Sylvia Cadence, 3, of California, was visiting her grandmother in Hagerstown, Md., and enjoyed trick or treating in Shepherdstown. Photo by Toni Milbourne.

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Shepherdstown was once again the happening place for Halloween celebrations, as thousands gathered downtown on the evening of Oct. 31 to trick-or-treat, shop and visit the sites of the town.

The Shepherdstown Police Department closed off German Street to vehicular traffic, so children and their parents could freely traverse the main street area to trick-or-treat at all of the local shops and restaurants. The ghosts, goblins, princesses, super heroes and other trick-or-treaters outnumbered the population of the town, driving from around the tri-state area to Shepherdstown.

Vickie Wiles, of Hagerstown, Maryland, traveled to Shepherdstown with her son, Chad Wiles, his partner Allison Ansley visiting her from California along with her three-year-old granddaughter Sylvia Cadence.

Chad said he, Alison and Sylvia had just returned from a world bike tour, where they rode approximately 5,000 kilometers from Beijing to Kpacharpck, Russia over the last four months.

“We thought Shepherdstown would be the perfect place to visit for Halloween, and it has been great,” Chad said.

Sylvia, modeling a costume of purple balloon grapes, was quick to show the goodies in her plastic bucket, that she received traveling German Street that evening.

Every costume imaginable could be found in town and many like-minded individuals joined up to greet one another. Among them was Glinda the Good Witch, also known as Elizabeth Sager, who happened upon Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Cowardly Lion during the course of the evening. Representing the Wizard of Oz crew were Andrew and Stephanie Hunt, of Charles Town, and their children, who were excited to join Glinda for a photo, before traveling down the red brick sidewalks along German Street.

Ridley Kesecker, 10 and Brady Hennessy, 10, both of Shepherdstown, took advantage of the empty street to allow their alien-dressed selves to duel with swords as their costumes glowed in the dark near McMurran Hall.

The event was not just for children, but for all ages as Rick Goldman, sporting his pirate-wear, was joined by his moving skeleton full-size puppet. He was approached by many to share in the delight of the moving bones.

Along with trick-or-treating, visitors took the opportunity to visit the Haunted Hallway at the Shepherdstown Community Club. Open for several years, the venue has become a much-enjoyed visit for many from inside and outside town limits. The line was long, but moved at a steady pace, allowing entrants to share in the fun.