BOO! Halloween weekend is upon us…did it creep up on anyone else? (unintentional Halloween pun) Good news – the weather forecast is looking pretty promising for the entire weekend. Fingers crossed that holds and we can escape trick or treating in our boots and raincoats. There is so so much going on this weekend that I’m going to need a big glass of wine and nap after putting together this list. I hope you enjoy it! Here’s what’s happening around town for October 30 and 31st.
HALLOWEEN FUN AT THE PARK
Saturday and Sunday, 9 am – 5 pm, Capilano Suspension Bridge
TRICK OR TREATING AT THE FARM
Saturday and Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm, Taves Family Farms, Abbotsford
Your kids will visit eight stations around the farm to collect treats! Treats include an apple cider sipper and other fun treats. All peanut-free. Limited spots. No drop-in entry. Tickets must be purchased online.
HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL & GHOSTLY GRAVEYARD
Saturday, 10 am – 12 pm, Coal Harbour Community Centre
For ages 2-7 years old. Enjoy creepy crafts, terrifying treats, eerie entertainment and much more! Don’t forget to wear your costume & visit our ghostly graveyard. Parent participation is required. Pre-registration is recommended. ($5/child, $7/child on the day-of event).
SOUTH VAN HARVEST FEST
Saturday, 11 am – 2 pm, David Thompson Secondary School
Join South Vancouver Neighbourhood House and Fresh Roots for our Annual Harvest Fest featuring arts and crafts, grilled cheese sandwiches, harvest soup, games, prizes, and more! This free event is open to all ages.
HOWL OVER CANADA
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, Canada Place
Join Biker Mama the Witch on A Spirited Halloween Ride for the whole family. HowlOver Canada lets you soar through the skies with a band of spooky sidekicks on your way to a music festival that’s out of this world. This annual, family-friendly tradition has a ‘spook-factor’ suitable for those aged 4 years and up.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS MARKET
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am – 6 pm, Ocean Art Works Pavilion, Granville Island
Free market event featuring tamales, pan de muerto, hot chocolate, food truck, face painting and more.
TRICK OR TREAT ON HASTINGS
Saturday, 12 pm – 3 pm, The East Village Vancouver
Come in costume and enjoy trick or treating in the plaza on Hastings and Kamloops and from all the businesses handing out candy.
SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN PARTY
Saturday, 12 pm – 3 pm, Renfrew Park Community Centre
Bounce your way into Halloween with a bouncy castle. Dress up in your costume and join for some Halloween games and crafts. There will also be a Halloween lights display in Room 108 (NOT a haunted house). Tickets are limited, buy them early.
HOWL-O-WEEN KIDS AND PETS TRICK OR TREAT
Saturday, 1 pm – 4 pm, From Collingwood to Larch street along Broadway
Visit local merchants for free Halloween candy, sweet treats, and pet treats all along West Broadway between Collingwood to Larch St. Just look for the pumpkin in the window and the wagging tails. Participants can pick up their free treat bag and map of participating locations, and enter to win Halloween prizes! They will also be collecting non-perishable pet food and donations for the BC SPCA.
DUNBAR COMMUNITY CENTRE TRICK OR TREAT
Saturday, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Dunbar Community Centre
Arrive in costume to this indoor children’s Halloween event. Decorate your goody bag then trick or treat in over ten rooms around the community centre. For children up to 9 years old. Registration is required. $5 fee.
THE GREAT MARPOLE TRICK OR TREAT
Saturday, 4 pm – 5 pm, Granville Street between W 63rd and 71st
Participating merchants displaying the orange pumpkin decal will be giving out candies to kids in costume on Halloween
ALL SOULS’ ROLL POP-UP ROLLER RINK
Saturday, 4:30 pm -6:30 pm, The Shipyards, North Vancouver
Family skate open to everyone, must reserve and buy tickets online ahead of time. Zombies, monsters, witches and spectres will all feel the soul in their roll on this night of funk, soul, and throwback tunes. Wear your costumes! Limited rollerskate rentals are available – book your size before it’s gone.
EERIE ILLUSIONS AT THE BURNABY VILLAGE MUSEUM
Saturday 5 pm -11 pm and Sunday 6 pm -10 pm, Burnaby Village Museum
Visitors will see the museum transformed into a magical world bathed in breathtaking colour, with talking crows, invisible bands and photo-bombing ghouls as part of Eerie Illusions, a Halloween event unlike anything else in Metro Vancouver. Utilizing state-of-the-art lighting, projections, soundscapes and special effects, Eerie Illusions will showcase Burnaby Village Museum’s 10 acre venue as it has never been seen before. This self-guided, family friendly Halloween experience is suitable for all ages. Tickets must be booked online ahead of time.
