The witching hour. It conjures up all sorts of spooky. Ghouls and goblins, witches, graveyards, ghastly costumes, and all things that go bump in the night. Every evening (and some days, too), it all comes alive (just like the zombies) for a month in Burnaby.
On the heels of the inaugural and wildly successful Burnaby Halloween Festival last year, the tradition is firmly planted in the clutches of the supernatural—a Halloween celebration, October 1 to 31, guaranteed to deliver maximum thrills and chills.
But not to worry (scaredy-cats), there's lots of family-friendly events and a wide range of activities for all ages, including fireworks displays and festive fun, with little to no fright.
"Last year, our first year, we were really impressed that we had slightly more than 90,000 people participate, and over a third of those were Burnaby residents," says Chris Peters, executive director, Tourism Burnaby.
"It was a pretty strong start for our first year, and we're really excited for this year; we have doubled the events from seven to 15, and five will be free."
Burnaby has set its sights on becoming Canada's number-one Halloween destination by 2027 with a goal of 50 events. "Our target for next year is 25 events," reveals Peters. "For 2026, we're going to have 35, and that gets us up to our 50 events for 2027."
Nightmare on Elm Street (or your street)
Turn your home into a show-stopping display of fright and delight in the Neighbourhood Decorating Contest, open to all Burnaby residents, with a chance to win prizes, plus the Best Neighbourhood Award, too. The 2023 applications for the decorating grants (up to $350) are now closed and have been awarded; however, if you didn’t get a chance to apply this year, grant applications will also be available in 2024.
"The decorating contest is something that can unify communities across the city, and bring everyone together," says Peters.
"Residents have not just put on home displays, but also stepped forward in creating major community events. In order to attract new events and activations, Tourism Burnaby provided over $100,000 in grants and sponsorships to various organizations to help produce the festival. We're looking for experienced organizers who want to put on a Halloween event next year, to come and apply for a grant."
Cauldron of spooky highlights
Grab your garlic. You're likely to encounter a vampire or two. The festival boasts an impressive lineup in various communities, so you can expect lots of spine-tingling excitement, with just the right amount of fun and fear factor.
Pumpkins After Dark: Oct. 6–31, Swangard Stadium & Central Park. 6,000-plus hand-carved pumpkin sculptures, characters, pop culture icons, and animals, choreographed to music and special effects.
Haunted Village: Oct. 19–22 and 26–29, Burnaby Village Museum. Cultural stories and visual displays immersing you in thrilling tales and legends.
Candlelit Crime Murder Mystery Dinner: Oct. 20, Hilton Vancouver Metrotown. Immersive Roaring Twenties Halloween soirée, with gangsters, flappers, and murder on the menu; part dinner theatre–part audience participation. Fundraiser for the Burnaby Hospital Foundation; silent auction, limited tickets.
Vancouver Horror Show Film Festival: Burnaby Edition: Oct. 20–22, Cineplex Cinemas Metropolis at Metrotown. Hair-raising thrills on the silver screen; enjoy the finest horror experiences of both budding and established filmmakers.
In Praise of Nightmares: Oct. 27, Shadbolt Centre. For classic horror cinema lovers, silent short films are paired with live music.
Central Spark: Oct. 27, Central Park. Experience an outdoor maze, roving entertainment, carnival games, art activities, photo booth, food trucks, and grand fireworks finale. Costumes encouraged.
Monster Dash 5K: Oct. 29, Central Park. Lace up for a spirited Halloween run in your hauntingly creative costume. Prizes and free swag. Registration fees. "We'll be making a donation to the Society to End Homelessness from the event," says Peters.
For a full list of events and more information, visit burnabyhalloween.com or tourismburnaby.com.
