👋 Hey everyone! It's a short week, so let's jump right in. We're officially at PEAK pumpkin spice season—fall activities are everywhere and things are getting wonderfully spooky with Halloween events. Have an amazing week!

My Top 5 Picks This Week Around Durham

1. 🎃 Pumpkinville at Greenwood Conservation Area (FREE pumpkins, haunted house & games!) – AJAX

2. 👻 Oshawa Boo Bash (FREE all-day Halloween street festival!) – OSHAWA

3. 🍎 Applefest and Craft Sale (FREE apples, cider & 4 blocks of fun!) – CLARINGTON

4. 🎃 Pickering Fall Fling (FREE pumpkin painting & costume contest!) – PICKERING

5. 👻 Firehouse Fright Night at Watson Farms (haunted corn maze adventure!) – CLARINGTON

🎃 Knox's Pumpkin Farm | CLARINGTON
Daily | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Knox's Pumpkin Farm
Cost: $15 general farm admission; $22 includes pumpkin and wagon ride | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Pick your own produce, roam through the fields, browse the Farm Store, and sample delicious homemade goods.

👻 Spooktacular Halloween Hunt | PICKERING
Thursday, October 16–Wednesday, October 22 | During mall hours
Location: The Shops at Pickering City Centre
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Are you ready for a spooky challenge? Visit Centre Court for a ghostly Halloween adventure! Search high and low to spot the hidden ghosts throughout our Halloween display. Then float on over to Guest Services with your count, for a Halloween activity book when you're done!

🍎 Nature's Bounty Farm Pick-Your-Own Apples | SCUGOG
Wednesday-Sunday | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (through end of October)
Location: Nature's Bounty Farm
Cost: $5/weekdays $10/weekends | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Bring the whole family for a full day of fall fun: Pick-your-own apples, visit farm animals, climb the straw pyramid, play in the corn bin, find the perfect pumpkin, and so much more! Open Wednesday-Sunday, apple picking available until end of October.

👶 Brews & Birth Stories | AJAX
Thursday, October 16 | 10:30 AM–11:30 AM
Location: Vandermeer Nursery
Cost: FREE | Age: Moms and babies
🔗 Event Details
A short stroll around the beautiful Vandermeer nursery, we will grab our drinks from La Casita Del Cafe, which is a beautiful pink coffee trailer. We will then sit and discuss all things birth. Talking about your birth story is such a healing experience. Registration is for members only (membership is free).

💪 Babies & Barbells Fitness Social | AJAX
Thursday, October 16 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: ONFitness
Cost: $10 | Age: Moms and babies
🔗 Event Details
Postpartum-friendly fitness class designed to help you reconnect with your core and rebuild strength. Joined by Emilia, a nutrition expert from London Nutrition Co. 30 min fitness class (core-focused & postpartum safe), 15 min nutrition chat, 15 min social.

🎨 Curious Minds Kids Club: Make Your Own Upcycled Ghost Painting | CLARINGTON
Thursday, October 16 | 4:00 PM–7:00 PM
Location: Grounded Bowmanville
Cost: $15/ticket | Age: All ages (must be accompanied by guardian if under 16)
🔗 Event Details
Jump on the spooky viral trend and make your own Viral Ghost Painting! We'll provide the thrifted art pieces—all your young artist has to do is add the ghosts!

🏋️‍♀️ 2nd Annual MAMAFit Collective | AJAX
Friday, October 17 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM or 1:00 PM–3:00 PM
Location: The Plae House + Inspired Studios
Cost: $40/ticket (mom and child 0-6 years) | Age: Moms + kids 0-6
🔗 Event Details
Bringing together the best that Durham Region has to offer when it comes to all things MAMA, from paediatric and postpartum support, to self care, wellness and movement. Proceeds donated to Community Care Durham for Perinatal Mental health Service Support. Moms will have 1 hour to play, sip and snack at The Plae House and 1 hour to connect with vendors. FIRST 40 MAMA GET AN AMAZING SWAG BAG!!!

🎃 Fall into Fun with Ary | AJAX
Saturday, October 18 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Audley Recreation Centre
Cost: $22 per child (1 parent free!); second parent $5; 1 and under $10 | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Come out for our second annual family event filled with sensory play, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, a ball pit and soft play area, meet & greet with Mickey Mouse, and snacks and refreshments for both children and parents to enjoy!

🎃 Pumpkinville at Greenwood Conservation Area | AJAX
Saturday, October 18 | 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Greenwood Conservation Area
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Live stage, children's games and activities, interactive experiences, community displays and exhibitors, sensory zone, and our infamous haunted house! Don't forget to trick-or-treat, visit the Elexicon Energy Haunted House and pick up your free pumpkin at the Steve & Amanda's NoFrills Pumpkin Patch (while supplies last). Free shuttle service from 3 convenient locations starting 10:45 AM.

🧱 IndigoKids: Make a LEGO Bookmark | AJAX
Saturday, October 18 | 3:00 PM–4:00 PM
Location: Chapters Ajax
Cost: $5/child | Age: 6-12
🔗 Event Details
Build, play, and take it away—customize your own LEGO® bookmark to use with your favourite books. *This event is also happening at Indigo Oshawa Centre. Registration includes 1 Lego kit plus $5 Gift Card for Indigo, Chapters, Coles.

