22 fun and exciting things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend (October 18-20)

In Guides by Anywhere Vancouver

Just like that, it’s time to make weekend plans again. Don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered!

From the Nightmare Before Christmas Market to Fright Nights, here are 22 fun and exciting things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend.

To stay up-to-date on local events, make sure you check out our events calendar and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.



Things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend

Nightmare Before Christmas Market

Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas / Facebook

About: This year’s event will once again be held at the Maritime Labour Centre in Vancouver on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20. There will be over 65+ makers and purveyors of some of the “most unique items” you’ll see across Metro Vancouver.

Food trucks will also be onsite in case you get hungry. Of course, guests are also encouraged to wear costumes!

Address: Maritime Labour Centre – 1880 Triumph Street, Vancouver
Date: October 19 and 20, 2024
Time: 11am to 7pm (Saturday), 10am to 4pm (Sunday)
Admission: $4 online and $5 at the door

Stanley Park Ghost Train

About: Ghosts in the Graveyard, a rollicking ride filled with creepy and entertaining surprises and spectacularly spooky sights, takes over the local attraction from October 10 to 31.

For younger guests who might find this evening experience too scary, a matinee train will run on weekends from 2pm to 5pm without the theatrical performances.

In addition to the train ride, guests can enjoy ghoulish décor, family-friendly autumn photo spots, and food trucks in the railway plaza. Food vendors that will be onsite this year include The Graveyard Café and Roadstop, Insomniac’s Coffee, The Praguery, Potato Tornado, and The Cob House.

Address: Pipeline Road, Stanley Park
Date: October 10 to 31, 2024
Time: 6pm to 10pm
Admission: $11 – $17

Visit a local pumpkin patch

About: It’s that time of year again to start thinking about which pumpkin patches you want to visit this year. Fortunately for you, Metro Vancouver is home to some amazing pumpkin patches.

Address: Various locations across Metro Vancouver
Time: Various times
Cost: Various prices



Chilliwack Corn Maze

About: This year’s corn maze features a Luke Bryan-themed design in partnership with 93.7 JR Country. The design of the 10-acre field bears the name and likeness of the five-time CMA Entertainer of the Year and American Idol judge strumming a guitar along with a pair of cowboy boots.

The corn maze opens August 1st and new this year, the Chilliwack Corn Festival is happening on August 3rd and 4th. The 2-day festival includes seasonal corn on the cob, live music, kid-friendly activities, corn-shucking competitions, and much more!

Address: Greendale Acres – 41905 Yale Road W, Chilliwack
Date: August 1 to October 31, 2024
Time: Various times
Admission:
 Various prices

Diwali Fest

Diwali Fest

About: Celebrate the triumph of light over darkness with a series of events during Diwali Fest this October!

Each year, millions across the world celebrate Diwali, which translates to “row of lights”. The Hindu festival of lights, which falls on October 31 this year, symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”.

The theme for this year’s festival is “An Ode to Nature”. Artists will be paying tribute to the natural world through their music and dance performances throughout this year’s events.

Address: Various locations
Date: October 18, 20, 27
Time: Various times
Admission: FREE

Fright Nights at Playland

About: The amusement park will once again “transform into a terrifying Halloween-themed experience” with eight haunted houses, 15+ hair-raising rides, creepy décor, roaming monsters and gripping live performances.

Don’t miss their Opening Scaremony every night at 6pm, where “creepy cast members emerge from the fog in a completely unique immersive performance you don’t dare miss!”

Date: October 4 to 31, 2024
Location: Playland at the PNE – 2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
Time: 6pm to 11pm (October 6, 13 and 20), 6pm to midnight on all other dates
Tickets: Various prices

UBC Apple Festival

About: Now in its 33rd year, the UBC Apple Festival returns this weekend with an assortment of apples to taste, live entertainment, local food vendors and more!

