Halloween is the most spook-tacular time of the year.
There are many ways to get into the haunted spirit around Vancouver; dress up in a Vancouver-themed costume, sink your fangs into a themed treat, sip on devilish cocktails, watch an underrated dark horror comedy starring Ryan Reynolds, go on a road trip to an IRL Halloween town, and more.
Those planning on going out on the town over Halloween weekend are in for a treat. From adult-friendly events and parades to haunted houses and trick-or-treating, there's lots to see and do.
This is your ultimate guide to Halloween weekend in Vancouver.
Trick-or-treating: traffic, community routes, popular neighbourhoods
Costumed trick-or-treaters will be scurrying all over Vancouver. Though that doesn't necessarily mean road closures, drivers should still stay cautious when driving through these neighbourhoods (and others on the night of Halloween).
Community trick-or-treating events
Note: Yaletown will have traffic control present on the 1000- and 1100- blocks of Mainland but may put road closures in place if necessary.
- Marpole Village - Oct. 31, 4-5 p.m. along Granville St between West 63rd and West 71st Ave
- Mount Pleasant - Oct. 31, 3:30-5:30 p.m. along Main St between 19th and 7th Ave
- West End - Oct. 31, 4:30-6 p.m. along Denman St
- Yaletown - Oct. 31, 3:30-5:30 p.m. along Davie, Homer, Hamilton, Mainland streets and Pacific Blvd
- Hastings - Oct. 29 along Hastings St
- 2400-2900 Trinity Street, East Vancouver
- Between Oak and Cambie and 16th and King Edward, Douglas Park
- East of Commercial Drive between Kitchener and Venables, East Vancouver
- West 13th to West 15th between Collingwood and Macdonald, Kitsilano
- 16th Avenue to SW Marine Drive, Dunbar
- West 13th and 14th between Columbia and Ontario, Mount Pleasant
- West Boulevard, between 33rd and 49th Streets, Kerrisdale
Parades and mass events
Zombies and other costumed, creepy creatures will be peddling around Vancouver on Halloween weekend. There will also be a dance party partway through and bicycle lights are recommended.
When: Oct. 29, 4 p.m.
Where: Starting at Science World - 1455 Quebec St
Cost: Free
This is a parade by the people for the people, plus comic folks who love to put on a show or artsy display. Dress up, show up, and march with other lost souls.
When: Oct. 29, 7-10 p.m.
Where: Starts at Britannia Community Centre - 1661 Napier St; ends at nearby tennis courts
Cost: Free
The double celebration of Halloween and the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed and members of the community. A gathering with food, crafts, art, shrines, flowers and light will take place at 5 p.m. and a celebratory procession will follow at 7:30 p.m. along Granville Street to Georgia Street and back.
When: Oct. 31; gathering at 5 p.m.; parade at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Gathering at Emery Barnes Park; parade from Emery Barnes Park along Granville St to Georgia St and back.
Cost: Free
Haunted houses and Halloween experiences
Haunted houses across Metro Vancouver
Though a new monster house has captured likes and views from Vancouverites on the internet, there are many more haunted houses in and around Vancouver that are sure to terrify.
Grave on Foods in East Vancouver plays on a real-life horror: inflation. It's quite the sight. You can't go in, but the display is worth checking out.
Cougar Creek's House of Horrors is brimming with evil circus clowns who won't think twice about chasing you through the halls.
Maan Farm Haunts offers four creepy attractions this year, all with a unique and terrifying plot (plus jump scares). Their haunted corn maze is a favourite for folks in search of adventure about an hour out of the city.
Brinkworth Dungeon is a mansion filled with handcrafted horrors and scary monsters.
Anmore Manor a friendly neighbourhood home turned haunted. Around Halloween, folks line up down the street for a stroll through the creepy decor and unexpected jump scares.
Vancouver Horror Nights has three immersive attractions that will make you quake in your boots.
Haunted mazes Haunted Maan and Reapers Maze of Terror will have you running and screaming for your life.
Visit Vancouver's favourite haunted amusement park for a Fright Nights scare.
Halloween experiences
Visit an eerie AI art gallery themed escape room that will make you question just how much of the gallery is art and how much is a creepy study.
When: Oct. 13-31; Fri-Sat 6 p.m.-midnight; Thurs-Sun 6-11 p.m.
Where: The Beaumont Studios - 316 W 5th Ave
Cost: $40 ($25 on Sundays)
Wander through the backstreets and alleyways of Victorian Gastown with only lamplight to guide the way. This tour mixes the fictional tale of an early Gastown resident with real history, from smallpox to fires to murder.
When: Now until Oct. 31, various times
Where: Tour starts at Water and Cordova St
Cost: $29-32; purchase online
Explore an old Vancouver morgue, including "behind the scenes" areas not normally open to the public, and hear true stories of murders and disappearances plus findings from a recent paranormal investigation.
