don't take candy from strangers? not tonight

The pumpkins came first.

In a city where I have yet to see pumpkin soup on any menu, super-size versions of the vegetable popped up outside every supermarket overnight.

Then the fireworks appeared. Temporary shops opened in every available retail space selling every type of (legal) firework. As dark fell, the pop and fizz of the fireworks could be heard nightly from my apartment. It was rare to see a spark though. The legal versions must be fairly tame.

My first Halloween began in earnest a week before the main event, at Fright Nights - an annual Halloween extravaganza held at an old amusement park. Some of the rides are permanent, but most of the Fright Nights attractions are installed for the occasion: several haunted houses, film students dressed in costume roaming in the dark, terrifying unsuspecting visitors (me), and other related performances. By my second haunted house I was ready to go - either home or to a magical place filled with bunnies and lollies. The smoke machines were made redundant by the damp and foggy Vancouver evening. I did brave the roller coaster, which was an achievement. The wooden ride, built in 1953, rattled like its last ride would be the one you're on. And a haunted house full of clowns? Clowns are scary enough thank you very much.

With the event itself falling on a Monday, the "grown up" crazies hit the streets on the weekend. A last-minute costume saw me dressed as a witch (right). My friend Victoria was more creative, donning her wet suit and some realistic make up as a shark-attack victim (below right). It is the one time of the year she could wear a wet suit on the bus and not look out of place. Her costume was far from outrageous in comparison to others we saw. One freaky looking character on the sky train had me staring at the floor the whole ride. Most of the clubs sell tickets to their Halloween events, but Victoria and I ended up at a local rugby club. Along with Gumby, Toad from Mario Brothers, Black Swan, a sexy airport inspector and the sexy sax man.

Australia has yet to adopt Halloween in all its candy-filled glory. A few people might hold costume parties. Stores are trying to cash in, but there hasn't been much take up. All I can say is thank god. My teeth barely survive Easter. By midday on Halloween, I was riding a sugar high. Lets thank my boss for sitting out a bowl of candy on the counter. And the lady in the kitchen who brought in chocolate cake. And the proximity of delicious treats at my work. It lasted all day.

While Halloween might be seen as another commercial-driven occasion, it is thoroughly embraced in North America. As soon as pumpkins were on sale, people were putting them in their gardens. Along with fake graves, skeletons, lights, cobwebs etc. While the costumes and parties are fun, Halloween itself is essentially enjoyed by children. Come dark (or just before dark for the little tackers) children dress up - in greatly considered costumes - and hit the streets 'to trick or treat. This year I joined them. Being too old to trick or treat myself (most kids stop about about 14) and not having any youngsters to chaperone, I walked through the neighbourhood to admire the festivities. Not every house took part. Those who opted out simply turned off all the lights and stayed at the back of the house. The more welcoming went to the effort of decorating their house, at least with a pumpkin outside, or in some cases got in costumes themselves. When one door swung open, there were buckets of candy ready to be given out. Halloween must become an expensive exercise.

Trick or treating in Kerrisdale

The trick or treaters weren't the least bit shy in approaching the houses. Most came back down the path reviewing their stash and directing their friends to the "good" houses. Others complained to their parents that their bags were too heavy. So they unloaded and kept going.

By Tuesday morning my belly ache from the sugar had subsided, the pumpkin supplies at the supermarket were dwindling and fireworks were 75% off. Advent calenders and Christmas decorations had taken their place. And so it goes on.