An autumn wind blows, and from the shadows stalks the annual Terror in the Bay Film Festival. With its 10th anniversary coming up next year, this is a well-deserved win, as the Terror has become a local cornerstone for October festivities. Each year, Chris Borgo and dedicated volunteers transform the Paramount Theatre into a horror movie mecca for four nights of frightful independent films from around the world. Carefully curated and decidedly different from sanitized blockbusters, each night’s lineup features all manner of formats and sub-genres, demonstrating crazy creativity and pitch-black humour through compelling stories. Along with the hours of programming per night, Terror also gives a space for horror fans to dress up and geek out thanks to a red carpet photo shoot and costume contests. With vendors and themed concessions added to the mix in recent years, it’s clear Terror is still evolving, and we can't wait for next year when it shambles forth from the crypt again.

-Justin Allec

2. Vox Popular Media Arts Festival

3. Banff Mountain Film Festival

2. Carrie: The Musical - Paramount Live

3. The Music Man - Badanai Theatre Co.

2. Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire

3. Tumblestone Music & Art Festival

During the months of July and August, Wednesday nights in Thunder Bay see Marina Park fill with people of all ages excited for an evening of entertainment. Live on the Waterfront’s lineup champions the city’s music scene, with a majority of performers being Thunder Bay locals, but it’s not just about the music—you’ll find all kinds of food vendors, artisan and community booths, and activities that make this event a summertime essential. This year’s summer send-off was particularly memorable, as organizers exchanged fireworks for a drone show that lit up the night sky with a spectacular display of local monuments and wildlife that was unquestionably a special summer memory for everyone there to witness it.

-Sidney Ulakovic

2. Craft Revival

3. Thunder Bay Buskers Festival*