Halloween season is here! Not just a single day, it’s a whole season where tricks and treats happen for the whole family. From ghost walks to corn mazes to exhibitions, here we take a look at what is going on around Victoria during this spooky season. While there’s not as many as previous years to due the pandemic, there are still many fun events happening around the city.

Check before booking anywhere for opening times and vaccine requirements.

PUMPKINS AND CORN MAZES

The Saanichton Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch

Where: 7979 Central Saanich Road
When: Various dates
Cost: $10 Adult, $7.50 Child (4-12), $7.50 Senior
Website: Ocean View Estates

Come enjoy twists and turns through 2 acres of tall corn. Enjoy ocean and mountain views across the San Juan islands and catch a vibrant sunset that lights up the sky - make memories.

All tickets now include access to our beautiful Pumpkin Patch as well. Come and pick your favourite pumpkin! Due to Covid-19 we have switched to online ticketing to allow better control of the number of guests on our farm at one time.

Galey Farms Corn Maze

Where: Galey Farms (4150 Blenkinsop Road)
When: Various dates
Cost: $20 Adult, $15 Child (12 and under). $55 Family Pass (2 adults, 2 children)
Website: Galey Farms

Our Favourite Season is here, and although we have to do things differently due to Covid 19, we are gearing up for our Famous Corn Maze, Train, and Pumpkin Patch. We will be open with all Safety Protocols in place. Ticket includes Train Ride, Cornmaze and a trip to the Pumpkin Patch.

Galey Farms Carnevil

Where: Galey Farms (4150 Blenkinsop Road)
When: Various dates
Cost: $15
Website: Galey Farms

Carnevil is Victoria's most amazing 6,000 square foot Haunted House of terror (PG13) .Three Chicken Exits for the Faint of Heart...... Enter if you dare!!

ONLINE

RBCM@Home (Kids) DIY Halloween Decorations

Where: Online
When: October 27, 11:00am – 11:30am
Cost: Free
Website: RBCM

Join Royal BC Museum exhibit artist Megan Anderson for this spooky session where we create Do It Yourself Halloween Decorations. 

What you find in your home, in your craft box or your recycling bin, can be just the thing you need to decorate your front porch/ kitchen/ bedroom for the season.

Gather up whatever you can find, and get ready for some spooky and creative fun.

Mad Science: Force and Balance!

Where: Online
When: October 22, 2:00pm – 2:30pm
Cost: Free
Website: GVPL

For ages 6-12. Outsmart the forces around us and have fun with tricking your friends with impossible feats! Take part in the impossible balance challenge, create a funny bobble ball, learn about the balancing acts that make our heads spin and build a mini catapult

TOURS AND WALKS

Ghostly Walks - Halloween Tour

Where: Market Square, 560 Johnson Street
When: October 1 - 31
Cost: Adults: $20, Seniors: $15, Students: $15 Children: $10 Ages 6-11
Website: Discover the Past 

On our annual Halloween tour, we make sure to tell many of our favourite gruesome tales but we also include new and previously untold stories. Though we always start our Halloween Ghostly Walks from Market Square, the route is slightly different every year. Whether you are new to ghost stories or have been on our tours before, our special Halloween route has something for everyone. Some of the highlights from previous years include: the ghost of the star-crossed Chinese lover, the ghost in the Broad Street bordello, a famous doppelgänger, the mysterious ghost in Trounce Alley, hauntings in Helmcken Alley and classic tales from Bastion Square, the story of the ghost of Belle Adams who slit her boyfriend’s throat, a Jack-the Ripper-style murder and more.

Scary (Not So Scary) Old Town Tour

Where: Royal BC Museum
When: October 23 and 24, 11:00am – 12:00pm, 1:00pm – 2:00pm,
Cost: Free with Admission
Website: RBCM

The Old Town section of the Museum is filled with objects and stories of lives lived long ago. As we get closer to Halloween, things are getting spooky, and Old Town is no different. Let's imagine that ghosts and goblins travel up and down street and throughout the stores.

Join us for this activity tour of Old Town. The first half of the hour will be a walking tour of the gallery with mysterious and engaging stories told, while the second half hour of the tour will be a hands on activity to get us ready for Halloween. Wearing costumes for the tour is encouraged!

The Glory of the Understory and Other Layers of the Forest - Self-guided Walk

Where: Thetis Lake Park
When: October 24, between 10:00am – 1:00pm
Cost: Free
Website: CRD

Thetis Lake Regional Park (View Royal) From the top to the bottom, each layer of the forest offers food and shelter for a variety of wildlife. To learn more about this unique ecosystem, we invite you to follow along on this self-guided walk. Drop by anytime between 10am and 1pm. The walk begins near the kiosk at the Main Beach

Bats of Beaver Lake - Guided Walk

Where: Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park
When: October 30, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, and October 31, 10:00am – 11:30am
Cost: Free
Website: CRD

Where do bats live? What do they eat? How can you attract these amazing animals to your neck of the woods? Join a CRD Regional Parks naturalist for games and activities designed to help you learn more about the world's only true flying mammals. There is no fee for this program but you must pre-register by October 26 as space is limited.

