During the fall season in Kingston, you will find ghostly adventures, glowing pumpkins, 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)
Pumpkinferno 🎃
Kingston Penitentiary, 560 King St W
Pumpkinferno lights up one of Kingston’s historic landmarks, Kingston Penitentiary, from late September to October 30. Captivating exhibits made up of 7,000 illuminated artificial pumpkins will line a path throughout the limestone penitentiary under the night sky. Prepare to be mesmerized by an enchanting world of glowing pumpkins!
Read: Two historic Kingston landmarks transform for Halloween to learn more about Pumpkinferno.
Reserve your ticket on Kingston Pen Tours’ website or at the Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario Street (open daily, 9:30 am – 6:30 pm).
Explore spooky Kingston this fall with an overnight package. Pumpkinferno packages are available. View packages.
Open: September 27 to October 30
Ghost and Mystery Trolley Tour 👻
Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario St
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.
Read: Explore Kingston’s spookiest ghosts and mysteries to learn more about the ghost trolleys and cruises.
Visit Kingston Trolley Tours’ website or the Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario Street (open daily, 9:30 am – 6:30 pm) to book your tour.
Tours are available daily at 6:30 pm until October 30, with multiple evening times on Fridays and Saturdays in October.
Fort Fright 👻
Fort Henry, 1 Fort Henry Dr
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 10, 17, 24, and 31, plunging Fort Fright into near complete darkness.
Read: Two historic Kingston landmarks transform for Halloween to learn more about Fort Fright.
For dates and ticket information, visit Fort Henry’s website or the Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario Street (open daily, 9:30 am – 6:30 pm).
Explore spooky Kingston this fall with an overnight package. Fort Fright packages are available. View packages.
Open: September 27 to October 31
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Ghost and Mystery Cruise 👻
Crawford Wharf, 1 Brock St
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.
Read: Explore Kingston’s spookiest ghosts and mysteries to learn more about the ghost trolleys and cruises.
Reserve your tickets by visiting Kingston 1000 Island Cruises or the Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario Street (open daily, 9:30 am – 6:30 pm).
Cruise dates: September 27 & October 11, 8 pm
The Haunted Walk 🎃👻
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 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.
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.
Original Haunted Walk available daily. Ghost of Queen’s University available Fridays & Saturdays. Hidden Kingston Tour offered Saturdays & Sundays.
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Improbable Escapes 🎃👻
303 Bagot St & 500 Gardiners Rd
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 book your escape room.
Both locations are open daily. See website for hours.
Fall Colours Tour 🎃
Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario St
Looking for something seasonal that’s a little less on the scary-side? Join the newest offering from Kingston Trolley Tours and journey through Kingston, taking in the vibrant colours of autumn! Soak in the season with stops at some of the highlights along the way, including Kingston Mills and Waddell Farms, making for a perfect fall afternoon.
Visit Kingston Trolley Tours’ website or the Visitor Information Centre, 209 Ontario Street (open daily, 9:30 am – 6:30 pm) to book your tour.
Tours are available every Sunday from October 20 to November 17 at 1 pm
Fruition Berry Farm Corn Maze & Pumpkin Picking 🎃
Partake in a family-friendly Halloween adventure at Kingston’s Fruition Berry Farm! Pick out the perfect pumpkin at the pumpkin patch, ride a tractor, and adventure through the sprawling corn maze. This year’s theme is CORNnections, a one-of-a-kind puzzle experience woven into the maze.
Open: Saturdays and Sundays 10 am – 4 pm September 14 to October 27
Spooky sights in South Eastern Ontario
Looking to scare up more thrills?
Check out these spine-tingling options in South Eastern Ontario: Get goosebumps in South Eastern Ontario & 16 paranormal locations we dare you to visit.