🎄 IndigoKids: Holiday Tonies Play | AJAX
Saturday, October 18 | 1:00 PM–2:00 PM
Location: Chapters Ajax
Cost: $5/child | Age: 3+
🔗 Event Details
Explore the world of Tonies through festive activities, creative colouring sheets, and a hands-on toy demonstration that brings storytelling to life. Plus, take home a holiday Tonies character! *This event is also happening at Indigo Oshawa Centre. Registration includes $5 Gift Card.

🍎 Applefest and Craft Sale | CLARINGTON
Saturday, October 18 | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location: Downtown Bowmanville
Cost: FREE admission | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
This tremendously popular annual street festival celebrates all things apple. Four city blocks showcase local apple growers offering fresh picked apples and goodies. You'll also find fresh-pressed apple cider, homemade apple pies and crisps, candy and carmel apples, cider donuts, and so much more. FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE from Liberty Church (1965 Bowmanville Ave) every 10 minutes.

👻 Firehouse Fright Night at Watson Farms | CLARINGTON
Thursday, October 16–Saturday, October 18 | 7:00 PM–10:00 PM (booked timeslots)
Location: Watson Farms
Cost: $17/person (discount available when bought in group of 4) | Age: All ages (parental discretion)
🔗 Event Details
The 18th annual Firehouse Fright Night trail of terrors inside the huge corn maze! This year's theme - "Courtice's CarnEvil!" Interactive, story-driven trail (about 30 mins), Spooky Wagon Ride, Over 30 scenes spread across 100,000 square feet.

👻 Oshawa Boo Bash | OSHAWA
Saturday, October 18 | 1:00 PM–10:00 PM
Location: Downtown Oshawa
Cost: FREE admission (non-perishable food items, hygiene items, or new unwrapped toy donations appreciated) | Age: All ages (parental discretion)
🔗 Event Details
Get ready, ghouls and goblins! Downtown Oshawa is turning delightfully spooky for one night only during the Oshawa Halloween Boo Bash "Spirits Rise" 2025 event! Join for a frightfully fun first ever Halloween bash packed with pumpkins, costumes, music, vendors, and eerie surprises around every corner!

🐶 IndigoKids: Bluey Bash | OSHAWA
Saturday, October 18 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Indigo Oshawa Centre
Cost: $5/child | Age: 3+
🔗 Event Details
Join us for storytime and fun activities inspired by your favourite crew. Plus, enter for a chance to win a Bluey book! *This event is also happening at Chapters Ajax. Registration includes $5 Gift Card for Indigo, Chapters, Coles.

🧱 IndigoKids: Invent, Build & Play with MAGNA-TILES! | OSHAWA
Sunday, October 19 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Indigo Oshawa Centre
Cost: $5/child | Age: 3+
🔗 Event Details
Earn a Junior Engineer certificate and sticker by exploring speed, motion, and problem-solving. Plus, enter for a chance to win the Rail Racers set! *This event is also happening at Chapters Ajax. Registration includes $5 Gift Card.

🧱 Sunday Kids Club: Halloween Celebration | OSHAWA
Sunday, October 19 | 2:00 PM–4:00 PM
Location: All Michaels stores in Durham region
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Get ready to celebrate all things spooky season with this free Halloween Celebration! Join us in-store to create a Treat Bag, ghostly friendship bracelets, and more.

🦁 Wild 4 Wildlife Festival | OSHAWA
Saturday, October 18–Sunday, October 19 | 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Location: 155 Arena Street
Cost: FREE admission | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Celebrate nature with wildlife, eco-activities & family fun while supporting conservation! Due to limited space, this is a ticketed event. Don't miss out—reserve your spot today!

🎃 Pickering Fall Fling | PICKERING
Saturday, October 18 | 11:30 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Millennium Square Pickering
Cost: FREE admission | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Celebrate autumn with pumpkin painting, miniature train rides, photo stops, vendor markets, and a Halloween costume contest. Outdoor event.

🏛️ Doors Open Whitby | WHITBY
Saturday, October 18 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Various locations in Whitby
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Doors Open Whitby returns to celebrate the rich heritage and history that makes our town so unique. From striking architecture to repurposed landmarks, Whitby is full of hidden gems that reflect the stories and traditions woven into our everyday spaces. There's something for everyone, and every open door holds a new adventure!

🎃 Ajax Pumpkin Giveaway | AJAX
Tuesday, October 21 | 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
Location: Community Hall, Entrance C, Audley Recreation Centre
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Free pumpkins from Wintermere Sod Growers & Winter Farm Vegetables (one per family while quantities last), Local organizations offering nut-free candy, Fun photo opportunity, 6-7 PM Sensory-Friendly Hour, Accessible for all.

🎵 Sing Along with MOJO and Co! | UXBRIDGE
Tuesday, October 21 | 10:45 AM–11:15 AM
Location: Uxbridge Library
Cost: FREE | Age: Children 0-4 and caregivers
🔗 Event Details
Join us in October for MOJO & Co! They will delight you with music, poetry and fun! This event will also take place on October 28.

📚 Storytime at the Shops | PICKERING
Wednesday, October 22 | 12:00 PM–12:30 PM
Location: The Shops at Pickering City Centre, Centre Court
Cost: FREE | Age: All ages
🔗 Event Details
Join us in Centre Court for a magical half-hour of stories, hosted by Pickering Public Library!

👶 Hey Mama Social Club Outdoor Walk | WHITBY
Wednesday, October 22 | 10:00 AM
Location: Cullen Park Trail
Cost: FREE | Age: Moms and babies
🔗 Event Details
Grab the stroller, lace up and let's walk! Join us every Wednesday in October at 10AM for an outdoor walk, at Cullen Park Trail in Whitby.

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