Trick-or-treating, spooktacular events for folks of all ages, and an interactive scary movie screening are among the Halloween happenings in New West.
The Record has rounded up some of the events taking place for Halloween 2024:
Friday, Oct. 25
Night of the Living Dead – interactive movie experience
Night of the Living Dead – an interactive movie experience is part live theatre, part movie screening. Organized by the Metro Events and Ghostly Vancouver Tours, it’s described as being a Rocky Horror meets a Night of the Living Dead experience.
- When: Friday, Oct. 25, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Where: Metro Hall, 759 Carnarvon St.
- Details: Details and tickets online
Ghoulish Gathering
Tweens and teens aged 11 to 18 years are invited to take part in Ghoulish Gathering, a night of frightful fun that includes eerie games, creepy crafts, and hauntingly good treats. Attendees are invited to come in costume.
- When: Friday, Oct. 25, 5 to 8 p.m.
- Where: tәmәseẃtxw Aquatic and Community Centre, 65 East Sixth Ave.
- Details: Admission is $1 for youth members and $2 for non-members
Fangtastic Fear Factor
Tweens and teens aged 11 to 18 years can experience a night filled with chills and thrills at Fangtastic Fear Factor. Attendees can test their fear level with scary challenges – or just hang out with friends and enjoy snacks. Costumes are welcome but not necessary.
- When: Friday, Oct. 25, 5 to 7 p.m.
- Where: Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Ave.
- Details: Free
Halloween Family Open House
Folks of all ages are invited to enjoy a frightfully fun time with the family at the all-ages Halloween Family Open House at the youth centre. It includes snacks, youth DJ’s, games, and prizes. Costumes are optional.
- When: Friday, Oct. 25, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
- Where: New West Youth Centre, 620 Eighth St.in Moody Park,
- Details: Free
Pumpkin Carving Party
Freedom Church invites families to carve and decorate a pumpkin at its Pumpkin Carving Party. The party includes snacks and activities for all ages. Each family will receive a pumpkin to carve and decorate.
- When: Friday, Oct. 25, 6 to 8 p.m.
- Where: Freedom Church, 320 Eighth St.
- Details: Free
Saturday, Oct. 26
Halloween Family Skate
Moody Park Arena will be transformed into a Halloween space for its upcoming all-ages family skate. The Halloween Family Skate includes spooky activities on and off the ice, ghostly games, fun photo opportunities, and a creepy craft. Skaters are invited to dress in costume.
- When: Saturday, Oct. 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Where: Moody Park Arena, 701 Eighth Ave.
- Details: Drop-in rates apply, or participants can use their ActivePass
Fangtastic Family Fun
The Queensborough Community Centre is the place to be for an afternoon of Halloween fun. Fangtastic Family Fun, which is for children and youth aged three to 16 years of age, features a variety of games, activities, and crafts.
- When: Saturday, Oct. 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Where: Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Avenue
- Details: $8 per child (free for accompanying adults). Pre-registration is required.
🎃 Whether you're looking for family activities, youth events, or something for the little ones, we've got spooktacular Halloween fun for all! See full list and registration details: https://t.co/nCtLQAUPzo
— New Westminster Parks and Recreation (@newwestrec) October 15, 2024
Note: Some lessons may be canceled on Oct 31. Check or call to confirm. pic.twitter.com/NmbWUC6ito
Fright Nights on the Fraser
Paddlewheeler Riverboat Tours is hosting a special Halloween night tour on the Mighty Fraser that includes music, and prizes and giveaways for best costumes. Costumes aren’t necessary for this party on the river. Food and beverage specials are available for purchase on board.
- When: Saturday, Oct. 26, 6 to 9 p.m.
- Where: Paddlewheeler Riverboat Tours, 900 Quayside Dr.
- Details: Tickets available online
Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27
Halloweekend: It’s a Stur-mergency!
Fraser River Discovery Centre is hosting It’s a Stur-mergency – just in time for Halloween. Attendees will uncover clues and help solve the mystery of the whereabouts of Sturgeon George’s family.
- When: Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: Fraser River Discovery Centre, 788 Quayside Dr.
- Details: Details online. Admission rates to Fraser River Discovery Centre apply
Sunday, Oct. 27
Spooktacular Concert
The New Westminster Symphony Orchestra’s Spooktacular Concert features an afternoon of haunting and iconic pieces in classical and cinematic music. Attendees are welcome to come in costume for this concert, which is being hosted by the New Westminster Symphony and Tourism New West.
