The Playground: Halloween! Vol.3

Welcome to The Playground, a place for Vancouver families.From fields to haunted houses, all month long I will be featuring some of my favourite places to visit to get you and your family to get the most out of autumn.I’m always on the lookout for fun stuff to do, so if there’s something happening that you think I should know about, don't hesitate to contact me.

Halloween festivities around the city this weekend will likely mean big crowds and long lines. For those looking to do something quiet but with a more "natural" twist on Halloween, I would like to suggest visiting the Richmond Nature Park this weekend.

Sadie and VIA's youngest blogger, Arlo, spent a damp autumn morning exploring the park's trails and Nature House. The park is over 200 acres of bog habitat with four walking trails. Most are soft surfaced but the shortest trail, around the Pond, is on a raised boardwalk. There are plenty of opportunities for young ones to encounter plants and birds. One of the paths we walked was lined with vines that had entrances carved into them. Sadie and Arlo really enjoyed exploring these secret passages.

For the month of October, the Nature House has incorporated the story of Halloween and its roots in nature into it's permanent exhibits. Sadie and Arlo couldn't get enough of the all the puzzles, stamps, displays, snakes, bees and microscopes. Lots there was a lot to see and such a fun way for your child (and you) to learn about the bog and the creatures that live there.

Halloween Events this Weekend:

West Coast Railway Heritage Park: Halloween Frightfest

October 27th - 30th

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

39645 Government Rd, Squamish

The beautiful park will be decorated for Halloween. Enjoy the autumn colours for the fun family event.

Burnaby Museum Haunted Village

October 28-30

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby

Explore the village at night and have fun with vampires, monsters, witches and more. $9 - 14 per person.

Family Fright at the Fort

October 29-30

Showtimes: 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, or 5 pm.

Activities open 10 am - 6 pm

23433 Mavis Ave, Langley

Get into the Halloween spirit at Fort Langley with spooktacular pumpkin-carving, cookie decorating, boo-tiful face painting, trick-or-treat stations and much more. Wear your costumes and enjoy the Beaver Tales Theatre's production "Justine Beaver's Halloween Adventure", where Justine Beaver helps Fingers the Raccoon get over his fears of the wild. Tickets are $13.85/person.

2011 Black Rose Cemetery

October 29 - 31st

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

2426 Harrison Dr. Vancouver

Enjoy a Halloween haunted house hosted by the Gravedigger and the Dead Witch. Not suitable for kids under 5. Accepting donations to the Vancouver Food Bank.

Parade of Lost Souls: Secret Souls Walk

October 29th

5:oopm - 9:00pm

Location TBD on the 29th at the Public Dreams website.

Starting from a secret starting point in East Van, the walks will lead participants through 5 alleys transformed by the neighbourhood, and local artists, to become a journey back in time, through the past incarnations and hidden stories of Vancouver. Join the journey back in time, through music, performance, installation art, and much more.

Little Spooks & Friendly Ghosts

October 29th

5:oo pm - 7:oo pm

VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver

Put on by Public Dreams (see Parade of Lost Souls above), this event is perfect for families with kids 9 and younger. Features games, pumpkins and halloween crafts. Admission is $5.50 - 7.50, $16 per family.

Surrey Museum Halloween Festivities:

17710 56A Ave, Surrey

Halloween Tricks and Treats

October 28th

11am or 1pm

Decorate a pumpkin and other Halloween crafts plus a dance! For ages 3 - 6. $6.50 and pre-register at www.heritage.surrey.ca.

Cloverdale Halloween Costume Parade

October 29th

1:oo - 3:oopm

Dress up the family and participate in the annual parade that starts at the Surrey Museum. Parade starts at 2pm.

Pumpkin Power 2011

October 29th