Happy Halloween

a halloween walk down memory lane in kitsilano 🎃

There is something rather magical about Halloween in Kitsilano.

Tonight, I decided to take a little trip down memory lane, revisiting some of the old neighbourhoods and houses where I used to take my kid trick-or-treating.

Oh, the memories!

The little feet running from house to house, the excitement of collecting candy, the costumes, the anticipation and the occasional negotiation over how much chocolate was an acceptable amount to eat before bedtime.

Some things never change.

I ran into a friend and decided to stay awhile to watch the little monsters arrive. And what a parade it was!

The creativity! The imagination!

There were Harry Potters, Wednesdays, witches, monsters, and a few characters that required a little detective work to identify.

I spotted what I think was Sulley from Monsters, Inc. — goodness, that movie is more than 20 years old now. Where does the time go?

There were four enormous axolotls (yes, four!), and one very impressive big frog. I'm not entirely sure what was happening in the amphibian department, but they were certainly making an appearance.

And the houses!

Some people really went all out. Elaborate decorations, spooky lighting, mysterious doorways, creepy creatures and enough cobwebs to make you wonder whether the homeowners had actually decorated or simply stopped cleaning in September.

Some front yards looked like the beginning of a particularly suspicious fairy tale.

I half expected a witch to invite me inside for tea, only to discover the teapot had other plans.

Walking through the neighbourhood, I couldn't help thinking about all those Halloweens years ago, when my own little trick-or-treater was part of the excitement.

The children have changed, the costumes have become more elaborate, and the decorations seem to get bigger every year. But the anticipation is still there.

For one evening, the neighbourhood belongs to the children, the imagination runs wild, and grown-ups get to play along.

Perhaps that's the real magic of Halloween.

You can grow older, but you're never too old to appreciate a good monster, a clever costume, a mysterious house or a little bit of mischief.

And if you happen to see four giant axolotls walking down the street, just smile and keep moving.

It's Halloween in Kitsilano. Apparently, anything is possible.

Happy Halloween, everyone! 🎃