It’s nearly Halloween, Victoria!
If you’ve been meaning to make a Halloween bucket list to fully immerse yourself in the spirit of the season, look no further.
Whether you’re making trick-or-treating plans, hoping to rave it up downtown, having horror movie marathons, or carving pumpkins, we hope these activities will ensure you’re having the most frighteningly fun time!
Without further delay, here’s 13 things to do in and around Victoria leading up to this Halloween:
Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes
There’s a growing chill in the air, and with it, the intensifying need to snuggle up indoors, watch Tim Burton movies and decorate for Halloween grows.
Luckily, Victoria is a wonderful place to satisfy all of your fall coziness and decorating needs, including activities to get you into the Halloween spirit and to select your perfect pumpkin.
Whether you’re going with the whole family or creating the perfect date, we’ve got 5 pumpkin patches and/or corn mazes to check out.
Full article: Here’s where you can find the best pumpkin patches and corn mazes in and around Victoria
Tally-Ho Carriage Tours: Haunted Halloween
Halloween steadily draws near, and to mark the occasion, Tally-Ho is offering haunted carriage tours through the city!
Experience the dark and twisted tales of Victoria’s past, specifically surrounding the city’s most infamous haunted buildings and the spine-tingling ghosts that linger there.
The Haunted Halloween tours kicked off on October 1st and will run until October 31st, so there’s plenty of time to spice up your scary season!
Each tour lasts an hour and is priced at $275 per carriage. You can book your Haunted Halloween tour on their website!
- Where: Tours depart from the corner of Belleville and Menzies Street
- When: Tours run until October 31st
Ghostly Walks: Halloween Tours
Celebrate the season of horror by taking a tour of the local haunted hotspots!
Discover the Past has a variety of different tour options available under ‘Ghostly Walks’ depending on the time of year.
The Halloween special is only available until November 2nd, so don’t miss out on a chilling evening stroll with petrifying with ghost stories and Victoria’s dark history.
Ticket prices vary, but general admission is $21 for adults and $16 for students.
- Where: Starts at the archway entrance to Market Square, 560 Johnson Street
- When: Check their schedule for availability as time slots vary
Haunted Tours at Craigdarroch Castle
Discover the darker side of the 19th century with their new after-hours tour, ‘Curiosities of Craigdarroch,’ running until November 17th.
Led by an expert guide, they’re 90 minutes long and take place from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Friday to Sunday.
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to delve into the darker stories surrounding the Dunsmuir family and their experiences during the Victorian era—an era where the Halloween season took on a more morbid tone than we are accustomed to today.
Tours are $32 per person and must be purchased in advance, whether that’s online, by calling (250) 592-5323 or visiting the Castle Visitor Centre.
- Where: Craigdarroch Castle, 1050 Joan Crescent
- When: Friday to Sundays from 4 p.m. o 5:30 p.m.—tours hosted until November 17th
Fright Nights at Saanichton Corn Maze
Fright Nights in the Haunted Sunflower Field are back due to popular demand!
Join Ocean View Estates for a night full of horror in the sunflowers… if you dare. Walk through twists and turns in a field filled with clowns and zombies and undeniably scary monsters lurking around in the dark.
Fright Nights will take place on four nights this October—October 18th, October 19th, October 25th October 26th—all from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Advanced tickets highly recommended, as this eerie event sells out quickly! Tickets are $25 each and available online.
- Where: Ocean View Estates, 7979 Central Saanich Road
- When: October 18th & 19th, October 25th & 26th from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Halloween at Bilston Creek Farm
Join the crew at Bilston Creek Farm this Halloween, with family-friendly activities taking place over two weekends—October 19th & 20th and October 26th & 27th.
The fun includes pumpkin decorating, a treasure hunt, a golden pumpkin hunt, the pumpkin patch, fire pits with s’mores and more.
Just note that there is a ticket required for those wishing to participate in the pumpkin decorating, fire pits and treasure hunt. There’s also food available for purchase!
- Where: Bilston Creek Farm, 4185 Metchosin Road
- When: October 19th & 20th, 26th & 27th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rocky Horror Picture Show: All Drag Cast
This is a version of cult-classic Rocky Horror Picture Show that you won’t want to miss!
Drag Sunday Productions presents an All Drag Cast production of Rocky Horror with all of your favourite Drag performers!
Dress in your best Transylvania outfit or as your favourite character. This is a 19+ event and there will be alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for sale.
Tickets are $50 and can be purchased here.
- Where: Metro Studio Theatre, 1411 Quadra Street
- When: Multiple dates and times—first performance is on Wednesday, October 23rd
Halloween Market
Find all of your haunted season needs at this year’s premier Halloween Market!
It’ll be held at the Da Vinci Centre and will feature a wide variety of vendors selling scary goodies and sweet treats.
Admission is $5 per day, or $7 for a two-day pass, and kids 12 and under are free. A portion to benefit the Habitat Acquisition Trust!
- Where: Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay Street
- When:
- Saturday, October 26th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, October 27th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rocky Horror Picture Show: Movie Screening
Whether you’re a first-timer or a returning fanatic, movie screenings of the iconic cult-classic Rocky Horror Picture Show will begin at the Vic Theatre soon!
For those that are unfamiliar, this 1975 sci-fi-horror-gender-bending rock opera has turned into its own living entity—one that encourages audience participation.
Dress to impress, whether it’s going as your favourite character or simply inspired by the movie and get ready to do the time warp again!
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. There are several dates and showtimes that you can choose from.
- Where: The Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas Street
- When: Multiple dates and times—first screening is on Friday, October 25th
Halloween Firehall Spooktacular
Join the Esquimalt Parks and Recreation and the Esquimalt Firehall for a night of Halloween fun!
There will be a variety of family-friendly activities running from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., including an outdoor movie, bouncy castle, and trick-or-treating with the firefighters.
Additionally, the Esquimalt Lion’s will also have a concession open with hot dogs and chocolate available.
- Where: Esquimalt Firehall, 1151 Esquimalt Road
- When: Thursday, October 31st from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sidney’s Treat Street
Residents and visitors of Sidney alike, you won’t want to miss this candy extravaganza!
Popular in the community for a reason, downtown Sidney closes to traffic for the evening so all the ghosts, goblins and princesses get to enjoy trick-or-treating with family.
Pop around to all of the different businesses and treat stations this Halloween!
- Where: Downtown Sidney
- When: Thursday, October 31st from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Halloween Trivia at Brickyard Pizza
Halloween conveniently falls on their Trivia Thursdays and they’re stoked to host a special edition of quiz night!
There will be plenty of Halloween-inspired prizes, treat bags, and a cash prize for the best costume.
Gather with your best and smartest pals for a night of scary season fun!
- Where: Brickyard Pizza, 784 Yates Street
- When: Thursday, October 31st at 7:30 p.m.
‘Spooky Speakeasy’ at Hermann’s Jazz Club
Join the crew at Hermann’s Jazz Club for their ‘Spooky Speakeasy’ with Shanna Dance!
There will be a costume contest, so dress to impress and have fun with the band as they play tunes focused on the titillating All Hallows Eve.
Tickets are $20.
- Where: Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View Street
- When: Thursday, October 31st from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
