27 Jul Vampire Costume Contest (1:00 to 1:45PM)
Toronto Garlic Festival: Vampire Costume Contest, Judged by Bity-Bat
Join us at the Toronto Garlic Festival Vampire Costume Contest for a fang-tastic time! Whether you’re a young vampire enthusiast or a seasoned bloodsucker, this contest has a category for everyone.
Contest Categories
- Children (0 – 12 years): Individual
- Youth (13 – 18 years): Individual
- Adults (19+ years): Individual
- Groups (2+ people): All ages
Note: Contestants cannot compete in both individual and group categories.
Judging Criteria
Costumes are judged by Bitty-Bat on several key elements, including:
- Originality: Whether the costume is store-bought, crafted, or a combination of both.
- Craftsmanship Accuracy: How closely it resembles the original character (if portraying a specific vampire).
- Craftsmanship Quality: The quality and attention to detail in sewing, painting, makeup, and overall fit.
- Technique: The use of a variety of difficult or creative skills.
- Time Invested: The effort put into creating the costume (e.g., more than one week vs. less than one week).
- Performance & Stage Presence: Creativity, entertainment value, and how well the costume is performed, including a potential reaction to garlic!
How to Participate
- Free to enter! Simply show up in your best vampire attire and wow the judges.
- The contest will run in rounds, with each category being judged separately. Prizes will be awarded after each category.
- Pre-registration Perk: Sign up ahead of time, and you’ll receive a free garlic bulb when you arrive in costume at the contest area. Sign up here:
Prizes:
The prize is…Ontario garlic. Why give garlic to a vampire? Exposure therapy — one bulb at a time until they can walk past an Italian restaurant without bursting into flames.
Contest Date
- Sunday, September 28, 2025, from 1 to 1:45 pm
- Contest Location: The Music Stage at Toronto Garlic Festival
- Festival Location: It’s a streetfest. We’re closing Spadina Rd between Davenport Rd and Dupont St. Free admission to the Festival.
About Bitty-Bat
Bitty-Bat (pictured above) is a mischievous bat-like creature who has charmed audiences through performances at Toronto Sketchfest, Toronto Fringe, the Montreal Clown Festival and Edinburgh Fringe. This enigmatic character is the creation of Toronto-based actor and clown Emily Jeffers, who drew inspiration from the 1922 film Nosferatu, dancer Loie Fuller, the “Bat Child Found in Cave” from the Weekly World News, and other influences to develop Bitty-Bat’s unique look. Although she is usually a creature of few words, Bitty-Bat is delighted to speak (or squeak) as emcee at the Toronto Garlic Festival’s Vampire Costume Contest. Follow Bitty-Bat on Instagram! @bittybatshow
Photo Credit: Elana Emer
Garlic Baristas offer free, fresh-pressed cloves of Ontario garlic to festival visitors, to add extra oomph and kapow to garlic dishes or, to get a leg up in the Garlic Breath Contest. Our Garlic Baristas get a good workout from peeling and pressing garlic all day long to keep up with demand! Parsley and lemon at the ready if needed!