Date: October 19 and 20, 2024
Location: UBC Botanical Garden — 6804 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver
Time: 11am to 4pm
Tickets: $11 online and $12 at the event



Skate Stardust

About: Let the good times roll with the return of Skate Stardust at Guildford Town Centre! The original Stardust Roller Rink closed down in 2005, and now the community can once again experience its magic for a limited time!

Address: Guildford Town Centre – 10355 152 Street, Surrey
Date: September 12 to October 31, 2024
Time: 11 am to 9 pm (Monday to Saturday), 11 am to 7 pm (Sunday)
Admission: FREE

Canyon Frights

Canyon Frights

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

About: The popular North Vancouver tourist attraction will be decorated with pumpkins and spooky displays, offering plenty of opportunities to capture that perfect picture!

“Step into the frightful forest and meet your haunted hosts, Elizabeth and Mac, the former owners of Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. The spirited duo will pop up throughout the park, adding a spooky charm to your visit,” says event organizers.

Kids of all ages can get in on Halloween-themed games with petrifying prizes. From the Creepy Canyon Quest scavenger hunt to interactive carts, there’s plenty of fun for kids of all ages!

Address: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver
Date: October 11 to 31, 2024
Time: 10am to 8pm
Admission: Various prices

Haunted at Maan Farms

About: The “scariest corn maze in Canada” is back at Maan Farms and organizers are promising an even more terrifying experience this year. For 2024, a familiar name returns for another year of scares. “Last year we brought in Agatha, this year we’ve got Agatha Unseen,” said Maan Farms in a video on their Instagram page.

Maan Farms says this year’s trio of haunts will “leave you breathless” and they are introducing new names for each unique experience. First introduced in 2022, The Way Down is being rebranded as “Forsaken”. In previous years, this experience required guests to place a fabric hood on their heads before entering.

Address: 790 McKenzie Road, Abbotsford
Date: September 27 to November 3, 2024
Time: Various times
Admission:
 Various prices

Pumpkins After Dark

About: Featuring over 10,000+ hand-carved pumpkins, this one-of-a-kind walk-through experience is perfect for the entire family to enjoy, and promises to have plenty of photo opportunities. This year’s experience features brand new displays, Halloween treats, and much more!

Address: Swangard Stadium – 6100 Boundary Road, Burnaby
Date: October 3 to 31, 2024
Time: Various time slots
Tickets: Various prices



Harvest Days at VanDusen

About: Celebrate the fall season with the return of Harvest Days at VanDusen Botanical Garden. Their veggie garden and maze area has fun photo areas, activities and entertainment, tasty treats, and more.

Date: Weekends from September 28 to October 20 and Thanksgiving Day (October 14)
Address: VanDusen Botanical Garden – 5251 Oak Street
Time: 10am to 4pm
Tickets: Various prices

Celebrate the Night in Maple Ridge

downtown Vancouver

About: Maple Ridge’s annual Celebrate the Night event is happening this week and features light installations, lanterns, games, storytelling, crafts, costumes, music, food trucks and more! The festivities will be capped off with a dazzling fireworks show at 8pm!

Address: Memorial Peace Park – 11930 224 Street, Maple Ridge
Date: October 19, 2024
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Cost: FREE

Dreadworks Haunted House

About: DreadWorks, an immersive halloween nightmare attraction combining live dark fantasy theatre with an hour of captivating, spine-chilling experiences, takes over the Cloverdale Fairgrounds this Halloween season.

Created by award-winning filmmakers and featuring industry-leading special effects, visitors are invited to discover a world of chaos and spine-chilling creatures.

Address: Cloverdale Fairgrounds – 7905 62 Avenue #17607, Surrey
Date: September 27 to November 3, 2024
Time: Various times
Cost: Various prices

Movies in the Morgue

About: Movies in the Morgue at the Vancouver Police Museum & Archives is back for Halloween and their first “screaming” is happening on Thursday, October 3rd.

