For the past few years we have heard about how several Ontario Parks campgrounds host Halloween festivities, but have not had the chance to go. Camping near the end of October has its challenges due to the cold and wet weather, and although we’ve often camped as far north as Arrowhead Provincial Park for Thanksgiving, we are not really properly prepared for the colder camping season. However, this year we really felt like we had the knowledge and skills (and blankets) to endure any weather Mother Nature would throw at us.
By the time we decided to make the trip, all of the electric and yurt sites were long gone, so we booked a non-electrical site at Mew Lake. That meant that we needed to figure out how to stay warm at night without a heater. The plan was to each use two sleeping bags, a few blankets to cover us up, and foam mats on the floor as extra insulation from the cold ground. The weather was only forecast to be a little colder than we’d been out in before (with less gear) so we figured this would keep us warm enough.
However, we got really lucky since a friend of mine, Janice, scored an electrical site for the same weekend and we made plans to share the site with her and her son, which meant we would have access to electricity to run our small space heater to keep the chill out of the tent so that we wouldn’t feel too cold.
Friday Night
Although the forecast looked clear, we passed several rain showers on our drive north, and when we arrived just after dark, it started to lightly rain in the park so we setup as fast as we could fearing a downpour. We made quick work of the tent and wouldn’t you know it… it stopped raining after we were done.
We were in such a rush to beat the rain, that we hadn’t had a chance to check out the rest of the campground, but once the tent was setup we spent some time checking out everyone’s decorations. There were still many sites setting up but it was clear that people were going all out and we were amazed at just how much people decorated. As we sat around the fire in our very minimally decorated site, we all joked about how we need to hit up the Halloween sales for next year.
On our way 
wow 
double wow 
Love my campfire nights
Saturday Morning
We woke to a frosty morning, but having the space heater going meant we were comfortable inside the tent. That morning Hayden and Janice’s son Thomas decided to get a fire going so that we could hang out and stay somewhat warm after breakfast. It was nice to sit and hang out that morning, while anticipating the afternoon and evening events.
Views by the comfort station 
Keeping warm by the morning fire 
sillies! 
Nice set up, wish we had a hot tent.
Saturday Afternoon
Janice and her son had plans to go into town to get more wood (it is amazing just how much you burn in a hot tent) and spend the afternoon visiting places in the park. We decided to go for a bike ride over to Lake of Two Rivers and around the campgrounds. With Mew Lake campground full, the park opened up Lake of Two Rivers as well, meaning there were campsites also decorated over there, so we went to see them as well.
LOTR beach 
So nice outside
Decorated Sites and Costume Contest
Once we returned from our bike ride we went around Mew Lake to check out all the decorated sites and then headed over to the costume contest. We were not lucky to win any prizes, but it was so cool seeing all the different costumes. There were some really great ones in the crowd!
Cool sites 
wow
During the costume contest, each age group walked around the comfort station and park staff made their choices. We joked about how I should have ran around partially dressed while Dan chased me in his “Jason” costume… Maybe, just maybe we would have won.
Jason in his element 
Beetlejuice 
Witches 
Rock star Duane 
What a group! (Rachel won a prize!) 
Meep!
After the contest it was time for Trick-or-Treating!!! Hayden and some of the kids he knew went out and got their fill of candy while the adults stayed at the site to hand out the goodies. I did head out a few times to loop the camp group and get some pictures of all the families and more of the sites. There was one site that I really enjoyed as they had Newfoundland music playing AND it was set up as a kitchen party. Made me wish I was home with my family.
Lots of trick-or-treaters 
ummmmm…. 
Our site at night
Sunday Morning
The only bad thing about this time of year is the unpredictable weather. It can be warm, cold, raining, or snowing. We had nice weather until later Saturday evening. It rained all night and into the Sunday morning. Our site was a big puddle from all the rain, so we didn’t spent very much time at the site that morning. We packed up quickly and headed home.
That’s a big puddle 
It’s all drying out
Even though the rain made us leave early, we still had an amazing time. If you have not yet been to an Ontario Park for their Halloween weekend, it is a must, even if it is just once. I think we might have to go back again next year, with hopefully more decorations…. and maybe a hot tent??