WHIMSIC ALLEY HALLOWEEN
Saturday and Sunday, 5 pm – 10 pm, 7166 198 st Langley
Calling all Harry Potter fans! Show some house pride and help out those who need it by bringing a food bank donation with you – the Hogwarts House with the most donations wins the house cup. Don’t miss the Hogwarts Express – Hagrid can’t hold it for you if you’re late! Browse through the shop windows of Diagon Alley, peer into the Dursley’s living room on Privet Drive, gaze into the Mirror of Erised, wander through the Great Hall, and see if you can make it through the challenges before Professor Quirrell does. Come join us as we search for the Philosopher’s Stone! Family friendly event held outdoors. (if you don’t know Harry Potter I guess none of that made any sense to you…)
EDGEMONT HAUNT
Saturday and Sunday, 12 pm – 9:30 pm, 3414 Emerald Drive, North Vancouver
An outdoor haunt display located in North Vancouver. Live actors, creepy crawlies, and terrifying sounds await those brave enough to venture inside. By donation, money raised goes towards the burn fund.
HALLOWEEN SPOOK-TACULAR
Sunday, 9 am – 1 pm, Coquitlam Farmer’s Market
Come to market in your costume for some Halloween games, crafts and treats. Kids can trick or treat at the vendors, plus games and arts and crafts.
HALLOWEEN FUN AT THE MUSEUM
Sunday, 9:50 am – 4:50 pm, New Westminster Museum and Archives
Dress up in your Halloween best, bring a flashlight, and visit the darkened Museum lit by candlelight. Become a spectral hunter and explore the photographs in the Museum’s gallery to understand the secrets behind the ghostly images. You will receive a special treat and craft to make at home at the end of your spooky journey.
HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL
Sunday, 11 am – 2 pm, RoundHouse Community Centre
Dress up in your scariest costume and participate in ghoulish games and creepy crafts! Come and explore our “Creepy Hollow” forest full of spooky surprises and other fun activities. Children MUST be supervised by an adult. Pre-registration required. Drop-ins are welcome only if space permits. Parents and children under 1 year are FREE.
HALLOWEEN HOWL
Sunday, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, Kitsilano Community Centre
For ages 2-7 years old. Enjoy crafts, decorate cookies, face painting and much, much more! Costumes are encouraged and parent participation is required. Pre-registration is encouraged as this event sells out. Drop-ins $7, space permitting.
HALLOWEEN FUN AND TODDLER GYM
Sunday, 9:30 am – 11:30 am, Champlain Heights Community Centre
Enjoy the toddler gym with the large bouncy castle and some Halloween crafts and goodies. Register ahead of time.
HALLOWEEN AT KIDS MARKET
Sunday, 11 am – 2 pm, Kids Market, Granville Island
Get a spooky selfie and a loot bag…plus trick or treat at all the shops in the Kids Market. loot bags free while quantities last)
HALLOWEEN MOM BOP MONSTER MASH
Sunday, 2 pm – 3 pm, 1006 Belmont Ave, North Vancouver
Start your halloween celebrations early with a FREE Mom Bop Halloween show outside North Vancouver’s Haunted House on Belmont – the largest independent haunted house in Vancouver!
THE SHIPYARDS TRICK OR TREAT
Sunday, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm, The Shipyards District, North Vancouver
Look out for black and orange signage to visit participating businesses for trick-or-treating. Wandering the ghoulish streets will be roving stilt walkers. Watch for the bone-chilling zombie flash dance, ghoulish horns and more!
HALLOWEEN FAMILY DINNER
Sunday 4:30 pm, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. Main Street and Kits locations
PUMPKIN PATCHES AND CORN MAZES
At this point you’ve probably already got your pumpkin all picked out, but if not, its not too late! Pumpkin patches are still open and a great place to visit on a sunny Halloween weekend. Check out my full list of the best pumpkin patches at my blog post linked above. And a new one that wasn’t on my list, but my family visited last weekend and had SO MUCH FUN is Loft Country Farms in Langley. Pony rides, a jumping pillow, pan for gold, an old west show and petting zoo…put it on your list for this year or next.
