When the leaves in Victoria Park start to turn and the weather gets a little cooler, you know it’s time for fall in London On. London has so many great events coming up in the fall that you can enjoy. If you’re looking for something fun to do with friends or family then have a look at some of these great ideas of things to do in London On.
1) Get your fright on at the “The Abandoned Village” experience at the Fanshawe Pioneer Village
The legend goes that when a freak storm cut off the Village from the surrounding area things got nasty. The Villagers turned on one another and did what was necessary to survive. In the months of isolation that followed an old dark secret rose out of the past and plunged the Village into chaos. Many of the Villagers were never found again, and those that were discovered were mere remains. Now, once in a Blue Moon, the ghosts of The Abandoned Village return. Will you survive your visit, or will you be added to their ranks?
Another year and another amazing scare experience with Fanshawe Pioneer Villages “Abandoned Village” tour. ByronScaryHouse has transformed the buildings into a terrifying tour. You’re led through the spooky space with a small group to get the scariest experience possible. This is easily one of the scariest things to do in London On.
Make sure to prepare for the weather and terrain as you’ll be led over uneven grounds, gravel pathways, grass and dark areas. The event is being presented following Covid-19 protocols and social distancing is maintained throughout.
Tickets for the event are $25 per person and the event is 14+. The dates for the tour are from Friday, October 15 to Sunday, October 31st. Tickets are available on their website and masks are required for everyone who enters.
2) Halloween Haunting Race in Springbank Park
If you’re looking for a fun experience that will get your blood pumping then sign up for the Halloween Haunting for a fun and friendly race around the beautiful Springbank Park which is easily one of the most beautiful places to go in London On.
The race went off without a hitch last year and the same safety protocols will be in place for this year’s race. Runners will need to be masked and the start times are spread out to encourage social distancing between runners. After the race has been completed, runners will receive a prepackaged race bag and their results from the race will be posted online at a later date. 
Runners are encouraged to bring their own water supply and a Covid screening questionnaire will be emailed to participants the day before the race. To keep within the provincial safety guidelines, the event is capped at 100 people so be sure to register as soon as you can. The event is on October 31st, and registration is available through the SoleScience London website.
Registration fees change based on how close to the race you are registering so try and get in as quickly as possible. Three races are available for adults including a 10k, 5k, and a 2.3 k plus a kids race is available for the last 300m of the course. If you love to run then this is one of the best things to do for Fall in London On.
3) Check out the fantastic fall Activities at the Londons Children’s Museum
The London Children’s Museum has a ton of great activities lined up for the fall season that any kid (or adult) will enjoy. The entry price is $9.50 for anyone over the age of 2 except on Thursdays where it’s Free Family Fun Night. Your kids will love to experience some of the great activities that the museum has to offer at one of the best places to go in London On.
Some of the amazing activities they have planned in October are:
- Rock Testing
(Oct. 7th from 5 pm to 8 pm, Oct. 9th from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm, Oct. 10th from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm, and Oct. 11th from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm)
“Explore the science of geology and experiment with the physical and chemical characteristics of rocks. Test and classify rocks and minerals based on their hardness, colour, streak colour, transparency, lustre, texture and chemical properties.”
- Maze Masters
(Oct. 12th from 9 am to 12 pm, Oct. 13th from 9 am to 12 pm, Oct. 14th from 9 am to 12 pm, and Oct. 15th from 9 am to 12 pm)
“Learn early coding skills through becoming a maze master! Create a maze on a tray with playdough walls and see if a marble can travel from start to finish!”
- On a Roll
(Oct. 19th from 9 am to 12 pm, Oct. 20th from 9 am to 12 pm, Oct. 21st from 9 am to 12 pm, and Oct. 22nd from 9 am to 12 pm)
“A paintbrush isn’t the only way to paint! Express your creativity in this innovative art experience as you explore colour, experiment with texture, and develop fine motor skills. Dip wheels in paint and drive the vehicles across the paper to create a masterpiece!”
