Burnaby’s Monster Dash 5K Brings Costume Running and Family Races to Central Park on Halloween

The October 31 event at Swangard Stadium features a 9 a.m. 5K and an 8:45 a.m. children’s track race, with advance registration required.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Monster Dash 5K returns to Swangard Stadium and Central Park on Saturday October 31 2026 with the main race starting at 9 a.m.
• Children aged 10 and under can enter the 400-metre Mini Monster Dash at 8:45 a.m.; 5K participants must be at least 11.
• Participants aged 11 to 13 need a registered adult alongside them on the course; advance registration is mandatory.
• The supplied guide and another Tourism Burnaby listing show different late-registration deadlines; entrants should confirm the cutoff directly.

Burnaby is turning Halloween morning into a running event as Monster Dash 5K returns to Swangard Stadium and nearby Central Park on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The programme pairs a costume-friendly five-kilometre race for older children and adults with a shorter track event for the youngest participants, offering visitors a way to join the city’s autumn celebrations before the evening festivities begin.

The main run and walk starts at 9 a.m. and welcomes participants aged 11 and over. At 8:45 a.m., children aged 10 and under can take part in the Mini Monster Dash, a 400-metre lap around the stadium track. Organisers encourage Halloween outfits, but the focus is as much on participation as race times. For anyone combining a costume with running shoes, a design that allows comfortable movement is a sensible choice.

What families should know before race day

Young runners have specific supervision requirements. Eleven- to 13-year-olds entering the 5K must be accompanied on the course by a registered adult. Teenagers aged 14 to 17 may run independently, but a parent or legal guardian must sign the waiver for anyone under 18. The 5K is open to walkers as well as runners.

There is no registration on race day, and places are limited. The detailed Tourism Burnaby race guide supplied for the event lists late-entry prices of CAD 50 for the 5K and CAD 15 for the Mini Monster Dash and advises registering by October 29. A separate Tourism Burnaby event listing gives October 30 as the late-registration cutoff; prospective entrants should therefore confirm the final deadline through the official registration channel rather than waiting until the last day.

Race-morning package pickup opens at 8:10 a.m., with bib checks closing at 8:35 a.m. After the 8:45 a.m. children’s start, the 5K warm-up is scheduled from 8:55 to 8:58 a.m. ahead of the 9 a.m. flag-off. The finish line closes at 10:15 a.m., and the main prize presentation is scheduled for 10:20 a.m. Organisers also offer advance package collection on Friday, October 30, at Fit First Footwear at the Christine Sinclair Community Centre, 3713 Kensington Avenue. Participants are asked to bring their emailed confirmation number and photo identification.

Costumes, course conditions and Halloween-weekend plans

The route passes through Central Park on a mix of paved paths, grass and loose gravel, with gentle slopes and some uneven stretches. Race-tested footwear is preferable to new shoes or costume accessories that could make the terrain harder to manage. Pets are not allowed inside Swangard Stadium, including the starting and finishing areas, although leashed dogs may accompany spectators along the Central Park section of the course.

Organisers plan prizes for the Mini Monster Dash’s leading finishers and standout costumes, while the 5K will recognise top male and female finishers and a best-costume entry. Registered runners receive race-day extras; the event information includes finisher medals, a chip-timed bib for 5K entrants and refreshments after the run.

Visitors travelling from elsewhere in British Columbia can also make the event part of a longer Halloween stay. Tourism Burnaby’s Halloween guide features other local festivities and information on participating accommodation offers. The event venue is Swangard Stadium and Central Park, 6100 Boundary Road, Burnaby, in Metro Vancouver.