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Elora's Monster March parade cancelled, but displays still going up

Other events across Centre Wellington are still going forward during Monster Month in October
20171021 Elora Monster Parade KA 04
Many buildings in Elora are adorned by Tim Murton's 'Twilight Zoo' sculptures along the route of the Monster March Parade. Kenneth Armstrong/GuelphToday file photo

ELORA – Elora’s annual Monster March Halloween parade has been cancelled, but the downtown monster displays are still going up and other events are moving forward.

Kirk McElwain, chair of Sensational Elora who own and manage the displays, confirmed the Monster March parade is cancelled and are trying to develop an alternative virtual event but nothing is finalized yet.

However, Tim Murton’s Twilight Zoo sculptures are still going up and McElwain said it will be a bigger and better display than usual.

“We normally charge local businesses for putting up the monster on their building,” McElwain said, explaining that it covers storage and repairs.

“This year we’re doing it all for free just as a thank you to the businesses because of COVID and how it may have affected some businesses.”

This resulted in many businesses willing to go ahead with having the displays on their building or property.

All of October would normally be packed with events in Centre Wellington for Monster Month but many have also been cancelled this year. 

McElwain noted that the Sensational Soup-Off, Ennotville haunted forest walk and murder mysteries at the Grand River Raceway are cancelled.

Some events will still happen with COVID restrictions in place. 

McElwain said the Wellington County Museum and Archives is hosting some spirit walks and the Bookery in Fergus will have tarot and numerology readings.

On Halloween day, the Elora Mill is running a safe trick or treating event from their gatehouse and downtown Fergus will hold a street walk with some activities for children.

“I think Monster Month has become something that local and visitors look forward to each year and to cancel it completely would set it back,” McElwain said. “If people can go out on heated patios and have a monster looking down on them, it adds a little something to the evening.”

The main purpose of the events is to continue to attract locals and visitors to downtown as the busy summer season winds down and they enter into a slow winter period. 

The Twilight Zoo monsters start at the Elora Cafe on Geddes Street then go down Metcalfe Street to the Badley Bridge with some on either side of Mill Street.

McElwain encourages those interested to keep an eye on the Monster Month website as more events will be added.


Keegan Kozolanka

About the Author: Keegan Kozolanka

Keegan Kozolanka is a general assignment reporter for EloraFergusToday, covering Wellington County. Keegan has been working with Village Media for more than two years and helped launch EloraFergusToday in 2021.
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