Vancouver sits between the Pacific coast and the Coast Mountains, so water and mountain views are part of the city almost everywhere you go. Downtown runs straight into the seawall, while Gastown brings historic brick streets and Commercial Drive has a more independent, neighbourhood feel. Granville Island adds markets, studios and theatres, and False Creek links several cultural spaces along the waterfront. Vancouver also has a busy live-music and arts calendar that stretches well beyond the downtown core. In October, that mix turns toward costume events, unusual markets, live performances and Halloween celebrations across the city.
Freaky Friday Halloween Boat Party Vancouver 2026 | Lost in Sea is scheduled aboard the Burrard Queen on Friday, October 30, 2026, with boarding beginning at 9 PM and the night continuing until 1 AM. The boat departs from Dock A at 760 Pacific Boulevard, then cruises through Vancouver’s waterfront while DJs play hip-hop, Top 40, reggaeton, Afrobeats, dancehall, EDM and throwbacks.
The vessel has a heated indoor dance area and an upper deck overlooking the skyline, with Halloween costumes required for the night.
Vampire Disko makes its debut at The Astoria Pub, 769 East Hastings Street, on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 10 PM until 2 AM. The soundtrack leans heavily into goth, post-punk, EBM, industrial, dark synth-pop and wave, moving between older names such as Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Depeche Mode and The Cure and newer artists working in the same darker territory.
Vampire-inspired outfits are central to the theme, with everything from Victorian looks to modern and horror-film interpretations fitting the night.
Cirque Costume Ball 2026 takes over Science World on Saturday, October 31, from 9 PM until 2 AM. The building is split into three music rooms across two floors, while aerialists, contortionists, LED dancers, stilt walkers and jugglers bring the Cirque theme beyond the dance floors. Around 1,500 costumed attendees are expected.
Music ranges from Top 40 and mashups to hip-hop and house, with the full DJ lineup still to be announced.
The Nightmare Before Christmas Market celebrates its 10th anniversary from October 9 to 11, 2026 at the Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph Street. A special Friday evening session runs from 5 PM to 9 PM, followed by daytime markets from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
More than 80 makers and artists are expected, with stalls covering witchy and whimsical décor, preserved insects, skull art, fantasy art and other unusual handmade pieces. Costumes are welcome, but this one works just as easily as a browse-through market for anyone interested in darker art and Halloween-season crafts.
Infidels Jazz Presents: Rocky Horror Music Show at the Hollywood comes to the Hollywood Theatre, 3123 West Broadway, on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Doors open at 7 PM and the performance runs from 8 PM to 10 PM, with a 13-piece live band performing music from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The film itself will not be screened.
The cast includes vocalists Jason Winikoff, Josie Patterson, Madeleine Suddaby, Deirdre Morgan and Meris Goodman, backed by a seven-piece instrumental lineup led and arranged by Michael Coury. The Cryptkeepers also perform a separate selection of Halloween music.