Axolotls, dinosaurs and astronauts play together in the middle of German Street on Halloween night. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Well over a thousand children and teenagers found their way to downtown Shepherdstown on Halloween night, eager to enjoy a fun night of trick-or-treating.

As many of them passed by the corner of New Street and Duke Street, they encountered the mascot from Wendy’s and a pair of Chick-fil-A cows, handing out candy. They were occasionally joined by a pair of hunters and other members of their family, who have made it a tradition to celebrate Halloween together every year.

“I live for this night! We always have a big family thing on Halloween at my sister-in-law’s house,” said Michele Ransom. “This is an awesome night that Shepherdstown has.”

Prior to going outside to visit with trick-or-treaters, a group of around 15 family members gather together at Wendy Ransom’s house, to eat dinner together and enjoy a few other traditions, such as carving jack-o’-lanterns and roasting s’mores.

“It’s one of my favorite family traditions,” Wendy, wearing a pinafore and red wig with pigtails, said. “Usually, when we’re done with our party, we’ll walk downtown, to see all of the people and festivities going on there.”

From left to right, twins Nick and Sam Starkey stand beside their mother Carrie Starkey, their aunt Wendy Ransom, their cousin Rachel Ransom and her mother, their aunt Michele Ransom, in front of Wendy’s home in Shepherdstown on Halloween night. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

She noted that the tradition has been going on for nearly 30 years, since she and her siblings — who grew up in Shepherdstown themselves and loved how deeply Halloween was embraced there — had children who were old enough to enjoy the celebration.

“For us, Halloween means community and family,” Michele said. “It is an opportunity to celebrate together and dress up and do a lot of cool stuff.”

A few moments later, Michele’s daughter Rachel Ransom — dressed like her in hunting gear — stepped outside with a jack-o’-lantern to place on the front porch.

“I love camo, so I said this would be the perfect oufit for this beautiful fall night,” Rachel said. “We don’t hunt in real life, ironically, in spite of what all of this camo might seem to indicate.”

Celebrating Halloween together with her extended family in this way has become something Rachel looks forward to every year, even now as a 30-year-old adult.

A caterpillar, left, and butterfly walk together down German Street on Halloween night. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

“Everyone here is so welcoming and excited about the holiday,” Rachel said. “I remember walking around and trick-or-treating along all of these streets, getting so many wonderful treats.”

Her younger cousins, twin brothers Nick and Sam Starkey, agreed with her. Although the teenagers now no longer go trick-or-treating themselves, they still enjoy participating in the tradition and spending the evening together with family. And, if they get to wear wacky costumes while doing so, like a pair of matching cow heads, so much the better.

“We tend to try to do the same kind of costume every year. It’s a lot of fun and it confuses people,” Nick said, mentioning they have also dressed up as famous football players and soccer players, in previous years.

Community members dance to the music of Michael Jackson’s song, “Thriller,” in town square on Halloween night. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

A member of the Blue Man Group, left, holds out a cauldron full of candy for Peter Pan to pick from, along German Street on Halloween. Photo by Tabitha Johnston