By Shane Flug
Fall will soon get more fun and spooky as Calgary’s tiny ghouls, zombies, Ninja Turtles and Princess Elsas prepare to haunt our neighbourhoods for sweet Halloween loot. Whether you take your little ones out on the block for trick or treating or out on the town to family events, here are our tips to help your little ones make the most of the spooktacular season. [Photo credit: iStock]
Deranged haunted house volunteers showing off their brand new chainsaws and hockey masks are scary enough for some adults, but fortunately, there are kid-friendly options in town that (hopefully) shouldn’t frighten your child to tears.
Calgary’s largest haunted house at Haunted Calgary in Rocky Ridge offers low-scare hours from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 28, 29 and 31. La La Land takes an undead turn with this year’s Hollywood Horror theme. Entry is pay-what-you-can plus food donation, with a recommended asking price of $10.
Heritage Park’s Ghouls’ Night Out, running Oct. 26 to 29, is another family-friendly bet offering pumpkin carving, crafts, tea with Alice in Wonderland and Witches' Flying School. Take a Day of the Dead trip to the Opera Village as it transforms into a Mexican village. Tickets are $10.95 for ages 13+, $6.95 for kids three to 12 and free for tots two and under. Buy tickets in advance online.
Check out science’s scary side at TELUS Spark’s Shocktober, happening now until Oct. 31. Eat candy bug treats, dodge spider slime and learn (if you dare) the wonders of the parasites residing in our bodies. Mash-up old toys into new twisted creations and get costumes repaired on Monster Mash-Up weekend Oct. 28 to 29. Tickets are $19.95 for adults, $15.95 for teens 13 to 17 and $12.95 for kids three to 12. Buy tickets in advance online.
Calgary is abundant with costume shops that serve all ages, so shopping won’t be a horror show for parents. Browse the best of the Star Wars and Marvel universes plus much more at the Halloween Store on Macleod Trail. In the meantime, make it a one-stop shopping trip by browsing their selections of make-up, fake blood, costume props and home decorations and animatronics.
Other party supply shops offering costume sizes for all ages (including infants) include Don’s Hobby Shop on Centre Street and The Costume Shoppe on Blackfoot Trail. See our Smart List of other costume stores to check out.
And if you’re in a DIY or bargain-hunting mood, see what’s in-store when it comes to gently-used get-ups at your nearby Value Village.
In the information age, census data and Twitter hashtags have been useful tools in helping narrow down popular hotspots where your little ghouls can fill their pillow case full of Smarties and Cheezies fastest.
Generally, it’s been found that inner-city neighbourhoods close to downtown, such as West Hillhurst or Lincoln Park, as well as (nearly) completed new suburbs on the periphery where young families reside – like Arbour Lake, Tuscany, Skyview Ranch or Auburn Bay – are the busiest neighbourhoods to visit.
For kids on the hunt for those coveted full-size treats, hit up southwest Calgary’s worst-kept sugary secret: the busy neighbourhood of Pump Hill, south of Glenmore Landing, which is famous for having generous loot bowls at the front doors. According to the Calgary Herald’s 2015 Trick or Treat tally, kids can also try their full-sized luck in Lakeview, Aspen Woods or Mackenzie Towne.
If your neighbourhood is less busy, or if your child is still a bit young to stay up late, one trick or treating alternative is to hit up a nearby mall. Southcentre will be offering selfie photo booths in addition to trick or treating Oct. 31. Also Oct. 31, Northland Village will feature mini-pumpkin decorating and a zombie house. See Calgary Playground Review’s complete list of mall trick-or-treating events this year.
However you spend Halloween Night with your kids, always make it a safe one by following these safety tips from the Calgary Police Service. Loot is, of course, best enjoyed in moderation. We’ll see your tiny goblins about town and at our doorsteps!
