October is a beautiful time of year in Prince George. Not only is it a mecca for anything hunting and fishing in BC, but the fall colours make for gorgeous walks down by the river. October also hosts one of our favourite holidays and all of the fun activities that come with it: Halloween.
Pre-Halloween fun at Black Spruce Farms
My kids in the pumpkin patch at Black Spruce Farm before Halloween.
Most people think that by the time Halloween hits in Prince George there’s about three feet of snow on the ground and the thermostat reads well below zero. My experience has been the opposite. The last few Halloweens in Prince George have been dry and warm much like the climate in Vancouver where I’m from, which makes spending a day outside at the local pumpkin patch with the kids very enjoyable. Black Spruce Farms opens up on the weekends just before Halloween and has a petting farm and supplies pellets for everyone to feed the farm animals. The kids are then able to head to the “pumpkin patch” and pick out a pumpkin and even take a ride on the tractor.
Haunting fun for all ages
Prince George hosts a lot of other kid friendly activities around Halloween that are similar to what you’d find in the big city, but at half the price too! The 4H building hosts a haunted maze the weekend before Halloween that is open for little kids starting at 3:00 pm and moves onto advanced scares throughout the night for the older kids, including adults! Proceeds will be split between the PG Horse Society, John Howard Society, and local food banks.
Halloween fun in a historical setting
My kids ready to celebrate Halloween in their costumes.
The Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum also hosts a party for the kids the weekend before Halloween; the best part is entry is free with a non-perishable donation. During the party, the mini train will run around the Halloween themed outdoor part of the museum, which the kids love. There are lots of artifacts to look at while at the museum, offering a great glimpse into central BC’s past. To top it off, you can roast smores and hot dogs on the big bonfire after climbing in and out of the trains and checking out the old Penney station.
Wrap up All Hallows’ Eve with a fireworks show
After spending the evening trick or treating and eating enough candy to make you make your stomach hurt, you can head to the field at the College Heights Secondary School where you can watch the College Heights Community Association put on a fabulous fireworks show with entry by donation. One of my favourite things about living in Prince George is you can show up five minutes before it starts (after only driving 5 minutes to get there) and still get a parking spot and even better view.
These are only a few of the great Halloween activities families can enjoy in Prince George. What’s your favourite activity? Join the conversation on Facebook.