Annual Ghost Tour – RBC

Where: Ross Bay Cemetery (begins at 1516 Fairfield Rd.)
When: October 31, 2:00pm
Cost: $5
Website: Old Cemeteries Society

One of the OCS’s most popular annual tours is based on ghost stories linked to people buried at RBC. On some of the graves the occupants might even seem to come to life and tell their tales. Extra guides will be on hand for large numbers.

EXHIBITIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Craigdarroch Castle – Frankenstein

Where: Craigdarroch Castle
When: Throughout October
Cost: Admission
Website: Castle

“Monsters aren’t born, they’re made.”

So says Jason Stevens, the sole actor/director/producer of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, which will run through October at Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria’s only 130-year-old fourth-floor ballroom.

“It’s mesmerizing,” says Stevens of a good monster story.

Museum Tots: Halloween

Where: Maritime Museum of BC
When: October 30, 11:00am – 12:00pm
Cost: Free with Admission or Membership
Website: Maritime Museum

This weekly program introduces children ages 3 – 5 to the fun world of museum learning. Each week’s program revolves around a new theme, encouraging children to learn through crafts, play, song, and dance. No registration required – drop-ins welcome!

Halloween Haunting Event

Where: Avalon Books & Treasures (62-560 Johnson Street)
When: October 30, 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Cost: Free
Website: Avalon Books

We will be slashing sales on select items, scaring up the resident ghosts of Avalon with spell kits, crystal sales, ghoulish gift ware, herbs, candles, tarot and oracle decks to haunt you with. Creep in to Avalon Books & Treasures in Market Square from noon till around 5 pm. Enjoy a mystifying psychic reading with 2 of our readers in tarot, palmistry or connect with the ghosts of your past in a mediumship reading. Booking now! PM us! readings are $60 for 15mins

SS Valencia: “A Theatre Of Horror”

Where: Maritime Museum of BC
When: Until end of October
Cost: Admission
Website: Maritime Museum

The shipwreck of the SS Valencia is well known as one of the worst maritime disasters in an area along Vancouver Island’s west side known as “The Graveyard of the Pacific”. Its tale lives on in Victoria through ghost stories and it has even captured the attention of an international audience. But what actually played out during this dramatic sinking? How did this “theatre of horror” drag on for 40 hours? What are the human stories behind the infamous scene of the shipwreck?

This exhibit tells the story of the SS Valencia and considers what conditions led to such a horrific ending. By meeting a cast of characters thrown together by fate, visitors will hear the human stories behind the tragedy and consider what effect trauma had on the events. Visitors will also get to see objects recovered from the Valencia wreck including some of mysterious circumstances. Valencia’s story is enrapturing and will continue to live on in the lore of BC’s maritime history. Visit the Maritime Museum of BC today to learn more about this infamous shipwreck.

OUTDOORS

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Where: GVPL
When: Always
Cost: Free
Website: GVPL

A seashell. Something that starts with g. A mailbox. Something that is striped. Experience the thrill of the hunt as you check items off the list.

GVPL’s scavenger hunts are a fun, screen-free activity that you can enjoy in your home or neighbourhood. You can start your adventure anytime and anywhere with scavenger hunts for children, teens and adults. After you find the items on the list, explore the library’s collection with recommendations from our librarians.

Wicked Victoria

Where: Government Street
When: October 25
Cost: Free
Website: GVFS

WICKED WEEK will begin on Monday, October 25th with some Spooktacular FUN! Wicked Week is brought to you by our Government Street Partner Merchants and the Greater Victoria Festival Society. Government Street will be closed to motor vehicle traffic and will be transformed into frightfully fun family activities on every block! Costumes are encouraged and everyone is welcome to join us for a wickedly fun day!

Metchosin Halloween

Where: Municipal Grounds at 4450 Happy Valley Road
When: October 31, 6 - 9 pm
Cost: Free
Website: District of Metchosin

The Metchosin Volunteer Firefighter's Society and the District of Metchosin will be hosting our annual Halloween party at the firehall on Halloween night.  Doors open at 6pm, costume judging at 7pm and fireworks to begin immediately after sunset. 

This year we are stepping it up a bit on the scare factor and have put together a ‘haunting hall’ for the brave of heart to enter.  Not to worry, for the wee little ones we have our traditional Halloween costume contest, preschool corner,  free hot dogs & juice, a huge bonfire and of course fireworks!

ESCAPE ROOMS

Horror Escape Victoria

Where: 523 Broughton St.
When: Various Dates
Cost: Adults $25
Website: Escape Room Games Victoria

You have 45 minutes to uncover a mystery in their detailed escape room sets, finding clues, solving puzzles, triggering high tech props and unlocking your way into multiple rooms! They offer 3 thrilling escape rooms at Horror Escape and launch a new room every year.

Victoria Escape Games

Where: 531 Yates St. - 2nd floor - Unit #203
When: Available 24/7
Cost: Indoor Games: $25, Outdoor Games: $35
Website: Victoria Escape Games

Escape Rooms are cooperative 5D live-action adventure games that involve puzzles, codes and the sleuthing of clues! They are famous for stimulating the mind and building social connections. Victoria Escape Games is Vancouver Island's boutique escape room company, offering 100% exclusive and innovative live-action adventure games. We believe that escape rooms are at their best when they challenge and stimulate our minds, not frighten or startle us. Our games feel more like “The Da Vinci Code” than the movie “Saw.” 

We hope you and your family have a wonderful Halloween!