Your first Halloween in Quebec? This year, October 31 falls on a Saturday: no school the next day. Here's how the night works, the safety rules to know and a few free parties organized by Montreal's boroughs.
How it works. On Halloween night, children in costume go door to door around their neighbourhood, ring doorbells and receive treats. Parents usually go along with the younger ones. If you'd like to take part from the other side of the door, all you need is wrapped candy within reach.
The SAAQ's safety tips. The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec publishes its tips for a safe Halloween, written for children aged 5 to 12:
- Wear light-coloured clothing with reflective strips.
- Use makeup rather than a mask, and carry a flashlight to see and be seen.
- Ring doorbells with a member of your household, and wait outside the houses.
- Do one side of the street at a time, walk on the sidewalk and cross at intersections.
- Check the treats with your parents before eating them.
The SAAQ also asks adults to avoid driving that evening if they can, and otherwise to slow down: children have trouble judging the distance and speed of vehicles, especially in the dark.
Free parties in the boroughs. Several Montreal boroughs run their own activities. Three confirmed examples for 2026:
- Lachine: the merchants' big candy hunt takes place on Friday, October 23 from 6 p.m. on Notre-Dame Street, between 6th and 18th avenues, which goes car-free for the occasion. On October 31, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Saul-Bellow and Saint-Pierre libraries hand out candy in themed settings, according to the Lachine borough.
- Pierrefonds-Roxboro: from October 23 to 31, the borough offers a free program, including the 5th edition of its big Halloween party. The haunted house, for ages 12 and up, requires registration, the event listing specifies.
- LaSalle: the borough holds its Halloween party on Saturday, October 31. Rue Centrale will be closed between 7e Avenue and avenue Lacharité from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and any vehicle still parked on that stretch at 4:30 p.m. will be towed at the owner's expense, the borough warns (notice in French only).
If you'd rather go to a paid event, two options are still running in October: Fright Fest at La Ronde, until October 25, and Halloween at the Botanical Garden, until October 31.
Good to know for newcomers. Three practical details. First, if your street is hosting a neighbourhood party, read the parking signs in the days before: towing is expensive and applies even on a Saturday night. Second, for activities near you, check your borough's page on the City's website: most are free, but some require registration. Finally, the clocks change the next night: overnight from Saturday, October 31 to Sunday, November 1, clocks go back one hour, as we explain in our article on the time change. Tired kids get an extra hour of sleep.
