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The quick read: Halloween weekend is nearly here, and the Okanagan is serving it up family-first. The free Family Monster Bash takes over MNP Place on Sunday, October 25, HorrorFest screens local horror shorts downtown on Saturday night, Brit Floyd brings Pink Floyd to Penticton on Friday, and Grizzli Winery's Halloweenie closes out the season on October 31. Costumes encouraged at all of them.

Start with the big one for families.

Sunday, October 25: Family Monster Bash, MNP Place

The City of Kelowna's annual Family Monster Bash returns Sunday, October 25, from 1 to 4 p.m. at MNP Place, 4105 Gordon Drive.

It is free to attend, with a bouncy house, Zorb soccer, face painting, Halloween games, free skating and more. Activities are geared to children ages 2 to 12, though the city says all friendly monsters are welcome.

Bring a costume — and a non-perishable food donation for the Central Okanagan Food Bank, with collection bins at the entrance. The concession will be open, skate rentals are available on site, and helmets are required for all skaters.

Free, family-friendly, and it feeds the food bank. That is how a city event should work.

Saturday, October 24: HorrorFest, downtown Kelowna

For the older crowd, HorrorFest returns Saturday, October 24, at Metro Hub in downtown Kelowna, hosted by the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking. Doors open at 6 p.m., with local horror short films starting at 7 p.m.

It is a showcase for Okanagan filmmakers — a reminder that the valley's creative scene runs well beyond wine and beaches.

Friday, October 23: Brit Floyd, Penticton

Brit Floyd returns to the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton on Friday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m., with a full-scale tribute to Pink Floyd spanning The Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall and more.

If the kids are the priority on Sunday, Friday night is for the parents.

Saturday, October 24: Pumpkin carving, Kelowna Golf & Country Club

The Kelowna Golf & Country Club hosts a family-friendly pumpkin carving party Saturday, October 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with lunch, Halloween crafts and a pumpkin to take home. Costumes are encouraged and spots are limited, so reserve ahead.

Saturday, October 31: Halloweenie at Grizzli Winery

And for Halloween day itself, Grizzli Winery in West Kelowna hosts its 6th annual Halloweenie celebration on Saturday, October 31, from noon to 4 p.m. — a non-scary, family and pet-friendly event with a new Halloweenie Passport Adventure for kids, plus mulled wine for the adults. Admission is $10.

Five events, one theme: the Okanagan does Halloween best when it keeps it local, keeps it family-friendly, and keeps the doors open to everyone.

Sources: City of Kelowna; ToDoCanada; Stuff With Svet.

Photo credit: Photo by Brooke Balentine on Unsplash