The fall season is here and with that comes the onslaught of amazing seasonal fun events and activities. From spooky Halloween events to hitting up some of the amazing pumpkin patches and farms we have around the Lower Mainland – there is so much to enjoy! Check out my list below for some of my favourite spots to hit up at this time of year.
THE STANLEY PARK GHOST TRAIN
October 10 – 31, Stanley Park
The Stanley Park Ghost Train is making a comeback and tickets are now on sale! Enjoy a rollicking ride filled with supernatural surprises and spectacularly spooky sights! In addition to the ride, guests can enjoy ghoulish décor, family-friendly autumn photo spots, and food trucks in the railway plaza. Matinee rides will feature a fright-free experience without the theatrical performances, perfect for younger riders.
HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN PATCH EXPRESS AT BEAR CREEK
September 27 – October 31, 13750 88th Ave, Surrey
Surrey has their own fun, Halloween train! Forget the hay ride, here you get to ride a train through a decorated forest out to the pumpkin patch, choose your pumpkin and then ride the train back again once you are done. There are also crafts and food available.
HAUNTED VILLAGE
October 23-27, 4 pm – 9 pm, Burnaby Village Museum
Step into a world of enchantment and mystery at Burnaby Village Museum’s Haunted Village: Legends, Tales, and Other Stories. This year, we bring to life some of the most beloved and timeless tales from around the globe.
HOWL OVER CANADA
October 3 – 31, Canada Place, Vancouver
I took my kids on this super fun virtual reality ride last Halloween season and we all loved it! Join Biker Mama and her ghoulish friends on an unforgettable Halloween journey across Canada.
FRIGHT NIGHTS
Open select evenings October 4 – 31, PNE Playland
This event is a ton of fun, but for the older kid crowd as it gets pretty scary! Enjoy haunted houses, live actors and performances, rides and lots of yummy treats!
PUMPKINS AFTER DARK
October 3 – 31st after dark, Swanguard Stadium, Burnaby
This event features over 10 thousand hand-carved pumpkins. Walk around Swanguard Stadium to explore the magical pathway of lit pumpkin sculptures and displays, with music, sounds and special effects. You will find classic Halloween characters, dinosaurs and dragons, movie and pop culture icons.
HARVEST DAYS
September 28 – October 20, Van Dusen Gardens
Not Halloween but definitely fall fun, head too Van Dusen Gardens on the weekend where the veggie garden and maze area will be transformed for autumn, featuring fun photo areas, seasonal activities and entertainment, tasty treats, and more.
ART’S NURSERY SCARECROW STROLL
September 21 – October 31, 8940 192 Street, Surrey, BC
You can witness something unique at Art’s Nursery in addition to the pumpkin patch there are also more than 60 scarecrows on display! Kids can also have fun with a scavenger hunt and on weekends there is live music and food trucks. The pumpkin patch here is a “pop-up pumpkin patch”, so don’t be expecting to head out into a field and pick your own from the vine.
RICHMOND COUNTRY FARMS
September 28 – October 31, 12900 Steveston Hwy, Richmond, BC
This awesome pumpkin patch opens this weekend – Saturday Sept 30th for the season. Ride hay wagons past the duck ponds and waterfalls to the fields out to the pumpkin fields. The farm is decorated with corn stocks, sunflowers, whimsical decorations, and almost authentic buildings relocated from Transylvania.
EMMA LEA FARM
This is one of our favourite places to go berry picking during the summer and they also run a pumpkin patch through October. There are a wide variety of pumpkins and gourds to choose from. You can also enjoy a hot apple cider from the Ice Cream Shoppe and warm up around the fire.
WESTHAM ISLAND
We have visited the Westham Island Herb Farm for our pumpkins before and had a great time. They usually have a good selection of u-pick pumpkins of all shapes and sizes as well as plenty to buy from the stand if you don’t want to trek out into the (often muddy) field. There is some other great produce and some hot drinks and treats to purchase.
SOUTHLANDS HERITAGE FARM
If you live right in Vancouver this is a cute, pumpkin patch option that is very close to home. At this small, urban farm you can check out the goats, sheep, chickens and horses while picking out your pumpkin from the old apple orchard. Some of the pumpkins are grown on site, while others are brought in from Westham Island. Open Wednesday-Friday 3:30 to dusk and on weekends from 9 am – 5 pm.
LAITY PUMPKIN PATCH (NORTH AND SOUTH)
September 28 – October 31, 21145 128th Avenue, Maple Ridge, BC
Another pumpkin patch where you can probably spend a full day because there is so much to do – including a Farmer Play Centre, Tractor Wagon Ride past emus, goats, ducks and geese; One-acre Cornstone Family Corn Maze, explore the Fairy Tale Woods, pan for gold and try out the obstacle course.
There are actually two different Laity pumpkin patches, they are both across the road from one another but one has more activities aimed at a younger crowd (children under 5 or so) while the other pumpkin patch has activities for older kids. So something for everyone!
ALDOR ACRES
September 21 – October 31, 24990 84 Ave, Langley, BC
Take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch and pick your own. This is one of the best farms for visiting with adorable animals! Pigs, ducks, goats, donkeys, chickens, sheep, bunnies, emus, horses, cows, & much more. There is also a farm market with fresh produce, preserves, meat, eggs and snacks.
THE GREAT PUMPKIN WEIGH-OFF
October 5 11 am – 5 pm, Krause Berry Farms, 6179 248 St, Langley
Giant pumpkin growers from all over descend on Krause Berry Farms for this fun competition! Contestants will weigh their Gargantuan Gourds, as well as other giant fruits and veggies, in front of a large crowd of enthusiastic spectators. This is a truly unique fall fun event, and you can stay and enjoy all the yummy treats (like fresh waffles) that Krause Berry Farms Has on site.
LOFT COUNTRY FARM
Open weekends starting September 29 to Halloween, 2640 248th Street, Langley, BC
Loft Country Farms is a ton of fun! Horse drawn rides to a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, pony rides, a giant jumping pillow, plus live action shoot out action in an old western town. Highly recommend!
TAVES FARMS
September 28 – October 31, 333 Gladwin Rd, Abbotsford, BC
The magical pumpkin garden at Taves Farms offers a huge variety of pumpkins shapes and colours, including some heirloom pumpkins in blush pink, blue, and white . In addition to the pumpkin patch there are slides, a petting barn, corn maze, pedal carts, jumping pillow and more.
MAAN FARMS
Open now through October 31, 790 McKenzie Road, Abbotsford, BC
At Maan Farms you can just hit up the pumpkin patch or you can visit the entire fall festival they offer (different admission prices for whether you are doing the whole festival or just the pumpkin patch). At Maan you will find the Barnyard Adventureland featuring a zip line, pedal kart track, giant tire crawl, play fortress, jumping pillow, and giant slides. There is also an animal play area with goats and hay wagon rides. You can spend a whole day enjoying this farm!
GREENDALE ACRES FARM
Greendale Acres aka the Chilliwack Corn Maze is a really special place. Highly recommend heading out to see their incredible Corn Maze (the design changes every year) and visit the Pumpkin Patch (over 15 varieties of pumpkins growing). Hay Rides, Giant Jumping Pillow, Pedal Cart Track, Corn Sandbox, Sports Zone, Picnic and Fire Pit areas, Giant Slide and more.
