halloween 2025 reporté

Halloween 2025 Postponed Across Canada Due to Severe Weather: What You Need to Know

As Halloween 2025 approaches, Canadian families are bracing for a twist in their spooky plans. Across multiple provinces—from the Atlantic coast to Quebec and beyond—officials have begun announcing the postponement of Halloween festivities, including trick-or-treating, due to severe weather forecasts featuring heavy rain, strong winds, and even early-season snowfall.

This year, Mother Nature seems determined to play the ultimate trick on Halloween. But behind the gloomy skies lies a growing trend: municipalities increasingly prioritizing safety over tradition, leading to widespread rescheduling of one of Canada’s most beloved autumn celebrations.

Let’s dive into what’s happening, why it matters, and how communities are adapting to keep the spirit of Halloween alive—just a day later.

The Big Picture: Why Is Halloween Being Delayed?

Verified Reports: Rain, Wind, and Snow Set to Disrupt Halloween Night

According to Radio-Canada, the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region in Quebec is bracing for a wet and stormy Halloween night, with forecasts predicting significant rainfall that could turn trick-or-treating into a soggy, unsafe ordeal. “Bonbons, monstres, sacs, suçons… et imperméables!” (Candy, monsters, bags, licks… and raincoats!) reads the headline, capturing the grim reality: raincoats may be more essential than capes this year.

Meanwhile, TVA Nouvelles confirms that up to 20 millimeters of rain are expected during the evening hours across parts of Quebec, with wind gusts adding to the hazardous conditions. The report emphasizes that umbrellas and rain gear will be necessary for anyone venturing out—hardly ideal for children navigating dark streets in costumes.

Further east, MétéoMédia warns of a major weather system bringing the first significant snowfall of the season to northern New Brunswick and parts of Labrador. While not widespread, this early winter blast adds another layer of concern for municipalities already grappling with rain and wind.

“Parapluie ou imperméable seront de mise pour la collecte des bonbons,” notes TVA Nouvelles—translation: “Umbrellas or raincoats will be required for trick-or-treating.”

These conditions have prompted several cities to take action—officially moving Halloween to Saturday, November 1st.

Recent Updates: Cities Announce Halloween Postponements (Verified)

Chronological Timeline of Official Decisions

October 29, 2025 – Bathurst, New Brunswick

The city of Bathurst becomes one of the first to issue an official statement:

“En raison des conditions météorologiques prévues (pluie et forts vents) pour le vendredi 31 octobre, la Ville de Bathurst informe les résidents que les activités officielles de l'Halloween auront lieu le samedi 1er novembre cette année.”
(Due to forecasted weather conditions (rain and strong winds) on Friday, October 31, the City of Bathurst informs residents that official Halloween activities will take place on Saturday, November 1 this year.)

This decision affects trick-or-treating hours, community events, and school-sponsored Halloween programs.

October 30, 2025 – Multiple Maritime Municipalities

Following Bathurst’s lead, dozens of towns across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island issue similar advisories. Local news outlet maisonqc.com reports:

“Les petits monstres devront patienter un peu avant de partir à la chasse aux bonbons. Dans plusieurs villes des Maritimes, la fête d'Halloween est officiellement reportée à samedi en raison du mauvais temps attendu ce vendredi soir.”
(The little monsters will have to wait a bit before going trick-or-treating. In several Maritime cities, Halloween is officially postponed to Saturday due to bad weather expected Friday night.)

October 31, 2025 – Eastern Quebec and Ontario

By Halloween morning, additional municipalities in Quebec—including parts of the Gaspé Peninsula and the Lower North Shore—announce delays. In eastern Ontario, while no blanket postponement is declared, local organizers of haunted trails, pumpkin festivals, and outdoor events begin issuing rain-or-shine policies or shifting to indoor venues.

“We’re monitoring the radar closely,” says a spokesperson for a popular haunted forest attraction near Ottawa. “If the storm hits early, we’ll delay opening until Saturday. Safety comes first.”

British Columbia (Unverified but Contextual)

While no official postponement has been confirmed for B.C., Environment Canada meteorologist Mark Madryga warns that blustery fall weather will begin Thursday night across Haida Gwaii, the north and central coast, and northern Vancouver Island. Though not as severe as in the east, this raises concerns about slippery roads and reduced visibility—factors that could influence last-minute decisions by local councils.

Note: This B.C. forecast comes from supplementary sources and is not yet confirmed as prompting cancellations, but it underscores a national pattern of weather-related disruptions.

Contextual Background: A Growing Trend of Weather-Driven Halloween Rescheduling

History of Postponed Halloweens in Canada

This isn’t the first time Canada has seen Halloween moved due to weather. In fact, 2019 marked a turning point when over 40 municipalities, including Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax, delayed trick-or-treating to November 1 due to a powerful nor'easter that brought torrential rain, flooding, and power outages.

That year, the shift was widely praised by parents, emergency services, and public health officials. It also sparked a broader conversation about flexibility in cultural traditions—especially when safety is at stake.

“Halloween is fun, but not worth risking a child’s life,” said Dr. Marie-Claire Dubois, a pediatrician in Quebec City, in a 2019 interview. “Wet costumes, dark streets, and high winds create a perfect storm of hazards.”

Since then, municipalities have developed clearer protocols for evaluating weather risks. Many now consult Environment Canada and local emergency management teams before making announcements.

Cultural Shifts: From Rigid Rituals to Adaptive Celebrations

Halloween has evolved in Canada from a quiet Celtic harvest tradition into a $1.2 billion industry—complete with haunted houses, pumpkin patches, costume contests, and candy sales. But as climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events, communities are rethinking how to celebrate responsibly.

• 2017: A snowstorm in Alberta forced Calgary to cancel outdoor events.
• 2020: Pandemic restrictions led to virtual Halloween parties and contactless candy drops.
• 2023: High winds in Newfoundland caused tree branches to fall, prompting early warnings.
• 2025: Now, rain, wind, and early snow are the new threats.

The result? A more resilient, adaptive approach to holiday planning—one that values inclusivity, safety, and community well-being over rigid adherence to the calendar.

Immediate Effects: What This Means for Families, Businesses, and Communities

1. For Families: A Mixed Bag of Reactions

Parents across affected regions are divided: - Supportive voices praise the move: “Better safe than sorry,” says a mother in Moncton. “I’d rather my kids go out in dry weather than risk slipping in the mud.” - Disappointed kids (and some parents) mourn the loss of the traditional date: “It doesn’t feel like Halloween on November 1,” laments a dad in Fredericton.

Schools and daycare centers are adjusting schedules, with some holding Halloween parties on Friday and trick-or-treating on Saturday—a compromise that maintains the fun while respecting safety.

2. **For Businesses: