22), Fort Fright also offers Fort Fright Movie Nights, where a scary movie will be screened at the Parade Square.
Book tickets to catch a spooky movie at Fort Henry online.
Read: Two historic Kingston landmarks transform for Halloween to learn more about Fort Fright.
Crawford Wharf, 1 Brock St
Available October 2, 16 & 30
Cruise Kingston’s shoreline and waters after dark on the Island Queen to learn about the mysteries of the city, which include hair-raising stories of death, murder, wreckage, and mystery. After departing from Crawford Wharf, the 90-minute cruise will approach historic sites such as Fort Henry, Rockwood Asylum, and Kingston Penitentiary, sharing unsettling stories.
Reserve your tickets by visiting Kingston 1000 Island Cruises or the Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario Street (open Sun.–Thurs. 9:30 am–6:30 pm & Fri.–Sat. 9:30 am–7 pm).
Read: Explore Kingston’s spookiest ghosts and mysteries to learn more about the ghost trolleys and cruises.
200 Ontario St
Original Haunted Walk: daily
Ghosts of Queen's University: Fridays & Saturdays, except October 17 & 18
Ghosts of the S.S. Keewatin: Fridays & Saturdays in addition to October 28, 29, 30
The Haunted Walk offers a series of creepy, shocking, and downright surprising tales of Kingston’s dark past. The Original Haunted Walk of Kingston will take you through the city’s historic downtown neighbourhood, Sydenham Ward, where you’ll hear stories of haunted hotels, grave robbings, and more.
The Ghosts of Fort Henry tour is an unforgettable tour of the 19th century fortress and its tragic history. Join this tour for a chilling guided tour of this historic landmark, filled with stories of hauntings and history.
The Ghosts of Queen’s University tour explores the 180+ year-old campus located a short walk from downtown. Under the cover of night, your guide will recount tales of heists, mysteries, and connections beyond the grave.
Interested in learning about haunted waters in the Great Lakes, sightings of phantom vessels, or ghostly figures and encounters in the ballroom of a Titanic-era steamship? The Ghosts of the S.S. Keewatin: Tales from the Great Lakes tour will be sure to terrify and delight with its many tales and long history.
Looking for lighter fare? The new Hidden Kingston Tour is a light-hearted daytime tour of Kingston’s bizarre and unexpected side. You’ll hear stories of mystery, mayhem, and strange happenings.
See the Haunted Walk website to book.
Read: Spirit city: exploring spooky Kingston with the Haunted Walk to learn more.
Murney Tower Museum, 2 King St. West
Available October 10, 11 & 12
Explore Murney Tower and investigate as you journey through with special equipment to collect and analyze evidence of paranormal activity. With a history that spans centuries, from its origins as a fort during the war of 1812, to post-war barracks and a landing site for indigenous peoples in the 18th century, Murney Tower was built on land that possesses a long and haunted history.
Maximum 6 people per group.
Family friendly investigations available on Saturday, October 11, and Sunday, October 12, at 3:30 pm.
Book tickets online.
303 Bagot St & 500 Gardiners Rd
Available daily
Improbable Escapes has several different escape rooms at their two locations (downtown and west end), but three in particular are perfect for the Halloween season.
In “Coroner’s Report” (at their downtown location) you’ll be locked inside the abandoned Ambrosia General Hospital, which was shut down years ago because doctors were performing strange experiments and dissections on patients. In “The Cure for the Common Zombie,” (also located downtown) a nuclear accident has created a mutated strain of the common cold that has unleashed an undead epidemic. But there are rumours of a cure, and your team’s goal is to find it before the zombies eat your brains.
At their west end location, Wonderland, the family-friendly “The Mysterious Miseries of Franklin M. Stein,” is a story-driven, high-tech game of puzzles offering a twist on the classic tale. The west end location also includes a charming Alice in Wonderland inspired cafe and extensive board games shop.
Check out Improbable Escapes’ website to see open hours and book your escape room.
