VanDusen Garden — Glow in the Garden.

VanDusen is already one of the best places in the city for autumn colour, and for a couple of weeks in October it adds a night shift. Glow in the Garden opens the grounds after dark with a walking route lined by carved pumpkins, lanterns and lighting that picks out the maples, ginkgos and willows at the height of their colour and doubles them in the still water of the garden lakes.

The effect is closer to an art installation than a haunted attraction. Pumpkin displays range from traditional jack-o-lanterns to elaborate carved scenes, lights shift between warm orange and cool purple under the trees, and the quiet of the garden at night makes the whole thing feel unexpectedly serene. Small children enjoy the pumpkins; adults tend to linger at the lake edges with cameras.

The route is a loop of a kilometre or two on the garden’s main paths and takes about an hour at a slow pace, longer with photo stops. Dress warmly, since you will be standing still in October air, and bring a small flashlight for the darker stretches between displays. The café is usually open with hot drinks.

Tickets are timed, sell in advance and often sell out for weekend evenings. Parking at the garden is paid and fills quickly on event nights, so the bus along Oak Street or a drop-off is easier. The garden announces each year’s dates, theme and ticket details on its own website; check there rather than relying on last year’s schedule.