BURST
Halloween may not be a statutory holiday but it does land on a Friday night this year.
That’s no doubt good news for anyone who doesn’t have to go to work or school on Saturday. So maybe this is your year to dress up for a costume party. And no need to wait for Halloween when you can take in one of the many thrilling and chilling events or light festivals happening throughout the month of October in Metro Vancouver.
Be sure to bookmark this list of 13 ideas and check back for updates:
1. Burnaby Halloween Festival
It’s not just for Halloween night! This festival takes over the city from Oct. 3 until Halloween, so you can have your candy and eat it, too. There’s so much to do.
Pumpkins After Dark will once again light up Central Park with more than 6,000 hand-carved pumpkins choreographed to music and special effects. Running in costumes is always a hoot so you might want to sign up for the Monster Dash 5K run.
Central Spark is a community event at Central Park with live entertainment, games, food trucks and a fireworks finale.
From Oct. 22 to Oct. 26, Burnaby Village Museum hosts the Haunted Village. Wander through 10 acres of freaky scenes, such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Count Dracula’s Castle, Anasi the Spider, the Journey of the Monkey King, Maleficent and Sleeping Beauty, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Momotaro the Japanese Peach Boy, Hansel and Gretel and more.
Throughout October, Burnaby’s neighbourhoods will be transformed during the Neighbourhood Decorating Contest , as residents compete to create the spookiest, most imaginative displays for a $1,000 grand prize.
And, food lovers can get hands-on at Bake It Spooky with Punk Rock Pastries , an interactive baking class led by local Food Network champion Hollie Fraser, where creepy-cute creations come to life.
Location
: Various locations.
Hours
: Oct. 3 to Oct. 31. Hours for different events vary. Central Spark is on Oct. 24 at Central Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price
: Many events are free. Registration for the Monster Dash at Swangard Stadium costs $58 from Sept. 20 to Oct. 24.
2. The Maze of Monsters at Guildford Town Centre
Just like Burnaby, the folks at Surrey’s Guildford Town Centre like to make Halloween a month-long party. The Maze of Monsters runs from Oct. 1 to Halloween.
The free walk-through experience will showcase animatronics, eerie creatures and haunting characters lurking in the shadows. Organizers say that although the event is designed for all ages, toddlers might find it a bit scary.
While the maze doesn’t cost money, guests are encouraged to donate non-perishable food for the Surrey Food Bank, with Guildford Town Centre matching each item with a $2 donation, up to $5,000.
Guests can also enter for the chance to win a $1,000 Guildford Town Centre gift card located at the exit of the experience.
Location
: Guildford Town Centre, in Centre Court, Lower Level, 10355 152 St., Surrey.
Hours
: Oct. 1-31, Monday through Saturday from 12-9 p.m., and Sundays from 12-7 p.m.
Price
: Free
3. Terror at Tanglebank in Abbotsford
Check out one of the Fraser Valley’s most thrilling seasonal events. There are different levels of experiences, from chilled-out ones for the little people and big scares for the older kids and adults.
As dusk settles, the forest trails shift into a shadowy labyrinth for families to wander. Then at night, terror awakens. Fog coils between twisted trees, broken cabins creak in the dark, and graveyards stir with the restless dead, according to the event’s online description. Venture deeper and you’ll face sinister scarecrows, torchlit ruins, and monstrous figures that appear when you least expect them.
Location
: Tanglebank Woods, 29985 Downes Rd., Abbotsford.
Hours:
Sept. 26 to Oct 30. Hours vary.
Price:
Tickets for family hour all ages with no scare actors costs $15 while general admission is $27. Tickets for the R. I. P access are $55.
4. Nightmare Bar in Vancouver
This one is for the adults over 19 at the Alibi Bar in Vancouver. Starting Oct. 3, the Nightmare Bar kicks off a month-long celebration of all things Halloween.
This 90-minute immersive experience is inspired by iconic films and classic horror. There’s a themed menu of drinks and dishes, and activities hosted by resident ghosts and ghouls. Costumes are encouraged.
Location
: Alibi Room, 157 Alexander St., Vancouver.
Hours
: Oct. 3-31. Multiple dates and times.
Price:
Prices vary from around $18 to $20, including booking fee and taxes. You can book a time and date
HERE.
5. Canyon Frights at Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver
This is one for all ages. Canyon Frights returns to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park from Oct. 10 to Nov. 2.
The park will transform into a haunted forest playground filled with Halloween-themed food and drink, live entertainment, and seasonal fun.
The suspension bridge and the forest come alive with light displays and frightful decor, while there are games, scavenger hunts, and Halloween activities for little goblins and ghouls.
Location
: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, 3735 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver.
Hours
: Oct. 10 to Nov. 2. Park Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Oct. 24, 26 and 31 the park is open an extra hour, to 9 p.m.
Price
: Tickets cost $28 for a child, $49 for a youth, $64 for a student with ID, $72 for seniors over 65, and $78 for adults over 18.
6. Fright Nights at Playland
Fright Nights at the PNE is an annual event featuring seven haunted houses and more than 15 amusement rides. It’s super spooky, so recommended for people 13 years and older. Guests are not permitted to wear costumes or costume makeup.
Fright Nights is open on select nights from Oct. 3 to Oct. 31.
