Little Local - October 16

Our local salmon are coming home! Watching the salmon run is one of our favourite fall outings, so this week we’re shining a light on what’s happening and a few viewing spots that might be new to you.

I’m also putting together a Spooky House Map of Greater Victoria (because who doesn’t love a good Halloween drive?). I’ll share it here next week and on social in the next day or two. And if your house goes all out for Halloween, hit reply with the details to be included on the map! 👻

This weekend’s lineup is a fun mix of Halloween happenings and everyday family adventures. Scroll down for all the good stuff!

The Magic of the Salmon Run

It’s the beginning of salmon run season in Greater Victoria! Each fall, chum, coho, and chinook salmon leave the ocean and fight their way upstream to spawn in the exact rivers and creeks where they began life.

The trip isn’t easy. Salmon swim against strong currents, leap up waterfalls, and dodge predators, all driven by instinct to return to the place where life began. Most spend 2–4 years at sea before coming back, and only a tiny fraction (fewer than 1% of the eggs laid) ever make it home. When they do, and after they spawn, their bodies return nutrients to the water and forest, feeding everything from bugs to bears to trees. It’s a pretty incredible life cycle to share with our kids.

When & Where to See Them

The best time to spot salmon around Greater Victoria is late October through November, depending on rainfall and water levels. Put on your boots and head to one of these local viewing spots:

1️⃣ Goldstream Provincial Park – The classic spot, with easy trails for families. It can be busy and parking fills up quickly, so plan ahead. Don’t miss the Nature House, and catch the Salmon Ambassadors programs every Saturday & Sunday at 11am and 2pm (about 30 minutes each).

2️⃣ Charters Creek (Sooke) – A quieter alternative near Sooke Potholes with lots of parking and a peaceful trail along a small creek lined with old-growth trees.

3️⃣ Millstream Creek (Langford) – A small urban viewing area where kids can see salmon up close.

👉 Hit reply and tell me your favourite spot to see the salmon!

🐟 Ta-Nika Seafood: Buy your seafood straight from local fishermen. Frozen-at-sea salmon, tuna, and rockfish available Saturdays, 9:30am–2pm at Tsehum Harbour (C Dock) in Sidney. Shrimp sometimes available!

🛍️ Thistle & Wren Customer Appreciation Sale: Enjoy 20% off (almost everything!) this weekend (Oct 18 & 19) in-store and online, as a thank you to their wonderful community. Get ahead of your Christmas shopping at one of our favourite boutiques for kids clothes, toys, books, and more! More details here.

📅 Weekend Events

🩺 First Aid for Caregivers: Baby Choking & CPR Rescue
Friday, Oct 17 | 9:30–11:30am
An approachable, hands-on class at Crystal Pool, for any caregiver to learn baby CPR and choking rescue. Bring your child (up to 18 months) and learn together. $15 [Register]

🎃 Halloween Weekends at Bilston Creek Farm
Saturday, Oct 18 & Sunday, Oct 19 11am–5pm
Enjoy cozy, low-scare Halloween fun at Bilston Creek Farm in Metchosin! Hunt for the Golden Pumpkin, play games in the barn, and stop by the farm store for lavender treats and warm cider. Costumes encouraged! [Info]

🚂 Halloween Pumpkin Express
Oct 17 & 18 | 4–8pm, Oct 19 | 2–6pm
Hop aboard a spooky miniature train at Heritage Acres with the Vancouver Island Model Engineers! Ride through the Haunted Tunnel and Halloween Forest, then stop for ghoulish treats and festive fun at Whistle Stop Café. [Info]

🎻 Kids Concert: What Do YOU Play?
Saturday, Oct 18 | 3–5pm
An interactive symphony experience at the Farquhar at UVic where kids meet the instruments, move to the music, and discover their own rhythm. [Info]

🍄 Fabulous Fungi (Guided Walk) - All Ages
Sunday, Oct 19 | 1:30–3pm
Join a CRD naturalist in Francis King Park for a guided forest walk exploring the fascinating world of mushrooms and the vital role fungi play in our ecosystems. [Info]

🐠 Tot Tuesday: Salmon Celebration
Tuesday, Oct 21 | 10:30-11:15am
Head to Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea to learn about local salmon and their incredible life cycle through family-friendly activities, exhibits, and storytelling at this annual celebration. [Info]

📅 Upcoming and Ongoing

🌽 Saanichton Corn Maze
Weekends in October
Wander through twisting trails, meet friendly farm animals, and take in the fall farm vibes. Great for families with kids of all ages. [Info]

🎃 Pumpkinfest at Galey Farms
Weekends in October
Pick a pumpkin, ride the train, explore the corn maze, and enjoy classic fall fun at one of Victoria’s favourite family traditions. [Info]

👻 Festival of Fear at Galey Farms
Evenings in October
For families with older kids and thrill-seekers. Explore haunted houses, spooky mazes, and eerie train rides after dark. [Info]

🎃 Historical Halloween Hunt at the Sidney Museum
Oct 1–31
Step back in time for a spooky scavenger hunt through the museum’s exhibits. Find hidden Halloween surprises and learn a little local history along the way. [Info]

🕯️ Ghostly Walks – Halloween Tour
Oct 1–Nov 2
Join Victoria’s famous storytellers for chilling tales of ghosts, murders, and mysteries on this popular guided walking tour. [Info]

🎃 Lohbrunner Pumpkin Fest
Every Sat & Sun in October | 10am–4pm
Pick the perfect pumpkin, wander the patch, enjoy hay bales and photo ops, and take in the autumn scenery at Lohbrunner Farm. [Info]

✈️ Halloween Haunt
Friday, Oct 24 | 10am–4pm
Head to the BC Aviation Museum for a museum-wide scavenger hunt. Meet the resident ghouls and participate in fun trick-or-treating. [Info]

🐙 A-Scare-ium of the Salish Sea
Saturday, Oct 25 | 5:30–8:30pm
Dress up and trick-or-treat under the sea at Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea! Enjoy glowing displays, underwater jack-o-lanterns, and spooky (but not too scary) fun while supporting local causes. [Info]

👻 Wicked Victoria
Sunday, Oct 26 | 10:30am-3:30pm
Downtown Victoria transforms into a free, family-friendly Halloween festival with live music, kid zones, costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky fun for all ages. [Info]

🍬 Sweet Street Halloween Spooktacular
Saturday, Oct 26 | 4:30–6pm
Downtown Sidney transforms into a sweet lover’s paradise with candy, costumes, and family fun. [Info]

⛸️ Halloween Skate
Thursday, Oct 30 | 4-5pm
Dress up and hit the ice at Archie Browning Sports Centre. Enjoy a frightfully fun family skate with music, costumes, and prizes! [Info]

👽 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in Concert
Nov 1–2
Experience the magic of E.T. on the big screen at the Royal Theatre with live orchestral accompaniment by the Victoria Symphony. [Info]

Final Note: I do my best to keep everything accurate, but I am only human so the odd mistake might sneak in! If you catch one, feel free to let me know.