Tis the season to be scary, and people want to get out to enjoy Halloween in 2021. The previous year didn’t happen due to a certain virus, but this year, as restrictions are in place in Haunted Victoria, BC, some operations are fit to resume and others are offering different options. In addition to Discover the Past’s Ghostly Walks going digital, the family friendly Galey Farms Festival of Fear takes place outdoors.
The following is an updating list of events confirmed to be taking place in Greater Victoria. More will be added as information is posted onine or passed on through word of mouth.
If you have or know of an event that’s taking place that’s not on this list, please do not hesitate to comment or contact us.
University
Frights Theatre
UniversityHosted by Monsters Haunted House
Oct 8 to 31
University Heights Mall
3980 Shelbourne Street
Online ticket sales only. Please visit the EventBrite page.
The University Cinemas 4 was once a staple for the locals who hated to head downtown for a movie. This operation was opened by Famous Players on July 2, 1987 and has since changed hands. Landmark maintained this operation for as long as the mall could handle, but with it slated to be rebuilt, the theatre chain couldn’t keep up and decided to close. Everyone blames the pandemic as the final straw that broke this mule’s back, but it’ll come back … with a vengeance!
Monsters Haunted House have taken over the space and promise to rebuild. They’ll look back at the years of scares this theatre offered, and add their own. Little do they know that the mall this theatre is located in is also spooked. It’s been said there’s a spirit of a woman who roams here late at night. Nobody knows the full story about how she died, but her torment may well be yours if you dare to visit late at night.
Vancouver’s Most Haunted Book Signing & Reading
Oct 17, 2:00pm
Hidden Gem
688 Granderson Rd #104
$8 Entry fee / All proceeds go to Mustard Seed
Ghosts & Bears podcaster and Ghostly Walks storyteller, Ian Gibbs, has a new book! It may well be the start of a series which now examines Vancouver, BC’s biggest haunts! Here, not only does he give his focus on how these locales came to be famous, but also we may get tales from recent encounters! After all, this terminal city is only a ferry ride away, for this Vancouver Island resident to do his research. Those unable to attend can also order this book on Amazon USA.
Seating is limited, so please phone (250) 208-6643 to ensure a spot.
Enchanted Fables Halloween
Every weekend in October, starting on 16 & 17th from 9:30am-2:00pm
Ocean View Estates
7979 Central Saanich Rd
This corn maze will offer a few other surprises as folks navigate the labrynth for a family friendly style event. Plus, there’s a huge pumpkin patch to wander through for that ideal squash to carve up and display!
Theatre Skam Pop Up Road Show
Oct 15 to 31, 6:00 pm
Various (travelling show)
SKAM brings our theatre to you with Pop-Up Theatre Home Delivery! Our Pop-Up theatre is transformed into an open-air stage on a flatbed truck, bringing shows all around the Greater Victoria Area. After a successful run in 2020, our October Pop-Up shows return: they’re 15 minutes and feature artistic shadow puppetry and evening storytelling suitable for all ages. We have one show that leans on the spooky side, and one that is a heart-warming tale. You can book a show for your household, birthday or block party, community event, youth centre or family night – we do it all!
This year, this company is offering a choice between The Quest for the Moon and Silly & Scary Stories. To book a visit, please email popup@skam.ca for available dates.
Festival of Fear at Galey Farms
Festival of Fear at Galey Farms Oct 17-20, 24-31
4150 Blenkinsop Rd
$12 Adult / $8 Youths
Festival of Fear at Galey Farms is a week-long Halloween delight. Will you dare to walk through the vast 6,000 sq. ft (600 sq. m) CarnEvil Haunted House or enter a spooky cornfield maze? Madame Isabella Seance will take you through the ghost stories of years past. You might think it’s just a theatre room, but organizers promise it to be a little scarier.
Scary (Not So Scary) Old Town Tour
Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville St.
Oct 23rd 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Free with admission
The Old Town section of the Royal BC Museum is filled with objects and stories of lives lived long ago, and its rumoured this permenant exhibit has a few ghosts of its own! This activity tour will look through the history, and who knows, maybe the spirits that said to be still attached to them may appear. Each tour will have a cap of no more than 10 people, and to reserve your spot, please contact Chris O’Connor by email at: coconnor@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
Haunted Harbour
Ferry Tour
Haunted HarbourOct 23 to 31
Multiple times during the afternoon. Please check website to reserve a seat and slot.
Victoria Harbour Ferry and Ghostly Walks have paired up to bring you a very Spooktacular one-of-a-kind tour… Haunted Harbour Tours!
The guides from Ghostly Walks have collected tons of tales of ghostly encounters in the Victoria Harbour and weaved them together to bring you the first tour of its kind. We welcome you aboard for what is sure to be spell-binding, entertaining, memorable and most of all spine-tingling spooktacular boat-tour! This exclusive tour is only running for one week only, and riders better have their rain gear worn. It’s bound to be a wet one!
