A game of Clue usually happens around a kitchen table. On October 24, 2026, it unfolds across 160 acres of Alberta foothills, with wolfdogs as your witnesses.
Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, a non-profit near Cochrane about 45 minutes northwest of Calgary, is hosting Howl-oween, an after-hours evening event that turns the whole property into a live murder-mystery board game. Players work out three things: who took the missing item, what it was, and where it ended up. You can play solo or in teams of up to six, and no prior Clue knowledge is required.
The sanctuary itself is worth knowing about even outside of Halloween. Founded in 2011, it's home to more than 55 wolfdogs, most of them rescued from neglect, abandonment or other situations where they couldn't stay. Its mission is part education, part animal care, raising awareness about wolfdogs and wild wolves while giving the residents a permanent home. Regular guided tours let visitors get close to the animals, and Howl-oween follows the same format with a seasonal twist.
The evening kicks off at 5 p.m. with a Mini Intro Tour of the sanctuary, plus Halloween-themed enrichment for the wolfdogs — think treats, toys and activities made for the occasion. A talk on werewolf legends follows, covering how wolves got tangled up in those myths in the first place. At 5:30, the sanctuary-wide Clue game begins, wrapping up at 6:15 with winners announced. Then everyone gathers around a bonfire with hot chocolate, and the night closes at 7 p.m. with a group send-off howl.
Tickets are $65 per person and everyone attending needs to register, even people sharing a team. The event is open to youth aged 10 and up as well as adults, so it works as an unusual family night out — though younger kids are excluded. Plan to arrive by 4:45 p.m.
Getting there is simple: from Calgary, head west on Highway 1 toward Cochrane, then north to the sanctuary at 263156 Range Rd. 53 in Rocky View County. It sits just east of the Rockies, and there's free parking on site. If you're flying in, Calgary International Airport is the closest major gateway.
For travellers, this is the kind of add-on that makes a Banff or Calgary itinerary memorable. You get the wildlife encounter, a bit of spooky-season fun and a mountain foothill setting — all in two hours. Just book early; small-format events like this tend to fill up.
