Halloween

For the second year, COVID-19 safety concerns mean cancelling the traditional trick-or-treat on the Avenue and massive pumpkin display that fills the park off Granite Street. (Oak Bay BIA/Facebook)

No tricks or treats on Oak Bay Avenue this Halloween

Pumpkins on poles bring a little spookiness to the village

For the second year, COVID-19 safety concerns mean cancelling the traditional trick-or-treat on the Avenue and massive pumpkin display that fills the park off Granite Street. (Oak Bay BIA/Facebook)
Families in Saanich will have access to $1 recreation passes until the end of the Halloween season. (Black Press Media file photo)

Trick-or-treat Saanich recreation passes a healthy alternative during spooky season

Saanich Parks and Recreation offers passes to families from Oct. 15 to 31

Families in Saanich will have access to $1 recreation passes until the end of the Halloween season. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sidney resident Ingrid Shaw’s Thanksgiving display in her front garden. (Courtesy of Ingrid Shaw)

Seasonal garden display inspires creativity, smiles in Sidney

Ingrid Shaw enjoys the fun of decorating for each season

Sidney resident Ingrid Shaw’s Thanksgiving display in her front garden. (Courtesy of Ingrid Shaw)
Bears can come onto people’s yards and their patios for pumpkin and candies, like this bear in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, who just went for the pumpkin. (Christy Mabe/Special to The News)

Keep your tricks, treats and bears separate, WildSafe BC says

Shares tips and suggestions to avoid human-bear conflict through Halloween

Bears can come onto people’s yards and their patios for pumpkin and candies, like this bear in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, who just went for the pumpkin. (Christy Mabe/Special to The News)
An Oak Bay firefighter and child hose down the massive Halloween fire in Firefighter’s Park during a previous event. (Black Press Media file photo)

COVID-19 pandemic douses Halloween bonfire in Oak Bay

Annual Oct. 31 gathering in Firefighter’s Park cancelled for second consecutive year

An Oak Bay firefighter and child hose down the massive Halloween fire in Firefighter’s Park during a previous event. (Black Press Media file photo)
FILE – Alessandro Priolo slides a bag of candy to a young boy at his house on Halloween in Montreal, Saturday, October 31, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Trick-or-treat in small groups, bring back Halloween candy chutes this year: Dr. Henry

Many kids out trick-or-treating will be too young to be vaccinated

FILE – Alessandro Priolo slides a bag of candy to a young boy at his house on Halloween in Montreal, Saturday, October 31, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Rob Galey gets Pirate’s Island ready for next week’s festivities at Galey Farms. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Halloween, fall traditions set to begin at Galey Farms in Saanich

Tickets available in advance for events running throughout October

Rob Galey gets Pirate’s Island ready for next week’s festivities at Galey Farms. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm crouches amid piles of pumpkins in his Central Saanich field. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Pumpkin patch family fun returns to Central Saanich farm

Channel your inner Charlie Brown at Michell’s Farm

Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm crouches amid piles of pumpkins in his Central Saanich field. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Stop by the Uptown ReStore or the West Shore location to grab a free steam punk’in kit. Use the kit to create your very own steam punk’ins this Halloween. (Facebook/Restore Victoria)

Greater Victoria gourds get their steampunk on thanks to free ReStore kits

Crafty kits create steampunk aesthetic on pumpkins

Stop by the Uptown ReStore or the West Shore location to grab a free steam punk’in kit. Use the kit to create your very own steam punk’ins this Halloween. (Facebook/Restore Victoria)
Stay tuned for the Monsters Haunted House at the former University Heights movie theatre through October. (Pixabay photo)

Dark, vacant Saanich theatre set to scare for Halloween

Monsters Haunted House comes to University Heights Shopping Centre

Stay tuned for the Monsters Haunted House at the former University Heights movie theatre through October. (Pixabay photo)
Every year, piles of abandoned jack-o-lanterns appear in Mount Douglas Park after Halloween and advocates are urging residents to be responsible when displaying their pumpkin art. (Photo courtesy Darrell Wick)

The great Saanich pumpkin dump: Advocates advise against abandoning carved gourds in park

