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Halloween in the Bow Valley: Where to Go and What to Do in 2026
From haunted houses and pumpkin walks to costume parties and ghost tours, here's what's happening across the Bow Valley this Halloween, including free events for families.
Brendan Nogue
October 11, 2026
Photo Credit: Atlantic Ambience / Pexels
Thanksgiving is behind us, which means it’s time to start getting ready for Halloween in the Bow Valley.
This year, there’s a lot going on across the valley. Here’s what’s on, by date.
Oct. 14 to 28
Source; Town of Banff
The Basement is a free after-school drop-in space in Banff for kids in Grades 5 to 8. It runs Monday to Thursday, and this month, it's hosting four Halloween-themed afternoons:
Wednesday, Oct. 14: Decorate The Basement for Halloween and make spooky crafts
Tuesday, Oct. 20: Halloween scavenger hunt around Banff
Monday, Oct. 26: Bake Halloween treats
Wednesday, Oct. 28: Costume party and pumpkin carving for the Great Pumpkin Walk
What: Halloween crafts, games, baking and a costume party for kids
When: 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on each dateWhere: The Basement, around the back of the Banff Canmore Foundation, 214 Banff Ave., Banff
Who: Grades 5 to 8
Cost: Free
Saturday, Oct. 24
Source: Lake Louise Sport & Recreation Centre
The Lake Louise Sport and Recreation Centre's annual Spook-a-Rama has an outdoor haunted house, magic, goody bags and a bonfire with hot dogs and s'mores.
From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., guides lead people through the haunted house. After 7 p.m., the centre says, "The Haunted House will run in full scary beast mode."
The centre is also looking for volunteers. Setup, the event and takedown all happen on the same day, so volunteer shifts are flexible.
Volunteers get five free drop-in sessions for either group fitness and yoga or the fitness centre. To volunteer, email [email protected].
What: Outdoor haunted house, magic, goody bags and a bonfire
When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Guided haunted house from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., full-scare version from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Lake Louise Sport and Recreation Centre
Who: Everyone welcome
Cost: Free
Source: Canmore Brewing Company
Canmore Brewing is putting up the big screen to show Hotel Transylvania. Entry is free, with treats for kids (and adults), and parents can enjoy a pint during the movie.
What: Family movie screening of Hotel Transylvania
When: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Canmore Brewing
Who: All ages
Cost: Free
Sunday, Oct. 25
Source: Town of Banff
The Town of Banff's free Halloween afternoon will feature hot apple cider, spooky stories and songs around the fire from local musicians, along with Halloween crafts and games.
The Banff Public Library is running storytimes at 1:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3 p.m.
What: Family Halloween afternoon with stories, music, crafts and games
When: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Okâch – Îyethkabi Oûgitûbi pavilion building, Sundance Park, Banff
Who: Families and community members
Cost: Free
Friday, Oct. 30
Source: Town of Banff
Banff's yearly pumpkin walk is back. Pick up a pumpkin and carve it ahead of time.
After sunset, the pumpkins are lit and carried from Central Park to the Recreation Grounds, where there will be a fire, hot chocolate and live local music.
What: Lantern-style pumpkin walk and community fire
When: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: From Central Park to the Banff Recreation Grounds
Who: All ages
Cost: The walk is free, and you don't need to register. You do need to register to get a pumpkin to carve: pumpkins are free for Banff residents and $10 plus GST for everyone else. Register at the Town of Banff's recreation website. Pickup details come after you register.
Source: The Collective
Banff Canmore Ghost Walks and The Collective are running what they call Canmore's first ghost tour on a party bus.
The bus leaves from The Gem in Harvie Heights and stops at Bankhead, Surprise Corner Lookout, Quarry Lake, the Three Sisters lookout and the Canmore Recreation Centre, with ghost stories, Halloween lighting and sound effects along the way.
A craft beer from Screaming Retriever Brewing is included. The tour ends at The Drake, where DJ Wolfie Beatz will play late into the night, and admission is included with your ticket.
If you'd rather call it a night, the bus returns to The Gem.
What: Haunted ghost tour on a party bus, then a Halloween party
When: 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the bus, then the party at The Drake continues later. Organizers ask people to arrive 15 minutes early to park and board.
Where: Leaves from The Gem Event Centre, 900A Harvie Heights Rd., Harvie Heights, and ends at The Drake Pub in Canmore
Who: 18+ with tickets
Cost: $50 early bird, $70 regular
Source: Canmore Climbing Gym
The Canmore Climbing Gym's Fall Scramble is back, and this year it includes a Halloween costume contest.
The gym says the competition is open to everyone, from first-time competitors to people aiming for the podium.
Staff will set 40 new bouldering problems for the competition. Climbers try as many as they can and keep track of their best climbs.
There are three categories based on bouldering grades, which start at V0 for the easiest climbs and go up from there:
Fun Frogs: V1 to V4/5
Boss Hogs: V4/5 to V7
Big Dogs: V8 and up
Each category has men's, women's and non-binary divisions. Podium finishers win prizes from the gym's sponsors.
There are also costume prizes in a couple of categories and a door prize raffle, so you don't have to win on the wall to go home with something.
The gym says it may move climbers into a different category if their results show they signed up below their level.
What: Bouldering competition, costume contest and door prize raffle
When: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Canmore Climbing Gym
Who: All skill levels, including youth climbers
Cost: $40 to enter. Register at canmoreclimbinggym.ca.
Saturday, Oct. 31
Source: Tourism Canmore Kananaskis
The Lions Club of Canmore is bringing back its daytime Trunk or Treat event.
People decorate their parked cars and hand out treats from the trunks, so kids can collect candy from one car to the next without having to walk far. Costumes are encouraged.
What: Daytime trick-or-treating from decorated vehicles
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: The Beat at Spring Creek, Spring Creek Drive, Canmore
Who: Families. Open to the whole community.
Cost: Free
Source: Shops of Canmore
This free event is aimed at young kids who can't walk far and families who'd like to trick-or-treat in daylight.
Some families might also use it to start their evening, picking up dinner at one of the restaurants at The Shops before heading out for the night.
What: Daytime trick-or-treat trail
When: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The Shops of Canmore
Who: Families with young children
Cost: Free. Registration through Eventbrite.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 179 in Exshaw is hosting a Halloween party. Doors open at 6 p.m., and live music from Retrobution starts at 9 p.m.
There will be cash prizes for the best costumes, plus Jell-O shots.
What: Halloween costume party with a live ban=
When: Doors at 6 p.m., band at 9 p.m.
Where: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 179, 14 Heart Mountain Dr., Exshaw
Who: 18+
Cost: $10 per person. For details, call Kim at 403-673-2792.
Running Throughout October
A local guide leads an evening walk of about three kilometres past places associated with local ghost stories, telling ghost stories and sharing the darker side of Bow Valley history.
Banff tours run every night until Nov. 30. Canmore tours run on weekends only. Both run on Halloween night, which falls on a Saturday this year.
What: Guided evening ghost walk, about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on group size
When: Banff tours nightly, Canmore tours Saturdays and Sundays. Arrive by 6:30 p.m.
Where: Banff tours start at Good Earth Coffeehouse, 333 Banff Ave. Canmore tours start at Canary Coffee, 710 Eighth St.
Who: Recommended for ages 8 and up. The company says some stories include mature content. Tours need at least four people and take up to 20.
Cost: $38.99 for adults (13 and up), $29.99 for children.
Happy Halloween!
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