Families looking for something different than just simply trick or treating for Halloween this year in the South Okanagan have a number of events to choose from.
On Friday and Saturday and again Tuesday and Wednesday, stop by Mme. Russaud’s family mortuary and crematorium and be guided through the haunted house all for a good cause.
“I started doing this a few years ago as a fundraiser for the OSNS. I started decorating my yard and got carried away and thought it was a shame to only have it for one night. I thought the OSNS has their telethon at this time of year so it would be a good tie in for that and I would expand the tours to more days,” said homeowner Dawn Renaud.
On Friday and Saturday, then again on Tuesday and Wednesday, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the public is welcome to tour the haunted house for a cash donation that is then given to the OSNS Child Development Centre.
“I am a big fan of Halloween. It is fun to pretend, dress up and the spookiness. I also like the theatre so this is an opportunity to do some theatrical stuff,” said Renaud.
“I lived up north for awhile where there was a lot of snow on the ground by Halloween, so when I moved down here I started crashing witches into my house and one year had one up on the chimney and it just snowballed from there.”
Renaud said the tour is family friendly and she makes sure there are not a lot of things that pop out to scare small children or are too gory. The haunted house is located at 754 Toronto Ave.
Penticton Parks and Recreation is hosting The Great Pumpkin Party on Friday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. for kids ages three to five years old. Join in for some creepy crafts, ghoulish games, spooky songs and more. On Saturday they will host the Halloween Extravaganza, also for kids aged three to five years old, with crafts and music. Costumes are encouraged (no masks) for both events and the cost is $10.75.
Covert Farms in Oliver has a pumpkin patch that is open daily until Nov. 3. On the weekend they will have organic hotdogs and smokies on the barbecue, their famous grape juice, popcorn, hot chocolate and homemade goodies. They also will have the fire pits going to roast marshmallows. For $6, kids can play in the corn maze, duck races, spider web, bouncy balls, mini golf and jumping pillow.
Friday through Sunday they will have pumpkin patch tours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their vintage tour truck will be going to the patch on the half hour, free of charge. On Friday and Saturday from 3 to 8 p.m. they are hosting a haunted corn maze. For $9, there will be trick-or-treating, fire pits, outdoor movie, hotdogs and smokies and other fun activities. Bring a flashlight, trick-or-treat bag, chair or blanket to sit on and come dressed in a costume. Partial proceeds of this event will be going to the South Okanagan Children’s Charity. For more info visit www.convertfarms.ca.
The South Okanagan Events Centre will be celebrating Halloween early with their first-ever Trick Or Suite Night on Saturday during the Penticton Vees game against the Victoria Grizzlies. The game begins at 5 p.m. but organizers are asking families to come early for the festive fun. The barbecue is getting fired up at 3:30 p.m. Vote for your favourite carved pumpkin by the Vees players, and you might get to take it home. Kids are encouraged to wear their costumes and go trick or treating on the suite level.
The Victory Church of Penticton is hosting a fun-filled games night for kids wanting something more than trick-or-treating on Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. Set up like a miniature carnival, the games encourage kids to be active, entertained and the kids still get to go home with lots of peanut-free candy.