It’s officially the last few days of October, which means that this week is a mix of Halloween festivities, haunted attractions, new shows, and ‘first of the month’ activities. From a fireworks festival to The Wizard of Oz, here are 10 of the best things to do in and around Vancouver this week (October 30-November 3).
City of Richmond Fireworks Festival
Whether you’re looking for adult pumpkin carving and painting or a family-friendly Monster Mash Dance Party, the City of Richmond has you covered with its Fireworks Festival, which is set to take place on Halloween on Tuesday, October 31st.
When: Tuesday, October 31st
Where: 7191 Granville Avenue, Richmond
Cost: Free
STAND Festival
Starting November 2nd, Presentation House Theatre in North Van is co-presenting a series of events with Blackout Art Society as part of the 3rd annual STAND Festival, which celebrates emerging immigrant and refugee performing artists. The festival aims to offer the chance to connect newcomer artists with the community so they may share their stories.
When: November 2nd to 12th
Where: 333 Chesterfield Avenue, North Vancouver
Cost: Varies per event
The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version)
Get ready to be transported to the enchanting world of Oz this month and sing along to all of your favourite songs from the timeless novel and film. CTORA Theatre presents The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version) at the Granville Island Stage, complete with 25 talented cast members and over 100 hand-made costumes.
When: November 3rd to 12th
Where: 1585 Johnston Street
Cost: $38+
Cougar Creek’s House of Horrors
The longest-running haunted attraction in the Lower Mainland tends to conjure up quite a scare – and this year, you’ll have three themed haunted houses to choose from: Echoes of Abbath, New Year’s Evil, and the evil clown-filled Zycho Zerchus. Best of all? Opening weekend tickets include access to all three!
When: Friday, September 29th to October 31st
Where: 12530 72nd Avenue, Surrey
Cost: $29.99 to $49.99
Cooper Allen
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Cooper Allen is an up-and-coming country star with a fanbase of over 10 million followers and over 200 million streams, according to his website. Originally from Salem, North Carolina, Allen spent his high school and college years playing at bars across the Carolinas, and soon he’ll be onstage at the Commodore in Vancouver.
When: Wednesday, November 1st
Where: Commodore Ballroom
Cost: $47.75
Cirque du Soleil: Kooza
With whimsical characters, daring acrobatics, and vibrant costuming and sets, Kooza is a celebration of everything we know & love about Cirque du Soleil. And Vancouverites will be able to see it all unfold onstage this coming month, so be sure to snag tickets sooner rather than later!
When: Saturday, October 21st to December 31st
Where: Under the Big Top, Concord Pacific Place
Take a ride on Hell’s Gate Airtram
This attraction isn’t free, but if you’re a fan of haunted rides and weird histories – this one’s the perfect combination. Plus, if you go in larger groups, tickets drop to just over $30 each, which is not too bad at all for a ride on one of the steepest trams in North America!
When: Open throughout October
Where: 43111 Trans Canada Highway, Boston Bar, BC
Cost: $36.99 per adult, or $30.99 per ticket for groups of 8+
Visit the Vancouver Art Gallery
It never hurts to see what exhibitions are going on at Vancouver Art Gallery at any given time. This month, you can check out the Emily Carr exhibit: “A Room of Her Own,” “Conceptions of White,” and “Offsite” by Pedro Reyes – to name a few.
When: Open throughout November
Where: 750 Hornby Street
Cost: $29 GA, free on the first Friday of every month
Go on a fall hike
Hiking through some of BC’s most scenic, picturesque trails is what makes seeing the changing foliage so worthwhile, in our opinion. So if you’re itching for a good hike that’s rewarding in fall scenery, check out some of the trails above.
Where: See our picks above
And that’s a wrap on some of the best things to do around the city this week.