Run by the Vancouver Police Historical Society, this museum lets visitors learn about some of Vancouver’s “most exciting criminal cases and unsolved murder mysteries”. Each Halloween, people have a chance to watch an exciting lineup of movies at the old city morgue, while the “resident ghosts watch you”.

Address: Vancouver Police Museum & Archives – 240 E Cordova Street, Vancouver
Date: October 3 to 24, 2024
Time: 7pm
Cost: $18.50



MastersFX Monster Museum

About: The MastersFX Monster Museum is reopening this Halloween season for a limited time! The Museum showcases over 80 exhibits of exquisitely detailed, hand-crafted monsters, creatures, and characters from your favorite movies and TV shows!

Make your way through their 5,000 square this October, and see exhibits from your favourite TV shows and movies!

Date: October 11 to November 1, 2024
Location: 4185 Dawson Street, Burnaby
Time: Various time slots
Tickets: Starting at $17.50

Halloween Scream Train

Halloween Scream Train

@bctrains / Instagram

About: Only those brave enough will be able to board this terrifying Halloween train. The Bear Creek Halloween Scream Train returns from Friday, October 11th to Thursday, October 31st, 2024.

See what lurks in the woods at night and make sure you keep an eye out for Chainsaw Charlie at all times. Their scary Halloween actors will have you screaming the entire time!

Does the nighttime train ride sound too terrifying? If so, the daytime Pumpkin Train is perfect for you! Tickets are $11.50 and include a train ride through the decorated forest, a treat, and a pumpkin!

Address: Bear Creek Park Train & Mini Golf – 13750 88 Avenue, Surrey
Date: October 11 to 31, 2024
Time: 6:30pm to 10pm
Admission: Various prices

Grave Tales

About: There’s a spooky and spine-chilling experience awaiting you in Langley this October. Grave Tales returns to Fort Langley National Historic Site from October 4 to 27, 2024.

Join their expert storytellers for a program of spine-chilling stories, as you walk through the Fort Langley village at night. Guides will even lead you through graveyards and make you feel like you’re walking among ghosts.

Address: Fort Langley National Historic Site – 23433 Mavis Avenue, Langley Township
Date: October 4 to 27, 2024
Time: Various time slots
Cost: Various prices

Cougar Creek’s House of Horrors

About: Cougar Creek’s House of Horrors is back to haunt locals again this Halloween season with a new lineup of experiences that’ll give you nightmares. There are five haunted houses, nightly performances, spooky treats, and more!

Address: Cougar Creek’s House of Horrors – 12530 72 Avenue, Surrey
Date: October 4 to November 2, 2024
Time: Open from 7pm daily
Cost: Various prices



Black Lagoon pop-up bar

Black Lagoon

Black Lagoon Pop-Up / Facebook

About: A unique Halloween pop-up bar experience has taken over the Butcher and Bullock for the month of October. The Black Lagoon pop-up bar is described as “an immersive experience that pays homage to the pulpy and playful elements of the occult, bizarre, macabre and horror”.

Come enjoy delicious cocktails in your best costumes!

Date: October 1 to 31, 2024
Location: The Butcher and Bullock – 911 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Time: Various time slots
Tickets: Various time slots

Cirque Du Soleil: ECHO

About: Cirque du Soleil returns to the Big Top in Vancouver this fall with a brand new show! Fuelled by the power of invention, the hope of the youth and the importance of empathy, Cirque du Soleil ECHO invites the audience to “participate in a universe of colour, wonder and infinite possibilities”.

Date: October 9, 2024 to January 5, 2025
Location: Concord Pacific Place – 88 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver
Time: Various show times
Cost: Various prices

Reapers Maze of Terror

About: All your nightmares become a reality once you enter the Reapers Maze of Terror. est your instincts as you navigate through the shadowy twists and turns of the corn maze, where sinister creatures lie in wait, ready to spring from the darkness.

Date: September 28 to November 2, 2024
Address: 9423 Gibson Road, Chilliwack
Time: Various times
Tickets: Starting at $30

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