Little Local - October 29

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Anyone else feel like their kids have been waiting for Halloween for months? It’s finally here, and on a Saturday, too! More time for costumes and candy, with no school the next day 😉.

This week, I’ve rounded up places to trick-or-treat before dark, lots of Halloween fun around town, and a few spots to smash those pumpkins on Sunday. There are also a few favourites from our house: an easy pumpkin muffin recipe, a much-loved ghost book, and movies for your Friday night.

Have fun out there this weekend!

Where to Trick-or-Treat Before Dark

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, which means a whole day to wear costumes (or two) and have some fun! If you have little ones who aren’t quite ready for a late night, or would rather skip the darker, spookier streets, there are some great places to trick-or-treat during the day.

From collecting candy along Oak Bay Avenue to exploring the trick-or-treat trail at Royal Bay, here are some spots around Greater Victoria to fill those treat bags before the sun goes down:

🍬 Halloween Trail at Hillside Centre
Saturday, October 31 | 1–4:30pm
Treats will be available at Guest Services for children 12 and under, while supplies last. A list of participating retailers will be available at Guest Services. Costume masks and face coverings aren’t permitted. [Info]

🍬 Trick or Treat at Market Square
Saturday, October 31 | 2–4:30pm
Bring your little ghosts and goblins to Market Square in downtown Victoria for an afternoon of trick-or-treating! Dress up, bring your candy bags and enjoy some Halloween fun in the heart of the city. [Info]

🎃 Trick-or-Treat on the Avenue
Saturday, October 31 | 2–6pm
Visit participating merchants along Oak Bay Avenue, from Foul Bay Road to Monterey Avenue. Look for pumpkin posters in shop windows identifying the trick-or-treat stops. [Info]

🍬 Treat Accessibly Halloween Village
Saturday, October 31 | 2–5pm
Head to Mayfair for an accessible trick-or-treating event welcoming children and families of all abilities. Enjoy kids’ entertainment, a pet costume contest, and free hot chocolate. In the parking lot in front of H Mart. [Info]

🍬 Trick-or-Treat at Westshore Town Centre
Saturday, October 31 | 2:30–4pm
Bring your costumed kiddos to Westshore Town Centre for an afternoon of trick-or-treating at participating retailers. [Info]

🎃 Royal Bay Trick or Treat Trail
Saturday, October 31 | 3–6pm
Follow the balloons to participating businesses at The Commons and Arden in Royal Bay for an afternoon of candy collecting and Halloween photos. 14 and under, with an adult. [Info]

🍭 Trick-or-Treat on the Boolevard
Saturday, October 31 | 3–5pm
Get an early start on the candy collecting with an afternoon of trick-or-treating at participating Uptown Boulevard retailers. Come in costume and make your way along the Boulevard. [Info]

🍬 Treat Street in Sidney
Saturday, October 31 | 4:30–6pm
Bring your little trick-or-treaters downtown for costumes, candy collecting and Halloween fun with participating businesses. [Info]

Read: How to Make Friends with a Ghost
My kids have loved this book for years, and we enjoy it year-round at our house. It’s a sweet story about how to care for a ghost and become lifelong friends.

Do: Watch a spooky movie
Get cozy on the couch and pick a movie from our list of Halloween favourites for kids of all ages.

Make: Pumpkin blender muffins
Little Local Crew members received recipe cards for these super easy, kid-approved muffins, but they’re too good not to share with all of our readers! Toss everything in the blender and you’re on your way to a tasty fall snack.

Go: IMAX Victoria
Looking for a rainy-day outing? Follow an otter pup growing up on Vancouver Island’s coast in Sea Otters: A Wild Family Adventure. You can also catch Fungi: The Web of Life on November 1.

🛝 Inside Out Play Club: Looking for somewhere to play on a rainy day? Inside Out Play Club in Oak Bay is an inviting indoor space where kids can explore, play and get their wiggles out, whatever the weather. Book play time.

🍳 Kids Cooking Club: A little kitchen confidence starts here! Kids ages 8–12 can get hands-on in Saanich’s Kids Cooking Club, with multiple sessions running this fall at Royal Oak and Colquitz middle schools. View sessions.

