Find the best boos and brews in Nanaimo with our Halloween event guide. Discover Nanaimo's Halloween heartbeat with our guide, pulsing for both local zombies and brains just passing through.
Popular Events: Experience the enchanting glow of carved pumpkins and artistic displays at Pumpkins After Dark. The vibrant fall colors and lush landscapes await visitors at Harvest Days at VanDusen Garden, a celebration of the season's bounty. And the HowlOver Canada is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering an immersive Halloween adventure. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Halloween Events In and Around Nanaimo
- Pumpkins After Dark (Burnaby)
- HowlOver Canada (Vancouver)
- Harvest Days at VanDusen Garden (Vancouver)
- Canyon Frights (North Vancouver)
- Vancouver Mysteries – Heroes & Villains (Vancouver)
- Big Halloween Run (Vancouver)
- Friday Night Social
- Halloween at the Cannery (Steveston)
- Halloween Event at Once Upon A Child
See these and even more events listed below!
Family-Friendly Fall Activities Near Nanaimo
Pumpkins After Dark
What to Expect:
Immersive pumpkin art installations with live music and special effects.
Description:
Pumpkins After Dark is an award-winning outdoor Halloween event in Burnaby, featuring over 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins. The event includes a magical pathway with lit pumpkin sculptures, music, sounds, and special effects. It showcases classic Halloween characters, dinosaurs, dragons, and movie pop culture icons, making it a family-friendly and enjoyable experience for all.
Where: Burnaby | More Info: Pumpkins After Dark
Harvest Days at VanDusen Garden
What to Expect:
A festive celebration of the fall season with live music, food trucks, and craft activities amidst beautiful autumnal decorations.
Description:
Celebrate the fall season with Harvest Days at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Enjoy live music, entertainment, food trucks, and craft activities amidst the beautiful autumnal decorations. This family-friendly event is perfect for all ages, offering a delightful experience with friends and family.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: Harvest Days at VanDusen Garden
HowlOver Canada
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween experience with a unique blend of spooky decorations and an immersive flight ride.
Description:
Experience the magical HowlOver Canada at Flyover Canada, where children and families can enjoy a thrilling Halloween-themed flight over Canada. The event features a 360-degree pre-show, spooky decorations, and a ride that has you soaring over Canada while chasing Broomelda the witch. The show ends with a Halloween music festival, making it a perfect mix of magic and adventure.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: HowlOver Canada
Vancouver Mysteries – Heroes & Villains
What to Expect:
A family-friendly, interactive adventure game that combines exploration and problem-solving.
Description:
In Vancouver Mysteries' Heroes & Villains, families embark on a real-life superhero adventure. Players explore downtown Vancouver, including the waterfront and Coal Harbour, to stop the Muck Monster from turning the city green. The game involves solving puzzles, finding clues, and using special tools to save the planet.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: Vancouver Mysteries – Heroes & Villains
Canyon Frights
What to Expect:
A family-friendly Halloween celebration with spooky decorations, live entertainment, and interactive games.
Description:
Canyon Frights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is a family-friendly Halloween event where visitors can take a thrilling journey through the park, meeting their haunted hosts, Elizabeth and Mac. The event features spooky decorations, Halloween-themed games, and petrifying prizes. Guests can also enjoy live entertainment at the Loggers' Grill Plaza and try limited-time snacks and beverages at the Cliff House Restaurant and Bar. The park will be illuminated with twinkling lights, creating a perfect backdrop for some ghostly surprises.
Where: North Vancouver | More Info: Canyon Frights
Big Halloween Run
What to Expect:
A festive Halloween-themed run/walk along Vancouver's seawall with door prize giveaways and customizable name bibs.
Description:
The Big Halloween Run is a themed run/walk event taking place in Vancouver's Olympic Village on October 30, 2024. Participants can choose between a 1 km dash and a 5 km run/walk along the seawall, enjoying festive lights and Halloween festivities. The event is suitable for all ages and abilities, including strollers and leashed dogs. Registration includes a Halloween-themed name bib, and participants can customize their bibs. The event also features door prize giveaways and vendors.
Where: Vancouver | More Info: Big Halloween Run
Halloween at the Cannery
What to Expect:
A child-friendly haunted house-style exhibit featuring sea monsters and other spooky maritime-themed characters.
Description:
This year, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery transforms into a spooky yet family-friendly destination with "Haunted Sea." Explore the ocean's depths, encounter colorful creatures made from upcycled materials, and learn about ocean life conservation. The event features a scavenger hunt, activity booklet, and no jump scares or strobe lights. Suitable for families and children, it runs from September 28th to November 3rd, 2024.
Where: Steveston | More Info: Halloween at the Cannery
Friday Night Social
What to Expect:
Interactive science activities focused on the deep blue sea.
Description:
Join us for an evening of hands-on science activities and crafts at the Friday Night Social. Explore the mysteries of the deep blue sea through interactive exhibits and creative projects. This free event is perfect for families with children from infancy to Grade 7, offering a fun and educational experience for all.
Where: Nanaimo | More Info: Friday Night Social
Halloween Event at Once Upon A Child
What to Expect:
The unique feature of this event is its extensive selection of high-quality winter gear at significantly lower prices than retail stores.
Description:
Once Upon A Child is hosting a massive coat and boot tent event from September 20-23. This event offers a hand-picked selection of cold weather essentials, including coats, snowsuits, snow pants, gloves, boots, and ice skates. The store is fully stocked with top-quality brands like Columbia, North Face, Burton, Quicksilver, Roxy, Gap, Nike, and Children's Place. This event provides an opportunity to stock up on winter gear at significantly lower prices than retail stores.