The first weekend of October is just about here. There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are starting to turn, rain has been falling and the Canucks have started their season. Whether you’re headed to Rogers Arena, a VIFF screening or nowhere in particular, here are some events to check out this weekend in Metro Vancouver. Vancouver International Film Festival The 45th annual Vancouver International Film Festival opened Thursday and runs through Oct. 11. More than 250 films—162 features and 91 shorts—will be shown at 10 venues and 13 screens around the city over the coming days, alongside talks, industry events and 10 “VIFF Live” performances “featuring internationally acclaimed composers, musicians, filmmakers and multimedia artists,” according to organizers. The full program of screenings and performances, along with daily schedules and ticket information, can be found on the VIFF website. Burnaby Halloween Festival The Burnaby Halloween Festival begins this weekend and runs throughout the month of October. Festival events are, perhaps predictably, clustered near the end of the month, but the neighbourhood decorating contest is underway and some of the city’s spooky workshops and attractions are opening this weekend. Tourism Burnaby has a detailed schedule of events—some free, some ticketed—for the month. North Shore Art Crawl The North Shore Art Crawl is returning for its 16th year this Saturday and Sunday. Organizer North Van Arts has partnered with more than 70 venues—from galleries to breweries and coffee shops—to showcase the work of more than 100 artists. The event is an opportunity to meet local artists in their studios or in public places, learn about their work, and potentially see a demonstration. A full event guide, including an interactive map of participating venues, can be found on the North Van Arts website. White Rock and South Surrey Culture Crawl A similar event, though one less focused on visual arts, is taking place in White Rock and South Surrey this weekend. The White Rock and South Surrey Culture Crawl invites the public to experience art and historical exhibits, music, tours, theatre, and more at various locations around the neighbourhoods, with free shuttles set up to take people between some sites. Most events are free, but some are ticketed. A map and schedule can be found on the City of White Rock website. For the sports fans B.C. Place will not be hosting either kind of football this weekend, with the Lions and Whitecaps both out of town. Instead, the stadium will be serving as a cricket ground for the second edition of the Canada Super 60 league. The competition began earlier this week and will culminate with men’s semi-finals and final on Sunday. The Vancouver Canucks are also in the midst of their first homestand of the year, hosting Edmonton on Thursday, Calgary on Saturday and Vegas on Sunday. Out at the Langley Events Centre, the Vancouver Giants will host the Swift Current Broncos on Saturday at 7 p.m.
