“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble!” Once again, the spine-chilling, hair-raising, heart-pounding Halloween season has returned, and there are plenty of Halloween-themed activities for the whole family (and for adults-only for the really frightening stuff!). But if the scary season isn’t for you, not to worry. As always, there are many other (non-scary) festivals and events going on! Have a fun and safe Halloween season everyone!
* * *
Potter’s House of Horrors
Until Oct. 31
12530 72nd Avenue, Surrey
Potter’s Farm & Nursery, a local garden centre in Surrey supplying plants, pottery and garden gifts, converts into the Potter’s House of Horrors every October. Featuring terrifying custom haunted houses loaded with twisty turns, horrific surprises and heaps of fun, their goal is to ensure patrons have the best time possible while also hoping to provide a delightfully frightful Halloween experience. There are two versions of the haunted house: one for the family, where the scariness factor is reduced, and an adult version. For more information, please visit their website.
* * *
Heart of the City Festival
Oct. 24–Nov. 4
Downtown Eastside, Vancouver
www.heartofthecityfestival.com
With a focus on the rich and diverse communities of the Downtown Eastside, the 15th Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival celebrates the creative and committed artists and activists who thrive in the heart of Vancouver. The 2018 festival features twelve days of music, stories, songs, poetry, cultural celebrations, films, theatre, dance, spoken word, forums, workshops, discussions, gallery exhibits, mixed media, art talks, history talks and history walks. This year’s theme is “Seeds of Justice, Seeds of Hope.” For more information, please check out the website.
* * *
Dazzling performance of Hungarian culture.| Photo courtesy of Massey Theatre.
Spirit of Hungary
Oct. 26, 7:30–10 p.m.
Massey Theatre, New Westminster
Established in 1949 in its original form, the Hungarian National Dance Ensemble has been touring the world with significant success. The 2018 North American Tour is a special engagement to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the 1848 Hungarian revolution and present authentic Hungarian folklore in a dazzling performance. The first part of the show will feature thematic dances commemorating the 1848 Hungarian revolution. The second half of the program will feature authentic Hungarian folk music and dances from the Carpathian Basin. Check out the Massey Theatre’s website for tickets and more information.
* * *
Danielle S. Marcotte: Book Signing and Discussion
Oct. 27, 1–3 p.m.
Black Bond Books, 5251 Ladner Trunk Road, Delta
Author Danielle S. Marcotte will meet the public and discuss and sign her latest children’s book, Scamper and the Airplane Thief, at Ladner’s Black Bond Books from 1–3 p.m. on Oct. 27. Will Scamper, the little red seaplane, be able to save his rebel pilot in Canada’s wilderness? When a student kidnaps the small training plane for a joyride, it is up to the little Luscombe 8f to show courage, determination and quick thinking to save the day. Her seven other titles for kids will also be available in their French and English versions.
* * *
The Parade of Lost Souls
Oct. 27, 7–10 p.m.
Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Tighten your boots, folks, ‘cause your socks are gonna get blown right off! The Parade of Lost Souls invites you to indulge in this year’s theme of Magic and Realism! Come prepared to feast your eyes and ears on live bands, art installations, clowns galore, delicious food trucks and much more from the minds and hearts of our beloved city’s artists! Please visit the website for more information!
* * *
Halloween on the Heights
Oct. 31, 3:30–8:30 p.m. (Trick or Treat and Fireworks)
Nov. 1, 5:30–9 p.m. (Pumpkin Parade)
Burnaby Heights Neighbourhood
Halloween belongs in the neighbourhood and this is very true on the Heights. Halloween on the Heights is the true folkloric event that is meant to be – safe, fun and a celebration of a good spooking! On Halloween, there will be trick-or-treating on Hastings Street from participating merchants in the afternoon and then a fireworks show at 8:15 p.m. at Gilmore Community School. On Nov. 1, there will be a Pumpkin Parade at Confederation Park. For more information, please visit the website.
* * *
Then and Now: 1968–2018 Conference
Nov. 2–3, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
SFU Vancouver
www.sfu.ca/humanities-institute/public-events/conferences/1968conf.html
On the 50th anniversary of 1968, SFU Vancouver will host a conference that will consider various aspects of “the Sixties” in light of what has developed since. The conference will consider our current situation and its prospects: from women’s liberation to contemporary feminism, indigenous politics then and now, the philosophical situation of the 1960s, changes in labour and labour politics, and the role of SFU and Vancouver, from anti-psychiatry to contemporary therapies. The speakers will take up one of the strands of the politics and culture of the 1960s to illuminate contemporary concerns. Check out SFU’s website for a list of speakers and schedule information.
* * *
Fifth Annual Vancouver Turkish Film Festival
Nov. 2–4
Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, Vancouver
As a “melting pot” of many cultures for thousands of years, the land of modern Turkey has so much to offer from a cultural sense, and the fifth Annual Vancouver Turkish Film Festival is one of the ways to share Turkey’s multicultural heritage with the residents of Metro Vancouver. Turkish cinema has celebrated its centennial recently and flourished over the years. The festival this year will take place from Nov. 2–4 at the Goldcorp Centre for the Arts Cinema. There will be a panel discussion on Nov. 3 related to a theme in some of the films that will be screened. Two of the films portray the lives and challenges of Syrian refugees in Turkey. For showtimes and movie information, please visit the festival’s website.
* * *
Explore the subtleties of tea.| Photo courtesy of Vancouver Tea Festival.
Vancouver Tea Festival
Nov. 3–4
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Vancouver
Come explore the world of tea, interact with like-minded tea lovers and taste dazzling examples of one of the world’s most beloved beverages returning once again to the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver. Savour the elegant, timeless beauty of the Classical Chinese Garden as you experience a true pan-cultural celebration of tea in all its forms. For tickets and more information, check out the festival’s website.
* * *
Aquarela do Brasil: An Explosive Celebration of Music and Dance
Nov. 8–9, 8 p.m.
Vancouver Playhouse
In honour of the 60th anniversary of the birth of Brazil’s esteemed Bossa Nova musical movement, the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre Society will present a dazzling concert showcasing Brazil’s multi-faceted musical culture in Aquarela do Brasil: An Explosive Celebration of Music and Dance, happening Nov. 8 & 9, 8 p.m. at Vancouver Playhouse. Created by internationally renowned percussionist Sal Ferreras, an ensemble of award-winning musicians and dancers will ignite the stage with some of Brazil’s most infectious musical styles, from Rio’s exuberant carnaval rhythms and Bahia’s iconic samba-reggae to the fiery steps of Recife’s frevo, soulful choro classics and lyrical Bossa Nova melodies. Check out the website for tickets and more information.
