Pumpkin carving is heading beneath the waves at the Vancouver Aquarium this fall as divers transform seasonal gourds into glowing underwater creations.
Running from September 26 through October 31, 2026, the Fin-tastic Fall Festival will bring a playful Halloween atmosphere to the Stanley Park attraction. The family-focused event combines underwater pumpkin-carving demonstrations with a new 4D movie, animal programs, hands-on learning and activities created for younger visitors.
The programming offers families an alternative to the traditional pumpkin patch, with many of the activities connecting familiar fall traditions to marine life, rainforest animals and aquarium habitats.
Divers Take Pumpkin Carving to New Depths
Underwater Pumpkin Carving is the centerpiece of the festival and the return of a popular Vancouver Aquarium tradition.
During the demonstrations, divers descend into one of the aquarium’s habitats with pumpkins and carving tools. Visitors can watch as jack-o’-lantern designs gradually take shape underwater, surrounded by fish and other marine life.
Demonstrations are scheduled for September 26 and 27, October 3 and 4, and October 10 and 11. Beginning October 17, the pumpkin carving will take place daily through Halloween.
Shows are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on participating days. Visitors should check the aquarium’s daily schedule before arriving, as programming can change.
The unusual setting turns a familiar Halloween activity into a live dive presentation, giving children an opportunity to observe the divers while learning more about working safely inside an aquarium habitat.
Spookley the Square Pumpkin Arrives in 4D
The festival will also mark the premiere of Spookley’s 4D Jamboree, an interactive animated adventure starring Spookley the Square Pumpkin.
The story follows preparations for the Pumpkin Jamboree as Spookley’s friends begin to worry that he will miss the performance. Spookley, however, is busy helping someone in need. The film uses music, movement and special effects to explore themes of friendship and kindness.
The Vancouver Aquarium’s 4D Theatre combines an animated movie with sensory effects designed to extend the action beyond the screen. Special Spookley meet-and-greet opportunities are also planned following select presentations, giving families a chance to take photographs with the character.
Screening and appearance times may vary throughout the festival, so families interested in meeting Spookley should review the schedule when planning their visit.
Fruit Bats Receive Their Own Grooming Sessions
Not every seasonal animal encounter will involve pumpkins. In the Amazon Gallery, the aquarium’s mature fruit bats will take part in special Bat Grooming Sessions led by members of the Animal Care team.
The presentations will give visitors a closer look at how the bats are cared for while providing an opportunity to learn about their behavior and ecological importance.
Although bats frequently appear in Halloween decorations and folklore, real bats play essential roles in natural ecosystems. Depending on the species and habitat, they may help with pollination, seed dispersal or insect control.
The grooming sessions are exclusive to the Fin-tastic Fall Festival and will run from September 26 through October 31.
Meet the Real Animals Behind Dragon Legends
Visitors looking for something slightly more spine-tingling can continue to the aquarium’s Dragons exhibit.
The temporary exhibition brings together reptiles and other animals that may have helped inspire dragon stories around the world. Featured creatures include snakes, lizards and spiders, along with interactive models and displays that allow visitors to examine their scales, movement and natural adaptations.
Daily Creature Feature presentations offer opportunities to see selected animals more closely and hear from members of the Animal Care team.
The Dragons exhibit opened in February 2026 and has been extended through January 2027. It includes tactile animal replicas intended to make parts of the experience more accessible to visitors with visual impairments.
A Kelp Maze for Younger Explorers
For smaller visitors, the festival includes a child-sized Kelp Maze inspired by the dense underwater forests found along the Pacific Coast.
Now located in Underwater Steller’s Bay, the maze invites children to find their way through a simplified kelp-forest environment. It provides an active break between animal habitats while introducing younger explorers to an ecosystem that supports fish, marine mammals and countless invertebrates.
Families can also participate in a seasonal scavenger hunt, following clues through themed stations to uncover Halloween surprises around the aquarium.
Hands-On Learning in the Wet Lab
The aquarium’s Wet Lab adds a hands-on element to the day. Guided by interpreters, visitors may have opportunities to gently touch marine invertebrates and examine the textures and physical adaptations that help them survive.
Animals on display can include sea stars, sea cucumbers, anemones, moon jellies and sea urchins, although availability varies by day.
The Wet Lab is open seven days a week, with daily details posted outside the space. Its interactive format makes it particularly suitable for children who learn best by touching, observing and asking questions.
Seasonal Treats Complete the Experience
Fall-themed food and drinks will also be available during the festival. The seasonal menu is expected to include items such as the Maple Reef Clownfish Cone and Bat’s Brew Hot Chocolate, along with other pumpkin-inspired treats.
The food offerings provide families with an easy break between scheduled demonstrations, exhibits and movie times. Menus and availability may change during the event.
Planning a Visit to the Fin-tastic Fall Festival
The Fin-tastic Fall Festival runs daily from September 26 to October 31, 2026, at the Vancouver Aquarium, located at 845 Avison Way in Stanley Park.
Because underwater pumpkin carving only takes place on selected weekends before becoming a daily activity on October 17, visitors hoping to see the divers should plan around the published schedule.
The aquarium recommends purchasing admission in advance and checking its online calendar for current opening hours, animal presentations and 4D Theatre showtimes. The attraction is cashless, accepting debit cards, credit cards and mobile payments. Cash-to-card kiosks are available on-site for visitors who arrive with Canadian currency.
Home to approximately 65,000 animals, the Vancouver Aquarium can easily fill several hours, particularly when a visit includes scheduled presentations, the 4D Theatre and interactive exhibits. Families may want to identify their priority activities before arriving and allow extra time to explore the aquarium’s year-round galleries.
Complete festival information and schedule updates are available on the official Fin-tastic Fall Festival page.
