Fall festivities abound in Metro Vancouver this Thanksgiving long weekend. Here are some events and activities you might want to check out. Oddities and Curiosities Expo Described by organizers as “the largest internationally traveling oddities/subculture event in the world,” the Oddities and Curiosities Expo takes over the Vancouver Convention Centre this Saturday and Sunday. Featuring taxidermy, preserved specimens, animal bones, artwork, jewelry, “handcrafted oddities” and more, the event aims to showcase vendors, artists and small businesses specializing in “all things weird.” Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the door. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Canyon Frights Spooky season arrives at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park this weekend with the return of Canyon Frights, the attraction’s annual Halloween event. Beginning Friday and continuing through Nov. 2, the suspension bridge and surrounding park will be decked out in seasonal decor, with Halloween-themed activities and food and drink specials on offer. Canyon Frights is included in the cost of park admission. The park is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, with extended hours to 9 p.m. on Oct. 24 through 26 and Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. Guests can stay in the park for up to an hour after close. Bear Creek Halloween train(s) Surrey’s Bear Creek Park train has been offering themed rides during the daytime as the “Pumpkin Train” since Oct. 1. This weekend, it will also transform into the Scream Train at night. Pumpkin Train rides cost $12 and include a trip through the decorated forest, a treat, a pumpkin and crafts, according to the attraction’s website. Scream Train rides run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly from Friday through Nov. 2. Tickets can be booked in advance for $17.50. The nighttime ride features scary actors along the route and is recommended for those ages 12 and up. Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival The Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival returns to the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre in Yaletown this weekend, showcasing the work of visual artists and performers “outside of mainstream art institutions.” An opening event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. The show is open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. More information about participating artists, performances and workshops can be found on the VOAF website. Cranberry Festival The village of Fort Langley and its National Historic Site will celebrate their annual Cranberry Festival on Saturday. Outside the fort, Tourism Langley promises music, food trucks and vendors celebrating the cranberry harvest, while the national historic site will showcase the “small but mighty” berry’s role in trade and daily life in the 19th century. The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the historic site is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For the sports fans The Canada Super 60 Cricket League began Wednesday at B.C. Place and will continue through the weekend until the tournament final on Monday. Competition and ticket information can be found on the Canada Super 60 website. After opening their season at home against the Calgary Flames Thursday, the Vancouver Canucks will head to Edmonton to play the Oilers on Saturday before returning to Rogers Arena for a Thanksgiving Day game against St. Louis. Thanksgiving also means the return of the Turkey Trot 10K race that begins and ends on Granville Island. The annual tradition is in its 26th year.
