Whether you’re looking for a family friendly activity, or you desperately want to have your socks scared off, there’s no shortage of spooky events around Metro Vancouver to enjoy.
Some of us look forward to the fall for the pumpkin spice, others are more eager for frights at night.
It’s October, which means Halloween festivities will soon be in full swing. Whether you’re looking for a family friendly activity, or you desperately want to have your socks scared off, there’s no shortage of spooky events around Metro Vancouver to enjoy.
Be sure to bookmark our list and check back often for updates!
Here’s our roundup of Halloween events and activities around Metro Vancouver:
HowlOver Canada
Location: 999 Canada Pl., Vancouver.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., but subject to change.
Price: Adults start at $31, kids ride free with a paid adult.
If you want to soar through the air like a witch on a broomstick, check out HowlOver Canada. The attraction, similar to Soarin’-style rides such as those at Disney resorts, gives visitors a chance to take in beautiful Canadian landscapes.
“HowlOver Canada accompanies a witch called Biker Mama and her scream-worthy sidekicks on a nighttime flight ride across the country. From pre-show to ride, guests are immersed in bewitching scenes as they travel to an otherworldly music festival with special effects adding fun and frights.”
Central Spark
Location: Central Park, Burnaby.
Date/hours: Oct. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Price: Free.
“Everyone is invited to the family friendly Halloween festivities at Burnaby’s signature event, Central Spark.
“Enjoy a lively dance party with a DJ, delicious bites from food trucks, spooky entertainment, photo ops, a dazzling drone light display and a spectacular fireworks finale.
“The fun kicks off at 6 p.m. along Patterson Avenue (from Kingsway to Central Boulevard) and at Central Park, with the fireworks lighting up the sky at 7:30 p.m., and the event wrapping up at around 8 p.m. Costumes are highly encouraged.”
Fright Nights at Playland
Location: Playland, 2901 East Hastings St., Vancouver.
Date/hours: Select nights from Oct. 4 to 31.
Price: Tickets start at $33 and go up to $61 for prime dates.
For those who enjoy not being able to sleep at night, visit Fright Nights at Playland on select nights throughout October. The popular event sees live scare-actors prowling the grounds of Playland, inviting guests to brave eight different haunted houses.
The event is recommended for those over age 13, which tells you it’s very much not a family friendly event. Due to the event’s popularity, tickets are also capped for each night and must be purchased in advance.
Haunted Village: Legends, Tales and Other Stories
Location: Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Ave.
Date/hours: Oct. 23 to 27 from 4 to 9 p.m.
Price: General admission is $10, kids age two to 12 are $5, kids under two are free.
“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.”
Explore the 10-acre, open air site and revisit characters from Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Momotaro, Rama and Sita, The Monkey King and more.
BOO-seum Halloween Party
Location: Museum of Surrey, 17710 56A Ave.
Date/hours: Oct. 26 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Price: Free.
Parents looking for a family friendly Halloween celebration can check out the Museum of Surrey’s BOO-seum Halloween Party where a live DJ will play music, kids can walk in a costume parade and try their hand at a creepy craft, boo bingo or a costume selfie at a photo op station.
The museum will also host a sensory-friendly trick-or-treat event on Friday, Oct. 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., while a tot Halloween party will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Northern FanCon: Halloweenfest
Location: BCIT, 3700 Willingdon Ave.
Date/hours: Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: General admission is $20, with special student, kids and family pricing available.
Northern FanCon will put a spooky twist on the usual fan and pop culture conventions many have come to know and love. Exclusive panels and celebrity meet-and-greets are being promised, along with costume and makeup workshops on-site. A winner-take-all costume contest will see one lucky cosplayer walk away with a $1,000 cash prize.
Halloweeks at the Amazing Brentwood
Location: The Amazing Brentwood, 4567 Lougheed Hwy., Burnaby.
Date/hours: Oct. 12 to 31.
Price: Free.
Visit The Amazing Brentwood from Oct. 12 to 31 to enjoy free Halloween activities. Events include Brick-or-Treat: Live Lego Build on Oct. 12 and 13, where you can see a master Lego builder at work and even score some free Lego goodies.
From Oct. 26 to 31, Movies on the Plaza will screen Halloween classics at 5 p.m.
Spooky but kid-friendly storytime and crafts will take place in the mall’s upper centre court on Oct. 27 at 10 a.m.
Check out The Amazing Brentwood’s website for full details.
MastersFX Monster Museum
Location: MastersFX, 4185 Dawson St., Burnaby.
Dates/hours: Various.
Price: Tickets start at $17.50, must be purchased online in advance.
If you’re brave, come browse more than 80 exhibits of ghoulish, handcrafted, detailed monsters, creatures and characters from some of Hollywood’s favourite films and TV shows, in the heart of the studio responsible for creating it all.
