Who says ice cream season ends when the leaves fall?

If not, we've got you covered! Last week we shared 10 pumpkin patch options across Greater Victoria - and this weekend we checked one out! Our family picked three perfect pumpkins from Bickford Farms in Central Saanich (Saanichton).

What we loved: free entry (no tickets needed), a big field for kids to roam, and plenty of photo-worthy spots. Simple, fun, and exactly what we were looking for.

Check out all 10 options in our guide and find the pumpkin patch that fits your family's vibe. Happy picking!               

Victoria: Pacific Opera Presents: Ghosts of the Royal Oct 21 (Tue) – free event @Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton St. 7pm (Free event but click here to reserve your spot).

+ Victoria International Jewish Film Festival Until Oct 23 (Thur) @Vic Theatre, 808 Douglas St

+ The 28^th Annual Antimatter [media art] Until Oct 26 (Sun) @Deluge Contemporary Art, 636 Yates Street, in-person and online

View Royal: Scotoberfest Oct 24 (Fri) @Victoria Scottish Community Centre, 1803 Admiral Rd 7pm-12am

+ View Royal’s Got Talent Auditions this week! Oct 25 (Sat) Audition Sign-Up is Live! Only a few audition times left. @View Royal Community Hall, 279 Island Hwy

Oak Bay: 70s Music Bingo Night Oct 24 (Fri) @Sports View Lounge, Oak Bay Rec, 1975 Bee St. 6-8pm

+ Oak Bay Rec Centre 50^th Birthday Celebration Oct 24 (Fri) @Oak Bay Rec, 1975 Bee St. 9am-9pm.

Sidney: Musical History Tour: The Beatles’ Legacy Oct 26 (Sun) - featuring The Sutcliffes @The Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave 7pm

Esquimalt: Esquimalt Farmers Market Oct 23 (Thur) @Esquimalt Recreational Centre 4:30-7pm

North Saanich: For the Love of Pies Oct 23 (Thur) @Patio Gardens, 6536 W Saanich Rd, Saanichton 6-8pm

Sidney: Crafted Farmhouse Market Oct 24-25 (Fri/Sat) @The Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave

Metchosin: Metchosin Bewitched Market Oct 24-26 (Fri-Sun) @Metchosin Community Hall, 4401 William Head Rd.

+Metchosin Farmers Market Oct 26 (Sun) @4450 Happy Valley Road 11am-2pm

Victoria: Moss Street Market Oct 25 (Sat) @Sir James Douglas School, 1330 Fairfield Rd 10am-2pm

Colwood: Trunk or Treat – 10^th Annual! Oct 25 (Sat) @2250 Sooke Road, Colwood Church. A family-friendly afternoon designed for kids. 3:30-5:30pm

Sidney: A-SCARE-IUM of the Salish Sea Halloween Event Oct 25 (Sat) @Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, 9811 Seaport Place  4-8pm

+ Sidney Spooktacular Halloween Car Cruise Oct 25 (Sat) @Meet at North Saanich Canadian Tire at 6pm

Sooke: Sooke Spook Oct 25 (Sat) @Sooke Region Museum 5-7pm

Langford: 2025 Haunted Alley Oct 25 (Sat) @2707 Winster Rd, 6:30-9pm

+ Lohbrunner Pumpkin Fest ’25 Oct 25-26 (Sat/Sun) @1152 Lippincott Rd 10am-4pm

Victoria: Pumpkin Carving Day Oct 25 (Sat) @521 Craigflower Rd (free family-friendly event) 10am-2pm

+ Halloween Ghost Walk Tours Until Oct 31 @560 Johnson St. 7pm

+ Haunted Halloween Carriage Tours Until Oct 31 @465 Belleville St

+ Classic Horror Movie Nights at Craigdarroch Castle Until Oct 30 @Craigdarroch Castle, 1050 Joan Crescent

+ Legends of Halloween Mini Golf  Until Nov 2 @Haunted Manor Victoria, 711 Yates St.

Central Saanich: High Moon: A Werewolf Western Until Oct 31 @Heritage Acres, 7321 Lochside Drive, Saanichton (Order tickets here)

Saanich: Pumpkinfest, Festival of Fear, Carnevil Until Nov 1 @4150 Blenkinsop Rd. See link for times    

Three unique family experiences we're excited about this week:

🎃 Sidney: Shaw Centre's Salish Sea Halloween Spectacular Oct 26 (Sat) Trick-or-treat under the sea! Hunt for sunken jack-o-lanterns in eerie (but not too scary!) displays. Supporting two great local causes. $5/person, 4-8pm.

🚗 Colwood: Trunk or Treat – 10th Annual! Oct 25 (Sat) Free candy from decorated car trunks, hot dogs, crafts, and costume fun at Colwood Church. Stroller-friendly parking lot setup. Free event 3:30-5:30pm.

🎨 Victoria: Pumpkin Carving Day Oct 25 (Sat) Free pumpkins supplied. You bring the creativity! Let little hands get messy at this welcoming Vic West neighbourhood event on Craigflower Rd. 10am-2pm.

(Scan the other 24 events too - many are perfect for families!)

Warmer falls mean Canadians are decorating earlier and going all-out. Last year's mild October had nearly half of us buying decorations 2-4 weeks early, a big jump from previous years. The pandemic started the outdoor mega-display trend, and our warmer weather keeps fueling it. Those 12-foot skeletons? They're officially a Canadian tradition now.  [Full story - The Weather Network]

Ever felt a mysterious chill wandering downtown Victoria's alleys? You're not alone. Since 1999, local father-son duo John and Chris Adams have been sharing the city's spookiest tales through Discover the Past's Ghostly Walks. From tragic Victorian-era love stories to unexplained encounters, these tours reveal the haunting history hidden beneath our streets. Tours run nightly through November 2^nd – if you dare! [Read the full story in Oak Bay News]

For the first time since 1993, Canada's team is World Series bound! The Blue Jays face the defending champions LA Dodgers and their star Shohei Ohtani, baseball's modern-day Babe Ruth. Go Jays Go!