Good morning, Welland!
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and the whole weekend is in costume. Friday night brings a free Halloween evening at the Niagara Centre YMCA and Devil's Night at The Bank. Saturday starts with Hallowe'en at the Market, moves to trick-or-treating at Seaway Mall in the afternoon, and finishes with an Ozzy tribute at The Bank and a costume party at Il Forno. It's also your last weekend to drive the Lights, Frights, and Sights tour, and on Sunday the Jr. Canadians are home to Caledonia.
In this week's Welland Weekly:
Seaway Mall's Halloween Bash with mall-wide trick-or-treating, Saturday, October 31, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Devil's Night with B.A. Johnston at The Bank Art House, Friday, October 30
A backyard haunted maze for charity, Halloween at the YMCA, Jr. Canadians hockey Sunday, and more weekend plans
Let's get to it.
Around Town This Weekend
🎃 Lights, Frights, and Sights, Welland's self-guided Halloween display tour, wraps up on Saturday, October 31. Plan your route on the map, then vote for your favourite display on the same page (People's Choice voting closes Monday, November 2). Free.
🌾 The Sharecrows Food Drive runs until Saturday, October 31. Visit the scarecrow displays at Seaway Mall, 800 Niagara St, the Niagara Centre YMCA, 310 Woodlawn Rd, and other stops around town, and drop non-perishable food or personal care items in the bins beside them.
🌽 Warner Ranch and Pumpkin Farm, 7705 Schisler Rd, is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday, October 31, then closes to the public for the season on November 1. Saturday is the last day for the Belgian horse-drawn hayrides (about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $4.00 each person). The corn maze is $3.00 and the animal viewing area is $2.00.
Thursday, October 29
🧠 Trivia for Kid's Sake
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara's annual trivia night, with pizza and dessert at intermission, chips on every table and a cash bar. Proceeds support youth mentoring in Niagara. Register a team or come on your own.
Details: Doors at 6 p.m., trivia at 7 p.m. at Casa Dante Lodge, 34 Lincoln St
Cost: $35 per person or $300 per table (tables of 8-10 players)
See More: Link
👽 Carter's Cash for Kids Presents: Nightmare on Second Street
A backyard haunted maze for all ages, with an aliens theme this year, plus a penny sale, raffles and food. All proceeds go to McMaster Children's Hospital, and entry is by cash donation or e-transfer.
Details: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, at 58 Second St
Cost: By donation (cash or e-transfer)
See More: Link
Friday, October 30
🛍️ Esthers Friday Market
The weekly Friday market at Market Square, with local vendors, makers, food and small businesses.
Details: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Welland Farmers Market, 70 Young St
See More: Link
🦛 Break the Fake Workshop
How can you tell what's real online? This free library workshop walks through four easy steps for spotting false information, with help from the house hippos. Registration is required and closes at 11 a.m. Friday.
Details: 11 a.m. to noon at Welland Public Library Seaway Mall Branch, 800 Niagara St
See More: Link
🏊 Halloween at the YMCA
A free family Halloween evening, open to everyone, no membership needed. Wear a costume: there's pumpkin painting, a costume contest with a prize for best dressed, Halloween line dancing from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and an open swim from 7:15 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: Starts 5:15 p.m. at Niagara Centre YMCA, 310 Woodlawn Rd
Cost: Free
See More: Link
😈 Devil's Night
B.A. Johnston, Sons of Butcher and Monsters of Schlock bring music, comedy and sideshow chaos to The Bank. Costumes encouraged. All ages.
Details: Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. at The Bank Art House, 22 King St
Cost: $20 (advance)
See More: Link
Saturday, October 31
Outdoor events can be cancelled for weather. Check City Rec's Facebook page before you head out.
It's Halloween night, so expect trick-or-treaters in neighbourhoods all over Welland once it gets dark. Drive slowly, and leave your porch light on if you're handing out treats.
🥕 Hallowe'en at the Market
The Saturday farmers market, with a Halloween twist: the library's C.A.N.A.L. Cruiser bookmobile brings Halloween books, craft kits and a safety trivia wheel with candy prizes from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and collects food and personal care donations for the WPL Food Pantry.
Details: 7 a.m. to noon at Welland Farmers Market, 70 Young St
See More: Link
🧩 Autism Awareness Day
A day at the library to learn about autism and celebrate it, starting with PAWS therapy dogs (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.), then art and storytelling with the Writers Guild, a storytime and sensory activities with Niagara Children's Centre, and a tween and teen art activity. Everyone's welcome.
Details: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Welland Public Library Seaway Mall Branch, 800 Niagara St
See More: Link
🍬 Seaway Mall Halloween Bash
Mall-wide trick-or-treating, Halloween colouring and spooky photo spots. Come in costume.
Details: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Seaway Mall, 800 Niagara St
See More: Link
⛸️ Public Skating
Saturday night public skating, with a section of the ice set aside for new skaters. Children 12 and under need a CSA-approved helmet, and skate aids and loaner helmets are free at the sign-in table.
Details: 6:30 p.m. at Jack Ballantyne Memorial Youth Arena, 501 King St
Cost: $2.50 child (14 years and under), $3.50 adult
See More: Link
🦇 Blizzard of a Madman
An Ozzy Osbourne tribute playing the Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman albums, with special guest 90 Proof and a costume contest with prizes for best costume. All ages.
