The spirit of Halloween is alive and growing in Kamloops, with dedicated residents transforming their properties into spooky spectacles that draw visitors from across the region (Ainslie, 2024). This year’s displays showcase both longtime Halloween enthusiasts and newcomers to the tradition, creating a community-wide celebration that’s become increasingly elaborate and extensive.
Interactive Community Map
A comprehensive Google Map has been created by Dr. Oleksandr (Sasha) Kondrashov to help residents and visitors locate and explore the various Halloween displays throughout Kamloops. The map, which includes photos from 2023 and recent submissions from local residents, serves as a visual guide to the city’s most spectacular Halloween installations. Visitors can access the interactive map at: Kamloops Halloween Houses Map (the red markers shows interactive displays and yellow markers local pumpkin patches)
Bentley’s Haunted Yard Celebrates 10-Year Milestone
A standout attraction this year is Bentley’s Haunted Yard, celebrating its remarkable 10th anniversary. Property owners has made her annual display about more than just scares – it’s become a community fundraising initiative (CBC British Columbia, 2024). This year’s anniversary display is particularly spectacular, continuing the tradition of combining Halloween fun with charitable giving. One of the neighbours suggest being ready with small donations and/or food bank donations. If doing food bank remember: consider margerine/milk subsititute with the kraft dinner, consider coffee whitener with the coffee, consider protien rich pasta sauces with the spaghetti, consider femininine products and baby supplies. Thank you Kim for your valuable suggestion. At Bentley’s Haunted Yard you can donate to local food bank and BC SPCA
Brocklehurst Community Leading the Way
The Brocklehurst neighborhood has emerged as a Halloween hotspot, with resident Shannon Moore taking the initiative to compile a comprehensive map of displays in the area. Moore, who began mapping displays two years ago, has watched the community’s Halloween spirit grow exponentially (Ainslie, 2024). Her own property, which features a new haunted house addition this year, exemplifies the increasing scale of these displays, with setup taking six weeks and costs running into the thousands.
This year’s Brock Halloween Map, distributed to local businesses, helps visitors navigate the neighborhood’s various displays efficiently. Houses are numbered strategically to create an optimal viewing route, with displays running from October 27th to 31st (Tourism Kamloops, 2024). The map represents a community effort to showcase the growing number of elaborate Halloween displays in the area.
Growing Investment in Halloween Spirit
The trend toward more elaborate Halloween displays reflects a broader shift in how Kamloops residents celebrate the holiday. While Christmas remains the highest-spending holiday for most Canadians, Halloween enthusiasm is seeing significant growth. According to the 2023 Leger Report on Halloween Habits, BC residents indicated they would be spending more on Halloween compared to 2022, with 32% of adults celebrating the holiday (Ainslie, 2024).
Notable Displays and Community Impact
Several residents have gained recognition for their commitment to Halloween decorating:
- Shannon Moore’s expanded display, which saw visitor numbers jump from a handful to 70 trick-or-treaters in its first year
- Glenda Schwandt’s decade-long tradition of creating elaborate displays, with an estimated annual investment of $500 in decorations and candy
- Multiple displays in Logan Lake featuring custom props and decorations sourced from international shopping trips (Ainslie, 2024)
Looking Forward
As the Halloween season continues to grow in Kamloops, community members are encouraged to share information about their displays and contribute to the ongoing mapping effort. The increasing scale and sophistication of Halloween displays reflect a growing trend of community engagement and celebration, creating lasting memories for visitors of all ages.
To compare Winnipeg has also created an asset map that is available online: https://wpgforfree.ca/2022/10/25/winnipeg-halloween-map/ Let me know if your city has a Halloween Google Map and I will add it to the list for more decorating ideas.
Special thanks to all community members who have shared information about their displays over the past two years, contributing to the growing Halloween tradition in Kamloops. Your dedication helps make our community a more festive and welcoming place during the Halloween season.
References
Ainslie, S. (2024, October 27). Size and cost of Halloween displays inflating in Kamloops, Okanagan. InfoTel News Ltd. https://infotel.ca/newsitem/size-and-cost-of-halloween-displays-inflating-in-kamloops-okanagan/it106928
CBC British Columbia. (2024, October 27). 10 years of Halloween fun at Bentley’s Haunted Yard [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivUke-bwIB4
Tourism Kamloops. (2024). Spookloops. https://www.tourismkamloops.com/spookloops/
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