- Ozobots
(Oct. 14th from 5 pm to 8 pm, Oct. 16th from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm, Oct. 17th from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm)
“Learn about coding by experimenting with Ozobots. Draw sequences and commands on paper for your Ozobot to follow. Program your robot and teach it to spin, zigzag, and more!”
4) Get spooked while you get a history lesson on the Crimes, Haunts and Curses tour or take a guided trip through a cemetery.
The city of London is full of horrifying history and terrifying tales. This tour will give you the rundown of some of London’s spookiest places, biggest scandals, and notorious crime connections straight from one of the tour Historical Interpreters. Their tours are one of the spookiest things to do in the fall in London On.
The tour starts at London’s beautiful Eldon house with several spooky stops including the Old Courthouse, the Grand Theater and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Registration is required for the tour and tickets are available for $12 (including HST) on the Eldon houses website. The tour runs on October 16th and 17th from 6:30 pm and 7 pm.
The Eldon house also offers guided tours in October through two of the city’s cemeteries. The Mount Pleasant cemetery tour on October 9th and 10th costs $15 and is described as “a tour diving into the history of the cemetery’s architecture and the unique ecosystem that make the grounds beautiful and serene. Learn details about the culture of death during the Victorian era, and the art and architecture carved into the monuments and gravestones at the Mount Pleasant site.”
The Woodland Cemetery tour on October 23ed and 24th also costs $15 and it’s listed as a tour of the Harris Family plot and neighbouring family plots and crypts. Learn details about the passing of specific Harris Family members, the culture of death during their time, and the art and architecture carved into the monuments and gravestones at the Woodland Cemetery site.”
These tours are recommended for anyone over the age of 12 and they recommend wearing shoes that are suitable for walking. Social distancing measures will be in place during the tour and participants will be given a screening questionnaire before the tour begins. For any questions or more information, call the Eldon house at 519-661-5169.
5) Catch some amazing horror flicks at the Hyland Theater
Halloween season means scary movies and the Hyland Theater has no shortage of them. The theatre is hosting 6 fantastic horror movies for October that are sure to give you the chills and it’s the perfect place for a date night in London On. With some modern-day frights and classic slashers, you’ll definitely find a movie that you’ve been “DIEing” to see so here’s a list of the showings.
- Friday the 13th (1980) which runs on Saturday, October 2nd at 9:30 pm.
A group of counsellors are brutally killed one by one at a summer camp held at the Camp Crystal Lake when the entrepreneur Steve Christie reopens the site, which was shut for years.
- Carrie (1976) which runs on Saturday, October 9th at 9:30 pm.
On the day of her prom night, seventeen-year-old Carrie discovers that she possesses telekinetic powers. She puts her powers to use when she is humiliated after a prank.
- Misery (1990) which runs on Saturday, October 16th at 9:30 pm.
A best-selling novelist is on his way home after completing his latest book when he meets with a car accident. He is rescued by an obsessed fan, only to discover that he is her prisoner.
- Get Out (2017) which runs on Saturday, October 23ed at 9:30 pm.
Chris, an African-American man, decides to visit his Caucasian girlfriend’s parents during a weekend getaway. Although they seem normal at first, he is not prepared to experience the horrors ahead.
- Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) which runs on Friday, October 29th at 9:30 pm.
When Elisabeta commits suicide, an enraged Vlad Dracula swears to avenge her death. Things take a turn when he meets Mina and takes her to be the reincarnation of Elisabeta.
- Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) which runs on Saturday, October 30th at 9:30 pm.
A young girl realizes that she has to stay awake at any cost to avoid the clawed killer who is butchering her friends one by one in their dreams.
Tickets are available online and they are $13 per person. This is a great event for any movie buff that wants to enjoy some great horror movies the way they were meant to be seen. The theatre has a current maximum capacity of 50 patrons to ensure they stay within the provincial guidelines so be sure to get your tickets as soon as you can.
