As the spookiness of Friday the 13th settles, I get ready to dive into the darkest time of year – Halloween. Goblins, ghouls, witches and fairies from far and wide gather to express themselves in whatever way they see fit; the best part being that you can pick something new each year. From a young age Halloween has been romanticized as the time of year that your parents let you eat copious amounts of candy – that stigma stays with us as we age. While I love pumpkin carving, there are many other thrilling events that make October one of the funnest months of the year. I wanted to share some of my favourite activities for those of you who can handle a ghost/vampire/dead cheerleader – you know, the usual.
Year after year people build up the courage to face their fears in the heart of the PNE. Something about surviving the spook of a haunted house is appealing to the masses. This year, Fright Night introduces a new, scarier than ever spectacle called “The Bloodshed.” The bloodshed is the eighth haunted house to join the Fright Night fleet, and ensures to make even the toughest visitors jump. Our friends from the PNE told us a little bit about the event. The Bloodshed is home to a family of ruthless mutant backwoods yokels, The Bloodshed, a dilapidated summer cabin that no one would ever want to vacation in, promises to be the goriest Halloween scene yet.
- Dates: Fright night runs from October 6th to October 31st
- Tickets: http://frightnights.ca/buy-tickets.html
- Address: 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5K
For the 25th year in a row, Reapers is ready to give you the scariest night you can think of. Owners affectionately refer to their guests as “victims” and get a laugh out of spooking adults into screaming like they’re little kids. Reapers Haunted attraction is called the “scariest indoor theatrical horror experience in Western Canada”. If that doesn’t cut it for you, they have a “black out maze of terror” which is a 22,000 square foot maze in the dark, featuring a chainsaw massacre experience with a REAL chainsaw. If that doesn’t make you cringe I don’t know what will. maze with YES a real chainsaw!
- Dates: http://www.reapers.ca/assets/2017hours.jpg
- Tickets: http://www.reapers.ca/#services
- Address: 9423 Gibson Rd. Chilliwack
If you want to celebrate October without the spook of Halloween, Cirque Du Soleil is the activity for you. Starting in Montreal, Kurios is Cirque du Soleil’s 35th production since 1984. Here’s a few fun facts about the show: Rima Hadchiti, the artist who plays Mini Lili, is 3.3 feet tall and weighs 41 pounds. She is one of the 10 smallest people in the world. More than a hundred costumes were created to dress the cast of KURIOS. There are 426 props in the show, the most of any production in Cirque du Soleil’s history. The 122 tour members come from 23 different countries. Some have been touring with Cirque du Soleil for more than 15 years. This is an experience that is impossible to forget, and will go down as one of the exciting performancs you’ll ever see.
- Dates: October 19 – December 31st
- Tickets: www.cirquedusoleil.com
- Address:: 88 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver (BC) V6B 5E7
Featuring the ever popular children’s experience “Lil Haunters” as well as the scary-even-for-adults event “The Haunts”, Potter’s House of Horrors is a great stop for the whole family. The Haunts features two haunted houses, “Monstrosity” and “Devil’s Descent.” Potter’s employees wonder if you’ve ever had the feeling of someone watching you? If not, you’ll know the feeling as soon as you visit the Monstrosity. For the faint of heart (and the kids) lil’ haunters is a spook-free fun way to introduce young ones to the wonders of Halloween.
- Dates: http://pottershouseofhorrors.com/schedule.htm
- Tickets: https://potters-house-of-horrors.ticketleap.com/potters-house-of-horrors-2017
- Address: 12530 72 Ave, Surrey, BC V3W 2M6
For those of you who don’t want the scare of being stalked by zombies in a haunted house, one of my favourite October activities is visiting the Halloween Drive-In. With three locations, the drive in gives visitors ten different movie options spanning from a mellow Hocus Pocus to thrillers like The Shining. The best thing about a drive-in is that you can enjoy the spook of Halloween in the comforts of your own car, with your loved ones for extra protection. I’ll be cruising into Ghost Busters this year!
Dates/Tickets/Address: http://www.halloweendrivein.ca/
If being afraid isn’t really your thing, I have the perfect Halloween activity for you! Vancouver TheatreSports presents an improv comedy spooktacular called The Monster Match. On October 28th, get ready for a good laugh! The ladies and gentleman will be putting on their spookiest outfits offering you double headed, headless and even “mummied” comedians. The improv centre will be filled with haunting decor and there will even be a palm reader on site to tell you about your terrifying (or wonderful) future.
- Dates: October 28th at 7:30pm
- Tickets: http://www.vtsl.com/tickets/ticket-info-gift-certifcates/
- Address: 1502 Duranleau St., Granville Island
Haunted Vancouver Trolley Tour
As the damp autumn evening transforms Gastown into an eerie place of shadows, stories and the occasional bump in the night, you will be whisked away by a trolley where you will see streets and homes, which seem normal, but if you look and listen close enough you will hear echoes of murders and other devastating events. Your host will tell the gruesome tales of The Castelanni Milkshake Murder, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s Lady in Red and more. You will drive through dank locations such as Stanley Park to hear about The Babes in the Woods and continue through the winding roads and mansions of Shaughnessy. The creepy tour lasts about 2.5 hours.
- Dates: October 10th-31st
- Tickets: https://vancouvertrolley.com/tours/
- Address: 210 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2J2
Natalie’s Spooktacular Halloween Giveaway
We all know the only thing more fun than a good scare, is enjoying a laugh after watching your loved ones jump… and I think it might be fun to make YOU jump.
SO, I want to give you the chance to WIN tickets to Vancouver’s very own Fright Night.
The team at the PNE says “We’re promising some truly unique surprises at this year’s Fright Nights with The Bloodshed on site, the house, encompassing approximately 2,400 square feet, comes complete with corpses, torture devices and legions of gore.” If that doesn’t sound scary, I don’t know what does.
LISTEN TO WIN A 4 PACK OF PASSES TO FRIGHT NIGHTS 12:45PM THURSDAY OCTOBER 26TH!
Good luck!! And Happy Halloween!!
Xx n
**Contest Rules & Regulations**
The winner agrees to abide by the rules and regulations outlined here http://www.jrfm.com/contestrules/ for pick up at #300-1401 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6H 1C9. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.
All prizes must be claimed within 60 days at the offices of CJJR-FM and are non-transferable. After 60 days, prize becomes the property of CJJR-FM, to do with as it may determine, including awarding it to another contestant, and CJJR-FM shall be released and discharged from any liability or responsibility in this regard.
Only ONE member of the household will be eligible to qualify or win in any single Contest.
By entering the Contest, all persons are deemed to have read and to have accepted these rules and regulations.