Details: Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. at The Bank Art House, 22 King St
Cost: $20 advance
See More: Link
🎭 Halloween Night Costume Party at Il Forno
Il Forno's Halloween night costume party, running late.
Details: 10 p.m. to late at Il Forno Restobar and Lounge, 128 East Main St
See More: Link
A note from this week's partner
🛻 What happens to all the Halloween decorations on November 1?
Once the candy's gone, there's the broken inflatable, the soggy hay bales, the old porch furniture you moved to make room for the display, and the pile of fall yard waste that's been waiting since September. Junk Removal Welland is a local crew that brings the truck and does the lifting, loading and hauling, so the garage is clear before the first snow.
Welland Weekly is free because of local partners like this one.
In partnership with
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Sunday, November 1
⛸️ Sunday Public Skating
Sunday afternoon public skating. Children 12 and under need a CSA-approved helmet, and skate aids and loaner helmets are free at the sign-in table.
Details: 2:30 p.m. at Jack Ballantyne Memorial Youth Arena, 501 King St
Cost: $2.50 child (14 years and under), $3.50 adult
See More: Link
🏒 Welland Jr. Canadians vs. Caledonia Corvairs
The Jr. Canadians are home after road games in Pelham on Friday and Stoney Creek on Saturday. Clocks fall back an hour early Sunday morning, so you get an extra hour before puck drop.
Details: 7 p.m. at Welland Main Arena, 501 King St
See More: Link
Eat and Drink Specials
🍕 Il Forno, 128 East Main St, has 10% off all wood-oven pizzas on Thursday, a seafood feature day on Friday (calamari $15, mussels $19, seafood pasta $25), and its $90 Date Night for Two on Saturday (19+).
🥙 Cheers Yia Mas, 292 East Main St, has family-style everyday specials, including Family Fish (6 haddock, 4 orders of fries or lemon-roasted potatoes and 2 large coleslaw) for $65.95, takeout or dine-in.
🍷 Tempus, 25 West Main St, is a canal-side spot that calls itself elevated casual: seasonal dishes, good wine and cocktails, no dress code. Open Thursday and Friday noon to 10 p.m. and Saturday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
🥞 Canal View Cafe and Restaurant, 3 East Main St, is a local favourite for breakfast, crepes, falafel and kebabs, right by the canal.
Nearby
🍭 Trick-or-Treating at Bethesda, a gentle practice run for trick-or-treaters of all ages, at the Bethesda Niagara Family Centre, 3310 Schmon Pkwy, Thorold, Thursday 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registration required.
🎸 In Spite of Ourselves: an evening of John Prine at Roselawn Theatre, 296 Fielden Ave, Port Colborne, Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $47.50.
❄️ Frozen In Time, a family show at Roselawn Theatre, Port Colborne, Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Regular tickets $27.50, VIP $37.50.
🐶 The Halloween Party at Club Belvedere, a 19+ fundraiser for Niagara Dog Rescue with a costume contest, raffle and buffet, at 57 John St, Thorold, Friday at 7 p.m. $25 per ticket.
🕯️ The Pumpkin Trail at Firemen's Park, 2275 Dorchester Rd, Niagara Falls, Sunday: drop off your carved pumpkin from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., then walk the glowing trail from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Looking Ahead
🥫 The 34th Annual Welland Food Drive is Saturday, November 7. Leave non-perishable food on your front step for pickup from 10 a.m. (apartment buildings are collected Monday, November 9).
🤝 The City and the YMCA's Volunteer Fair is Saturday, November 7 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Niagara Centre YMCA, 310 Woodlawn Rd. Free.
🎹 The Rotary Club of Welland's Duelling Pianos fundraiser is Saturday, November 7 at the Croatian Hall, 6 Broadway. Doors at 7 p.m., music at 8 p.m., $40 per person.
🎤 Bob Wiseman, Airplane on a Highway Tour at The Bank Art House, Saturday, November 7. Doors at 7 p.m., $20 advance.
🧥 Koats for Kids at Central United Church, 12 Young St, collects new and gently used outerwear for local kids in need from Wednesday, November 11 to Saturday, November 21 (Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursdays 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.).
In Case You Missed It
🎅 Want to be in the Santa Claus Parade? Businesses and groups have until Sunday, November 1 to apply for the Merry and Bright parade downtown on Saturday, November 21.
💰 The City's Community Grants Program is open for 2027 applications, for charities, not-for-profits and individual artists running arts, events and social service projects. Applications close November 26, and there's a virtual info session Thursday, October 29 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
🌾 The Sharecrows tour has 10 scarecrow stops around Welland, from Seaway Mall to the YMCA and Rexall on Thorold Rd. Visiting even one and dropping off a few cans counts.
🥫 The Welland Food Drive is asking for help ahead of November 7. Canned proteins, peanut butter, rice, pasta and sauce, and baby supplies are most needed, and donations are split between Open Arms Mission, The Hope Centre and The Salvation Army.
🏃 Welland's Sydney Ray defended her Niagara Catholic cross country title, winning the senior girls race for Notre Dame on her way to defending her SOSSA crown.
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- Monica Brinkman
Helping you answer "What should we do this weekend?" in Welland.
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