- When: Sunday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m.
- Where: Sanctuary on 6th, 207 Sixth St. (corner of Sixth Street and Queens Avenue)
- Details: More info available online
Monday, Oct. 28
Halloween Festive Fun
Children will be encouraged to explore arts and crafts using paint, paper, glue and more at Halloween Festive Fun. This is for youngsters who are two and three years of age and requires caregiver participation.
- When: Monday, Oct. 28, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
- Where: tәmәseẃtxw Aquatic and Community Centre, 65 East Sixth Ave.
- Details: $16. Register online
Wednesday, Oct. 30
Poets Wanted: Dead or Alive
The Royal City Literary Arts Society’s Halloween event – Poetic Justice Tellers of Short Tales – features Chelsea Comeau, Dan Neuman, Wren Handmanl. Poets Wanted: Dead or Alive is an open-mic segment giving folks a chance to read their own dark, eerie or mysterious poetry – or poetry by a dead poet of their choice. This night of Halloween fun is being hosted by Bride of Dracula and Lady Raven. The night includes a prize for Best Costume.
- When: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
- Where: Centennial Lodge in Queen’s Park
- Details: Free
Thursday, Oct. 31
Treat-or-Treat East Columbia Street
About 45 Sapperton businesses are participating in Trick-or-Treat East Columbia Street, a daytime trick-or-treating event for kids. Participating businesses will be handing out treats.
- When: Thursday, Oct. 31, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: East Columbia Street in Sapperton
- Details: Participating businesses will have an event poster displayed in their store window. A list of participating businesses, route maps and updates will also be available on the @TrickOrTreatEAstColumbiaStreet pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Halloween on the Quay
New West families are invited to trick or treat along the Quayside boardwalk at the new Halloween on the Quay event, organized by New Westminster Family Place and the Downtown New West BIA. Residents have been invited to set up (and decorate) tables along the boardwalk and hand out treats to trick-or-treaters. Organizers are providing tents and lights for the event, which aims to build community and to offer families a safe, relaxing way to enjoy Halloween.
- When: Thursday, Oct. 31, 5 to 8 p.m.
- Where: Westminster Quay boardwalk
New West Farmers Market
A pumpkin-carving contest and a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt are part of the New West Farmers Market’s second-to-last market of the 2024 season. Along with Halloween festivities, visitors can enjoy live music and stock up on a variety of items from market vendors.
- When: Thursday, Oct. 31, 3 to 7 p.m.
- Where: Tipperary Park, 315 Queens Ave. (Next to New Westminster City Hall)
Stur-mergency Trick or Treat
Help solve the mystery of the whereabouts of George the Sturgeon’s family, trick or treat, and get your photo taken at a costume selfie station at today’s event at Fraser River Discovery Centre.
- When: Thursday, Oct. 31, noon to 8 p.m.
- Where: Fraser River Discovery Centre, 788 Quayside Dr.
- Details: Details online. Admission rates apply
Saturday, Nov. 2
Pumpkin Drop
The New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society is holding its first-ever Pumpkin Drop fundraiser. Folks are invited to bring their pumpkins and watch them be dropped from the fire department’s tower truck.
- When: Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Where: #1 fire hall – 1 East Sixth Ave. (Parking is available at təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre)
- Details: By donation
Throughout October
Dracula bat scavenger hunt
The Dracula bat scavenger hunt is taking place throughout October at River Market. Bats are hidden in various shops. Folks can pick up a scavenger hunt card from any participating business and collect stamps for every bat they find in River Market businesses.
- Where: River Market, 810 Quayside Dr.
- Details: Free
October and November – various dates
Ghosts of New Westminster
The Ghosts of New Westminster tours, hosted by Coldspotters Paranormal Investigations and Events, explore the city’s “dark secrets” through guided walking tours.
- Where: Downtown New Westminster
- When: Friday, Oct. 25, Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 28 (7:30 and 9 p.m.); Monday, Oct. 28 , Tuesday, Oct. 29, and Wednesday, Oct. 30 (7:30 p.m.); Thursday, Oct. 31 (6, 7:30 and 9 p.m.); and Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2 (7:30 and 9 p.m.) Additional tours are being offered on Thursday, Nov. 7, Friday, Nov. 8, Saturday, Nov. 9, Sunday, Nov. 10, Monday, Nov. 11 and on following weekends.
- Details: Tickets available online. They must be purchased in advance.
