Top 10 Cool Halloween Events

Halloween is second only to Christmas in the number of events that are happening this time of year.  In fact, in recent years, creative and fun events are popping up that revolve less around the traditional house-to-house trick-or-treating and more around community and neighbourhood activities.  Wherever you live be sure to check-out what's happening around you at swankyants.com.  In the mean time,  here is my top ten pick of Halloween events happening in the Pacific Northwest:

10.  Kids Halloween Festival Features (Surrey, BC)- Wonderful daytime Halloween activities for kids young and old.  Hitch a train ride through the forest displays.  Runs now until October 31st.

9.  BC Forest Museum Halloween Train (Duncan, BC)- Train rides a popular feature of both Christmas and Halloween.  Ride the vintage steam train through ghostly and scary displays!   After 4:30 things get REALLY SCARY! 

8.  Enchanted Halloween at Heritage Acres (Saanichton, BC) - Imagine the vintage-era village of Heritage Acres, bathed in dramatic lighting and accented by glowing, handcrafted lanterns, carved pumpkins and creative decor. This is the backdrop for costumed performers, projections and artistic installations, which enliven every beautifully weathered corner of this heritage setting for Enchanted Halloween at Heritage Acres.

This event promises to be a beautifully eerie event with enough festive fun to make it a treat for visitors of all ages. Event highlights include train rides, a Trick-or-Treat trail, displays such as Day of the Dead, Lady of the Lake and many other activities and attractions.  

7.  Kilby’s Haunted Halloween (Harrison Mills, BC) - Be prepared to be scared!  Kilby’s 102 year old general store and hotel will be transformed into Kilby’s Haunted Halloween house from 2PM – 8PM on October 22, 23, 24, 29 and 30th. This year’s theme is Pirates of Harrison Bay.  This is a fantastic family event with crafts, kids activities, treats and a Halloween movie that begins at 6:30PM.

6.  Halloween Carnival (Seattle, WA) - Check out the spooooky haunted house at the South Park Community Center.

5.  Halloween Spooktacular at Huble Homestead (Prince George, BC) - Join us for the scariest Halloween location in town! Take our spooky haunted house tour, go trick or treating, carve a pumpkin & roast some marshmallows!  There will be lots of activities for both young & old, however; parental supervision is required for young children. 

4.  The Great Escape Halloween Party (Langley, BC) - Check out the family-friendly Halloween party at The Great Escape in Langley. On October 29th from 6PM – 9PM come in costume to enjoy $2 off admissions.
Best costume prizes will be awarded to one lucky girl and one lucky boy.

3.  2nd Annual Halloween Mash-up (Hornby Island, BC) - Time to get spooky and head to the Ballpark for a night of zombies, beauty queens and the downright ghoulish!

2.  Halloween Hysteria (Burnaby, BC) - Come have fun with superstitions, legends and the magic of Halloween. Witches, trolls, gravediggers and under takers greet you as you walk through our haunted village in the dark of the night.  Entrance includes unlimited carousel rides and for the children, treat-or-tricking. 

1.  The 2010 Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train (Vancouver, BC) - Accompany Alice and hold onto your head as you travel down the rabbit hole into a dark forest filled with demonic playing cards, a disturbed Caterpillar and a Queen with an axe to grind.

All this and more is in store for those who dare to climb aboard this year's Stanley Park Hallowe'en Ghost Train. Since 1999, the Ghost Train has been an annual tradition for thousands of families craving thrills and excitement. Reinventing itself each year with new themes, sets, costumes and many more surprises conjured up by the creative team at Mortal Coil Performance Society, the Ghost Train is a uniquely wonderful and fun experience every trick-or-treat season.

Remember to post your upcoming events on SwankyAnts.com . . . it's always FREE!