MastersFX will host its Monster Museum throughout October, where people can visit a working monster-making special effects studio.
Tickets must be booked online in advance and those with young kids should be cautious because these are some seriously scary displays.
Fall Fun at the Met
Location: Metrotropolis at Metrotown, 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby.
Dates/hours: Various.
Price: Free with some ticketed events.
Looking for a bit of everything? Check out Metropolis at Metrotown’s month-long calendar of Halloween events that cater to every little bat and ghoul. An escape room, a pumpkin-carving contest, a pie-eating pop-up, Halloween makeup demos and more will entertain the whole family.
Visit the website for details on times, dates and prices for select events.
Pumpkins After Dark
Location: Swangard Stadium and Central Park, 6100 Boundary Rd., Burnaby.
Dates/hours: Select dates from Oct. 3 to 31.
Price: Timed tickets required and prices vary.
Enjoy this immersive walk-through experience and see more than 6,000 hand-carved pumpkins on display, with special effects lighting and sound. Dragons, familiar characters, movie and pop-culture icons can all be spotted among the thousands of carved designs.
Be sure to keep your phone or camera ready for those Instagram-worthy snaps.
Canyon Frights
Location: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.
Dates/hours: Oct. 11 to 31, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with extended hours on Oct. 25 to 27.
Price: Adults start at $71.95, with senior, students and youth pricing available. Includes all attractions at Capilano Suspension Bridge.
“Take a thrilling journey through Capilano Suspension Bridge Park’s Canyon Frights — if you dare. Step into the frightful forest and meet your haunted hosts, Elizabeth and Mac, the former owners of Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The spirited duo will pop up throughout the park, adding a spooky charm to your visit.”
Mann Farms: Haunted
Location: Mann Farms, 790 McKenzie Rd., Abbotsford.
Dates/hours: Dates and hours vary.
Price: Prices start at $50 and go up for VIP and Fast Pass packages.
Mann Farms declares itself “the scariest corn maze in Canada” and if you’re the brave soul who thinks they want to test that, by all means.
Mann Farms offers three distinct and terrifying experiences, from the no-touch The Kept: Slaughterhouse, to the fully immersive, interactive Echo: Homestead.
Book your tickets early as pricing increases throughout the month of October, and some experiences allow only a limited number of guests each night.
The experience isn’t recommended for kids under age 14.
Stanley Park Ghost Train
Location: Stanley Park, Pipeline Road, Vancouver.
Dates/hours: Various, however, popular dates and times have already sold out.
Price: Ages 13 and up are $17, kids age three to 12 are $14, infants are free; matinee rides are $11 across the board.
The ever popular Stanley Park Train returns with the Halloween Ghost Train. The event sold out popular dates and times as soon as tickets went on sale this year, but if you’re looking for a late-night ride on the haunted express, there are still timed tickets available for 8 p.m. or later.
Mystery After Dark: Brawl at the Ball
Location: Science World (1455 Quebec St., Vancouver)
Date/time: Thursday, Oct. 24 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Price: Early bird tickets are $39 plus GST until Oct. 7, and then $45 plus GST after.
Science World is hosting Mystery After Dark: Brawl at the Ball for the 19+ crowd this Halloween. The Oct. 24 event invites costumed guests to partake in a wrestling-themed murder mystery while sipping on alcoholic beverages and snacking on Triple O’s or Snack Lab treats and enjoy live tunes from a DJ. The event even features performances from Boom! Pro Wrestling to move the mystery along.
BAT-to-the-Bone Fang-tastic Halloween at the Britannia Mine Museum
Location: Britannia Mine Museum (150 Copper Dr., Britannia Beach)
Dates/hours: Oct. 19 and 20; Oct. 26 and 27, various hours
Price: Adults are $30, kids age 5 and up are $25, tickets must be booked online in advance
“The Museum’s very own underground mine tunnel will be transformed into a bat cave where brave adventurers can take a spooky train ride deep into the mine to learn about the connections between mines and bats.” Learn about bats and enjoy gold panning, a BOOM! special effects show, and explore the minerals and gem gallery as a treat.
The Black Lagoon at Butcher & Bullock
Location: Butcher & Bullock (911 West Pender St., Vancouver)
Dates/hours: Nightly from Oct. 1 to 31
Price: Admission is free, drink prices vary, 19+ only
“This celebration of horror and the occult, the bizarre and the macabre will match up intense, immersive themed decor with a menu of innovative and delicious spooky cocktails to raise the spirits. Again this year, Butcher & Bullock has been turned into a playground of horror — think skulls, coffins, and maximum spookiness, while the cocktail team mixes up stiff drinks to soothe the spirit. This year’s highlight eerie elixirs include Nosferatu’s Rise, Hex Appeal, and the Memento Mori.”