With last year’s Stanley Park Ghost Train, we followed Jack O’Lantern’s journey through the dark forest. The year before that featured an alien invasion. But, if you go all the way back to 2010, we visited with Alice in Nightmareland, a twisted take on the Alice in Wonderland classic. Well, we’re back in Nightmareland again for 2019. Only this time, Alice is a little older. “And things aren’t what they seem.”

I’m always fascinated by these “re-imaginings” or “re-interpretations” of well-known tales. They address the “what if” questions that have remained unanswered. That’s why Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is so good. If you like Shakespeare’s Hamlet, you should experience this tragicomic look at the experience of these supporting characters.

Similarly, the Alice in Nightmareland “sequel” for the Stanley Park Ghost Train is timely. We just recently finished reading Cheshire Crossing. Written by Andy Weir (The Martian) and illustrated by Sarah Andersen (Sarah’s Scribbles), the graphic novel brings a teenage Alice, Wendy and Dorothy into a fairy tale multiverse. But, I digress.

I should say this, though. Be forewarned that the 2019 Ghost Train is on the spookier side. Alice in Nightmareland takes you through a “Gothic nightmare world of tombs and tombstones, crypts, and catacombs.” Yes, there are skulls and death. It might be a bit much for more sensitive kids, so consider one of the afternoon times on the weekend for a tamer experience. The Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts are pretty creepy too.

The Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train runs until October 31. Tickets are:

  • $12 for adults
  • $9 for seniors (65+) and youth (13-18)
  • $8 for children (3-12)
  • Free for kids 2 and under
  • The matinee train is $6 for all ages.

Check out ghosttrain.ca for more information and to buy your tickets online. All parking is free.

Disclosure: We were invited to attend the Stanley Park Ghost Train media and VIP night, including complimentary tickets for the train itself. We received no additional compensation. All opinions are my own.