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A Riverside Halloween: Spook-tacular Events and Promotions From Our BIA Members

We started October strong with our biggest installment of the Riverside Vintage Crawl yet. We’ve got the Riverside Family Halloween Fest & Dog Costume Party in a few days (RSVP HERE) — that’s on top of other community programming happening in the neighbourhood!

BLOG: No Tricks, Just Treats: Halloween 2025 Community Events in Riverside

But Halloween in Riverside is far from over. We’ve got a few more exciting things happening this month. Check out this round-up of special Halloween events and offerings from our amazing local businesses to celebrate the spookiest season of the year:

Photo credit: The Broadview Hotel

Witching Hour at The Rooftop

Location: The Broadview Hotel (106 Broadview Ave)

Date & Time: Friday, October 31st | 9:30pm-1pm

Kick off Halloween at The Rooftop of The Broadview Hotel with unbeatable city views, high energy beats by DJ Thom La Leaf and curated drink specials ‘til late. Costumes are encouraged. Best costume takes home an overnight stay at The Broadview Hotel. Limited tickets available at the door. Get your tickets HERE.

Photo credit: Eastbound Brewing Company

Patchwork Orange Pumpkin Ale

Location: Eastbound Brewing Company (700 Queen St E)

This isn’t your average pumpkin spice situation — it’s smooth, malt and just the right amount of pumpkin pie vibes without feeling like you licked a candle. Available on tap at Eastbound Brewing Company (ask for the special sugar & spice rim), in cans to take home or order online.

Photo credit: The Opera House

Circus: Halloween

Location: The Opera House (735 Queen St E)

Date & Time: Friday, October 31st | 9:30pm-3am

Party at Toronto’s iconic The Opera House in Riverside this Halloween. Get your tickets HERE.

Photo credit: Tim Hortons

Halloween Timbits Buckets

Location: Tim Hortons (800 Queen St E)

Stop by Riverside’s locally owned Tim Hortons for your Timbits fix. In true Tim Hortons tradition, they’re bringing out their limited edition Halloween Timbits Bucket to carry the goods this spooky season.

Photo credit: Prohibition Social House

Spooky Party at Prohibition Social House

Location: Prohibition Social House (696 Queen St E)

Date & Time: Friday, October 31st | 8:30pm

Join Prohibition Social House for a spooky Halloween party with DJ Talmor. There will be a costume contest with prizes so come in your spookiest look! Follow @prohibitionsocialhouse for more details.

Photo credit: Amber Kitchen and Coffee / UNTITLED by Flaunt Boutique

Amber x (UNTITLED) Halloween Party

Location: Amber Kitchen and Coffee (4 Boulton Ave) & UNTITLED by Flaunt Boutique (792 Queen St E)

Date & Time: Friday, October 31st | 4:30pm-10pm

For Halloween, Amber Kitchen and Coffee and UNTITLED by Flaunt Boutique are joining forces for a spooktacular evening in Riverside. Start with the open food buffet and pumpkin carving at Amber, and then head over to UNTITLED for fun cocktails and candle painting. Follow @amberkitchento and @untitledtoronto for more details!

You know the drill: follow @riverside_bia on Instagram and check out the Riverside Blog for regular updates on exciting events and promos in the neighbourhood!

BLOG: A Howl-oween Tradition: Dog-Friendly Activities at Riverside Family Halloween Fest 2025

Getting Ready for the Riverside Family Halloween Fest (+ Dog Costume Party!)

In case you needed a reminder: the Riverside Family Halloween Fest is this weekend! Who’s ready for a spooktacular afternoon in the neighbourhood?

On Sunday, October 26th (11am-3pm), all the fun of the Riverside Family Halloween Fest is happening at Joel Weeks Park (10 Thompson St).

Like every year, it’s going to be filled with exciting activities for the whole family (including the doggos!), such as face painting, local vendors and the much anticipated Dog Costume Party!

BLOG: A Howl-oween Tradition: Dog-Friendly Activities at Riverside Family Halloween Fest 2025

Before we partake in all the Halloween fun this Sunday, we’ve got a few reminders to make sure you make the most of the Riverside Family Halloween Fest:

Plan your day.

We’ve got a lot happening in a four-hour event, so we suggest coming early or at least planning what you want to do (especially if you want to get those free treats first) as quantities of freebies are limited.

Prepare your costumes.

We’re not just expecting you to come in your spookiest ensemble, your dogs too! We love it when people fully embrace the spirit of Halloween and go all out with their costumes. If you don’t have a costume yet, why not check out vintage clothing shops in Riverside?

Tell your family and friends.

Help us spread the word! Bring your family, friends, neighbours, the whole gang! There’s something for everyone here. The best part? Admission is free!

Bring your dogs.

Everybody is welcome and we mean EVERY BODY! There will be plenty of dog-friendly fun to be had at Riverside Family Halloween Fest such as free dog treats (limited quantities!), photo booth by Fetch’n Pet Photography and more!

RSVP.

Let us know you’re coming. When you pre-register, you can get event deets and other important updates straight to your inbox. Get your free tickets HERE — and if you’re planning on entering your furbabies to the Dog Costume Party, register HERE!

Be sure to check @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog so you’re always updated on fun programming in the neighbourhood like the Riverside Family Halloween Fest! See you all on Oct. 26th!

BLOG: No Tricks, Just Treats: Halloween 2025 Community Events in Riverside

We acknowledge and thank the City of Toronto, Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario for support of this event as part of the ‘Riverside Ramps it Up’ project through the Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Fund 2025.

Businesses We Love #2: Testimonials From Riverside Local Love

We’re at the halfway point of Riverside Local Love already?! Two weeks left to enter the raffle — Riverside Local Love runs until Nov. 6th!

