Hello Neighbours 

When my kids were growing up, one of our favourite times of year was Halloween. We would go all out decorating the house, planning things weeks in advance (Maybe you have a neighbour like me !). 

These spooky traditions trace back to the end of harvest, Samhain, the Celtic festival, where it was believed that the boundary between the physical world and the otherworld grew thin, allowing spirits, ancestors, and fairies to cross over into the human realm. In Ireland and Scotland, families carved faces into turnips (now that must have been tough!) to ward off wandering spirits. This custom crossed the Atlantic with immigrants who had an easier time carving pumpkins. And here’s one for trivia nerds: the first known printed use of “trick or treat” in North America was in Canada, in a 1927 Lethbridge, Alberta newspaper report.

Porches across the city have already started sprouting tombstones, cobwebs and the occasional ten-foot skeleton. Halloween lands on a Saturday this year and won’t again for 11 years.

To connect to those long ago days Whitehern Museum is hosting two sittings of An Evening of Victorian Spiritualism on Friday night, and a Spirit Photography Workshop on Sunday and  the same day Westfield Village is hosting a Witches' Halloween Party. On a more modern vein, our local independent theatres have special horror flick showings all week and Fairweather Brewing has Fight of the Living Dead wrestling on Saturday night. The animals are in on the celebrations too with Waterdown’s Annual Treat and Pet Walk on Saturday and goats galore at Triple C Farm on Sunday for their Halloween Party.

There is fundraising fun too, with food donations at The Zombie Walk on Saturday in Gore Park and runners in costume taking over the waterfront at Pier 8 on Sunday for the Harvest Carnival 1K, 5K and 10K, raising money for the McMaster Children’s Hospital and Hamilton Food Share..

And for two of the season’s best free outings, grab the kids in their pyjamas, pack some hot chocolate, and choose from St Elizabeth’s Village After Dark running all week or the Active Parents Halloween house maps leading you to the most over-the-top haunted front yards, from the Mountain to the North End and every tombstone in between.

If you liked this week’s issue please share it with the neighbour who’s already got the fog machine running.

~ Paul - ❤️

P.S. Next weekend is Hamilton Day, the annual celebration of small business and The Vibe is partnering with the Business Improvement Areas city wide with some very special Prize Drops or actually in celebration of Halloween we are calling Treat Drops! These will be bundles of different value gift certificates from local businesses totalling between $150 and $250 to be found. Be sure to be following us on Instagram and Facebook for announcements and the mystery treat drop locations starting next Friday.

🗓 Want to see your Hamilton, Ontario event included here? Please complete our Event Form here.

Note: Events may be full, cancelled or have changed times. Be sure to check or reach out to the venue before going.

Strong, not smaller. That’s the message at this Sunday’s Women’s Wellness Morning. 

Forget the pressure to shrink. This is a morning for women 30+ to build strength, quiet the stress and learn what your body needs at every stage. 

Hear from personal trainer Michela Beneforti on strength building, Olivia Carriero on osteopathy and Amanda Laporte on stress and brain health, then explore local vendors, mini services and giveaways. 

Grab a friend and make Sunday about you. Claim your spot today

Location: Hamilton Convention Centre

Date & Time: Sunday, October 25th, 9 am to 12 noon

Note: Events may be full, cancelled or have changed times. Be sure to check or reach out to the venue before going.

🔁 Looking for your favourite weekly or monthly event, like trivia, yoga, music jam, karaoke or open mic comedy show? We have them all in our Recurring Vibe.

🗓 Want to see your Hamilton, Ontario event included here? Please complete our Event Form here.

Any other questions? Get in touch [email protected]

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