Crowds at Vancouver Halloween Parade

Vancouver’s Halloween parade takes place on Granville Street in mid-October each year and features action heroes, dance school zombies and lots of fun.

The 2020 and 2021 parades were cancelled due to COVID-19. In each of 2022, 2023 and 2024 the parade has been cancelled due to construction. We hope the parade can return in the future.

Halloween Parade on Granville

The Halloween Parade usually happens on a Sunday in mid-October starting at 11:00 am. In 2020, the Vancouver Halloween Expo was going to take place from October 9th to 11th with the parade on the 11th. However, the whole event was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Parade entries in the Vancouver Halloween Parade aren’t particularly scary or gruesome. They’re mostly superheroes, Japanese anime characters and non-frightening girls dancing with zombie makeup. It’s all quite kid-friendly.

Halloween Parade Location

When it does happen, the parade route goes down Howe Street from around Davie to Smithe, then along Smithe to Granville Street, and then up Granville to Drake. In total, the route is about 2.4 kilometres long.

Thousands of people turn out for the Halloween Parade each year, which usually runs for just short of an hour. Parking downtown can be challenging, so be prepared to walk a ways or, better yet, take public transit if you can.

For more information on the event, check out the Vancouver Halloween Parade website.

Parade Zombie Dancers — Zombies on Granville Street

Parade Participation

The Vancouver Halloween Parade is free to watch, and everyone is allowed to participate.

As an individual you don’t have to pay to walk in the parade if your costume is at least 70% handmade. What’s more? If you have a video or photo album of you making the costume, and you meet a couple other requirements, you can actually get financially compensated for your efforts. You can receive up to a maximum of $200.

If you purchase your costume, or less than 70% is handmade, you can still join the parade as an individual, although you’ll need to purchase either a day or weekend pass to the Expo.

Businesses, non-profits, dance schools and marching bands can also participate (for varying costs and if meeting certain requirements).

For further details about participation see the Vancouver Halloween Expo and Parade website.

Superheroes at Vancouver Halloween Parade — Superheroes in the Vancouver Halloween Parade

Halloween Expo

The Vancouver Halloween Expo takes place on the parade day as well as the two days before. Unfortunately, both the Expo and the parade have been cancelled for 2024.

The Halloween Expo isn’t a huge event. It’s of interest though to anyone who likes anime, superhero costumes and other Halloween stuff. Some events are free, others are ticketed and many have a distinct Asian and Japanese anime theme.

On the weekend a small number of activities typically take place in the underground ice rink area. More happen in the UBC building at Robson Square in a couple of rooms and at a small theatre. There is also usually a small vendor market and sometimes an anime-themed coffee shop.

The plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery is where you’ll find free live entertainment. In recent years there have been performances by a group of Taiko drummers, puppeteers and local bands.

In 2019, the last time this event took place, the free entertainment happened on the north side of the Art Gallery, on the side along Georgia Street. These free performances ran from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Friday, and from 12:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to the outdoor live entertainment, there was an indoor exhibition downstairs at UBC Robson Square at 800 Robson Street on both the Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Halloween Expo Admission

In the past a one-day pass to the Vancouver Halloween Expo indoor exhibition cost $10 at the gate or $8 if purchased online in advance. The price includes access to all ticketed programs and shows on either the Saturday or Sunday (when the exhibition runs on both days).

A weekend pass, meanwhile, cost $15 at the gate or $13 online in advance. It includes admission to everything on both the Saturday and Sunday, plus the option to walk in the parade if you have a costume.

Family passes are also available most years. These cost about $30 at the gate or $28 online. They’re good for two adults and up to four children ages 12 and under for either day.

Passes provide access to the live entertainment venues and the weekend Halloween market with vendors selling everything from Halloween costumes to mystic jewellery, action figure paraphernalia, anime art, face painting services and paintball game vouchers.