A Hands-on Festival!
Clay and Paper Theatre presents the 26th Annual Night of Dread Festival, from October 2nd to 25th, 2025, a month-long series of free, public, hands-on workshops, culminating in a theatrical pageant, with giant puppets, fire spinners, stilters & live music.
At this much loved, family friendly, multi-arts festival, Clay and Paper Theatre invites Davenport residents to call on, mock and banish their small fears and their big fears for their community and the world. Through engaging art making opportunities, puppetry, pageantry, installations, shadows shows, music and ritual, we'll face our darkest fears together.
We’re currently working on the 2025 Night of Dread Poster and can’t wait to share it with you! When it’s ready you’ll be able to download it for free.
You’re Invited!
Exciting Ways to Participate
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Volunteer Opportunities
As always, the Night of Dread Festival eagerly welcomes Volunteers for the final Festival night's procession, pageant and other park activities. Be a Park Guide, Event Assistant or a Puppeteer, Character Performer or Scenario Animator.
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Workshops for Everyone
Join us for free hands-on creative adventures at the Dufferin Grove Park Rinkhouse. This year’s Festival offers workshops in Giant Puppetry, Shadow Puppetry and the Youth Magpie stilting club for 12 to 18 year olds.
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Join the Community Studio
Explore different puppet building, print and art making techniques with the Clay and Paper Theatre artist team. Help us build the Fear of the Year image, make and repair puppets, masks and props. Adults and teens are welcome.
“I used to be that sour puss who hated dressing up for Halloween until I went to @clayandpaper’s Night of Dread. It’s free and most magnificent. Dress up and join in or watch from the sidelines. Best Toronto. Kids-to-zombie friendly.”
Finally, join us for our last evening of revels at the Night of Dread Festival Pageant on Saturday, October 25th, starting at 6pm in Dufferin Grove Park. Audience members sign-out and carry Clay and Paper Theatre puppets as part of the park procession of our fears and lead us into the pageant. Spectators are treated to a community theatrical display in which the Fear of the Year for 2025 is announced and confronted. The pageant is followed by a concert in the Valley of Remembrance (in the park valley) and a bonfire where the Fire Keeper will name our fears and burn them for us. The evening ends with our audience members slipping back into the darkness of the night, hopefully, less fearful of what lies ahead of them.
Be sure to check out our Park Maps and Artist line-up for this final spectacular night of giant puppets, fire spinners, stilters & live music.
Parade & Pageant