The Rising’s Circus of Frights
Oct 23 & 24
Shows at 4pm and 7pm
This performance arts event will showcase the up and coming talents trained to take to the skies, and perhaps delight than offer cries … for this season. This school is about learning acrobatics, and who knows, there might be a star headed to Vegas! Please phone 250-857-1785 or send an email to therisingcircus@gmail.com for advance ticket purchases. Masks are required as there’s limited seating.
Old Cemetaries Society
Ross Bay Cemetary Walks
Old Cemetaries SocietySundays at 2:00pm (unless noted otherwise on their webpage)
1495 Fairfield Road
In addition to the ghost tours running this month, this society is offering a look back at the past with two spiritual events! On the 24th is Spiritualism in Victoria. “From small beginnings in rural New York State in the 1840s, spiritualism went viral. By the 1860s, it was all the rage in Victoria and other places across the continent. Even Abraham Lincoln is said to have participated in seances at the White House. Find out who its main proponents were in Victoria, many of whom are buried at RBC, and what they experienced during their seances.” and the 31st is their Annual Ghost Walk around the grounds, with tour guides offering tales of those who are interred here, and are rumoured to still linger around.
Wicked Victoria
Oct 24 (afternoon to evening)
Government St.
Wicked Victoria festival is one of the most popular Halloween events in the city and is held along Government St. between Yates and Humboldt. The streets are closed for traffic during the festival, creating a pedestrian “Boo-levard” for thousands to enjoy. A free and family-friendly event is celebrating the Harvest Season with tons of fun activities and live entertainment. There is a music stage, a kid’s zone, games, and a harvest market. The main highlight of the festival is a costume parade. Everyone is encouraged to dress up!
The Blair Improv Project
Oct 28-30, 6:00pm
Paper Street Theatre
Please purchase tickets through Eventbrite here.
In October 1995, five improvisers disappeared in the woods near Victoria, BC while shooting an improvised found footage show… years later, their footage was found.
Paper Street Theatre is back with another COVID safe production – The Blair Improv Project: An improvised found footage film. This horror/mystery film will be improvised in less than an hour, edited in less than 30 minites, and then uploaded to the internet, all from the dark and scary woods of Metchosin BC.
6pm to give suggestions – A link to the video will be available at 8:30pm (and stay up until Nov 1st) | $15* | On Zoom/In Your Own Home
Frankenstein
Craigdarroch Castle
1060 Joan Crescent
Oct 30, 2021 6:00-7:00pm
Rain or shine, this one-man performance of Mary Shelly’s classic novel by Jason Stevens has one show left! After a sold out first year, it’s back this year with a few more restrictions in place, and it’s bound to be back next! This intimate show requires attendees to wear face masks during the performance.
Passion and Performance Presents: The Underworld
Delta Hotel
100 Harbour Road
Oct 30, 7:00pm and 9:00pm
Tickets available to purchase in advance.
This stage show won’t include a party this year, but event-goers are encouraged to dress up and partake in the celebration of what dance represents in this Halloween themed descent to darkness. It won’t be like Rocky Horror Show, but it safe to assume there’ll be some wicked twists and turns in a few narrative driven dance numbers.
Zombie Ride
Oct 30, 3:00pm
1 Centennial Square to Chapman Playground (Chapmanm and Linden)
Grab your bike, let your inner Zombie out, and join us for a family-friendly ride of the rolling dead with costumes, music, and prizes! It’s time to let your inner Zombie out for a ghoulish group ride. Dress up like a Zombie and drag your corpse onto your bike to join us for this family-friendly ride of the rolling dead.
Howl-oween Pet Parade
Oct 30, 12:30pm check-in, 1:00pm parade.
207 Government Street
Registration and tickets can be purchased here.
This pet parade hosted by Emily Carr House is an opportunity for cosplayers who love to dress up their pets too. It’s a show for the furry enthusiasts in town, and the parade begins at 1pm.
South Island Drive-Thru Trick or Treat
967 Langford Pkwy
Oct 31, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
This is an RSVP-only event offered by the South Island Home Team for those wanting a safe option to collect candy and see what spooks can paste themselves to the windows of your car! This event can only accommodate a limited number of vehicles. To reserve a spot, please contact alysha@southislandhometeam.com with number of people for your party.
Halloween Dragtacular
The Hallway
1724 Douglas St.
Oct 30 7:00 to 9:00pm
Tickets available in advance, and are sold in lots of 2, 4 or 6 per table (or bar seating)
This cabaret style event will see Mina Mercury and Gloria Hole take the stage with a bevy of entertainment.
Eddie Licious is the special guest!
Summit Park Pumpkin Parade
1245 Summit Ave
Nov 1, 2021 5:00 to 8:00pm
Put your jack ‘o lantern on display for the whole neighbourhood to admire! Pumpkins will be lined up along the paths in Summit Park. If enough neighbours bring pumpkins, they will stretch all the way through the park!
Groups will be asked to maintain physical distance, and to proceed along the paths one group at a time. There may be a surprise performance when you get to the top!
Recommended donation of $2-5 to cover the cost of removing the pumpkins for composting.
