Trick-or-treaters watch a clown make a balloon sword on German Street Halloween night. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — As trick-or-treaters made their way through downtown Shepherdstown on Halloween night, many of them could be heard asking their parents excitedly when they would see “the witch” on German Street.

They soon found the witch who, as always, was dressed up in a black dress and pointy hat, with a bowl of candy in hand, at the door of Evolve.

“I love hearing children get excited about seeing me dressed up as a witch every year,” said Jan Hafer, who co-owns Evolve with Shepherdstown resident Elise Baach. “It makes dressing up and giving out candy every Halloween worth it!”

While Halloween trick-or-treating is often viewed as a children’s activity, for many community members, it has become so much more.

“Shepherdstown’s finest time is Halloween!” said Erica Bailey, as she walked around with her dog, Zelda, dressed up as a burrito and taco, respectively. “Shepherdstown has always been about the community. And Halloween really shows that off!”

A family walks through the Haunted Hallway in the War Memorial Building on Halloween.

That appreciation for Shepherdstown’s Halloween traditions — starting with trick-or-treating and tours of the Haunted Hallway in the War Memorial Building and ending with a dance party at the end of the night — seems to be shared by the majority of local residents, including Shepherd University students Hannah Hott and Katherine Taylor.

“It’s a tight community, so everyone comes and there’s a lot of fun,” Hott said, “You see a lot of people you know.”

Hott was dressed up in an inflatable cowgirl costume, coordinating with Taylor and their friend Wyatt Mong, of Pennsylvania, who were wearing inflatable cow costumes to trick-or-treat Thursday night.

“We’re getting whatever candy we can! It’s been a while since I last went out and trick-or-treated,” Hott said.

On the first floor of the War Memorial Building, Shepherdstown resident Judy Shepherd could be found welcoming trick-or-treaters to the Haunted Hallway. The Haunted Hallway celebrated its 20th year in Shepherdstown, thanks to the support of groups like the Shepherd University basketball team, which helped her family set up the display this year, and through donations to the Haunted Hallway, which have allowed new attractions to be added to the display every year.

Shepherd University students Hannah Hott, left, and Katherine Taylor, right, trick-or-treat with their friend, Wyatt Mong, on German Street Halloween night. Tabitha Johnston

“Our newest one is that seven-foot, five-inch pirate in the corner,” Shepherd said. “It’s unbelievable! And the turnout grows every year, it seems.”

Along with these long-lived traditions, some newer ones were also in the mix on German Street this year, including a clown on stilts making balloon swords for trick-or-treaters, a two-man acrobatic performance and a captured mermaid around the corner at Black Box Arts Center.

“It’s kind of cool!” Bailey said. “There’s no wonder why so many people come to trick-or-treat here every year.”

The Koons family, of Harpers Ferry, trick-or-treats on German Street Halloween night, dressed up as Mary Poppins, Bert the Chimney Sweep and the penguins from the "Jolly Holiday" song in the "Mary Poppins" movie. Tabitha Johnston

Erica Bailey, dressed as a burrito to coordinate with the taco costume her dog, Zelda, is wearing in Shepherdstown on Halloween. Tabitha Johnston