BRENDA GOUGH
News Contributor
If you have children 12 years of age and younger who prefer trick-or-treating in daylight there are some local events they can participate in.
Kids in costume are encouraged to follow the trail of orange and black balloons and enjoy treats provided by the downtown business community during a downtown Trick-or-Treat event in Qualicum Beach October 31.
Hosted by Qualicum Beach Downtown Business Association (QBDBA) the free community event provides a safe and friendly environment for parents to bring their children trick-or-treating during daylight hours from 3 to 5 p.m.
Participating merchants in the town of Qualicum Beach will be handing out candy and treats to children who are accompanied by an adult.
Kids in costume can visit businesses which will be identified with an official Monster Merchant poster in their window and black and orange balloons outside their front door.
Besides handing out candy, businesses will be decorating their store fronts and dressing up in costumes.
Other free activities during the Downtown Trick-or-Treat include edible Halloween crafts at Courtyard Café, Halloween cookie decorating at Café Brie in Carriage Lane and free Halloween photos for kids in costume at Pharmasave from 3 to 5 p.m.
There will also be spooky stories and kid-friendly crafts at the Qualicum Beach Library at 3 and 3:30 p.m.
Join the Qualicum Beach Fire and Rescue Department volunteers at the Civic Centre, October 31 at 7:45 p.m. for a fireworks show. You can walk the trail from the Civic Centre to Community Park and enjoy some spooky sites and view over 100 carved pumpkins.
Free hot dogs and hot chocolate will be available from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the rear of the Civic Centre.
• A Spooktacular event for families with children under 10 is happening Wednesday, October 30 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Storybook Village in Qualicum Beach.
Each miniature house will have a special activity; there will be crafts, free hot dogs and apple cider, and little cars and trikes for youngsters to cruise around, weather permitting.
• Also in Qualicum Beach the day before Halloween, the Ravensong Aquatic Centre is hosting a Halloween Howl swim from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The night will finish off with an annual piñata bash.
• In Parksville on October 30 the RDN has spooky fun for kids to enjoy on the ice rink. There is a Halloween skate at Oceanside Place from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. where best costume prizes will be awarded.
• The Parksville Library is getting into the spirit. Parents are invited to bring their baby in costume for a silly Halloween-themed baby-time October 31 from 10:30 to 11a.m.
For older kids, Books for Treats goes from 5 to 8 p.m. Stop by the library for a ‘smart’ treat-a book. A gently used book will be given to families who go to the library in costume.
• Be prepared to be spooked if you dare to visit to the Halloween pumpkin trail in Errington.
Put on by the Errington War Memorial Hall Society and guaranteed to put some fright into your night the event is at the Community Park beside the hall. Bring your candy bag and your courage and walk the gauntlet of spooks and lit pumpkins along a dark winding trail.
After navigating your way through the haunted trail you can then enjoy a great fireworks display around 8 p.m.
For the skittish you can by-pass the trail and head directly to the market site, where you can get a hot chocolate from the coffee shop, warm up by the bonfire, and watch a fireworks. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. and admission is by donation.
• Vote for your favourite jack-o-lantern during the second annual Pumpkin Rush held by the Parksville Resort Drive Community running until October 31.
There will be over 400 silly, happy and scary pumpkins on display along Resort Drive for the massive pumpkin walk.
You can walk, stroll or drive to see some of the most interesting jack-o-lanterns the area has to offer and then stop in at any resort office to vote for your favorite pumpkin patch and receive a treat.
New to this year will be a Parksville business pumpkin challenge, with local businesses all competing for bragging rights of the best pumpkin carvers in town.
The pumpkins will be illuminated from 6 to 8 p.m. nightly until October 31.