​​BRAMPTON, ON (October 20, 2020) – This year, Halloween is going to look different in Brampton due to COVID-19. As residents hang their decorations and plan their spook-tacular Halloween at home, the City of Brampton is offering ways for residents to safely enjoy this year’s celebrations.

Trick or Treating in Brampton

Following the direction of the Province and Peel Public Health, traditional door-to-door trick or treating is not recommended in the modified Stage 2 public health unit regions, including Peel Region and Brampton, and people should consider alternative ways to celebrate. This can include:
• Encouraging kids to dress up and participate in virtual activities and parties
• Carving pumpkins at home
• Having a movie night or sharing scary stories
• Decorating front lawns

To help keep our community safe, the City of Brampton has a wide range of fun, free Halloween events for families to enjoy online this year!

Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Get in the spooky spirit and show off your pumpkin decorating skills. Submit a photo of your decorated pumpkin between October 16 and 29 to win one of 50 pairs of Brampton Recreation passes to attend a swim, skate or fitness program! Full details at www.brampton.ca/recreation.  

Free Monster Mash Activity Kits

Get creative with an at-home Halloween activity! Create your own monster using a ready-made supply kit and follow a step-by-step online tutorial. Free activity kits are available for pickup beginning October 19. Full details at www.brampton.ca/recreation.  

Mayor's Craftiest Costume Contest

This Halloween, get crafty and create the City’s coolest Halloween costume! The City will present awards for the top three costumes for children under 10, with a special scroll and gift for everyone who participates. Our panel of judges includes Mayor Patrick Brown, City Councillor Doug Whillans, Regional Councillor Rowena Santos, Peel Regional Police Superintendent Nav Chhinzer, Peel District School Board Trustee Kathy McDonald, and the City’s Acting Commissioner of Community Services Derek Boyce.

Participate by sharing a picture of your costume on Instagram between by October 31 at 6 pm using #BramptonCraftiestCostume2020, and emailing your photo to events@brampton.ca for a chance to win some great prizes from local Brampton treat vendors!

Winners will be contacted directly and announced on Instagram Live @patrickbrownont on October 31 at 8 pm.

Great Pumpkin Party and Social Media Contest

This year, the Great Pumpkin Party is going virtual. Watch professional pumpkin carving artists Rick Jacobson and Roy Chisholm create sculptured and 3D Jack-o’-Lanterns! Learn tips and tricks and be sure to enter your creation in the Pumpkin Decorating Contest.

Following Halloween, put your costume on one last time and take a picture composting your pumpkins. Find out how to compost your pumpkins here. Share your picture on social media between November 1 and 6 using #BramptonHalloween2020 and tagging @CityBrampton for a chance to win some great prizes!

In past years, the City has asked residents to bring a non-perishable food item to the Great Pumpkin Party. This year more than ever, local food banks need support. Please consider donating any amount you can to local food banks.

Quotes

“In light of the Province’s decision advising against trick or treating, the City is taking a number of steps to celebrate Halloween this year in Brampton and I encourage everyone to enjoy the fun activities we have planned including the Craftiest Costume contest, pumpkin decorating and the Great Pumpkin Party.”
- Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

“This Halloween, be sure to have our community’s health and wellbeing top of mind and celebrate safely at home with your loved ones. We have many exciting, safe activities, to enjoy with your family and be sure to participate in our contests for the chance to win some great prizes!”
- Harkirat Singh, City Councillor, Wards 9 & 10, Chair, Corporate Services, City of Brampton

“We will be celebrating Halloween at a distance this year, but that doesn’t mean we are any less connected. Put on a spooky costume, check out our online activities, and don’t forget to share your costumes on social media using #BramptonCraftiestCostume2020 for kids 10 and under, and #BramptonHalloween2020 when you compost your pumpkins in costume!”
- Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5, Vice-Chair, Corporate Services, City of Brampton

“Health and safety are our priority as Halloween festivities take place across Brampton this year. Be sure to celebrate with Peel Public Health’s safety measures in mind by staying home to celebrate. Decorate a pumpkin, get a monster mash activity kit, and enjoy the day!”
- David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton