20 spooky shots from Toronto's most fearful festival

The annual Night of Dread Festival returned to Dufferin Grove Park this weekend. Hosted by Clay & Paper Theatre, the 15th iteration of the event once again featured ghoulish costumes, effigy burning, and the shedding of fears that ranged from monsters to climate change to getting fat. The hour-long procession took to Bloor St. in all its spooky glory, where onlookers gawked and grinned at the masked revellers.

Then, as dusk gave way to night, the theatre started. Fire artists deftly twirled batons while oversized effigies duked it out in front of the crowd gathered back at the park. It was creepy and cathartic all at once, as our collective fears were poured out into the night to be consumed by flame.

Check out all the highlights from Night of Dread 2014 in this photo gallery.