There’s always something happening around Metro Vancouver in October, and you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy it. I’ve rounded up some fun family outings, starting with the free ones.
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Free Things To Do in Metro Vancouver this October
Make a morning of the farmers market
A pastry for the walk, apples to take home and a playground afterwards—that sounds like a pretty good Saturday. Trout Lake Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while Riley Park Farmers Market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both continue through October 31.
Cost: Free to browse; food and produce are extra.
Get creative at Place des Arts Family Day
When everyone needs a break from pumpkin patches, try an afternoon of art. Place des Arts Family Day in Coquitlam has hands-on activities, including clay, fall-themed felt ornaments and dance, on Sunday, October 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. You can take your creations home, too.
Location: 1120 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam
Cost: Free; reserve a ticket for each person attending.
Try a Culture Days activity
Richmond’s Culture Days continues through October 4, with free arts and culture experiences around the city. Browse the program together and choose something that catches your little one’s attention, whether that’s a performance or a chance to make something.
Cost: Free; check individual activities for registration.
Go on a fall colour hunt at Deer Lake
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Sometimes all you need is a nice walk and a warm drink. Head to Deer Lake Park in Burnaby and see who can spot the brightest fallen leaf. Bring a snack and take your time by the water. For more places to wander, see 604Now’s family-friendly fall hikes.
Cost: Free.
Browse the Fort Langley Cranberry Festival
Thanksgiving weekend is a lovely time to visit Fort Langley. On Saturday, October 10, the Cranberry Festival fills the village with vendors, food and music from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go for a wander and see how many cranberry treats you can find.
Cost: Free to attend the village festival; food and purchases are extra. Entry to the Fort Langley National Historic Site costs extra for adults.
Visit Westham Island Herb Farm’s pumpkin displays
For the pumpkin photos without a per-person admission fee, make the drive to Westham Island Herb Farm in Delta. Have a look around the fall displays, then choose a pumpkin or some produce if you’d like to take a bit of the farm home.
Location: 4690 Kirkland Road, Delta
Cost: Free admission; purchases are extra.
Spend a weekend at Vandula Farms’ Pumpkin Patch Festival
Vandula Farms is hosting its festival on October 17 and 18. Browse Saturday’s artisan market, look for the pumpkins and meet visiting birds from local rescue organizations. You can keep it a free outing or add an activity if everyone’s having fun.
Location: 9832 Ladner Trunk Road, Delta
Cost: General admission and parking are free; while other activities cost extra.
Catch the lights at Celebrate the Night
If your little one can manage a later bedtime, Celebrate the Night in Maple Ridge brings together lights, crafts, storytelling, games and fireworks on Saturday, October 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. It’s one of those evenings that feels like a big occasion without a big admission bill.
Location: The ACT Arts Centre area, 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge
Cost: Free; food is extra.
Dress up for Central Spark
Give those Halloween costumes an extra outing at Central Spark. Burnaby’s October 30 celebration has music and entertainment from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by a drone display and fireworks. The city describes the activities as gently spooky and suitable for younger little ones, although the fireworks will be loud.
Location: Patterson Avenue and Central Park, Burnaby
Cost: Free; food trucks are extra.
Paid Events and Activities
Celebrate fall at West Vancouver’s PumpkinFest
Live music, a pumpkin patch, friendly animals and fall treats all come together at PumpkinFest on Sunday, October 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It has that cheerful community-fair feeling and is an easy choice if you want several activities in one place.
Location: West Vancouver Community Centre
Cost: Ticketed; check the event page for the admission and activity options you want.
Pick apples at Willow View Farms
There’s something especially satisfying about taking home apples your little one helped pick. Willow View Farms in Abbotsford expects its U-pick field to reopen Friday, October 2. Check its picking update before leaving, since available varieties can change quickly.
Location: 288 McCallum Road, Abbotsford
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; field entry closes at 4:45 p.m.
Cost: U-pick apples are listed at $1.89 per pound.
Taste your way through the UBC Apple Festival
Prefer sampling apples to picking them? The UBC Apple Festival returns October 17 and 18 with a chance to discover varieties you may not find at your usual grocery store. It’s a sweet change from the pumpkin-focused outings filling the rest of the month.
Location: UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver
Cost: Ticketed. Ages 7 and under are free.
Spend an afternoon at VanDusen’s Harvest Days
For fall colours with a few extra activities, Harvest Days has live music, face painting, crafts, lawn games and the garden maze. It runs October 3–4, 10–12 and 17–18, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver
Cost: Included with garden admission. Online tickets are $13.27 for adults and $6.63 for ages 5–12, before tax and fees. Ages 4 and under are free but need a ticket.
Ride the daytime Pumpkin Train at Bear Creek Park
A little train through a decorated forest feels about right for October. The daytime Pumpkin Train runs October 1–31, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and includes a treat, pumpkin and crafts. Go for this daytime ride with younger little ones; the separate evening Scream Train is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Location: Bear Creek Park, 13750 88 Avenue, Surrey
Cost: $12 per person plus tax; under age 2 is free. Daytime tickets are sold on-site, first come, first served. The train is closed to the general public on October 25.
Hop aboard the Monster Express
Another train option, but with a different feel: the Monster Express takes families on a roughly 50-minute heritage railway ride with friendly Halloween characters along the way. It runs only October 24 and 25, with four departures each day, so this is one to book ahead if it catches your eye.
Location: Cloverdale Station, Surrey
Cost: Ticketed
Save an October weekend for camping or glamping
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If you want to stretch a fall outing into a getaway, Rolley Lake Park near Mission has a short lakeside walk and camping, with its regular reservable season listed through October 12. For a cosier stay without setting up a tent, Little Escape Outdoors in Aldergrove is another option—check October availability and package details before booking.
Cost: Camping fees or glamping rates apply.
October weekends have a way of filling up fast, but you don’t need a big plan every time. A morning at the market, a pastry for the walk and some time crunching through the leaves can be just as lovely as a day at the farm.
