Toronto trail group offers Halloween fun
SPOOKY FUN — Eight-year-old Paisley Sutherin of Toronto takes a walk through Perry Winkler’s Haunted Trail, of of two attractions organized by the Hike Toronto group at Toronto Union Cemetery. The other is a haunted hayride along the cemetery’s roads, with details on some of Toronto’s more mysterious citizens shared along the way. -- Contributed
SPOOKY FUN — Six-year-old Paxton Sutherin of Toronto stopped to rest along Perry Winkler’s Haunted Trail, one of two attractions organized by the Hike Toronto group at Toronto Union Cemetery. The other is a haunted hayride along the cemetery’s roads, with details on some of Toronto’s more mysterious citizens shared along the way. -- Contributed
SPOOKY FUN — Eight-year-old Paisley Sutherin of Toronto takes a walk through Perry Winkler’s Haunted Trail, of of two attractions organized by the Hike Toronto group at Toronto Union Cemetery. The other is a haunted hayride along the cemetery’s roads, with details on some of Toronto’s more mysterious citizens shared along the way. -- Contributed
SPOOKY FUN — Six-year-old Paxton Sutherin of Toronto stopped to rest along Perry Winkler’s Haunted Trail, one of two attractions organized by the Hike Toronto group at Toronto Union Cemetery. The other is a haunted hayride along the cemetery’s roads, with details on some of Toronto’s more mysterious citizens shared along the way. -- Contributed
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TORONTO -- Volunteers in the Hike Toronto group are offering area residents an opportunity to celebrate Halloween, enjoy the outdoors and perhaps learn a bit about the Gem City's history.
The group, which was formed to develop recreational trails near Toronto Union Cemetery and elsewhere, is offering a haunted hayride along the cemetery's paved roads on Saturday and Oct. 27, 28 and 31.
J. David Core, leader of Hike Toronto, said a haywagon will be pulled by a city truck from the former site of the Roosevelt Center at 600 Loretta Ave. to the cemetery each night.
Local author Bob Petras will serve as guide for each 1.5-mile ride, offering a look into the more mysterious of Toronto's citizens through the years.
In some cases, the historic figures will be played by local actors. Members of Hike Toronto encourage individuals interested in filling additional roles to reach out to them through the Hike Toronto Facebook page.
There will be four rides, each including up to 25 passengers, running from dusk until about 10 p.m. on most of the nights, with rides on Oct. 28 starting a half-hour later to avoid conflicting with the city's Trick-or-Treat hours.
Those interested in participating should make an appointment by purchasing a ticket online at hiketoronto.ticketleap.com/hayride.
The cost per person is $15 for ages 16 to 65; $5 for those older than 65; and $10 for youth under 16. The latter must be accompanied by an adult.
Proceeds will go to maintenance of the cemetery. The group also will be accepting donations of $30 or more for its efforts to develop a system of trails in the city, with each donor receiving a Hike Toronto mug or T-shirt.
The center of Hike Toronto's other Halloween attraction is entirely fictional.
Perry Winkle, described by Core as "a harbinger of evil," got his name from a reworking of the Periwinkle Fairy Trail created by the group this summer.
Running about a half-mile from an area near a storage shed at the bottom of the cemetery's lower section, the path had been decorated with figures of fairies, elves and other decorations.
Core said for Halloween some of the same volunteers, as well as others, have replaced the fairies and elves with objects of a macabre nature.
He said visitors can use their cell phones to scan QR codes printed on signs along the trail to hear two narratives, one from the entry point near the shed and another from the trail's end, which for this attraction, may be entered from an area near the gorge across from the gazebo.
Core said he wrote the two narratives so they can be understood in either order, depending on which direction a trail user is following.
In keeping with plans to offer trail-based events in various themes, a winter wonderland is planned for November.
For trail users' safety, Perry Winkler's Haunted Trail won't be open after dark and everyone is encouraged to wear footwear suited for its rustic terrain.
Admission to the trail is free.
Core expressed thanks to volunteers and city personnel for their assistance, including Mayor John Parker, Don Starkey, Bob Holmes and Larry Hughes.