When: Oct. 29, 7-10:20 p.m.
Where: Vancouver Police Museum & Archives - 240 E Cordova St
Cost: $40
Halloween events
Even if ice skating doesn't seem spooky, it's still fun.
When: Oct. 30, 5:30-7 p.m.
Where: Kerrisdale Arena - 5670 East Boulevard
Cost: Free (including skating and rentals)
Watch two spooky movies in one night; The Nightmare Before Christmas and Beetlejuice. Don't forget the popcorn! All proceeds will go towards the Semiahmoo First Nations.
When: Oct. 29, 6:30 and 9 p.m.
Where: 15782 Marine Drive, White Rock
Cost: Tickets are by donation with a minimum of $20.
Yaletown Pumpkin Carving & Magic Show
Spend some family time carving pumpkins and marvelling at magic tricks for Halloween.
- Pumpkin Carving - Oct. 28, 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Roundhouse Community Centre - 181 Roundhouse Mews; $7 per pumpkin
- Family Magic Show - Oct. 30, 1 p.m. at the Roundhouse Community Centre - 181 Roundhouse Mews; $12 per ticket
Halloween at The Bunny Cafe and Catfé
- Bunny Pumpkin Carving Contest - Oct. 30, 6 p.m. at The Bunny Cafe - 1969 Venables St
- Spooky Lights Out Halloween Visit - Oct. 31, 5 and 6 p.m. at The Bunny Cafe - 1969 Venables St
- Halloween Edition of Cat Life Drawing - Oct. 31, 7-8:30 p.m. at Catfé - 88 W Pender St
Get up close with snakes, spiders, and other animals and touch a mystery object (or creature) at the Vancouver Aquarium.
When: Oct. 1-31, 2022
Where: Vancouver Aquarium - 845 Avison Way
Cost: $38-50; purchase online
Mount Pleasant Haunted Crypt & Entertainment Plaza
If you aren't planning on trick-or-treating, the neighbourhood also has other activities to see and explore, including entertainment at the plaza and a Haunted Crypt at Kingsgate Mall.
When: Oct. 31
Where: Plaza at 14th Ave and Main St; Haunted Crypt at Kingsgate Mall - 370 E Broadway
Cost: Free
Remember loved ones who have passed with messages, candles, and shrines at this free public event.
When: Oct. 26-Nov. 1
Where: Mountain View Cemetery - 5455 Fraser St.
Cost: Free
Halloween events for adults
This beer festival is a Halloween party with monster burlesque and boozy beverages. There's also going to be a live band playing 60s-style surf rock.
When: Oct. 21, 2022 from 7-10 p.m.
Where: Croatian Cultural Centre - 3250 Commercial Dr.
Cost: $93.86 including fees and taxes; buy tickets online
Celebrities Nightclub is hosting a special Haunted Deadhouse Edition of their Playhouse Saturdays. It's a party for all guys and ghouls.
When: Oct. 29
Where: Celebrities Nightclub - 1022 Davie St.
Cost: $30-40
Gather your team and compete in the annual pumpkin carving competition. May the team with the coolest carving skills win.
When: Oct. 27, 8 p.m.
Where: Three Brits Pub - 1780 Davie St.
When: Oct. 29, 9 p.m.-3 a.m.
Where: Enso Event Centre - 750 Pacific Blvd
Cost: $22-45
Sober Babes Vancouver Halloween Party
There will be drag, games, jewellry making, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Events hosted by Sober Babes Vancouver are for women, non-binary people, and members of the 2SLGTBQIA+ community who are sober, sober curious, or want to drink less alcohol, plus make friends who feel the same way.
When: Oct. 27, 7-11 p.m.
Where: Burnout Cafe - 2032 E Hastings St
Cost: $32
This Halloween edition drag show will feature performances by Bluee Joy, Victoria Lush, Hellacious, and Flaming Wok with DJ Relly Rels. There will also be an after party for those who want to keep the party going.
When: Oct. 31, 8-10 p.m. (after party until 2 a.m.)
Where: The Portside Pub - 7 Alexander St
Cost: $15
This drag show is filled with memorable tributes to Stephen King's literary work.
When: Oct. 31, 7-10 p.m.
Where: The Hart - 238 Abbott St
Cost: $15-20
Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest
This carving contest is hosted and judged by comedian Jon Gagnon with prizes available for pumpkins placing in first and second place. An after party will take place until 2 a.m.
When: Oct. 31, 8-10 p.m.
Where: The Blarney Stone - 216 Carrall St
Cost: $15 (includes pumpkin and carving tools)
Bronson Ramos is hosting a spooky flash tattoo event with themed designes and three new exclusive ones, plus stickers for all who get tattoos! The event is on a first come first serve basis.
When: Oct. 31 at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Where: Patchwork Art Studio - 311 Water St
Cost: prices are discounted but vary
