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Happy Thanksgiving weekend! I’m looking forward to good food, visiting family on the mainland, and lots of time outside with the kids. Whatever your plans, I hope the long weekend gives you a little extra time with your favourite people.

This week, I’m sharing our Halloween Guide to help you plan the rest of October. You’ll also find things to do over the long weekend and a free printable to give your next fall walk a little mission.

Good luck to everyone taking part in the Victoria Marathon events and Kids Run this weekend! We’ll be cheering you on.

Thanks so much for being here and making Little Local part of your week. 💛

Your Halloween Guide

Halloween is just around the corner, and our full guide to celebrating around Greater Victoria is live! It has spooky outings, creative workshops, community events, and trick-or-treat spots, and I'll keep it updated all month. Here's a peek at what you can do or book now:

🚂 Halloween Train in Duncan: Select evenings, Oct 16–30. Popular dates sell out early, so grab tickets now if it's on your list. [Info & tickets]

🎃 Pumpkinfest at Galey Farms: Weekends plus Thanksgiving Monday. Corn maze, wagon rides, a kids' haunted house and pumpkins. [Info]

⛳ Spooky Mini Golf at Haunted Manor: 18 indoor holes downtown with spooky storytelling and no live scare actors. Open daily. Suited for 5+. [Info]

🎃 Visit a Pumpkin Patch: Find the perfect pumpkin and make an outing of it. My pumpkin patch guide has spots for a quick pick or a full afternoon of farm fun. [Info]

🗺️ Spooky Houses Map: It's live! Houses are still setting up, so save your tour for closer to Halloween. [View map]

Coming up later this month

• Spooky markets in Langford, Metchosin and the da Vinci Centre

• Trick-or-treating at the aquarium

• Wicked Victoria downtown

• Slime and potion workshops at Birdhouse Creative, and

• Trick-or-treat streets in Oak Bay, Uptown and Sidney on Oct 31

Community Spotlight: Rhino Coffee, a spot where kids are welcome

Finding a café where you can actually sit down with little ones isn't always easy. Rhino Coffee House, with locations in Langford, Westhills and Uptown, is one of those places. It's locally owned by Courtney and her husband, parents of two young boys who've grown up around the cafés.

I asked Courtney what it's like running Rhino while raising two young kids. "It's definitely busy!" she says. "But being a parent has also really shaped the kind of environment we want Rhino to be. I know firsthand how nice it is to have somewhere you can grab a great coffee or something to eat where bringing your kids along feels completely normal and welcome."

It's an easy spot for a coffee date with another parent, lunch after a morning activity, or a weekend treat with the kids, with no one rushing you out the door.

Their fall menu is out now, and I'm not usually one for seasonal drinks, but their pumpkin spice latte won me over: not too sweet, with just the right amount of spice.

Thank you, Courtney, for the donut vouchers in this fall's Little Local Crew snail mail. Crew members, consider this your excuse for a café date ;)

A Fall Scavenger Hunt

Our kids love a nature walk with a mission! I made a free printable to bring along on your next fall wander around Victoria. Print a copy and see what you can find together.

🥕 South Island FarmHub: Bring the farmers market to your door! Stock up on fall produce and local groceries from farms and food makers across the region. Online ordering opens Thursdays at noon for the week ahead. Place your order.

🦃 Refire Kitchen: Want to keep Thanksgiving simple? Refire’s frozen turkey dinners let you skip the prep and just heat and serve. Pick one up at their Victoria, View Royal, Sidney or Langford shops, and grab a few meals for busy weeknights while you’re there. Browse the menu.

This Weekend

🏃 Thrifty Foods Kids Run
Saturday, October 10 | 10:45am & 11am
A 1 km fun run at Willows Beach for kids 12 and under, with parents welcome to join alongside. Ages 7–12 start at 10:45 am; ages six and under at 11 am. Registration is $30 and ends at 6pm on Friday, Oct. 9 [Info]

☕ Wild Mamas
Sunday, October 11 | 10am–12pm
Meet at Ruth & Dean for Wild Child Victoria’s gathering for pregnant and postpartum parents. A chance to connect through early motherhood; babies born in 2026 are welcome. [Info]

📣 Royal Victoria Marathon
Sunday, October 11 | From 8:15am
Make a sign, find a spot along the route through Victoria and Oak Bay, and cheer on the runners! A free way to join the race-weekend fun. Check the route and road closures before heading out. [Info]

⛸️ Thanksgiving Skate
Monday, October 12 | 1:30–3 pm
Get the family out for a holiday skate at Oak Bay Recreation Centre before Thanksgiving dinner. [Info]

🎬 An American Tail: 40th Anniversary Screening
Monday, October 12 | 3pm
Introduce the kids to Fievel at this free, all-ages screening of the animated classic at The Vic Theatre. Doors open at 2:30 pm. Reserve your tickets online. [Info]

Upcoming

🍂 Harvest Fest
Saturday, October 17 | 10am–2pm
Head to the Gardens at HCP for family activities, garden talks, plant sales and a squash race. Coffee and baked treats will also be available. Admission is $10; children under 16 are free. [Info]

📚 Victoria Festival of Authors KidsFest
Saturday, October 17 | 12:30–3:30pm
Meet authors, listen to readings and enjoy activities at this free celebration for young readers in the Fernwood Community Centre gymnasium. Writing workshops require sign-up. [Info]

🦄 The Unicorn’s Birthday
Saturday, October 17 | 3pm; instrument petting zoo at 2pm
Victoria Symphony brings musical animals and an interactive birthday celebration to the Farquhar at UVic. Designed for young families and sensory-friendly audiences, with a chance to try real instruments before the concert. [Info & tickets]

👻 Wicked Victoria
Sunday, October 25 | 10am–3pm
Put the costumes on and head downtown for this free Halloween festival! Government Street and Bastion Square will be filled with live entertainment, kids’ activities, vendors and trick-or-treating. [Info]

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Final Note: I do my best to keep everything accurate, but I am only human so the odd mistake might sneak in! If you catch one, feel free to let me know.