Blue Jays Halloween: Toronto’s World Series Quest Collides with Spooky Traditions and Stormy Weather

World Series Meets Halloween: A Night of Doubleheader Decisions

Toronto is buzzing, but not just with the usual Halloween excitement. On October 31, 2025, the city finds itself at the crossroads of two powerful traditions: the annual celebration of costumes and candy, and the Blue Jays’ historic quest for the World Series crown. For the first time in 32 years, Canada’s only Major League Baseball team is just one win away from clinching the championship — and the moment falls squarely on Halloween night.

The collision of these events is forcing families, businesses, and die-hard fans to make tough choices. Do you bundle up your kids for trick-or-treating, or gather around the TV for Game 6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers? For some, the answer is both — but Mother Nature isn’t making it easy.

Wicked Weather: Mother Nature’s Own Trick

This year, Halloween in Toronto and across much of Canada comes with a forecast that’s more spooky than festive. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued warnings for heavy rain and powerful winds in regions including eastern Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. In Metro Vancouver, up to 80 mm of rain is expected, while Montreal braces for about 60 mm. The result? Communities are rethinking how — and when — to celebrate.

Some towns, especially in northern New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, have postponed trick-or-treating to Saturday, citing safety concerns. “It’s one thing to go out with a bit of rain,” said Luc Foulem, communications manager for the City of Bathurst, “but when we’re talking about substantial precipitation and wind, that’s a different situation.” CBC News reports that Charlottetown, Cornwall, and Stratford have also moved festivities due to the forecast. Yet, in places like southern New Brunswick and Toronto, the show goes on despite the weather — and the baseball drama.

Bar Owners, Fans, and Families: How Toronto Celebrates Both

For local businesses, Halloween is usually a big night. But with Game 6 scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre, venues are scrambling to handle the doubleheader. Barbara MacPhee, who transforms her midtown sports bar “The Cat’s Cradle Sports and Spirits” into a haunted house each year, told The Canadian Press, “I’m built on Halloween, and my husband is built on sports. So this day is like a mega-amalgamation of him versus me.” This year, her family will juggle trick-or-treating, candy distribution, and then racing to the bar to catch the game — all while braving Halloween traffic.

Elsewhere, sports bars like Joe Kool’s in London, Ontario, expect packed crowds of both costume-clad revelers and baseball fans. “I don’t know how you do a Blue Jay Halloween costume, but it’s going to be different than other nights, for sure,” joked owner Mike Smith.

At home, the fusion of fandom and festivity is even more creative. Jamie Schacter, a lifelong Jays supporter and Halloween enthusiast, has turned his house into a local landmark for the holiday. “Lots of people from not just the city, the GTA people, people come in from out of town, and they’re like, ‘Oh, we were told we had to come here.’” Schacter’s annual charity event draws crowds of more than 1,500, and this year, he’s setting up a portable projector screen so passersby can catch the game while trick-or-treating. He and his son plan to attend the game dressed as zombies — in Jays jerseys, of course.

For families like the Ratanshis in Stouffville, the night means everyone, including the kids, will be “draped in Jays gear.” Their Jack-o-lanterns won’t feature ghosts or goblins, but the Jays’ logo — a testament to how deeply the team’s run has woven itself into local Halloween traditions.

Historic Halloween World Series: Baseball’s Spooky Legacy

While it’s rare for the World Series to coincide with Halloween, it’s not unprecedented. Since 2001, there have been seven MLB World Series games played on October 31, each with its own share of drama and iconic moments. The first was Game 4 between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees, which famously stretched into November with Derek Jeter’s “Mr. November” walk-off home run. Other memorable Halloween games include:

• 2009: Yankees vs. Phillies, played in a drizzle, with the Yankees prevailing 8-5.
• 2010: Giants vs. Rangers, rookie pitcher Madison Bumgarner dominating for San Francisco.
• 2015: Royals vs. Mets, Kansas City staging a late comeback to win 5-3.
• 2017: Dodgers vs. Astros, L.A. forcing a Game 7 after a clutch win.
• 2021: Astros vs. Braves, Houston staving off elimination with a 9-5 victory.
• 2023: Rangers vs. Diamondbacks, Texas winning 11-7 en route to their first title.

This year, the Blue Jays hold a 3-2 lead against the Dodgers. A win tonight would secure their first World Series title since 1993, while a Dodgers victory would push the series to a decisive Game 7 — again on a weekend filled with Halloween spillover events.

Baseball Fever vs. Festive Spirits: Finding Balance

Fans are finding creative ways to merge the competing demands of baseball and Halloween. Some parents are using waterproof ponchos and glowstick umbrellas for trick-or-treating in the rain, while others pack emergency kits with extra socks and Ziplocs, following tips from local bloggers like Tina Wentzell. For many, the night is about compromise: catching the early innings between candy handouts, or setting up outdoor screens so neighbors and kids don’t miss a pitch.

Yet, for some communities, the weather’s wrath means Halloween gets postponed — and the baseball tension lingers an extra day. If the Jays lose Game 6, Game 7 will fall on Saturday, potentially clashing with rescheduled festivities in parts of the Maritimes and Quebec.

The anticipation in Toronto is palpable. The city is “abuzz with hope,” reports CBC News, as fans dream of witnessing history: a homegrown championship, celebrated in costume, and perhaps even in the rain.

As Toronto faces a rare convergence of sporting history and Halloween tradition, the choices made tonight will echo in family stories and city lore for years. Whether the Jays clinch victory or the drama stretches to Game 7, this Halloween reminds us how sports and celebrations can unite communities, spark creativity, and — even in stormy weather — make for memories that last well beyond the final out.