The goblins, zombies and other horrors return to Oshawa Oct. 19 for the Halloween Monster March

A dozen years after Oshawa’s first Halloween parade was held downtown, the ghouls and goblins are returning to the city for next month’s Halloween Monster March.

The Monster March is a one-of-a-kind event designed to celebrate the spooky season with a dazzling display of creative parade entries, costumes and candy-filled fun. The parade will begin at Gibbons Street and travel along King Street, ending at Drew Street at the eastern edge of downtown.

Oshawa Tourism, in partnership with Superzooka, is bringing this Halloween-inspired parade to the city’s streets on Saturday, October 19 from dusk (approximately 6:30 p.m.) until 9 p.m.

Families, friends and Halloween enthusiasts will be treated to an evening of eerie excitement, all in the spirit of community celebration. Local businesses are invited to show their support and community spirit by registering their own parade entries.

“We are incredibly excited to bring back the Oshawa Monster March after all these years,” said Krista Licsi, Director of Oshawa Tourism. “This is the only parade of its kind in Ontario and is very much a celebration of our community and the creativity that exists within it!”

The last event, the brainchild of local marketing agency Citrus Media, was held in 2012, with a crowd of people (with many looking scarier than the monsters on procession) braving the rain to watch zombies, monster mobiles and even a demonic brass band parade around Memorial Park.

This year’s Monster March promises to be even bigger, and as Licsi noted, a “unique opportunity” to connect with both residents and visitors in downtown Oshawa. Whether you’re looking to march or simply want to spectate, she added, this event promises to be the perfect way to kick off the spooky season.

“Haloween is one of the most epic ways to celebrate and there are so many people here who are keen on it,” she said. “It’s also a great opportunity for residents and businesses to show how they can get creative. It’s something fun and unique.”

For more information on how to get involved, visit https://www.oshawatourism.com/halloweenmonstermarch. For businesses looking to get more details and register for their participation on the event, visit Oshawa Halloween Monster March.