With these picks of the season, I’m going to try my darndest to enjoy the growing darkness that’s about to surround this world. In this particular case, it’s in what’s availiable locally (which also includes a few mainland activities):
Starting Oct 12 to Halloween
Pier A — 203 Dallas Road
Victoria, BC
Monsters Haunted House has my interest peaked with Dead City: The City That Always Eats, presumably a zombie-themed attraction by the sea. This walkthrough is just one-half of the show. While I warn that the Darkness Maze is not for the faint of heart, the chances of roaming in this trap lost are quite good if you have no night vision. Folks are advised not to pull out their cell phones and use the light. It not only ruins the fun for others but also, this company is not responsible for lost items.
I have gone through this event enough times in the past with various friends and it’s enjoyable. While I may return to investigate Dead City, I like to know more. I hope more will be revealed about this half as October nears. More information can be found on their Facebook page here.
Evil Dead the Musical
Oct 27 & 28, Studio 1398
1398 Cartwright Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8
Nov 3 & 4, Metro Studio, Victoria BC
1411 Quadra Street
Victoria, BC
Returning for the second time is Last Chance Production’s version of this show which is guaranteed to get anyone soaking wet in delight. That’s assuming you are sitting in the splatter zone. This group puts on a spectacular show in a traveling format. They tour from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, BC and have now made Victoria a stop before resting up to play it again for another year.
For Deadites yearning to see a local show, a complete event listing for a nearly city can be found on Evil Dead the Musical’s main website here. Tickets for the upcoming local show are also listed on this site. For your convenience are links to the Portland, Oregon and Renton, Washington, USA shows. In Canada, they will be performing in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia.
Launch Pad Production
Red Death at
Craigdarroch Castle
1050 Joan Crescent
Victoria, BC
Showtimes:
October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 at 8:00pm
October 20, 21, 27, 28 at 7:00pm and 9:00pm
All the horror tropes, disco funk and love for Edgar Allen Poe will be put together in a melting pot which will play straight to Halloween. A longer write-up can be found here.
Audiences will be guided through a historical landmark of this city and divided into smaller groups to watch the terror unfold in groovy ways. Several stories will unwrap and just how it concludes it anybody’s guess. Perhaps a disco ball will be involved since the story is set in the 70’s.
Audiences will be guided through a historical landmark of this city and divided into smaller groups to watch the terror unfold in groovy ways. Several stories will unwrap and just how it concludes it anybody’s guess. Perhaps a disco ball will be involved since the story is set in the 70’s.
For tickets, please visit The Castle’s website here.
The Haunting of Vancouver Island
Reading / Signing:
Oct 23, 2017
7:00 pm at Bolen Books
1644 Hillside Ave #111
Victoria, BC
Oct 27, 2017
5:30 pm at Arbutus Room (above Cafeteria)
Vancouver Island University (map)
900 Fifth St
Nanaimo, BC
The Oct 23rd event is a presentation of Bolen Books and Touchwood Editions, where author Shanon Sinn talks about his experiences and what he has found in his research of the various places he’s found in his book, “The Haunting of Vancouver Island.” Here, folks can ask about places that did not make it in his work. While some tales will send some chills down your spine, others will get rebuked. It’s all in your head, maybe ….
To learn more, you can read my interview with this author here.
Night Shift: Dead Circus
Royal BC Museum
675 Bellevue Street
Victoria, BC
October 28, 2017
8:00 pm to 11:59 pm
Though technically sold out, this very popular event is listed to inform readers to plan ahead. That is, get on the Royal BC Museum’s mailing list and once when they announce sales, you will have to go online to purchase right away. I missed the last two because I waited too long to buy. Passes tend to sell out within hours of the announcement.
This year’s circus theme is just perfect following what’s going on in cinema — Stephan King’s IT might play well into the entire month of October. Last year’s Haunted Hollywood theme was one I wished I gone to, especially when I knew this museum had a vintage movie room which usually showed silent films. I knew to make that a centerpiece of that show was apropos. The fact this museum offers various fun-packed theme nights keeps this event fresh, and this special adult’s only evening type party happens year-round. Wild Romance was offered as the Valentine theme earlier this year.
(cont’d on next page)
Victoria Zombie Walk
Oct 7, 2017 – 3:00pm
My first encounter with Zombie Walk was at a local comic convention many years ago. The sight of hundreds of cosplay zombies coming down a street at me in James Bay was certainly a breathtaking and unnerving site. It was at the con’s host hotel where they staged the largest Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video dance I had ever seen.
Since then I have remained an observer and a faithful fan of this annual phenomenon but never a participant (I’m dull because I can’t get the nerves up to cosplay). Perhaps one day I will drop it by shedding my skin (or making it less painful by donning really good make-up) to walk among the mock undead. The Victoria Zombie Walk is run annually by charity group Umbrella Cops. West Coast Operations. Their official adopted charity is Child’s Play, an organization that donates toys and games to children’s hospitals.
The Roxy Theatre
2657 Quadra St.
Quadra Village
Showtimes:
Oct 7, 2017 – 5:00pm
Come with us now through time and space for an evening of George Romero’s “Dead” zombie films trilogy on the silver screen. Victoria’s historical movie theatre, the Roxy has found new life hosting live theatre but on October 7th tribute will be paid to the man who not only reinvented the zombie film but inspired generations of horror movie makers.
The evening’s itinerary will start with Night of the Living Dead at 5pm, Dawn of the Dead at 8:00, and Day of the Dead at 10:30. The trilogy will wrap up at midnight so one should make sure there is safe transportation home. We wouldn’t want to be caught out on a cold dark night now, would we?
Tickets for this event are $10 per movie or $25 for the trilogy.
Spooky Scary Skeledition!
Norway House
1110 Hillside Ave.
Event Time:
Oct 13, 2017 – 7:00pm
Don’t worry anime fans both old and new, there is still something for you to do. Anivents Unlimited and the people who bring you Tsukino-Con, Victoria’s anime convention held annually at the University of Victoria, are hosting Tsukinoween once again. This event offers you the fun and camaraderie of Tsukinocon but in a dance hall setting.
Here, you can socialize in an all-ages atmosphere with fellow geeks/nerds and make new friends.
Music will be provided by DJs Wasabae and YUKKURi in the form of “anime/video game remixes and happy hardcore tunes.” Coat check will be available and a Chill Bone Zone with fan lounge. All guests of the event will be eligible to win from a plethora of prizes including a Gold Pass to Tsukino-Con 2018.
Carnival & Creep-House
Quadra Village Community Centre
901 Kings Rd.
Quadra Village
Victoria, BC
Event Time:
Oct 27, 2017 – 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Blanshard Courts neighbourhood (now Evergreen Terrace) was my old stomping grounds. I lived Blanshard, went to school in Blanshard, heck, my entire social circle was Blanshard. The community, although a poor one, was very close-knit. Time has marched on and that old spirit still remains but under a new name. Perhaps it is nostalgia biting or maybe it’s the craving for a simpler time but one is tempted to join in the celebrations. Quadra Village Community Centre will be offering an all-ages evening with Halloween carnival, haunted house, photos, costume show and dance (8 to 9 pm). All of this will be packed within the community centre’s two floors. Admission by donation.
with Victoria Symphony
Royal Theatre
805 Broughton St.
Victoria, BC
Showtimes:
Oct 28, 2017 – 2:00pm & 8:00pm
Thrill to an eerie evening with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and conductor Sean O’Loughlin as they weave together a musical tapestry from some of history’s most recognized films. During the show look above for Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, be cautious of who sits behind you during Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, and don’t forget to check under your seat when you hear the theme from Jaws.