Halloween is all about ghosts, goblins, and hair-raising haunted houses. The spooky holiday doesn't just take place on October 31, in Vancouver -- it lasts an entire season, and these five scream-worthy haunted houses are open and ready to make you want to run and hide.
Chinatown Haunted House
The Chinatown Haunted House isn't for the faint of heart. In fact, the annual haunted house at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is deemed too freaky for kids under the age of 13. Known as Vancouver's fastest growing Halloween activity, this spooky haunted house features more than 25 actors, musicians, and dancers dressed as freaky ghosts, ghouls, and other creepy creatures inspired by China's Sherlock Holmes, Judge Dee. The Chinatown Haunted House allows 10 fright seekers into the transformed Classical Chinese Garden every two minutes between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., from October 21 to 31.
Playland Fright Nights
Photo credit: City of Vancouver Archives
Kick off October with some frightening thrills at downtown's Vancouver's popular Playland Amusement Park at the PNE. Every year, the family-friendly theme park subs its summer rides and activities for ones that are much scarier during the three weeks of Fright Nights. This year, the park will feature 15 hair-raising rides, seven haunted houses, and two freaky live shows, from October 7 through 31. Fright passes can be purchased online or at the door.
The Valley Haunt
This popular neighborhood haunt in North Vancouver has since turned into a must-visit annual attraction that's been around for more than 10 years. The donation-driven haunted house, known as The Valley Haunt, features terrifying themed rooms, like last year's Dr. Dume's Research Lab, Zombie Casino, and CarnEVIL. The Valley Haunt takes place in the Lynn Valley area of North Vancouver, and the extravagant display takes more than 20 days to build each year. The house, located at 1311 Appin Rd., will be open from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., through Halloween night, and the spooky atmosphere is only recommended for visitors over the age of eight.
Stanley Park Ghost Train
Photo credit: Marc van der Chijs
Not exactly a haunted house, the Stanley Park Ghost Train offers a haunted atmosphere that's the perfect amount of scary for kids of all ages. The Ghost Train themed ride takes you and your little ones on a magical and slightly spooky tour through a nighttime forest with Halloween decorations and live-action creatures, providing kid-friendly surprises and thrills. The theme for this year's train will be the Day of the Dead, and there's no doubt your little ones will love the live mariachi band and creepy cockroaches. Of course, the creative decorations and acclaimed musicians will excite and entertain the adults too. Tickets are just $6, and the train runs from October 8, through Halloween night.
Potter's House of Horrors
The 45-minute drive southeast of Vancouver to Potter's House of Horrors (in Surrey) is well worth the drive for fear fanatics. Known as one of the freakiest haunted houses in British Columbia, Potter's House of Horrors actually holds a long list of people on the "Chickened Out" list. Because the real-life scares are a little too freaky for little ones, the park added a new kids-only Li'l Haunters haunt for the 2016 season. The House of Horrors opened its doors for the year on October 1, and the scares will continue through Halloween night.
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