Thursday, March 28, 2024

Show your support for this spectacularly scary event in Saanich this Valentine’s Day weekend

Share

Supporting local events isn’t supposed to be scary, but Victoria’s foremost haunted house is changing things up this week.

From February 10th to 13th, the old Landmark Movie Theatre at University Heights is being transformed into Love Hurts for a Valentine’s date like no other.

Monsters Haunted House owner Randall Carnell says he’s been putting on similar events for nearly two decades, usually leading up to Halloween.

This year, it seems Cupid tapped into his darker side and shot his arrow in Carnell’s direction.

“Valentine’s is new for us,” he told Victoria Buzz.

“Since 2003, we’ve been doing it all over. Whether on farms or in shopping centres or down near the pier and breakwater, we’ve had various locations over the years.”

According to Carnell, it just so happens the old theatre is his team’s favourite venue. That’s because the building is actually haunted.

Carnell remembers hearing stories of a family who used to own the land and a farm where the theatre now sits.

Back then, a boiler inside a greenhouse apparently exploded, and a couple of farmers died as a result—later haunting the theatre when it opened.

“While the actors are pretending to be evil demons and spirits, amongst them are some real ones,” Carnell said.

But with developers moving in, Monsters Haunted House will soon be looking for a new home. And that could pose a challenge, according to Carnell.

“They’re redeveloping the mall, and it is going ahead now, so we’ve been given our notice,” he said. “It was a great spot, but we knew that there was going to be an end to it at some point.”

With rental rates on the rise and finding a large suitable location a difficult task, Carnell is calling on the public for help.

“We’d love to get a new home,” he said, “and definitely all the fans, if they could show up, that would help us out as we search for a new place.”

Thinking back, Carnell recalls many local events coming and then going due to a lack of community support.

“Having a good attendance and a good turnout will help us spring forward to a new location so we can set it up and continue to entertain the local Victoria area,” he added.

Love Hurts Valentines Haunt

  • Where: Landmark Movie Theater, University Heights Shopping Centre –  3980 Shelbourne Street
  • When: 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., February 10th-13th
  • Tickets: $21.85 each. You can purchase tickets here.

Before entering Love Hurts, all guests must provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination and comply with the current BC Health Orders.

As well, a limited number of tickets will be sold to maintain allowable capacity. Tickets will be time-entry.

Please note that Love Hurts isn’t recommended for children under 12. There are no refunds or exchanges allowed for this event.

Read more

Latest Stories