It’s the season when friendly ghosts and grinning skeletons walk the streets of Richmond searching for a pumpkin-pleasing good time. And this year, the city is serving up a brimming cauldron of spook-tacular happenings. Plan your perfect outfit, gather your ghoulish cohorts and dive right into these cobweb-covered slices of late-October fun. Trick or treat? Why not both?!
The Haunted Sea
Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site; October 15 to 31 (11am to 5pm)
Admission: adults $12.50, youth (17 and under) free, seniors (65+) $10.75
This all-ages Halloween happening in the Cannery’s shadowy Herring Reduction Plant area serves up a creepy cornucopia of sea creatures and ocean-themed exhibits that have been cleverly created from recycled materials. Guests are invited to arrive in their costumes on the final weekend––which is, after all, the best way to get into the ‘spirit’ of any great Halloween event.
Minoru Halloween Fireworks Festival
Minoru Park; October 31 (6:30pm to 8:45pm)
Admission: free
The region’s biggest Halloween fireworks event isn’t just about watching cascading colours in the sky over Minoru Park––although that’s certainly the evening’s breathtaking finale (starting at 8:30pm). Bring the family early––costumes are encouraged––and you’ll also discover a festive atmosphere filled with live music, art stations, face painting, trick-or-treating and more.
Pinot & Popcorn
Lulu Island Winery; October 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 (doors open 6:30pm; movie starts 7pm)
Admission: $15 (children 12 and under free)
Wrap up and head to Lulu Island Winery for an alfresco screening of a classic, family-friendly Halloween movie. There are six film nights to choose from––the movies are Casper, Scooby-Doo, The Adams Family, Hocus Pocus 1 and 2 and, of course, The Nightmare Before Christmas––and your ticket includes popcorn and a warming glass of wine or non-alcoholic alternative (additional drinks and charcuterie boxes can also be purchased).
The Pumpkin Patch
Richmond Country Farms: October 1 to 31 (weekdays 9am to 4pm; weekends 10am to 4:30pm)
Admission: weekdays $15; weekends $18
The city’s favourite family-friendly fall attraction, beeline to Richmond Country Farms for this charming four-decade-long autumnal tradition. You’ll find farm animals, live music and hay wagon rides plus displays of sunflowers, corn stocks and some cute old-fashioned wooden buildings. Ticket prices include a wagon ride, a Spartan apple and your chosen pumpkin––but save time for a visit to the onsite winery and produce market as well.
Halloween Hoot
Richmond Nature Park; October 22 to 31 (10am to 4pm)
Admission: free
Bring the kids to this Nature House event in one of Richmond’s favourite parks to watch Halloween sketches and dance with a ghoulish group of costumed characters. Outside, the Pond Trail will also offer a walk-through display of spooky decorations. Need more? Halloween Hoot coincides with Bat Week at the park, which includes family-friendly taxidermy exhibits, a crawl-in model bat cave and a themed story walk.
Trick or Treating in Steveston
Steveston Village; October 31 (3pm to 5pm)
Admission: free
Bring your costumed kids to Steveston Village where designated merchants will be handing out candies during their annual family-friendly Halloween afternoon. And while you’re here, don’t miss the Scarecrow Crawl, complete with cleverly created figures on display at stores and businesses around the village. Finally, drop into the Steveston Community Centre where you’ll find a humungous pumpkin on display (guess the weight to win a prize!).
Spooky Skele-bration
South Arm Community Centre; October 31 (6pm to 7:30pm)
Admission: free
If your kids love the idea of showing off their costumes on ice, consider this spectre-tacular event. The all-ages happening will include crafts, games and roving entertainers––and children who complete a passport of activities will receive a special goodie bag. Alternatively, consider the city centre’s Minoru Arenas where a Spooktacular Halloween Family Skate will take place on October 28, 29 and 30––ghostly music and lighting included.
Halloween Weekend at Kidtropolis
Kidtropolis; October 29 and 30 (10am to 5pm)
Admission: $22.95 (for one child and one accompanying adult)
Perfect for younger Halloween fans, take your under-10s to Kidtropolis––a highly popular indoor re-creation of a bustling little city, complete with kid-sized storefronts and businesses (we especially like the little cars you can pedal around town in). Their dedicated Halloween Weekend offers drop-in play and all participants are encouraged to dress up in spooky finery to receive a tasty treat from the front desk.
Trunk or Treat
Richmond Martial Arts; October 29 (2pm to 5pm)
Admission: free
A uniquely fun event to bring the family to, check out the spooky open car trunks decorated by clever participants while you also enjoy some toe-tapping Halloween-themed live music. Keep your eyes peeled for a guest appearance by a Back to a Future-style DeLorean car––and stick around for the 4pm magic show. Admission is free but you’re encouraged to RSVP your attendance here.
Halloween at the Buck & Ear
Buck & Ear Pub; October 28 (9:30pm to 2am) and October 29 (9pm to 2am)
Admission: free to $15
Steveston’s popular neighbourhood pub is the place to be on Halloween weekend when it hosts both a free-entry Freaky Friday party on the 28th and a spine-chilling Pumpkin’s Revenge extravaganza on the 29th (tickets $15). Expect DJ tunes, a brilliantly decorated bar and maybe some especially scary drinks. Costumes are fully encouraged, which means this is your big chance to dress up like a zombie and lurch around the dance floor.
Last Updated on November 4, 2022 by Tourism Richmond