Yo ho and a blast of Halloween fun

Halloween always feels a little extra special when it falls on a Saturday, so the excitement among children and parents alike will be through roof this weekend.

There won’t be another scary Saturday where Halloween is concerned until 2020, so thrillseekers will want to plan accordingly. There’s still plenty of time for the last-minute types to get in on the action, however. Here’s a list of some of the free events on tap this weekend in what has been called the most haunted city in Canada.

• Heritage Haunted House, 3808 Heritage Lane, Saanich, Saturday, 5:30-9:30 p.m. A fundraiser for the Help Fill A Dream foundation, this monster makeover takes more than two weeks to complete. Ages eight and up. Admission is by donation.

• Treat Street, downtown Sidney, Saturday, 3-5 p.m. A family-friendly trick-or-treat experience runs through the core of Sidney. The nearby Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa (9805 Seaport Pl.) will also be in on the action from 2-4 p.m. with a haunted house aimed at youngsters.

• Pumpkin Swim, Esquimalt Recreation Centre, 527 Fraser St., Saturday, 1-3 p.m. A family swim that includes a free pumpkin as a parting gift.

• Halloween Bonfire Centennial Park, 7500 Wallace Dr., Saturday, 7:30 p.m. The open expanse of Saanichton’s park will be the perfect spot for a bonfire and fireworks display staged by the Central Saanich Volunteer Fire Department. Hot dogs and hot refreshments are available, with donations benefiting Central Saanich Lions Club.

• Forest Spooktacular, Francis/King Regional Park, Munn Road, Saanich, Saturday, 11 a.m.2 p.m. There’s plenty to do and see at this drop-in event, including a walk with Capital Regional District Parks naturalists, Halloween crafts and hot “ghoulish brew.” Wear a costume and win a prize.

• Halloween in Oak Bay Village 2-5 p.m., Saturday. Merchants on Oak Bay Avenue take part in this annual tradition, which stretches for blocks. Not far away is the bonfire at Fireman’s Park, near the Oak Bay Firehall, which will be lit at 6 p.m.

• Spooky Halloween Trick or Treat for children up to 10 years of age at Westshore Town Centre, Langford. Saturday, 3:30-5 p.m. with Twiggly Wiggly special magic tricks at 4 p.m. near the haunted house (near Dollarama). Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• Halloween Spooktacular for young families at Tillicum Cen- tre, 3170 Tillicum Rd., Saanich, Saturday, 3-4 p.m.

• Tricks and Treats at Mayfair Shopping Centre, 3147 Douglas St., Victoria, Saturday, 3-5 p.m.

• Broadmead Village Halloween celebrations for trick or treating, Saturday, 3-5:30 p.m., 777 Royal Oak Dr., Saanich. broadmeadvillage.ca

• 4Cats Halloween Party at Uptown, 103-3450 Uptown Blvd., Saanich. Friday, 5-6:30 p.m., ages three and up. Cost $5. Register at 4cats.com

• Pumpkin Bowling, decoration and more at Victoria Public Market, 6-1701 Douglas St., Victoria. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., victoriapublicmarket.com

• Halloween Spooktacular Fireworks at Bear Mountain Resort, 1999 Country Club Way, Langford. Fun starts 6 p.m. Saturday, fireworks at dusk (about 8 p.m.). bearmountain.ca

• Halloween Bonfire, Saturday 6-9 p.m. behind Archie Browning Sports Centre, 1151 Esquimalt Rd. Hosted by Esquimalt Lions. More information at esquimalt.ca.

• Haunted Zipline, at Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours, 5128C Sooke Rd., to Saturday, 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m.

• Company Z Paintball Adventures: Zombie Hunters, Friday, 7:30-11:30 p.m. at Midway Paintball, 5500 Indian Road, Duncan. Cost: $50. companyzpaintball.com or 250-361-5124.

• Pumpkin Art on Oak Bay Avenue, at Oak Bay Municipal Hall, to Saturday, daily 5-9 p.m.

• Halloween Train at B.C. Forest Discovery Centre, to Friday, 3:30-9 p.m. at 2892 Drinkwater Rd., Duncan. Tickets: $12/$10/$8. bcforestdiscoverycentre.com or 250-715-1113.

• Galey Farms Halloween at 4150 Blenkinsop Rd., Saanich. Activities include: Pumpkinfest, with train rides, corn maze and petting farm, Saturday, 10 a.m.4 p.m. Festival of Fear, 6-10 p.m. nightly to Saturday with Corn Maze of Horror, Crazy Train, Madame Isabella’s and Carnevil. Details: galeyfarms.net

• Vancouver Island Corn Maze at Pendray Farms, 9537 West Saanich Rd., North Saanich, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. to Saturday. Cost: $10/$5. vicornmaze.com or 250-891-5548.

• Evil Acres at 10375 Wilson Rd., North Saanich, presents Slaughter House Extreme; The Final Cut and The Darkness Maze; Phobia Edition. Cost: $13/$18. To Saturday, 6:30-11 p.m. Not suitable for young children. evilacres.com

BRUCE STOTESBURY, TC Avast, me hearties! Feast your eyes on the yard of this Gordon Head home at 4407 Chartwell Dr. The Treasure Island display, with full-size animated pirates and blasting cannon, allows people to get into the Halloween spirit. Donations are being collected for the B.C. Cancer Society and Schneider-Electric will match what’s raised.

Halloween revellers gather at the bonfire at Fireman’s Park in Oak Bay. The fire will be lit at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Galley Farms’ Festival of Fear is a Halloween favourite.