Calgary’s Halloween haunts bring big scares

Mason DePatie takes us on a tour of some of the best Halloween displays to see in Calgary.

For some Calgary residents, Halloween is more than just a night for candy and costumes—it’s a months-long dedication to creating spectacular, terrifying spectacles.

From smoke-breathing dragons to clown tunnels and haunted mazes with live actors, these dedicated homeowners spend months planning and building their attractions, driven by a love of the spooky season and a desire to give back to the community.

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The North’s Dragon Den

At 133 Harvest Hills Dr. N.W., Tracey Spiers has transformed her yard into a landscape covered in animatronics.

The crown jewel is a smoke-blowing dragon flanked by 15-foot-tall skeletons.

“We started with the small little witch and we keep her for nostalgic purposes, and then we’ve graduated more and more,” explained Spiers.

Spiers says she began her elaborate display nine years ago, but last year she added a new, meaningful twist: collecting donations for the local food bank.

Last year, the display gathered 500 pounds of food, and Spiers is looking to double that this Halloween.

“We’re close. We’re real close,” she said. “So far we’ve got four boxes.”

Speirs credits her neighbourhood for helping her aim even higher this Halloween.

Backyard of Pure Terror

In the southeast, on the corner of Elgin Street and Elgin Manor, Braeden Robert’s haunt grows more ambitious every year. What starts as an eye-catching graveyard on the lawn leads visitors down a path into a full sensory overload in the backyard.

Guests must first navigate a clown tunnel that features a variety of terrifying clowns.

The path leads to the backyard, where animatronics, a movie screen, and all sorts of spooky props await.

“A lot of people’s jaws are on the floor when they leave,” said Robert.

Robert says he began his haunt nearly 20 years ago at his father’s house and has been growing the display ever since.

“I like bringing everybody together and yeah, just everyone having a good time for that one night a year, whether it be snow, rain or wind, it’ll be here,” he said.

The sheer volume of his attraction requires a real labour of love, with prep work starting as early as August.

The Shrieker’s Winding Maze

A third haunted house, located at 241 Prestwick Circle S.E., features a full tour through the home’s garage, which has been converted into a winding maze.

The attraction features a variety of ghoulish props and live actors ready to sneak up on unsuspecting guests.

The owner, who goes by the alter ego “The Shrieker of the Badlands,” spends months planning the maze.

“We love to get together, and obviously, we just love to share our community,” said The Shrieker, “And I love the togetherness of getting everyone together and strangers talking to strangers and everyone having fun.”

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The Shrieker was also inspired to join the cause, collecting food bank donations this year after seeing so many people attend the house in previous years and realizing how many could use the help.

Thursday night featured a toned-down version for younger kids, but Friday is the real deal, so visitors should come prepared.