As the eerie season of all things spooky approaches, there’s a town in Ontario where the horrors of Stephen King’s IT crawled off the pages and onto the screen. Welcome to Port Hope—a quiet, picturesque town just an hour east of Toronto, where a sinister clown once terrorized a group of kids.

Dare to visit the very place where Pennywise lurked? This fall, Port Hope might just be your ultimate horror destination.

IT. & Pennywise

“If you’ve seen the movies, you’ll recognize Memorial Park downtown where a 20-foot statue of Paul Bunyan presided and members of the Losers Club sat nearby at a picnic table,”  shares Port Hope Tourism.

“And don’t miss the laneway off Walton Street beside the film’s Quality Meats store. You can still find the sign in the alleyway for a souvenir selfie.”

There’s a self-guided walking tour in the town where you can explore all the movie sites. This is a thrilling experience for true horror fans.

Though the movie aspect of the town is enough to want us to visit, Port Hope is a lovely, small town that’s home to so many great perks.

What else is there in Port Hope?

From street festivals to vintage movie theatres, local shops, and more, the town prides itself on its community and the history it holds.

Its very own Capitol Theatre was actually recognized as a National Historic Site for its status as one of the oldest restored theatres in Canada, according to the theatre.

And one of the few remaining atmospheric auditoriums in North America.

The town also vouches for its arts community as many creatives find themselves lost in the ambiance.

This is the type of place where you can enjoy sunsets by the water and go for a ride down quaint streets and scenic country roads.

And one other thing! People also come to Port Hope on the weekends from mid-August to early October to “watch the 5,000 to 19,000 Chinook and silvery Coho Salmon swim from Lake Ontario up the Ganaraska River that runs through Port Hope on their way to their home spawning grounds.”

It’s a delight! Now plan that day trip and explore Port Hope this fall season.

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Karen Doradea

Karen Doradea

Managing Editor, Toronto – Karen is a multimedia journalist based in Toronto. With a strong knowledge of reporting and editing through all forms of media, she has a true passion for storytelling. She carries several years of journalistic experience and has covered the Toronto scene from local stories to national news. When Karen isn’t publishing fire content, you can find her binge-watching sitcoms on Crave, at a must-try restaurant, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok looking for the next best thing – News never sleeps.

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