Removal of rotten pumpkins costs up to $800 annually, district says

Every year, piles of abandoned jack-o-lanterns appear in Mount Douglas Park after Halloween and advocates are urging residents to be responsible when displaying their pumpkin art. (Photo courtesy Darrell Wick)
Dozens of pumpkins have found a new home along Veterans Memorial Parkway in Colwood. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Pumpkins pop up along Veterans Memorial Parkway in Colwood

Dozens of carved creations near Havenswood Park entrance

Dozens of pumpkins have found a new home along Veterans Memorial Parkway in Colwood. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Visitors pose for a photograph outside the Nootka Sound RCMP office in Gold River on Halloween. Gold River first responders and RCMP handed out pre-packaged candy to children from the community on Halloween. Photo courtesy, Nootka Sound RCMP.

RCMP and first responders treat a Vancouver Island community to a pandemic-safe Halloween

A police approved candy booth and a crime-free evening were the Halloween highlights in Gold River this year

Visitors pose for a photograph outside the Nootka Sound RCMP office in Gold River on Halloween. Gold River first responders and RCMP handed out pre-packaged candy to children from the community on Halloween. Photo courtesy, Nootka Sound RCMP.
Party goers in Vancouver on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2020, in large crowds despite the ongoing pandemic. (Screenshot)

Crowds of hostile partiers, stabbings, a car fire: Vancouver police busy on Halloween weekend

Vancouver police responded to over 800 calls for service during a 24 hour time period

Party goers in Vancouver on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2020, in large crowds despite the ongoing pandemic. (Screenshot)
Victoria police are asking the public to be vigilant after an ammonia inhalant was found amongst an Esquimalt child’s Halloween candy. (Courtesy of VicPD)

Ammonia inhalant found in Esquimalt child’s Halloween candy

Police warning parents after suspicious item found Sunday evening

Victoria police are asking the public to be vigilant after an ammonia inhalant was found amongst an Esquimalt child’s Halloween candy. (Courtesy of VicPD)
Social media images of large parties in Vancouver’s downtown on Halloween night, Oct. 31, 2020.

VIDEO: Halloween crowds gather in Vancouver despite B.C. top doctor’s plea to avoid parties

Police said large, alcohol fuelled crowds made dispersing people not a practical solution

Social media images of large parties in Vancouver’s downtown on Halloween night, Oct. 31, 2020.
Police cars block the Quai Saint-Andre sweet where they arrested a man in medieval disguise, early Sunday, November 1, 2020 in Quebec City. Two people are dead and five people were injured after they were stabbed. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

VIDEO: Police name two victims killed in night of horror in Quebec City

Police Chief Robert Pigeon says attack involved man dressed in a medieval costume swinging a sword

Police cars block the Quai Saint-Andre sweet where they arrested a man in medieval disguise, early Sunday, November 1, 2020 in Quebec City. Two people are dead and five people were injured after they were stabbed. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
The Langford Fire Rescue team was busy Saturday afternoon handing out heaps of candy during its first ever Halloween drive-thru. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Langford Fire Rescue’s Halloween drive-thru delights children

Full-sized chocolate bars may make Langford Fire Rescue the favourite house on the block

The Langford Fire Rescue team was busy Saturday afternoon handing out heaps of candy during its first ever Halloween drive-thru. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Berwick House Retirement Community hosted its annual Great Pumpkin Walk with the Grade 5 students from Hillcrest Elementary in a pandemic-friendly fashion. (Photo courtesy Melissa Braun)

PHOTOS: Saanich retirement home welcomes students for pandemic-friendly Great Pumpkin walk

Annual Berwick House Halloween event brings joy to seniors, youngsters

Berwick House Retirement Community hosted its annual Great Pumpkin Walk with the Grade 5 students from Hillcrest Elementary in a pandemic-friendly fashion. (Photo courtesy Melissa Braun)
(Pixabay photo)

Spoooky, scaaaary: The ultimate Halloween-in-quarantine playlist

All the costumes, trick-or-treating and spooky-season fun is essentialy off the table due to COVID-19

(Pixabay photo)