A few events and activities are being held in Abbotsford to celebrate Halloween.
Two of these events are being held at Abbotsford Recreation Centre (2499 McMillan Rd.).
The first event is the Halloween Howl, which takes place Saturday, Oct. 23. It features Halloween-themed activities such as a family gym, arts and crafts, games, trick-or-treating and a very scary story time.
Everyone is encouraged to come dressed in costume.
Halloween Howl has three time slots – 10 to 11:30 a.m., noon to 1:30 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. People must book a time slot by calling ARC at 604-853-4221 or Matsqui Recreation Centre at 604-855-0500.
Children two and under are free, and older kids are $10 each. Adults 18 and older are free, as they are required to be present for supervision.
ARC follows provincial health mandates, which require proof of vaccination to enter the facility.
The second event is titled Virtual Ghosts, Goblins and Ghouls. It takes place Friday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 7 p.m online on Zoom.
Participants will decorate a small pumpkin, create a Halloween craft, listen to a scary story time and much more.
Participants are encouraged to dress up and will need access to the internet and a device with a microphone and camera.
All registered participants will receive an email with the Zoom link prior to the program date. In that email will be a notice that program activity kits are ready to be picked up at ARC during facility hours (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
The cost is $10 per child. Register online at Direct2rec.com.
The Abbotsford Mission Recycling Program hosts its annual Day of Pumpkin Decorating on Saturday, Oct. 23.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the recycling depot at 33670 Valley Rd. in Abbotsford. Families will have the option of decorating on site while socially distanced in the outdoor space or taking the pumpkins and decorating kits home.
The free event is held in celebration of national Waste Reduction Week and encourages families to decorate pumpkins without using cutting or carving utensils. This allows the pumpkins to be re-used for fall baking or animal feed.
The pumpkins are donated by Willow View Farms. The limit is one pumpkin per child with a maximum of three children per adult.
Whether they attend the event or not, community members can submit a picture of their decorated pumpkin for a chance to win a basket of Halloween goodies by using the tag #ArchwayPumpkins on social media.
Historic Downtown Abbotsford also features two events for Halloween.
Kids can trick-or-treat on Friday, Oct. 29 from 1 to 5 p.m. Posters will be displayed in store windows of participating businesses.
Then, on Monday, Nov. 1, Pumpkins in the Park takes place from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Jubilee Park, 2552 McCallum Rd.
Participants pre-register by clicking on the link at downtownabbotsford.ca and then drop off their carved or decorated pumpkins from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Costumes are optional. At check-in, they will receive a goodie bag and a candle for their pumpkin.
QUIZ: How much do you really know about Halloween?
The pumpkins will line a path of Jack-O-Lantern Way from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. After the event, the pumpkins will be removed from the park for proper disposal.
A photo wall and a food truck (Helms Mobile Kitchen) will also be on site. All ticket holders ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to be granted entry to the event.
Also in Abbotsford for Halloween, The Empty Chesty – a non-profit society – hosts its Haunted Adventure at 31515 Harris Rd. from Oct. 29-31.
“Travel into the forest in search of the lost knight. He holds the key to your survival in this forest of doom. Keep your wits about you, adventurers; not everything is as it seems,” the website states.
The goal is for participants to get their group through the “evil woods” with at least one surviving player. Everyone in the group gets a bow and two arrows, as well as a “life force belt” with three lives, and they run through the woods while monsters chase them.
A monster can steal a life; if all life forces are gone, the group is finished. Players can find extra arrows and life forces in treasure chests – hidden throughout the woods – to revive teammates.
The adventure is estimated to take one hour. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Visit theemptychest.com for tickets and more information.
