Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for October 21 to 27

This week: pick the perfect pumpkin, stroll a garden as it glows, celebrate the art of beauty and more

 

1. Kitsilano Autumn Fair – Saturday, October 21

Join in the fun with a whole city block of festivities including food trucks, a pancake breakfast, a bouncy castle, carnival games, a pumpkin patch and a farmers market at this seventh annual fair. Inside Kits House, you’ll find even more fun with a craft market, live entertainment, a haunted house and a tea room.
Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, 2305 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; free admission

 

2. Pumpkin Patch in the City – Saturday, October 21

Celebrate harvest time in the city at the 17th annual urban pumpkin patch, which also includes an escape room, bouncy castle, balloon animals and a cake walk to keep the whole family entertained.
Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House, 2131 Renfrew Street, Vancouver; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Some activities may cost

 

3. The East Van Garage Sale – Sunday, October 22

Stay dry on a rainy day and head indoors for the East Van Garage Sale. Chug a beer and find some bargains at the Astoria’s annual garage sale, which features 15 to 20 vendors selling clothes, jewelry, vintage finds and artwork.
The Astoria, 769 East Hastings Street, Vancouver; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; 19+ only; Tickets $2

 

4. Collaborative Chefs’ Dinner – Monday, October 23

Au Comptoir‘s executive chef Daniel McGee and La Quercia‘s chef/owner Adam Pegg come together to co-host a collaborative dinner in celebration of the acclaimed Kitsilano brasserie’s third anniversary. The seven-course event will showcase the very best of both classic French and Italian cuisine.
Au Comptoir, 2278 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver; 7 p.m.; Tickets $180 per person (including menu, wine pairings, taxes and gratuity)

 

5. VanDusen Glow in the Garden – Tuesday, October 24 to Tuesday, October 31

Discover the magic of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on this Halloween adventure through the whimsical VanDusen Botanical Garden. Follow the white rabbit on a walk through the illuminated grounds, featuring zany lights and pumpkin caricatures.
VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver; 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily; Tickets $12.50 ($10.50 youth, seniors and members)

 

6. Kayoi Komachi/Komachi Visited – Thursday, October 26 to Saturday, October 28

Uniquely merging Japanese noh theatre with Western opera and featuring a score by Iranian-Canadian composer Farshid Samandari, the world premiere of Kayoi Komachi/Komachi Visited tells the story of a man and woman in a passionate but destructive relationship. The man—played by Japan’s Yamai Tsunao—performs noh in Japanese while the woman—soprano Heather Pawsey—performs opera in English as the two struggle to understand each other.
The Cultch Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables Street, Vancouver; 8 p.m.; Tickets from $20

 

 

7. Vancouver Writers Festival – Until October 22

Featuring big-name authors such as Margaret Atwood, Jennifer Egan and Tom Perrotta, the Vancouver Writers Festival showcases writers in discussion about literary approaches to everything from PTSD and politics to sex and satire.
Various dates, locations and times; Tickets online

 

8. Fright Nights at Playland – Now until Tuesday, October 31

Check out things that go bump—and boo—in the night at one of Fright Nights’ eight haunted houses or on the 20 rides that’ll have brave souls screaming in terror. New for 2017 is The Bloodshed haunted house, which is themed around a creepy cabin in the woods.
Playland at the PNE, Vancouver; Sunday to Thursday 7 p.m. to Midnight, Friday and Saturday 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Tickets from $35

 

9. Honour: Confessions of a Mumbai Courtesan – Now until Saturday, November 4

Presented with Diwali in B.C. as part of this year’s celebrations, Honour is a one-woman play by Dipti Mehta that is a testament to the humanities and lives of sex workers, a mother’s plea for her daughter’s life and her honour, and a story of the struggles of an unlikely family, all set in Mumbai’s red light district.
Vancity Culture Lab, 1895 Venables Street, Vancouver; Various dates and times; Tickets from $35

 

10. Fight for Beauty – Now until Sunday, December 17

Art meets architecture and fashion at this free pop-up gallery, which is based on a book by Westbank’s founder Ian Gillespie. Inside the graffiti-clad pavilion, the ambitious exhibition includes a glass sculptural forest, vintage couture fashion, a custom Fazioli piano and specially-commissioned music, spoken word and film.
Fairmont Pacific Rim, 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver; Mondays to Thursdays & Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays & Saturdays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Free admission