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6) Give your ears a treat by watching some of the amazing talent coming to London this fall
Get ready to experience some great music as concert venues start opening up all over the city. It’s been a while since we’ve all experienced the feeling of live music so give yourself a treat by checking out some of these great shows. Make sure to check out each venue’s guidelines for entry and admission before you attend each event.
Rolodex Darko
October 9th, doors open at 8 pm
Old east bar and Grill, 765 Dundas st, London On
Tickets are $10 and the show features music by rolodex darko (Hamilton noise), Single Wound (Woodbridge metalcore), JOCK (London hardcore), Territory (Windsor hardcore) and Glasslvng (London hardcore/metal).
Matt Dusk
October 14th, doors open at 7 pm
London Music Hall, 185 Queen St, London On
Matt Dusk is a Canadian Jazz musician with certified gold albums titled Two Shots and Good News. He released the #1 radio hits “Back in Town,“” All About Me”, and “Good News”. Tickets for the event are $40.
Cloverdale
October 16th, doors open at 10 pm
Rum Runners, 185 Queen St, London On
Cloverdale is a six-piece alternative band based out of the South Jersey/Philadelphia area. Some of their singles include “Cadence”, “All I’ll Ever Be” and “Disposable”
Buckcherry
October 22nd, doors open at 7 pm
London Music Hall, 185 Queen St, London On
Buckcherry is an American rock band formed in Anaheim. They’re best known for their bar rock sound and singles like “Crazy B****”, “Lit Up”, “Sorry” and “All Night Long”. Their latest album, Hellbound, was released on June 25th of this year. Tickets to the show are $39.99.
Odonis Odonis
October 28th, doors open at 9 pm
Odyssey Records, 1025 Elias st, London On
Odonis Odonis is a Canadian industrial and electronic music group from Toronto, Ontario. They are known for their 2014 album Hard Boiled Soft Boiled, which was a longlisted nominee for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize. Their fifth album, Spectrums, was released this year.
7) Support your local teams by taking in a spectacular London Knights game
Another great thing that’s started to get back into gear is hockey. Catch the London Knights as they battle for the Memorial Cup and watch some potential future NHL stars play some great games. The Gardens are one of the best places to go in London On for a fun night.
The home opener is on October 8th at 7:30 pm against the Owen Sound Attack. The months of October and November have quite a few other games to give you your hockey fix.
- October 15th with the Knights vs the Windsor Spitfires
- October 22nd with the Knights vs the Owen Sound Attack
- October 29th with the Knights vs the Sarnia Sting
- November 5th with the Knights vs the Owen Sound Attack
- November 9th with the Knights vs the Guelph Storm
- November 12th with the Knights vs the Soo Greyhounds
- November 19th with the Knights vs the Sarnia Sting
- November 20th with the Knights vs the Kitchener Rangers
Tickets for the games vary in price and they are sold on the Budweiser Gardens website. Be aware that the venue complies with provincial mandated guidelines so be sure to check their website for updated screening and admission procedures.
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8) Take in some local movies at the Forest City Film Festival
The Forest City film festival is excited to welcome 92 amazing films to show to the public for this year’s festival. From October 19th – 24th, you can watch these amazing films at various London locations including 100 Kellogg Lane, RBC Place, TAP Center for Creativity, and the Wolf Performance Hall.
Tickets are available online for $14 per program but the Festival has a pass for sale that allows you to view every screening for $199. Some of the programs also offer a gala event where you can meet some of the people who helped with the production of the film, including actors, directors, and writers.
The festival runs in person from October 19th – 24th but after that, the films will be available for you to view online through a video-on-demand service so you can watch them from the comfort of your own home.
There are so many amazing events in London that are lined up for the fall season. You don’t have to go far to find something that you can enjoy with so many great options. Whether you want to take a creepy tour of the city’s coolest nooks and crannies or you just want to enjoy some great live music, there’s something for you in London.
