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The scariest part of Halloween this year is making plans while in the midst of a global pandemic. Although many beloved events have been cancelled due to safety concerns, there are still plenty of ways to get your spook on this month. 

To make things a little easier, we've made a list of events and activities that are set to go ahead this month in Kamloops and the Okanagan. 

KAMLOOPS

Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest

Send photos of your spoooktacular carved pumpkins to the North Shore Business Improvement Association for a chance to win one of three Papa John's gift cards. First prize gets $50, second prize is $25 and third prize is $10. Send photos of your carved pumpkins by Oct. 27 by email here. Winners will be announced Oct. 29 and all contestants' creations will be posted to the North Shore BIA Facebook Page.

Therapeutic Riding Association Trick-or-Treat Drive-Thru

The Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association is hosting a trick-or-treat decorated drive-thru from 2 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 31. The horses and staff will be dressed up and handing out Halloween treats. Participants can bring carrots and apples to feed the horses. 

Access is off Aviation Way beside the new dog park, and everyone is encouraged to dress up. Donate to participate here. 

Westsyde Community Halloween Fireworks

The Westsyde Community Halloween Fireworks show is totally funded by donations. That means the more money donated, the bigger the display. The show starts at 8 p.m. on Oct. 31. Fireworks will be set off from the hill at the end of Morven Place.

You can e-transfer a donation via email to kumuro@outlook.com. You can also purchase Fireworks Donation Pumpkins at the Westsyde Save On Foods, Oak Hills Grocery and the Westsyde Home Hardware.

There will also be another fireworks show hosted by a local resident at 8:30 p.m. near the Super Save gas station in Westsyde. 

Halloween Trivia at Alchemy Brewing

Alchemy Brewing and Tremendous Trivia are collaborating to present Kamloops' best Halloween Trivia Party Oct. 31st at 7 p.m. Trivia teams of no more than 6 will compete to test their general knowledge, Halloween-themed, and music trivia abilities. There will be a socially-distanced costume contest, with the main prize going to the "best dressed team." There will be mini-games between rounds, and holiday themed food and drink offerings.

Batchelor Heights Halloween Pumpkin Contest and Spooky Walk

The Batchelor Heights Community Association is hosting a pumpkin carving contest and spooky walk Oct. 30 at Saddleback Park from 5 to 7 p.m. Drop off your carved pumpkin between 4 and 5 p.m.

Halloween Wine Tour

Dress up in your favorite costume and go drink some wine on Halloween. Boogie the Bus Tours is hosting a Halloween wine tour Oct. 31. Pick up starts at 7:30 a.m., then the bus heads to Ancient Hills winery for 10:30 a.m., followed by six more wineries in East Kelowna. Participants will be dropped back off at their residence around 7 p.m. To purchase tickets click here. 

Pete Murray's Corn Farm and Pumpkin Patch

The pumpkin patch and corn maze are open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days a week. Pumpkins cost between $2 and $15 depending on size, and admission for the corn maze is $4 per person. Children under age 2 are free. Pete Murray's farm is located at 5973 VLA Road in Chase, 45 minutes from Kamloops.

Pumpkins at Desert Hills Ranch

The Pumpkin Patch at Desert Hills Ranch in Ashcroft is open from 10 a.m – 4 p.m. on weekends. This year, you take take a walk through the Greenhouse of Hope and $2 will go towards breast cancer for every painted pumpkin purchased. You can also take some spooky pictures with the painted faces hay display at the ranch. For more information visit their website.

KELOWNA

Haunted Parade

Paul Coxe’s Grenfell Road haunted house is taking its trademark scariness to the streets this year.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED

What was previously the Haunted House at Grenfell Road will now be a Halloween parade on Oct. 30 and 31. There will be 20 spookily decorated vehicles touring four Kelowna neighbourhoods.

The parade will go through Kettle Valley and Lower Mission Oct. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. On Oct. 31, the parade will pass through Central Kelowna from 10 a.m. to noon, Glenmore from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Rutland from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Donations will go towards Kelowna Mamas for Mamas. 

READ MORE: Kelowna Halloween haunt not folding for COVID-19, merely taking to the road

Kelowna Museums Creepy Crawly Cuddly Cute Halloween Tour

Shine your flashlight on the nocturnal animals and creepy crawly insects of the Okanagan. Family-friendly spooky surprises await. 

Tours are Oct. 24 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $25 each, purchase online here. 

McMillan Farms

Check out this farm to get the whole pumpkin-patch experience and then some. With hay rides, corn and hay bale mazes, a petting zoo and a slingshot, it is sure to get everyone feeling festive for fall. Skip the long lines and buy tickets online, as walk-ins are only allowed if the farm has not reached capacity. Note that masks are mandatory for the hayride, and social distancing is mandatory.

Halloween Scare Park at Myra Canyon Adventure

If you want to get away from the corn mazes, you can find your scares in the treetops. This high-line adventure park transforms to offer scary tours suited specifically to each age group. The Scare Park is open from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31 and Nov. 1. To buy tickets, click here.

The Artful Hand's Psychic Fair

Now is your chance to delve into tarot reading, palmistry, numerology, astrology and consult a Psychic Medium. Check out the Artful Hand's Psychic Fair on Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Orchard Park Mall.

VERNON

Historic O’Keefe Ranch

At O'Keefe Ranch you can get all the fall essentials - pumpkins, a corn maze and a petting zoo. The ranch is open Saturdays and Sundays in October from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Ghost Tours with Gabriel Newman

The Ghost and Cemetery Tour combines the popular Ghost Tours of the O’Keefe Ranch with a full cemetery tour and a campfire ghost story. Gabriel Newman will guide the walking tour of the O’Keefe Ranch on Oct. 23, 24, 29 and 30 from 7 p.m. to. 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25, buy them online here.

Walk of Terror for Unprecedented Times at Caravan Farm Theatre

This ritual sound walk, Sparagmos, is put on by the Okanagan’s Performance Art Troupe. The walk will take place Oct. 21 to 30, and includes scary sounds, fog, strobe light and disturbing images. The entire experience is an hour long, with a 30 minute walk, and not recommended for children. 

Each guest will receive a sanitized MP3 player. For health and safety, guests are asked to bring their own headphones with a regular audio jack, as Bluetooth is not compatible. The box office will have some headphones for cash purchases if forgotten.

Buy your tickets online here.

Davison Orchards Country Village

Pick out your pumpkins and gourds at the market, taste some farm fresh foods, and visit the barn animals at Davison Orchards.

Davidson Orchards is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and the Farmhouse Cafe is open until 4 p.m. Try their homemade hot apple cider and grab some fresh pies from the bakery. The U-Pick pumpkin patch is closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

READ MORE: The most colourful fall hikes in Kamloops, Okanagan

If you think there's something we missed, let us know in the comments.

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