Oak Bay Village is getting into the Halloween spirit once again, with shopkeepers, performers, and local groups coming together to fill the Avenue with family-friendly fun.
The long-running “Trick or Treat on the Avenue” celebration will see the community turn into a lively hub of costumes, music, and creativity.
Stores from Foul Bay Road to Monterey Avenue will open their doors to little ghosts and superheroes, with pumpkin posters in shop windows marking where to stop for treats.
Many of the business owners will be in costume too, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The day will feature live music from local band Gravitation with Burke Rosen, Bill Hamilton, Reiner Piehl and Monica Gregorish offering up fun, upbeat music including Halloween tunes as well as a mix of rock and folk music to keep the afternoon lively.
Circus-style performers will also be on hand, bringing stilt walking, juggling, aerial acts, and hand-balancing to the street. Kids can visit balloon artist Mike Dada, well-known from the Oak Bay Village Night Market, for custom balloon creations.
Families can strike a pose at the photo booth, while the Oak Bay Fire Department invites kids to try aiming a fire hose with help from a firefighter. Their mascot Sparky will be there for pictures, and the department’s new ladder truck will be parked nearby for everyone to see.
Oak Bay Police will also join in with their community booth and plenty of candy to hand out.
A community favourite—the Pet Costume Contest—returns in front of Engel & Völkers. There will be a pet costume contest with strut their stuff for judges Mayor Kevin Murdoch, Mira Laurence from 98.5 The Ocean, and Jeff Bell from The Times Colonist.
There’s no entry fee, and prizes are waiting for the best-dressed companions.
Visitors can also enjoy a stroll along the enchanted woodland path leading from Oak Bay Avenue to the Monterey Centre, where pumpkins decorated by community groups will be on display. Inside the Centre, families will find a place to rest, grab a healthy snack, and take a break before heading back out for more Halloween excitement.
Shops and restaurants will remain open as usual, with patios and dining options ready for anyone looking to make an afternoon of it.
Trick or Treat on the Avenue
- Where: Oak Bay Village, Along Oak Bay Avenue
- When: Friday, October 31st, from 2 to 5 p.m.
