Vancouver garden offers after-dark Halloween stroll

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A young girl told her mother to count to three in a garden in the Canadian city of Vancouver on Thursday, before she bounded a couple of steps and gave a skeleton a "high-five."

Thankfully, it wasn't a real skeleton, it was an attraction at the third annual Glow in the Garden, a Halloween-themed event at the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens.

People appreciate the Halloween-themed decoration in the "Glow in the Garden" event held at Vancouver Van Dusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada, October 25, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

The event is designed for youngsters and will last until the end of October. The ticketed event features a spooky nighttime stroll through the gardens decorated with elements from fairy tale Hansel and Gretel.

The German fairy tale from 1812 is about a young brother and sister who are lured through the woods by a dangerous witch who has built a house of cakes and candy.

A child takes a look at an illuminated pumpkin sculpture in the "Glow in the Garden" event held at Vancouver Van Dusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada, October 25, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Just after dark on Thursday, hundreds of visitors, mostly young families, followed the path lined with white lights and orange glowing Jack-O'-Lanterns, or pumpkin lanterns.

"This is the first time we've come," said Olga Obregon. She was here with her daughter who swatted the skeleton, and her young niece and nephew.

"This is nice," she said. "It's small enough for the kids so it's fun for them. It's really well done."

People appreciate the Halloween-themed decoration in the "Glow in the Garden" event held at Vancouver Van Dusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada, October 25, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Nearby, another skeleton sat propped up on a bench. Its eyes were glowing red. Several people took turns sitting next to it as their friends or family snapped photos on their phones.

Obregon said she loves how much people here get into the Halloween spirit.

"A lot of people really get into it and they really decorate the streets so that's really fun," she said. "It's nice with kids."

People look at the illuminated pumpkin sculptures in the "Glow in the Garden" event held at Vancouver VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada, October 25, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

The six-hectare garden is also open throughout the year as a park for research and education, giving people a chance to learn about different plants and botany.

But lately, it's become a home to monsters, skeletons and ghosts. Even though Halloween is a week away, many of the children were wearing their costumes. Among them were a little police officer, a Harry Potter and a little Frankenstein's monster.

People appreciate the Halloween-themed decoration in the "Glow in the Garden" event held at Vancouver VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada, October 25, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Another mother, named Kelly, pushed her child along the path in a stroller. "This is our first time," she said. "We thought our kids would really love it."

She said the Halloween season is always fun, especially with their three young kids.

"Halloween is about creativity and just the fun activities like picking pumpkins and carving and the decorations," she said. "They like to do art and decorate the house."

The organizers said the event has sold out most nights.

(Cover: People look at the illuminated pumpkin sculptures in the "Glow in the Garden" event held at Vancouver VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, Canada, October 25, 2018. /Xinhua Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency