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Boo! Get spooked, get ghostly, get creative

It's the spookiest time of the year - nights are dark, there's a chill in the air and it's easy to believe there might just be a ghost or goblin around the next corner.

It's the spookiest time of the year - nights are dark, there's a chill in the air and it's easy to believe there might just be a ghost or goblin around the next corner.

There's plenty of family fun to be had in Burnaby this weekend, leading right up to the big night on Oct. 31. We've compiled a list of local events and there's something for every age to help celebrate the season. As well, check out the tips at the bottom of this page for some simple ideas on keeping the Halloween season fun and safe.

All weekend long

? The perennial favourite for historic, haunted Halloween fun returns to the Burnaby Village Museum this weekend.

From 6 to 9 p.m. each night (Friday, Saturday and Sundy), the village will be alive after dark with witches, trick-or-treating, and unlimited carousel rides, along with a wide variety of entertainers and activities. Tickets are available at the door, $14 for youth and adult, and $9 for children two to 12. If nighttime is too spooky, the carousel (but not the museum) will also be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Call 604-297-4565 for more info.

Friday, Oct. 26

? There's plenty of frighteningly good family-fun to be had at Bonsor's Big Boo event, running tonight (Friday) from 6 to 8: 30 p.m. Cost is $6 per person (children must be accompanied by an adult), and events include a haunted house, costume prize draw, creepy crafts, ghostly games and more. Bonsor is located at 6550 Bonsor Ave. in Burnaby, call 604-297-4597 for more info.

? Check out a special Halloween edition of the regular Kid's Club story time and Parent-and-Me crafts at Brentwood Town Centre, at 1 p.m. today (Friday.) Check out www.brentwoodtowncentre. com for more Halloween festivities planned this weekend.

? Take part in family-focused fun with the Creepy Craft Workshop at Brentwood Town Centre, scheduled for 11 a.m. Check out www.brentwoodtown centre.com for more Halloween festivities planned this weekend.

Saturday, Oct. 27

? Come up to Burnaby Mountain and explore the science of scares with the SFU Science Spooktacular. This year's theme is "mad scientist" and the event includes science fun for kids from kindergarten to Grade 6 along with their families. Staff, faculty and students in biology, biomedical physiology and kinesiology, chemistry and physics will host chilling science activities. All events take place in the south concourse of the Academic Quadrangle, just outside the Shrum Science Centre lecture hall B9200. Participants are encouraged to come dressed for the event.

? Lace up and get out on the ice - but don't forget your costume. The Halloween Hoopla Skate runs from 12: 30 to 3 p.m. at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre, 3676 Kensington Ave. All ages (ratio of children to adults must not be greater than three to one), with music, face painting, crafts, games and more. Regular admission and rental rates apply. Call 604-297-4521 for more info.

? Join North Gate Mall retailers for a Halloween costume parade and contest, starting at 11 a.m. Wear a costume and meet in front of PriceSmart foods (3433 North Road). From there, participants will trick or treat through North Gate Mall and North Road Square Mall.

? Get a pumpkin and help a good cause. Forest Lawn and Ocean View Funeral Homes are hosting a pumpkin patch from noon to 3 p.m. The event is by donation (suggested donation of $5) and all donations go to St. Michael's Hospice. Participants get to choose a pumpkin to take home, and there will be hot chocolate, cookies and safety flashlights for the kids. The event takes place outside the reception room, at 3789 Royal Oak. Ave.

? Get howling like a werewolf with the annual Cameron Howler. Running from 5: 30 to 8 p.m. at the Cameron Recreation Complex (9523 Cameron St.), the event includes face painting, games, preschool crafts, photo booth and more. Show up in a costume to be entered to win a prize. The event is free, but donations of canned goods to the food bank are welcomed. Children must attend with an adult.

Until Wednesday, Oct. 31

? On now until Halloween, Lougheed Town Centre is hosting the Spooky BOO-Tique daily. A portion of the shopping centre has been transformed into a Halloween fantasy of horrors. All guests 12 and under will receive a Halloween treat after going through. Customers can enter for free with a presentation of same-day receipt from a centre retailer, or by $2 minimum donation to the Burnaby Firefighters' Charitable Society. The BOO-Tique is located on the lower level, next to Bentley.

Wednesday, Oct. 31

? Lougheed Town Centre invites kids from age two to 12 to take part in trick-or-treat fun, from 4 to 5 p.m. Entry is by donation at each of the mall entrances, with donations going to the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society. Children must be accompanied by an adult and cameras are welcome.

? Get moving and grooving with special dress-up editions of both Salsa Tots and Salsa Babies classes today at Brentwood Town Centre. Salsa Tots runs at 11 a.m., and Salsa Babies at 11: 45 a.m.

? Get spooked with Brentwood Town Centre's Halloween evening fun. At 4: 30 p.m., enjoy the Pumpkin Spook-tacular Interactive Dance Show and then, at 5 p.m., take part in a trick-or-treat with the centre's retailers.

? Celebrate the big night in the Heights. Heights merchants are once again hosting the annual Halloween in the Heights event, with fun for all ages including fireworks, trick-or-treating, and a spooky train ride at Confederation Park's Burnaby Central Railway. Runs from 3: 30 to 5: 30 p.m.

? Need a break from the sweets? Check out the weekly SFU Pocket Farmers Market, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fresh produce and plenty of interesting folks to talk to about local food issues. Though not a Halloween-specific event, this weekly market is a good way to celebrate fall's harvest.

? If you're up in North Burnaby (and if not, it's worth the drive) check out the Quarto family's annual haunted house, which is about 1,200 square feet of fully enclosed frights and chills - along with live actors. Entrance is by donation and all donations go to B.C. Children's Hospital. The house is at 4260 Dundas St.