If your kids want fireworks, costumes and a little Halloween glow without a haunted house, Central Spark is Burnaby’s big free night out. It’s back on Friday, October 30, 2026, the night before Halloween, with a DJ dance party, glowing stilt walkers and circus performers, food trucks, a drone light show and a fireworks finale over Central Park.
It’s free with no tickets. It also only lasts two hours, which works well with little ones. Here’s what to know before you go.
When & Where
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, October 30, 2026 (one night only) |
| Time | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. |
| Drone light show | 7:15 p.m., about 7 minutes (weather permitting) |
| Fireworks | 7:30 p.m., about 15 minutes |
| Location | Patterson Avenue (from Kingsway to Central Boulevard) and Central Park, Burnaby |
| Cost | Free. No tickets or registration |
| Weather | Rain or shine (the drone show may be cancelled in poor weather) |
| Who it’s for | All ages, and the City calls it “very kid-friendly” |
Check the official Central Spark page before you head out in case anything changes.
What Kids Will Love
- The drone light show and fireworks. These are the main event. The drones go up at 7:15 p.m. and the fireworks follow at 7:30 p.m.
- A DJ dance party. It’s a good way to keep cold kids moving while you wait for the sky show.
- Roving performers. This year’s line-up includes stilt walkers and storytellers from Circus Fungus, LED-costumed performers from Elektric Collective, stilt and prop characters from Portal Circus, and a family-friendly fire and circus show from TwinFlames Entertainment.
- Pumpkin carving art. Peter the Pumpkin Carver, an Indigenous artist and member of the Munsee-Delaware Nation, carves pumpkins at the event, and watercolour artist Jessie Somers is on the line-up too.
- Costumes. The City says costumes are “highly encouraged”, for kids and grown-ups alike.
How Scary Is It?
Not very. The City describes Central Spark as “softly haunting” with no gore or violence, and says there are activities and treats “geared specifically for young children.” It’s more glow than ghoul.
The thing that may bother little ones is the noise from the fireworks. If your child is sensitive to loud bangs, bring ear defenders or watch from farther back.
Food & Drinks
Food trucks line Patterson Avenue between Central Boulevard and Kingsway. This year’s list:
Cravings Kettle Corn, Gordo’s Concession, Twisted Potato, Mr. Pretzels, Rolled West Coast, TGC Cotton Candy, Green Coast Cookies, Slothfuls, Yo Bones BBQ, Ay Mamacita, Crack On, Mr. Tube Steak, Pizza La Sella, Reel Mac & Cheese, TNT Wraps and JJ’s Hot Cobs.
Expect line-ups around dinnertime. There’s also a water refill station in Central Park, so bring reusable bottles.
What to Leave at Home
The City’s list of items not allowed at Central Spark:
- Tents and tarps
- Weapons, real or costume, including knives of any kind (so leave the plastic sword at home)
- Frisbees or balls
- Animals (working service dogs are OK)
- Flags, signs on sticks or banners
- Barbecues or fires
- Musical instruments
- Laser pointers
- Drones
- Fireworks
- Alcohol and drugs
- All smoking and vaping products (it’s a non-smoking event, and Burnaby parks are smoke-free)
Pets: The City asks you to leave pets at home. It’s crowded, and fireworks can be very frightening for animals.
Getting There & Parking
Take the SkyTrain if you can. Patterson Station (Expo Line) is right next to the event and stays open with regular service.
Road closure: Patterson Avenue is closed to traffic from Kingsway to Central Boulevard, 3:00 – 11:00 p.m. on Oct 30.
No public parking (No Parking or permit-only) from 12:01 a.m. Oct 30 to noon Oct 31 on: – Patterson Ave from Kingsway to Mayberry Ave – Beresford St between Patterson Ave and Willingdon Ave – Olive Ave between Central Blvd and Kingsway – Central Blvd from Patterson Ave to Wilson Ave
Cars left there get towed. The City suggests transit, biking or walking. There’s a drop-off and pick-up zone on Olive Avenue (Kingsway to Central Blvd) and other street parking in the area. The road closure and parking map shows it all.
Bus riders: The #129 is re-routed off Patterson Ave, and the Patterson & Kingsway stops (both directions) are closed from 3:00 p.m. Oct 30 until 12:01 a.m. Oct 31. Check the TransLink Trip Planner for your route.
Accessibility & Strollers
- The event space has no stairs and is flat and level throughout. The park surface is unpaved, though, so it can get muddy if it rains. Rugged stroller wheels do better than small ones.
- People with a SPARC permit can use a dedicated drop-off and pick-up zone on Olive Avenue.
- SPARC passholder parking is at the main Swangard Stadium lot, reached eastbound on Kingsway (east of Boundary).
- Portable toilets are set up throughout the site.
Parent Tips
- Arrive close to 6:00 p.m. You get time for food trucks and dancing before the 7:15 drone show, and you can grab a viewing spot before the crowd peaks.
- Plan your exit. The fireworks wrap up around 7:45 p.m. and the event ends at 8:00 p.m., so everyone leaves at once. Agree on a meeting spot in case you get separated, and expect a crowd at Patterson Station.
- Dress for rain under the costume. It’s outdoors and runs rain or shine. Rain boots handle the grass, and a hooded jacket beats an umbrella in a crowd.
- Add something that glows. Glow sticks or a light-up wand make kids easier to spot in the dark, and they fit the theme.
- Bring ear protection for little ones. Fireworks are loud up close.
- Have a backup if the drones are cancelled. The drone show depends on weather, but the fireworks and the rest of the night still go ahead.
- Make it a Burnaby Halloween weekend. The same night, Haunted Village at Burnaby Village Museum runs 4:00–9:00 p.m. (ticketed, timed entry). Older kids could do an early Haunted Village slot one evening and save Central Spark for the fireworks. Haunted Village also has trick-or-treating on Halloween night, Sat Oct 31. If you can’t wait until the 30th for fireworks, Celebrate the Night in Maple Ridge is on Sat Oct 24. And the pumpkins at Delta’s Great Pumpkin Carve Glow Walk stay lit until Oct 31.
Quick Answers
Is Central Spark free? Yes. There are no tickets and no registration. Just come. Food trucks are extra.
What time are the fireworks? At 7:30 p.m., for about 15 minutes. The drone show is first, at 7:15 p.m. (about 7 minutes, weather permitting).
Is it on if it rains? Yes, it’s rain or shine. Only the drone show may be cancelled in poor weather.
Is it too scary for small kids? No. It’s “softly haunting” with no gore or violence. The fireworks noise is the main thing to plan for.
Where should we park? Ideally, don’t drive. Take the SkyTrain to Patterson Station. Several nearby streets are No Parking all day, and Patterson Ave is closed 3–11 p.m. If you need to drive, use the Olive Ave drop-off zone or park farther out.
Can we bring the dog? The City asks you to leave pets at home. Service animals are allowed.
Are there washrooms? Yes, portable toilets throughout the site.
Final Thoughts
Central Spark packs a lot into two hours: dancing, glowing performers, food trucks, and a drone show and fireworks right next to the SkyTrain. It’s free, so the only planning you need is a costume, a rain layer and a way home. Get there early, keep the kids in something that glows, and watch the sky over Central Park light up the night before Halloween.
Event page: Central Spark — City of Burnaby Map: Road closures and parking restrictions