Location
: Playland Amusement Park, 2901 E Hastings St., Vancouver.
Hours
: Oct. 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 22, 26, 29, from 6-11 p.m.; and Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, from 6 p.m.-12 a.m.
Price
: $39-$69 (ordering online ahead of time at
frightnights.ca
is cheaper than buying at the door).
7. Witchilano Paddle
Put down your broom sticks and pick up your paddles. Kitsilano’s Witchilano Paddle takes place on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Kitsilano Beach at 11 a.m.
Port Moody has a similar witch paddle board event on Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. at Rocky Point Pier. A community Facebook post says “calling all witches and warlocks come dressed in black witching attire and spook out your SUPs, kayaks and canoes.” There is no lifeguard, so wear your PFDs.
Location:
Kits Beach in Vancouver and Rocky Point Pier in Port Moody
Hours:
11 a.m. on Oct. 4 for the Kits paddle and 2 p.m. on Oct. 11 for the Port Moody paddle.
Price:
Free (Witchilano is a fundraiser for SHARE Family and Community Services so witches and warlocks are encouraged to bring any packaged food in good condition. Most needed items are nutritious canned goods, whole grain rice or legumes, and baby formula. Cash is also appreciated.)
8. Richmond Halloween Fireworks Night at Minoru Park
Richmond also has more than 20 family friendly events planned for October, including the fang-tastic Halloween Fireworks Festival in Minoru Park on Halloween night.
On Halloween night, bring friends and family to the Halloween Fireworks Festival at Minoru Park at 7191 Granville Ave. from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. to watch stage performers including a magician, jugglers and the “ShowStoppers” ensemble.
Participants can also check out Kwantlen’s pumpkin display, visit the inflatable corn maze, and take in carnival style games and activities to win candy and chocolate bars.
The fireworks finale starts at 8:30 p.m.
Location
: The Halloween Fireworks Festival at Minoru Park at 7191 Granville Ave.
Hours
: Oct. 31 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
Price
: Free but some events throughout the month require registration at
richmond.ca.
9. Haunted Cellar Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Hotel
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver invites guests into a world where elegance meets the eerie with flickering candlelight, gothic decorations and pastries such as “blood berry” scones and desserts like the chocolate midnight burial.
Location:
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 W Georgia St.
Hours:
Sept. 25 to Nov. 9. Seatings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. (Also Monday Oct. 13.)
Price:
$75 per adult, $40 per child (ages 12 and under).
10. Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours
The Lost Souls of Gastown tour is very popular in October. Discover the eerie history of Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood. Follow the lamplight of your guide into Vancouver’s earliest and most gruesome history, which include stories of murder, revenge, deadly fire, smallpox, and more in this unique performance-theatre experience. There are also other tours to choose from.
To book a tour visit forbiddenvancouver.ca.
Location:
Lost Souls tour runs every night. Meet outside of Monaco Cafe at 356 Water St. in Vancouver.
Hours:
7 or 8 p.m. depending on the night. Runs 1.5-two hours.
Price:
$33 or $30 for seniors and youth.
11. Diwali Fest in Surrey, Coquitlam, New Westminster and Vancouver
This is not a spooky Halloween event but rather a South Asian festival of lights that happens in October. Diwali Downtown Surrey on Oct. 5 will feature music and dance performances by South Asian artists as will Coquitlam’s celebration on Oct. 10. There are also similar Diwali festivals in New Westminster on Oct. 11 and Vancouver on Oct. 25.
Location:
Surrey’s Diwali Fest is at Surrey City Hall, 13450 104 Ave, Surrey. The Coquitlam festival is at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, New Westminster’s celebration is at the Anvil Centre, and Vancouver’s Diwali Fest will be at the Roundhouse Community Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews.
Hours:
Surrey’s is at 2 p.m., Coquitlam’s is at 6 p.m., New Westminster’s is at 4 p.m. and Vancouver’s begins at 2 p.m.
Price:
Events are free to attend but online pre-registration is required. To register visit
diwalifest.ca.
12. Halloween Fright Festival at Maan Farms
Billed as the “scariest corn maze in Canada,” the Halloween Fright Festival at Maan Farm in Abbotsford is a Lower Mainland favourite. While the maze might be too scary for kids under 13, there’s also the “Frightfully Fun” pumpkin patch, which is popular for families with children.
Location:
Maan Farms, 790 McKenzie Rd., Abbotsford.
Hours:
On Fright Festival days, activities run from 7-11 p.m. Kitchen and concession close at 10:30 p.m.
Price:
Tickets start at $18 just for the pumpkin patch, while general admission tickets vary depending on the day visiting, ranging from $69 to $99. There are also more expensive VIP packages to choose from. Visit
halloweenfrightfestival.com
for more details and to book tickets.
13. Nightshade Market : Witches Harvest, a Samhain artisan market
Why not join your friendly neighbourhood witches for a Halloween weekend at Vancouver’s Croatian Cultural Centre on Oct. 25 and 26?
The Harvest Market will include artisans and makers from around B.C. Folks are encouraged to dress up in witchy attire and wander among the tables. Local witches will be available to talk about the celebration of Samhain, a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter.
Location:
Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Dr. Vancouver.
Hours:
Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price:
$5 plus $1.66 in fees.