This Weekend

🌲 Trek or Treat
Friday, October 30 | 10am–12pm
Wear your costumes and join Wild Child Victoria at Highrock Park for pumpkin painting, Halloween songs, stories and outdoor play. [Info]

👶 Kids Physio Halloween Baby Party
Friday, October 30 | Noon–1:30pm
A free, drop-in Halloween playgroup at Kids Physio Victoria for children under three. Bring your little one for some playtime with other babies and toddlers. [Info]

🏛️ Trick or Treat at the Parliament Buildings
Friday, October 30 | 3–4:30pm
Head to the BC Parliament Buildings in costume for an afternoon of Halloween treats and festive activities. No registration required! [Info]

🪄 The Great Hall-oween Party
Friday, October 30 | 5–6:30pm
Get those costumes on for an evening of games, treats and creative making with a little magical inspiration at Birdhouse Creative in Langford. [Register]

⛸️ Halloween Skate at G.R. Pearkes
Friday, October 30 | 6–7pm
Get your costumes on and head to G.R. Pearkes for a Halloween-themed skate! Admission is free when you dress up; skate rentals are extra. [Info]

🧪 Potions & Play at Inside Out Play Club
Saturday, October 31 | 9:30–11am
Start Halloween with bubbling potions, pumpkin painting and spooky slime! Yes to Mess is teaming up with Inside Out Play Club in Oak Bay for 45 minutes of messy play, followed by indoor play and a snack. Tickets are $29 per child. [Info]

🦋 Halloween Spooktacular at Butterfly Gardens
Saturday, October 31 | 10am–2pm
Explore the Halloween-decorated gardens, complete a scavenger hunt and meet fascinating insects at the keeper table. The first 100 costumed children to finish the hunt receive a full-sized chocolate bar, with smaller candies available afterwards while supplies last. Activities are included with admission. [Info]

🦴 Halloween at Swan Lake
Saturday, October 31 | 11am–3pm
Get hands-on with bones and skulls at Swan Lake Nature House, learn why they’re not so scary, and visit the spooky-creature colouring station. Costumes welcome! Free or by donation; children must attend with an adult. Programming pauses from noon–12:30pm. [Info]

🎤 Kids Halloween Karaoke Party
Saturday, October 31 | 12–4pm
Catch Mister Mojo’s Halloween performances at noon and 2pm at The Open Studios (downtown), then let the kids take the mic for karaoke at 1pm and 3pm. All ages; $10 admission. [Info]

🚗 Trunk or Treat Halloween Car Show
Saturday, October 31 | 12–3pm
Check out the cars and collect candy from participating vehicles at this free Halloween event hosted by M2 Graphix and Light ’Em Up TV at 1047 Langford Parkway. [Info]

🎨 All Ages Halloween Paint Party
Saturday, October 31 | 2:30pm
Create your own jack-o’-lantern painting at this guided, all-ages workshop at Paul Phillips Hall. A creative way to spend the afternoon before heading out for trick-or-treating. [Tickets]

👻 Esquimalt Halloween Spooktacular
Saturday, October 31 | 5:30pm
Stop by for family-friendly Halloween activities and a community BBQ at Archie Browning Sports Centre in Esquimalt. [Info]

🚒 Treat Street at Luxton Fairgrounds
Saturday, October 31 | 5:30–8:30pm
Join Langford Fire Rescue for a free evening of trick-or-treating, live music, hot chocolate and hot dogs at Luxton Fairgrounds. Treats and food are available while supplies last. [Info]

🎆 Halloween Bonfire & Fireworks
Saturday, October 31 | 6:30–8pm
Gather at Camp Barnard near Sooke for a free Halloween evening with a bonfire, hot dogs, hot chocolate and candy bags for kids. Fireworks over Young Lake begin at 7:30pm. [Info]

🃏 Coastal Collector’s Market: Big Fall Bash
Sunday, November 1 | 10am–5pm
Have a Pokémon, LEGO or sports card collector at home? Head to the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney to browse more than 100 tables of cards, toys, comics and collectibles. Admission is free, with giveaways throughout the day. [Info]

Say Goodbye to Your Pumpkin!

Take your jack-o'-lantern to one of these pumpkin smashes on Sunday, November 1 for a fun finale to Halloween weekend!

🚒 Langford Pumpkin Smash
10am–2pm | Westshore Town Centre
Bring your pumpkins to the Langford Firefighters’ charity smash near Cineplex. [Info]

🍂 View Royal FireSmart Pumpkin Smash
10am–2pm | Public Safety Building
Watch your pumpkin take a four-storey plunge from the fire department’s training tower! Donations are welcome for the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. [Info]

🎃 Pumpkin Smash Bash at Tillicum Centre
12–3pm | Tillicum Centre
See your pumpkin dropped from 100 feet up with help from Saanich Fire. [Info]

💥 Colwood Pumpkin Smash
2–4pm | Colwood City Hall
Send your pumpkin into a snowblower or blast it with a fire hose! There’ll also be family photos, crafts and activities for the kids. [Info]

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