Things are getting a little spooky around Whistler and residents are turning their homes into haunted displays with little ghosts and goblins busy preparing their costumes for the big day.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a few helpful things below. No tricks here, just helpful tips to make your Halloween fa-boo-lous!
Halloween at Tapley’s Neighbourhood
Trick-or-treaters are invited to Tapley’s neighbourhood for the 40th annual Halloween celebration. The neighbourhood will be closed to traffic from 4 p.m. on, with trick-or-treating starting after 5:30 p.m.
Support this event by making a candy donation in the collection boxes located at: Whistler Children’s Centre Society, Myrtle Phillip Community School, Nesters Market, Fresh St. Market, The Independent and Creekside Market.
We Scare Hunger campaign
Once on site, you can support the Whistler Community Services Society through their ‘We Scare Hunger’ campaign by making a cash or non-perishable food donation at the Tapley’s neighbourhood entrance during the festivities. In honour of the 40th anniversary of the Halloween celebrations, their goal is to raise $4,000 and 400kg of non-perishable food donations for the Whistler Food Bank.
Fireworks
A fireworks display will start at 7:30 p.m. at Myrtle Philip Field. Fireworks have been generously donated by Nesters Market.
Getting Around – ‘Park and Spook’
Transit
BC Transit and the Resort Municipality of Whistler are providing a free shuttle to get all the little ghouls, zombies, and princesses to Tapley’s Farm for trick-or-treating on October 31.
Starting at 5 p.m., the free ‘Goblin Express’ will depart from the Marketplace parking lot every 15 minutes, headed to Tapley’s Farm. The last shuttle will leave at 8:30 p.m. or after the fireworks, whichever is later.
Whistler Transit, BC Transit and the RMOW would like to extend a special thank you to the students and teachers of the Whistler Waldorf School decorating the buses!
Marketplace Parking
Parking at the Marketplace parking lot is free for trick-or-treaters between 5 and 10 p.m., courtesy of Fast Park and the Marketplace merchants.
Halloween Safety Tips
When heading out for Halloween, some safety tips to keep in mind:
- Young children should be accompanied by an adult or responsible older child.
- It is important to be seen, so carry a flashlight and/or incorporate LED lights or sew reflective strips into costumes.
- Full masks can make it difficult for a child to see where they are going: eye-safe makeup is a good alternative.
- Always cross at intersections, crosswalks or street corners. Remind all trick-or-treaters to stop at the curb, look both ways, and listen for oncoming traffic.
If you plan to drive on Halloween, please keep in mind, all side streets in Whistler have a speed limit of 30km/hr. Drivers should be prepared to slow down even more as trick-or-treaters take over the streets.
Wildlife Attractants
As much as pumpkins make festive decorations, bears also LOVE pumpkins.
Real pumpkins are an attractant for wildlife and must not be left outside your home unattended. If you would like to keep a pumpkin on display, consider placing it indoors in a window or use a decorative non-edible alternative.
If you must put your pumpkin outside, the Conservation Officer Service suggests doing this on Halloween night only and bringing it inside at night, before disposing of it properly. Limit the length of time your pumpkin is outdoors.
While it’s a nice gesture to leave a bowl of treats on your step if you plan to be away, this can also attract wildlife; consider asking a neighbour to hand out your candies on your behalf.
Other spooky events
Halloween Spooky Skate
Dress in costume and skate under the disco lights at Meadow Park Sports Centre. All ages welcome. Saturday, October 28 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Learn more at whistler.ca/skate.
Halloween Dance Party with Ira Pettle
Ghosts and ghouls of all ages are invited to an epic dance party at the library with local legend Ira Pettle. Show off your Halloween costume and your most hair-raising dance moves as we shake and shimmy our way through the spookiest season of the year! No registration required, all ages welcome. Whistler Public Library, Sunday, October 29 from 2 to 3 p.m. Full event details here.
Pumpkin Drop + Bake Sale
What do you get when you drop a pumpkin? Squash!
Don’t throw away those old pumpkins; join the Whistler Fire Rescue Service team and drop your pumpkin from the top of the Spring Creek Fire Hall and watch it go splat! By donation, all money raised benefits the Whistler Children’s Centre. Spring Creek Fire Station, Sunday, November 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Photo credit: Tourism Whistler/Jo Hawkins
