Get into the Halloween spirit with 10 ghoultide traditions in the Okanagan
For our weekly top 10 list, we chose Halloween traditions from the Okanagan Valley
For some of us, Halloween is almost as much fun as Christmas. Think about it — candy, trick-or-treating, more candy, the Michael Jackson “Thriller” video, “The Monster Mash,” even more candy, “Treehouse of Horrors,” bobbing for apples, silly costumes and a big bowl of popcorn curled up for a night of horror movies.
To quote SCTV’s Count Floyd, “Ooh kids, now that’s scary.”
Here are 10 traditions — some are fairly recent, others have been around for years — in the Okanagan for Halloween which officially falls on Wednesday, Oct. 31.
DAY OF DESTRUCTION
The Penticton Speedway regularly has a day of destruction which features hornets, hit-2-pass, streetstocks and late models.
The Sunday before Halloween is by far the most entertaining because not only will you see drivers and fans in costumes, the cars will also be dressed up for Halloween. Racing begins at 2 p.m. and, as always, children ages 10 and under are free with a parent.
GRENFELL ROAD HAUNTED HOUSE
A well-known Kelowna haunted house is the perfect activity for people looking for a fright.
For the third year, Paul Coxe and his friend Clarence Johnson have set up a Halloween display at Coxe’s house, located at 945 Grenfell Rd.
The haunted house display wraps around the front and backyard, and promises to deliver extra scares to visitors this year.
It is open this weekend and on Halloween Night.
For a non-scary visit, go from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The scary time runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is also a fundraiser for the local food bank.
HORROR PARK
New to the Kelowna fright scene is the Haunted House Horror Park in at Myra Canyon Adventure Park at 4429 June Springs Rd.
It’s 40 acres of scary fun with live-action simulations, adult scare zone, roaming monsters, family fun zone and 60-foot inflatable slide.
The park is now open through Nov. 3 on weekdays from 5 to 10 p.m. and weekends 5 to 11:30 p.m. Admission is $20 a person or $50 a family. Tickets are available online at: BrownPaperTickets.com/event/3716255.
OKANAGAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Celebrate Halloween with a musical twist this weekend. Everybody’s favourite boy wizard, Harry Potter is featured in a special presentation of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.
Antony Knight plays Harry, Nina Ogawara is Hermione Granger, and the Okanagan Children’s Choir will also perform under the direction of Frances Chiasson.
Today’s show in Penticton at the Cleland Community Theatre starts at 2 p.m. There’s also a Sunday performance in Kelowna at the Community Theatre, also beginning at 2 p.m.
Come in costume and let the OSO whisk you away to Harry’s magical world. The repertoire includes Hedwig’s Flight, Diagon Alley, Voldemort, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Nimbus 2000, and Quidditch, composed by five-time Academy Award-winner John Williams (the man who did “Star Wars,” “Jaws,” “E.T.” and “Superman.”
For tickets, visit the OSO website.
O’KEEFE RANCH FIELD OF SCREAMS
O’Keefe Ranch’s Field of Screams event offers visitors three haunted mazes this Halloween.
The extra haunted maze and a new professional set design makes for a spooky experience.
“We don’t pull any punches for how far we’ll take scaring people,” said Matt Brown, creative director. “It’s not for the faint of heart for sure.”
However, there are family-friendly mazes that are not scary open during the day on the weekends. Field of Screams runs until Oct. 30. Along with the mazes, there are carnival games each night. Each maze costs $10 per person. This weekend, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be pony rides, food trucks on site.
THE PERFECT COSTUME
What's Halloween without the perfect costume? Sure, you can make your own.
But nobody wants to see that lame ghost getup again, fashioned from an old white sheet with two holes cut in it for the eyes.
For professional help, visit one of the perennial pop-up Halloween stores.
This year, Halloween Alley is at Orchard Park mall in Kelowna and Spirit Halloween is at Capri Centre Mall in Kelowna.
Value Village in Penticton, Vernon and Kelowna bring in lots of Halloween costumes.
And Kelowna and Vernon have yearround costume shops, Calowna Costume and Costume House, respectively.
You can't go wrong dressed up as a zombie or vampire, or make anything sexy from scientist and nurse to fireman and gladiator.
PRINCESS MARGARET SCHOOL
For some kids, high school is a scary experience. Every year at Princess Margaret School (2016 School of the Year by B.C. Sports), it becomes downright terrifying. The Grade 12 drama students at the Penticton school began a tradition which is quickly catching on. They turn the high school into a spooky place every Halloween and invite the public to visit their spook house. It's quite impressive. It's open for three days, including today and Sunday, from 5- 8 p.m. The twists and turns are a well-guarded secret. Proceeeds go to a great cause, the YES Project (a youth charity in Penticton).Tickets at the door cost $8 (adults), $5 (students) and $3 (10 and under).
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” could be the worst movie ever made.
But, when you bring toast, confetti, an umbrella and yell at Brad and Janet on the screen, not to mention getting up and dancing to “The Time Warp” (we admit, it’s catchy), you have an incredibly fun night out.
Watch carefully and you’ll see a pre-”Bat Out of Hell” Meat Loaf sing “Hot Patootie, Bless My Soul” and Susan Sarandon, before she became an Academy Award-winner.
And, there’s no better place to see Rocky Horror than in a historic movie theatre. The Oliver Theatre is showing it Sunday at 9 p.m..
Advance tickets are a must. Call 250-4982277.
And remember — it’s just a jump to the left ... and take a step to the right.
SPOOKTACULAR PUMPKIN WALK
A walk in the woods takes on a spooky aspect Sunday night in Kelowna.
The popular Spooktacular Pumpkin Walk is being held in a new location this year — Mission Creek Regional Park.
Drop off your creatively carved pumpkins with a LED tea light inside — no candles — at the park between 3-5 p.m.
Then dress up in your Halloween costumes and return to the park for a walk down pumpkin-lined paths between 5-8 p.m.
Cast your vote for the funniest, scariest, and most original jack o'’lantern. Participants are encourage to bring a donation to the food bank.
Previously, the Pumpkin Walk was held in West Kelowna and Lake Country, but has been moved to Kelowna in recognition of its great popularity.
TERROR TRAIN
It sounds like the title of a bad movie from the 1970s, but new this year at the Kettle Valley Railway in Summerland is the Halloween Terror Train.
The family-friendly train rides on the preserved section of the historic railway will be held tonight at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Reservations are a must, phone 250-4948422 or book online at kettlevalleyrail.org.
Everyone is encouraged to wear a costume for what should be an unforgetable evening. The team at the Kettle Valley Railway always do a great job!