As a campaign, Riverside Local Love aims to highlight and support the many amazing small businesses in Toronto’s Riverside neighbourhood.

Joining is as easy as 1-2-3! Shop, dine, use services or leave a Google Review for a Riverside BIA business; enter our raffle up to once a day; and we’ll contact you by email if you’re a winner!

What can you win? $250 gift card for (3) weekly draw winners and $500 gift card for (2) grand draw winners — and the winner gets to pick a local independent business of choice from our list.

To view the full contest rules and important raffle information about Riverside Local Love (and the submission link for the raffle), click HERE!

BLOG: Riverside Local Love is back October 6th! Here’s How it Works

If you entered the raffle and didn’t get lucky this week, don’t worry, we have two more Weekly Raffles to go and our Grand Prize Raffle as well!

This week, we’ve got testimonials from our first batch of Weekly Draw winners. Here’s what they had to say about their favourite Riverside businesses:

“I went to a cafe and saw the Riverside Local Love poster. I had spent just over $10 so I thought, why not enter the raffle? I picked Butchers of Distinction because they are one of the best butchers in the East End.” – Shirley

“White Lily Diner is one of my favourite restaurants. The turkey french toast is amazing. I always tell people to come here. I think Riverside Local Love as a campaign is great because it reminds people that there are all these businesses here, which is especially important with all the construction happening in the neighbourhood. I feel like people already support local — Riverside Local Love just makes it more fun!” – Tess

“I love the vibe of Tabule and I love Middle Eastern food. I’ve never had anything bad here. I have friends who travel a lot too so whenever they’re in town, I bring them here. Even as a resident of the area, Riverside Local Love encourages me to be more involved in supporting local.” – Patricia

(Disclaimer: These statements have been edited for length and clarity.)

Check @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog for regular updates on Riverside Local Love!

Thank you to the City of Toronto and Government of Canada’s Transit Construction Mitigation Fund for support of Riverside Local Love as part of the ‘Riverside Ramps It Up’ project.

A Howl-oween Tradition: Dog-Friendly Activities at Riverside Family Halloween Fest 2025

When we say Halloween in Riverside is for everyone, we mean EVERYONE — not including the furrier members of the family we consider our babies too. 

Bring your pups over to Joel Weeks Park at 10 Thompson Street on Sunday, October 26th (11am-3pm) for the Riverside Family Halloween Fest and let’s have a barkin’ good time!

From free treats to the much anticipated annual Dog Costume Party, here’s everything happening for the doggos at this year’s Riverside Family Halloween Fest:

Dog Costume Contest 

Show off your dog’s best Halloween costume and get a chance to win prizes from local vendors and businesses. The contest starts at 12pm. Register your pet​ HERE.

Free Dog Treats 

We’ll be giving away free treats to all the doggos. You better come early though as they come in limited quantities.

​Local Dog Vendors

If you missed the Riverside Dog Lovers’ Market last month, here’s your chance to shop delicious treats and cute dog accessories while supporting small businesses.

Photo credit: Fetch’n Pet Photography

Free Photo Booth

Immortalize your Riverside Family Halloween Fest experience with your pooch by snapping a pic at the free photo booth by Fetch’n Pet Photography.

Doggy Donative Drive

The event is free to attend but feel free to bring new or gently used dog toys and supplies to be donated to Toronto Humane Society!

All these fun activities and ​more surprises await you, your pooch and the whole family at the  Riverside Family Halloween Fest and Dog Costume Party on Sunday, October 26th!

We’ve got an exciting lineup of events happening in the neighbourhood this Halloween so be sure to check @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog for updates!

BLOG: No Tricks, Just Treats: Halloween 2025 Community Events in Riverside

We acknowledge and thank the City of Toronto, Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario for support of this event as part of the ‘Riverside Ramps it Up’ project through the Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Fund 2025.

Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition: Gin Amore Cocktail by AURA (Feature 1 of 7)

Are you ready for a flavourful fall in Toronto’s Riverside? The Riverside BIA and seven amazing local businesses are hosting the first installment (of hopefully many) Riverside Flavours! 

On NOW until Nov. 15th, Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition features local venues offering a unique dish or drink around classic fall warming spices: cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and nutmeg. 

Are you all excited to see what our local business have for Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition?! We’re starting off strong with a feature of Aura’s Gin Amore.

Gin Amore Cocktail

Participating Business: AURA (@auratoronto)

Address: 686 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1G9

A popular nighttime destination in Riverside, bar and cocktail lounge AURA sticks to their guns with the Gin Amore Cocktail, a sleek seasonal drink made with cinnamon and nutmeg. You can enjoy the Gin Amore Cocktail in the moody atmosphere of AURA’s lounge interiors or out on their heated patio for those chilly autumn nights.

More about Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition:

 

More than just a showcase of culinary creativity, Riverside Flavours is also a chance for you to show support for local businesses in the Riverside neighbourhood. 

Here’s an awesome bonus: when you try these featured items, you can enter our raffle and get a chance to win a local dining prize pack!

With every order of any Riverside Flavours item, you can enter our raffle and vote for your faves in 3 fun categories! There will be weekly and grand draw winners — plus, an esteemed panel of food & drink experts will be voting for their top dish or drink!

To view the full contest rules and important raffle information about Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition (and HOW to enter the raffle), click HERE!

Read through the fine print of Riverside Flavours – Fall Edition and come right back to the blog to read more about the featured dishes and the BIA businesses behind them!

Check @riverside_bia on Instagram and the Riverside Blog in the coming weeks for updates on Riverside Flavours –  Fall Edition!

We acknowledge and thank the City of Toronto, Government of Canada and FedDev Ontario for support of this campaign as part of the ‘Riverside Ramps it Up’ project through the Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Fund 2025.