The most bone-chilling parade of the year is slated to make local spines tingle.
An annual affair, the Parade of Lost Souls offers the chance to join a jovial procession near Commercial Drive that makes its way through the East Vancouver neighbourhood. This year, however, organizers are switching up the route, which is traditionally guarded until midnight the night before the spooky event.
The Parade of Lost Souls takes place on the weekend ahead of Halloween, which falls on Tuesday, Oct. 31 this year. Revellers can join in the fun on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. starting at the Britannia Library. The new “choose-your-own-adventure” parades kick off at 7:30 p.m., offering three different routes with different bands.
The Parade of Little Souls kicks off first, allowing children and the "young at heart" a chance to light up the night with a "prelude to a night where dreams and reality dance under the moonlit sky."
After the little souls finish their march, the three new processions commence hourly at 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Finally, attendees can make their way to The Wise Hall for The Lost Souls After Party starting at 10 p.m.
Event organizer Dusty Flower Pot Cabaret will also hold workshops and pre-parade preparations. They encourage participants to get lost in some spooky tunes as part of the Thriller Flash Mob, immerse in the mystical aura of the Witches Dance Workshop, or step back in time with Do the Time Warp.
“Parade of Lost Souls is for the people and by the people,” says Kat Single-Dain, co-founder and artistic executive director of The Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret Society. “Our aim is to ignite the creativity that lives within all of us. Every year, our community collaborates to create the ultimate Halloween experience with a wide range of workshops, dances, a huge variety of music, and the most fantastic costumes you can imagine.
"In fact, we want you to imagine something more fantastic and wear it to the parade! This is a participatory community celebration that includes YOU and is offered absolutely free, with donations encouraged."
The Dusty Flower Pot Cabaret will also have a happy hour drop-in night on Friday, Oct. 20 at the 2050 Scotia St. entrance at the loading bay. Attendees can do a variety of things, including:
- Make a costume
- Buy a costume
- Contribute to set decoration preparations
- Meet potential collaborators
- DJ (or play music) for the folks enjoying the space
- Perform karaoke on their custom LED dance floor
- Get a tour of the new improvements of the space
- Meet with the crew of the Parade
- Talk about any ideas you may have!
- Volunteer with the team
Parade of Lost Souls
When: Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. Parades run from 6:30-10 p.m. followed by The Lost Souls After Party from 10 p.m.-1 a.m.
Where: Parade at the Britannia Library and area located at 1661 Napier St. After party at the Wise Hall at 1882 Adanac St.
Cost: Free
Stay up-to-date with the Vancouver weather forecast for parade night with V.I.A.'s Weatherhood. The Strathcona Weatherhood station is located the closest to the parade routes.
