The Cloverdale Reporter proudly presents your up-to-the-minute guide to Halloween 2011.
Here's what's haunting and when...
Potters House of Horrors
The 9th annual Potters House of Horrors, truly one of the biggest and best Halloween frights around, opens this Friday at 6 p.m.
The 2011 tour of terror boasts a Halloween Haunted House, with 10,000 square feet of dark, twisty hallways leading to elaborate, and stupefyingly scary, scenes, displays and surprises.
It's Surrey's biggest House of Horrors, and for the legion of fans who return each year, it's just not Halloween without a trip Potters, which masquerades as a mild-mannered garden centre when it's not the season of the dead.
With attractions like Camp Dread, Seven Gates to Hell, and Med-Evil Times, this year's labyrinth promises to take visitors to new levels of freaky.
"We started building the House of Horrors in August," says Cam Martin, head of the Potters' "Ghoul Crew" that stages the annual horror show.
Judging from the Potters' House of Horrors blog, think severed heads, bloody body parts, gutted torsos and more. And that's just one section of hallway. Who knows what awaits around the next corner?
Even the lineup to get inside (there are no reservations) can feature moments of sheer terror. Their website is creepy, too, with sound effects and lots of cockroaches scattering across the screen.
About that famous line-up. New this year is a Speed Pass, an option that costs more ($25 to $35 depending on what night you go, versus $15-$17), but allows visitors to skip the long queue, which can be up to an hour.
Visitors are advised to take in the attraction soon if they want to avoid the wait; the closer it gets to Halloween, the longer the line ups are.
Scaredy-cats and families with small children are welcome to visit during the first hour each day (starting at 6 p.m.), when the event runs "static", without actors, and uses a quieter sound system. It's still scary, but less terrifying than the real thing.
The full-on House of Horrors springs to life at 7 p.m.
It's located at 12530 72 Ave., one block west of Kwantlen University's Surrey campus.
It opens Friday, Oct. 14 and is open daily from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. to Oct. 31.
Admission rates vary: From Oct. 14 to 20 and Oct. 23 to 27, it's $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. The Speed Pass is $25.
From Oct. 21-22 and Oct. 28 to 31, it's $17 for adults, $12 for kids under 12, and $35 for a Speed Pass.
Visit www.pottershouseofhorrors.com or call 604-572-7706.
Ride the Freaky Express
Also opening Friday is the 12th annual Haunted Forest Scream Train, a nighttime terror ride at Bear Creek Park.
Fans who return each year know it's really scary to have Chainsaw Charlie and other creepy baddies terrorizing you from the forest while you're trapped in the train, where there are surprises around every corner.
Take a ride on the Scream Train from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 14 to Oct. 31, rain or shine. Halloween night is not a busy night, but the dates leading up to it can be quite crowded.
Tickets are $8.50 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under. Check here for details. For information, call 604-501-1232.
Daytime is more kid-friendly; you can bring your toddlers. (It's all ages from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Take a train ride through the Halloween Forest Display, make Halloween crafts, play games, get a candy treat, and take home a farm-fresh pumpkin.
Admission is $8.50 for adults, $7 for children (2-12 years), $3.50 children under 2, and babies are free. More information here. Tickets are $8.50 for adults, $7 for kids. No reservations. Rain or shine.
Located in the "dead" centre of Bear Creek Park, 13750 88 Avenue at King George Highway.
Halloween Costume Parade
The 9th annual Cloverdale Halloween Costume Parade, presented alongside Pumpkin Power at the Surrey Museum, promises to be bigger and better than ever.
This one's a favourite with the little ones, especially, and their parents, who can be counted on to dress up too, along with various family pets.
Last year, organizers say about 1,000 children – not including parents and guardians – turned out.
The fun begins at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29 at Surrey Museum Plaza, 17710 56A Avenue in Cloverdale.
At Pumpkin Power, view, carve and decorate Jack o' lanterns, make crafts, and eat pumpkin pie (noon to 2 p.m.).
Then head out on a supervised parade through historic downtown Cloverdale, where many local merchants will welcome trick-or-treaters.
Children meet at Surrey Museum Plaza first for activities and a group photo. Then they're split into two groups.
Half go trick-or-treating to businesses on 176 and 176A Streets in the historic town centre and the other half hit the Clover Square Village mall across Highway 10.
The ever popular event is presented by the Cloverdale Business Improvement Association, the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce, and the Surrey Museum.
Prizes by random draw plus free museum entrance to visitors in costume.
Weaving Webs, Spinning Spiders
Weave and spin spooky Halloween decorations and creatures, including a spider glove to use during the Cloverdale Costume Parade or while trick or treating. Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Surrey Museum, 1 session, $8.25, ages 8 to 12. Pre-register by calling 604-592-6956. The Surrey Museum is located at 17710 56A Avenue.
Halloween superstitions
Halloween Superstitions for Girls and Moms is presented Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Surrey Museum, from 3 to 4 p.m. for girls aged 8 and up.
Enjoy tea and refreshments as you learn about some of the wacky Halloween superstitions of girls of times past used to divine the future and loves.
Then try out a few fun Halloween games from the 1920s.
Pre-register by calling 604-592-6956.The Surrey Museum is located at 17710 56A Avenue.
Haunted Barn
This is considered a very scary haunt, not for the faint-of-heart or very young children.
This year, the Haunted Barn in South Surrey, presented by Barnyard Phantoms, is running for three nights only. It could be pretty busy, so it's best to get there early to avoid a line up.
Many of the ghouls are actors from Earl Marriott Secondary's drama department.
It's located at 3048 192 Street in Surrey, Oct. 28, 29 and 30, from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission is $7.50. Little devils under 5 are free.
This year, proceeds will be donated to the Campbell Valley Pony Club.
Visit www.barnyardphantoms.com or email info@barnyardphantoms.com for more information. Group rates available.
Stay tuned... we'll update this as more information becomes available.
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