Secret Souls Walk 2011 (formerly Parade of Lost Souls)

Dec 19 2017, 1:08 pm

Vancouver is home to many parades, that wasn’t always the case but the city brought many of them back. Every year the Saturday before Halloween, Commercial Drive becomes Halloween central. Once again this year the Parade of Lost Souls will go on in its smaller reincarnation known as the Secret Souls Walk, part of the Parade of Lost Souls Festival. The parade pays homage to the true roots of Hallows Eve, back before Charlie Brown and the Peanut gang came along.

It’s a shame that the larger parade format won’t be taking place and Commercial Drive will once again not shut down. If you’re interested in reading why, here is our article on the funding issues facing the Vancouver arts community.

I’m not too sure that many cities have Halloween parades, but I think we should start one in Vancouver and work with Public Dreams to put on a heck of an event. The season screams parade. Perhaps Mayor Gregor has some of that bike money to get this going again? Maybe a sponsor? At it’s peak the parade attracted nearly 30,000 people. Not bad for a parade that received very little coverage.

Back to this year’s parade. The procession will begin at Britannia Oval and continue past the homes, streets and alleys of Commercial Drive. The journey of souls comes to an end as spirits awake to a grand finale featuring torch choreography and fireworks. It’s the homes, people and community drive that make this a must attend event. If you love Halloween, check out Vancouver’s best parade and what’s great is you can participate in it. The Drive join in, the unmistakable haunting drum sounds proliferate throughout the Drive and of course the rest of the citizens of Vancouver definitely get in the spirit of Halloween as they come dressed from the usual commercial costumes to the downright eerie.

Here is video from last years Secret Souls Walk:

Date: October 29th, 2011
Where: Starts at Britannia Oval and proceeds through the dark and dreary neighbourhood of Commercial Drive
Cost: FREE
Time: 5pm to 9pm
Note: Recommend for kids 12 and up as it is not for the faint of heart.

Check out our other Halloween Posts on:

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