[PHOTOS] Halloween on Church 2025 celebrates queer joy in Toronto

The agenda for anyone at Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village this past Friday night was simple — have fun. For Halloween on Church 2025, tens of thousands packed into the historic home of Toronto’s LGBTQ+ community, turning six blocks of Church Street into a runway of creativity, connection, and community.

The largest Halloween party in Canada, and one of the largest in the world, is centered around a free street festival where costume-clad attendees parade and pose for photos. The looks ranged from horrifying to hilarious. This year, Aunt Gladys from the horror movie “Weapons” stole the show. More than a few attendees channeled her unique style — red wig with short bangs, caked-on makeup, tinted glasses, and brightly colored clothing.

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There was a full lineup of entertainment, including a live DJ and drag performances. The Village’s many bars and restaurants also participated by putting up elaborate decorations, waiving cover charges, and hosting special events throughout the night.

It’s important to note that this legendary party has a dark history. In the 1960s, ’70s, and even into the ’80s, Halloween drag ball and costume parties put on by Toronto’s highly suppressed LGBTQ+ community were marred by bigotry and homophobia. Attendees were frequently confronted by spectators shouting hateful slurs, throwing eggs, and, in many cases, engaging in violence.

Undeterred, the events continued, and the hostility dwindled as the LGBTQ+ community received increased government recognition and protection. The raw determination and courage of attendees during those early years laid the foundation for everything the event has become, as well as the broader acceptance of queer life across Canada.

By the 1990s and early 2000s, the Halloween party on Church Street developed organically and became the Village’s can’t-miss night out, with costumed revelers strutting up and down the sidewalks, claiming their space. As participation continued to grow, the city took notice. Eventually, Church Street was closed for the festivities, officially welcoming everyone to join in the celebration.

While most present-day Halloween on Church attendees have little knowledge of the event’s past, those who spoke with GayCities this year all noted the importance of the event beyond being a fantastic party. They stressed that it provides queer and trans people, their families, friends, and allies a public safe space not just to celebrate Halloween, but also to celebrate themselves.

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