Halloween starts early this year with a slate of scary and fun events this weekend.

Young children and families will enjoy the Boo at the Zoo at the B.C. Wildlife Park, with events underway from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Among the plethora of activities is an alien X-Files experience, a haunted house, trick or treat candy stations, a costume contest for children 13 and younger, and a Halloween maze. For more information, phone 250-573-3242.

The Kamloops Museum and Archives’ Haunted Kamloops tours continue tonight and Friday with departures at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

There’s a giant corn maze at Tranquille on the Lake where visitors are challenged to find their way through using the clues provided, said Tourism Kamloops CEO Lee Morris.

Also back is the Ghost Train, hosted by the Kamloops Heritage Railway.

“A headless horseman, ghost bride and other characters ensure those travelling on the rail tour get a good fright,” said Morris.

The train departs on Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m., but passengers should be at the station by 6 p.m.

Zombies will roam the downtown on Saturday, setting out from Pandora’s Costume Box and continuing down Victoria Street at 2 p.m. Spectators and participants are both welcome.

For those feeling more athletic, there’s ice skating with a spooky theme Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Memorial Arena, said Morris.

More adventurous Halloween fans might enjoy the Agri-Adventure Tourism X-perience combining a zipline tour with Tree Top Flyers in Chase and pumpkin picking.

And those who are of legal age can cap off the Halloween weekend with a self-guided walking brew tour of the downtown than includes stopping for a pint of the Noble Pig’s festive pumpkin ale, said Morris.