Halloween is less than two weeks away and Calgary is leaning all the way in. Over the Oct. 19-23 stretch, the city has ten separate events on the go, ranging from a Russian rap arena show to a drive-in screening of The Addams Family for just over $16 a car. If you happen to be in town, this is an unusually good week to be there.
The spooky headliners are the obvious draws. Heritage Park's Ghouls' Night Out turns the Historical Village into a haunted playground from Friday through Sunday, with a maze, carnival games, live shows and the Alberta Ghostbusters making appearances. Tickets run $24.95 for adults and $18.95 for kids, with costumes encouraged. Over at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park, Pumpkins After Dark lines up thousands of hand-carved pumpkins into pop culture and Halloween scenes along an outdoor trail, running all weekend. For the braver crowd, Screamfest at GMC Stadium packs seven themed haunted houses plus monster truck rides and horror films, starting at $35.40.
Not everything is designed to scare you. The German Canadian Club is throwing a three-day Oktoberfest with live music, dancing, German food and beer — and entry is free, with an outdoor market and car displays on top. Tomkins Park on 17th Avenue hosts the free Carnival of Curiosities, with aerial performers and businesses handing out candy to trick-or-treaters.
Culture and practicality both get a look-in too. Evil Dead: The Musical hits the Martha Cohen Theatre on Tuesday from $57, while Morgenshtern — one of the biggest names in Russian-language rap — plays the Palace Theatre Monday night at $150 a ticket. And if ski season is on your mind, the Calgary New and Used Ski Sale has more than 20,000 items of gear at $10 entry, well timed for the slopes opening in a few weeks.
For travellers, the takeaway is that late October is a genuinely fun time in Calgary: cheap events, a festive atmosphere and shoulder-season prices before the winter rush. Just pack a warm coat — most of these happen outdoors after dark.
