Haunted Village is back at Burnaby Village Museum for 2026. For five evenings in late October, the 10-acre heritage village turns into a dramatically lit Halloween town, with a haunted graveyard, a spooky circus, “bewitching” storefronts, and DJ Drac’s dance parties.
We went last year and it’s a great fit for families who want Halloween atmosphere without real scares. Here’s what you need to know for this year, from dates and ticket prices to parking and which night has trick-or-treating.
When & Where
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | Fri–Sun Oct 23, 24, 25 and Fri–Sat Oct 30, 31, 2026 |
| Hours | 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. each night |
| Entry | Timed entry windows every 30 minutes; last entrance 8:00 p.m.; museum closes 9:00 p.m. |
| Location | Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby |
| Ages | Family event; “spooky, not scary”. Kids under 2 are free |
| Weather | Mostly outdoors, rain or shine |
| Trick-or-treating | Halloween night only (Sat Oct 31) |
Check the official Haunted Village page before you go in case anything changes.
Tickets & Cost
| Ticket | Advance (online) | Day of |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $12 | $15 |
| Child (2–12) | $7 | $10 |
| Under 2 | Free | Free |
- Tickets are sold through the Shadbolt Box Office. You pick a date and a 30-minute entry time.
- Booking ahead saves $3 a ticket. For a family of two adults and two kids, that’s $38 in advance vs. $50 on the day.
- When we checked on Oct 16, every entry time on all five nights still showed “Book Now”.
- Limited tickets are sold at the gate each night. Gate sales take credit and debit. They don’t take cash unless it’s exact change.
- Tickets are non-refundable. To change your date or time, call the box office at least 24 hours ahead. There’s a $2 per ticket exchange fee.
- Bring printed tickets or e-tickets on your phone.
- Ticket help: Shadbolt Box Office, 604-205-3000 or [email protected]. Event questions: Burnaby Village Museum, 604-297-4565.
What Kids Will Love
- Wandering the lit-up village. The museum dresses its heritage buildings in theatre lighting. Look for witches, vampires, skeletons, ghosts, spiders, ravens and bats, along with a haunted graveyard, a spooky circus and bewitching stores.
- DJ Drac’s dance party. He’s back by popular demand with his “legion of dancers”. Each dance set runs 15 minutes, starting at quarter past the hour: 4:15, 5:15, 6:15, 7:15 and 8:15 p.m.
- Shadow puppet show. Trick or Feat: the Nose Knows is a Coast Salish shadow puppet story in the multi-purpose room. Shows run 4:45, 5:45, 6:45, 7:45 and 8:30 p.m. (about 15 minutes each).
- Pumpkins. On opening night (Fri Oct 23) there’s a pumpkin carving demo from 4:00 to 8:30 p.m. The other four nights have a pumpkin display from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- Trick-or-treating on Halloween night. It’s only on Sat Oct 31, so pick that night if candy is the main event.
- Costumes are encouraged. For kids and grown-ups.
How Scary Is It? (Age Guide)
The museum says it plainly: spooky, not scary. You’ll see ghosts, skeletons, jack-o’-lanterns, large spiders and costumed mannequins, plus a small graveyard. There’s no blood, guts or gore, and no strobe lights. The lighting is dramatic, though, and it gets dark early in late October.
- Toddlers & preschoolers: Usually fine, especially on an early entry slot. Kids under 2 get in free.
- Ages 5–10: The sweet spot. It’s spooky enough to feel special, and the dance party burns off the sugar.
- Tweens & teens: Good for a family night out. If they want real jump scares, this isn’t that.
One heads-up: the decorated buildings are meant to be viewed from outside. You won’t go inside the exhibits at night.
Food & What Not to Bring
- Mai’s Café sells Halloween-themed treats and warm drinks. During Haunted Village it closes at 8:30 p.m.
- Outside food is OK around the village (there are benches), but not inside Mai’s Café or the exhibits.
- Not allowed: scooters and skateboards, pets (service animals are OK), alcohol, weapons or knives, glass containers, fireworks, laser pointers and musical instruments. The whole site is smoke- and vape-free.
- The carousel is not running during Haunted Village. The museum’s ticket page jokes that “something mysterious has happened to the horses.”
Getting There & Parking
- Parking is limited. The museum suggests transit or ride share. If you drive, you can try the Burnaby Village Museum lot, the City Hall lot or Deer Lake Beach. Carpooling helps too.
- Two entrances: the main gate off Canada Way and Sperling Avenue, and the Carousel Gate on Deer Lake Avenue (across from the Shadbolt Centre).
- Transit: Use the TransLink Trip Planner for your route.
- Strollers & wheelchairs: Nearly every part of the museum is wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly, with a paved path linking the buildings. Wagons and strollers are allowed, but they may not fit into every exhibit. There are accessible washrooms in the Orientation Plaza, Carousel Pavilion and Tram Barn.
- Running late? Late arrivals get in as long as there’s capacity.
Parent Tips
- Book the 4:00 or 4:30 entry for little ones. There’s time for a dance set and a shadow puppet show, the sky gets dark while you’re there, and you’re still home at a reasonable hour.
- Buy online. It’s $3 cheaper per ticket, gate tickets are limited, and the gate doesn’t take cash unless it’s exact change.
- Dress for rain under the costume. It’s an outdoor site and the event runs rain or shine. Rain boots and a hooded jacket beat an umbrella in the crowds.
- Leave scooters and prop weapons at home. Scooters are on the no-go list and so are weapons, so play it safe with costume swords too.
- Plan a Halloween weekend. On Fri Oct 23, Burnaby also has Bonsor’s Big Boo, a $2-per-person indoor drop-in party geared to kids 10 and under. It’s a gentler pick if Haunted Village feels like a lot for your youngest. For another after-dark outing, the Astra Lumina night walk in Stanley Park opens Oct 22. For a bigger North Shore Halloween outing, there’s Canyon Frights at Capilano.
Quick Answers
Is Haunted Village too scary for small kids? No. The museum describes it as spooky, not scary, with no gore and no strobe lighting.
Which night has trick-or-treating? Halloween night only, Saturday Oct 31.
Can we buy tickets at the gate? Yes, but there are a limited number each night, and they cost $3 more per ticket. Bring a credit or debit card, or exact change.
Is the carousel running? No. It’s closed during Haunted Village.
What if it rains? It runs rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
Can we bring a stroller? Yes. The paths are paved, but strollers may not fit into every exhibit.
Final Thoughts
Haunted Village is one of the easiest “first Halloween night out” picks in Metro Vancouver. The tickets are reasonable, the setting is gorgeous, and it’s spooky without tipping into scary. Book an early slot, layer up under the costumes, and if you want candy, aim for Halloween night.
Event page: Haunted Village — City of Burnaby Museum page: Haunted Village — Burnaby Village Museum Tickets: Shadbolt Box Office
