Fun Things for Families in Vancouver in October

With the back to school rush behind us, we can now turn our attention to all the best things about the autumn season: long walks under orange and red leaves, cooler weather and cozy nights, farm harvests and pumpkin patches, and of course: Halloween. Our monthly round-up of local family fun here in Vancouver in October (and the greater Vancouver region) includes a little bit of everything, from apple festivals to haunted houses:

What’s On for Family Fun in Vancouver in October

Free First Friday Night at the Vancouver Art Gallery

Friday October 2
750 Hornby St., Vancouver

Start the month with a free dose of art at the Vancouver Art Gallery. On the first Friday of every month, admission is free from 4 to 8pm, giving families a budget-friendly opportunity to explore the current exhibitions together. Advance reservations are recommended.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert

Friday October 2 & Saturday October 3
601 Smithe St., Vancouver

Return to Hogwarts as Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban plays on the big screen while the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs the movie’s magical John Williams score live. This one’s an especially fun introduction to the symphony for older kids who might not be quite as excited about a traditional classical concert.

Harvest Days at VanDusen Botanical Garden

Weekends through Sunday October 18, plus Thanksgiving Monday
5251 Oak St., Vancouver

Celebrate autumn surrounded by some spectacular fall colour at Harvest Days. The garden’s Learning Garden and hedge maze come alive with live bluegrass and folk music, face painting, crafts, lawn games and food trucks, plus a Discovery Tent filled with nature-based activities. Harvest Days activities are included with regular garden admission, and kids four and under are free.

Kids First at The Polygon Gallery

Saturday October 3 & Sunday October 4
101 Carrie Cates Ct., North Vancouver

Get creative during Kids First, The Polygon Gallery’s monthly family art-making weekend. Families can explore the gallery and then get hands-on with an art activity inspired by the exhibitions. Admission is by donation, making this an affordable addition to a North Vancouver outing.

Lights, Camera, Orchestra!

Sunday October 4
601 Smithe St., Vancouver

What would your favourite movie be without its music? The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra explores exactly that question in this interactive 50-minute family concert. Kids will discover how orchestral instruments create movie magic and hear music from B.C. composers Caleb and Brian Chan, whose work includes Angry Birds: Summer Madness and Fairly OddParents: A New Wish. Tickets start at $20.

Canyon Frights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Friday October 9 to Sunday November 1
3735 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver

Things get spooky—but still family-friendly—at Canyon Frights. Wander through the rainforest among pumpkins, graveyards, giant spiders, glowing mushrooms and skeletons, and look for eerie surprises throughout Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk. Canyon Frights is included with regular park admission, and the park stays open later on select October weekends.

River Basin Days: Nature Weaving

Saturday October 10
Coquitlam River Park, 1190 Shaughnessy St., Coquitlam

Get outside over Thanksgiving weekend for a nature-inspired family activity along the Coquitlam River. Part of the River Basin Days outdoor program, Nature Weaving combines exploration and creativity and offers families a different kind of fall activity when you’ve had your fill of pumpkins.

Fin-tastic Fall at the Vancouver Aquarium

Through Saturday October 31
845 Avison Way, Vancouver

Dive into spooky season underwater during Fin-tastic Fall at the Vancouver Aquarium. The seasonal celebration runs throughout October, making it an easy addition to a Stanley Park day—and a particularly useful option to keep in your back pocket for one of Vancouver’s inevitable rainy fall days.

Night at the Beaty

Thursday October 15
2212 Main Mall, UBC, Vancouver

Spend an evening exploring the wonders—and perhaps a few of the creepier specimens—of the natural world at UBC’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum. Night at the Beaty offers a fun seasonal excuse to explore the museum after hours, and admission is by donation.

Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival

Friday October 16 – Sunday October 18
Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver

Introduce the kids to something a little different at the free Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival. The annual event celebrates visual and performing artists working outside the mainstream art world, with exhibitions, performances and opportunities to discover work from a diverse group of creators. Admission is free.

Vancouver Writers Fest

Sunday October 18 – Sunday October 25
Granville Island and various Vancouver locations

Young bookworms can join the literary fun when more than 150 local and international authors arrive for the 39th Vancouver Writers Fest. This year includes 20 youth events for kids from kindergarten through Grade 12, while the adorable Bedtime Story Hotline lets families call in to hear Festival authors reading stories throughout the week.

Halloween Baby Rave at “Club Carousel”

Sunday October 18
Carousel Theatre, 1411 Cartwright St., Vancouver

Even the littlest ghosts and goblins deserve a Halloween party. The Halloween Baby Rave gives babies, toddlers and their grown-ups a chance to dress up, dance and celebrate the season together without staying up anywhere close to bedtime. Admission is by donation.

Astra Lumina at Stanley Park

Thursday October 22 to Monday November 30
690 Pipeline Rd., Vancouver

There may be no Stanley Park Ghost Train this year, but something entirely new is lighting up the park instead. Astra Lumina makes its Canadian debut with a nighttime walk through nine immersive zones filled with large-scale light installations, projections, sound and special effects. Tickets start at $32.90.

Monster Mash at Arts Umbrella

Saturday October 24
Granville Island, Vancouver

Dress up and get creative at Arts Umbrella’s Monster Mash. This family Halloween event puts an artsy spin on spooky season, making it a good choice for kids who’d rather create something monstrous than be chased through a haunted house. Tickets are $30.

Spooky Storytime for Kids at the Museum of Vancouver

Friday October 30
1100 Chestnut St., Vancouver

Settle in for some not-too-scary stories just in time for Halloween at the Museum of Vancouver. Spooky Storytime offers younger families a gentler way to celebrate the season before the trick-or-treating begins. Kids’ admission is $10, plus fees and taxes.

Halloweenie on Granville Island

Saturday October 31
Granville Island, Vancouver

Bring the kids to Granville Island Kids Market in costume for some Halloween-day fun at Halloweenie. The free celebration offers families a daytime alternative—or warm-up—to neighbourhood trick-or-treating, with Halloween festivities taking place around the island.

FunFest at Fraser Lands Church

Saturday October 31
3330 S.E. Marine Dr., Vancouver

Looking for a contained Halloween-night celebration for younger kids? FunFest is an indoor carnival for children ages three to 12, with games, prizes and food. Tickets are just $5 per child and include a food voucher along with access to the activities; accompanying adults don’t need a ticket.

Fall Farmers’ Markets

When: Varied dates and times
Where: throughout the region
Website: https://bcfarmersmarkettrail.com/

Use the search feature on the BC Farmers Market website to search for the local fall markets in your neck of the woods, or check out the upcoming winter versions. From fresh veggies to locally crafted artisan goods, BC farmers’ markets are known for their diverse offerings, all year ’round.