Zombie Doll Factory

 

Location: West Bend neighbourhood

Date photo taken: 19 October 2025

I've said it before. I absolutely love the creativity that Torontonians demonstrate at Halloween. While I'm sure there are hotbeds of creative expression spread throughout the city, each year I head for the West Bend neighbourhood to get my Halloween fix. This year it did not disappoint - one yard even provided a jump scare. It's also where I found this charming display. You're only seeing a piece of it here, but  those figures top left represent a long line of Barbie and Disney princess-style dolls waiting patiently for transformation. The rest of the yard is populated with an incredible display of zombie dolls, each one waiting for their chance to star in your next nightmare.

Rotten Candy

 

Location: Hepbourne Street

Date photo taken: 23 October 2023

Once again, Toronto yards were dressed to impress this Halloween. The giant skeletons I posted about last year have taken over a lot more real estate, and big, ropey spider webs seemed to be the it choice for many, but my favourite installation employed neither. This Halloween hawker stands outside Hepbourne Hall, one of half a dozen figures that make up their Halloween Circus. It's an incredibly detailed tableau and thoughtfully includes both a scavenger hunt and souvenirs. 

Giant Skeleton

 

Location: Dundas Street East

Date photo taken: 16 October 2022

Oversized skeletons are definitely a thing this fall. I see them in front yards and hanging out on porches, even riding giant skeletal horses. Or, in this case, watching the street life from the safety of the backyard.

Creepy Babysitter

 

Location: Shuter Street

Date photo taken: 16 October 2021

Happy Halloween! 

Lenticular Fright

Location: Riverside neighbourhood

Date photo taken: 21 October 2020

The Halloween display at this Riverside home filled their yard and incorporated a nice mix of store-bought props and home made elements. Among the former were some engagingly frightful lenticular pictures of small girls that changed from pleasantly perfect to perfectly fiendish as you walked past them. This is the first year I've noticed these, and while I came across several houses displaying them, I loved that at this house they put them right out at the sidewalk where I could fully appreciate their creepiness without feeling like a creep myself.

Spiders

Location: Niagara - King West neighbourhood

Date photo taken: 26 October 2017

Spiders are big for me this Hallowe'en.  Not sure why. So here's a pic from a few years ago. I want to know where that giant spider lives the rest of the year.

If you want a good Hallowe'en read, I can recommend Web by John Wyndham. While not his best work, it's creepy and it sticks with you. 

Doom Buggy

Location: St. Lawrence neighbourhood

Date photo taken: 29 October 2018

Happy Halloween and be careful out there!

Ghoulish yard

Location: West Bend neighbourhood

Date photo taken: 30 October 2013

I love that at Halloween many Torontonians go way behind putting out a few pumpkins when they decide to decorate their houses and yards. This picture is from awhile ago but the oversized ghoul remains one of my all-time favourite yard decorations.

Happy Halloween!

Floating Pumpkins

Location: Sunken fountains, High Park
Date photo taken: 25 October 2015

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the High Park Pumpkin Float. It was the first time I've attended but seeing the crowds and the absolute joy of the kids as they watched their carved pumpkins being set afloat, I can see why it's lasted so long. It seems that not all the jack-o-lanterns enjoy the experience though.

Happy Halloween!

Skeleton

Location: A yard in Corktown

Date photo taken: 14 October 2014

Happy Halloween!