It’s spooky season and we would like to share some awesome ideas of things to do in Victoria on Halloween!
Whether you are young & single or just young at heart, whether you have young kids or you’re just a big kid yourself, Victoria has something for everyone this October!
Here are some of SpringTide’s Top Picks!
Enchanted Halloween at Heritage Acres – Oct 24th, 25th & 26th:
This is a charitable event and is fun for the whole family. Open Fri Oct 25 & Sat Oct 26 from 5pm – 9pm and Sun Oct 26 from 12pm – 5pm. Enchanted Halloween is a charitable event in aid of the Children’s Health Foundation and last year raised over $33,000 for the organization. It’s a great cause and they put on a great show.
Here are some of the highlights:
Train Rides by Vancouver Island Model Engineers. These rides start as soon as Heritage Acres opens and stop just before it closes. The line-up can be long and is cut off about 30 minutes before closing, so be sure to line up as soon as you arrive. You don’t want to miss this! All train rides are by donation only.
Trick or Treat from house to house. But these are no ordinary houses, these are witches houses. Meet some very cool costumed volunteers dressed up as witches and warlocks as they hand out yummy treats to kids and adults alike!
A decorated Pumpkin Trail, featuring interactive costumed characters and treats. Walk through the forest, lit up by festive lights and grab some candy as you go!
Halloween-themed games, hands-on activities, kids’ crafts and seasonal refreshments, musicians, magicians, stilt-walkers, performers and storytellers add life and richness to the displays & activities!
To get there:
Head along the Pat Bay Highway to the Keating Cross Road. Park for free at Gateway Park on Mirah Road and hop on the shuttle bus that will bring you to and from Heritage Acres free of charge
Price:
The cost is $40 for a family of 4 and kids under 4 go free!
Haunted Zip with Adrenaline Zip line Tours – Oct 24th, 25th & 26th:
Hold on to your hats and away we goooo. Zip line through the forest at night for one weekend only this October! This haunted night zip is full of terror and fun! There are strange creatures running around & spooky tales to be told on the Haunted Tour. Ghosts, monsters and tall tales will all be part of this very interactive experience. If you have younger folk looking for a less spooky experience then it’s probably best to do this tour during the day as the night sky can definitely add an eerie factor. It seems these spooky tours are very popular though so be sure to reserve early to avoid missing out!
To get there:
Head west on Highway 17 until you reach the 17 Mile House Pub! Adrenaline’s check in office shares a car park with this pub.
Price:
$80 for adults & $70 for youth
Pumpkinfest at Galey Farms – Oct 16th to 31st:
If you are looking for some kid friendly activities or for spookier evening entertainment, then Galey Farms Pumpkinfest has it all! This annual event is running October weekends 11th & 12th, 18th & 19th, 25th & 26th from 10 am to 4 pm for the little ones and from 6 pm-10 pm nightly from Oct 16th to Oct 31st for those looking for an extra thrill!
Highlights Include:
During the day Hayrides to the Pumpkin Patch, a petting zoo, face painting and live entertainment are all excellent choices for those with kiddies but when the sun goes down try the Haunted House or Madam Isabella’s – definitely not for the faint hearted!
Train rides and the Corn Maze are offered both during the day and at night and are great fun for kids young and old!
To get there:
From Victoria head up the Pat Bay Highway, take a right on McKenzie and a left on Blenkinsop Road. You’ll find them on the corner of Mt. Douglas Cross Road.
Price:
Adult Combo Ticket with Train & Corn Maze $10
Kids 12 & under Combo Ticket Train & Corn Maze $7
Adult Single Ticket – Entrance to one venue only – either the Train or Corn Maze $7
Kids 12 & under Single Ticket Entrance to one venue only – either the Train or Corn Maze
Family Combo (2 adults, 2 children) with Corn Maze & Train Ride $30
Ghostly Walks Walking Tours or Ghost bus Tours – All year round (but call for specific Halloween Tours)
These tours have been developed by John Adams, one of Victoria’s foremost historians and storytellers. He has been leading ghost tours through the alleys and haunted places of Victoria since 1970. The tours cover a lot of downtown Victoria but definitely the most interesting place they visit is right under our noses here at 1119 Wharf St – The SpringTide Office. The Rithet building is a popular stop on these spooky tours and John and his expert guides tell tales of a young boy that haunts the building on Wharf Street! These tours are definitely worthwhile and what better way to “get your ghost on” then joining a spooky tour on Halloween Night!
If walking sounds like a drag why not hop on a Ghost Bus Tour! These original Ghost Bus-tours, conducted exclusively by John Adams are on behalf of the Old Cemeteries Society and can be very spooky indeed…
To get there:
Ghostly Walks and the Ghost Bus Tour have different starting locations depending on the time of year. If you are interested in joining a tour contact them directly on 250.384.6698 or catch them on the web!
Price:
Ghostly Walks:
Adults: $14, Seniors: $12, Students: $12, Children (6-11): $8
Family Special: (up to 2 adults and children under 16) $35.
Ghost Bus Tours:
$35 per person
Halloween Cask Festival at Spinnakers Brew Pub – Oct 31st
Now a treat for the adults! The Halloween Cask Festival sounds AWESOME! You get to dress up like a kid but have a beer like an adult. It’s the perfect combination. There are prizes to be won, food to be had, live music to be listened to and of course beer to be drunk. Spinnaker’s Brew Pub is located right in the middle of Victoria’s Inner Harbour on the picturesque Songhees Walkway. What we love about this pub is the beautiful Harbour view whilst sipping a beer. Add some Halloween fun in there and it makes it even better.
To get there:
From downtown Victoria head over the Johnson St bridge, continue on Esquimalt Road and take a left on Catherine St. Spinnaker’s is a 100 meters down the street on your right.
Price:
$66.6 – what a devilish price!
We have picked out a range of fun and scary things for adults and children of all ages, but if there is nothing here that cranks your chain why not head to Tourism Victoria’s website. They have a huge list of things to do in Victoria on Halloween. Whatever you end up doing this October we hope you have a lot of fun doing it. Stay safe out there!