It wasn’t all witches and wizards, superheroes and villains at the Halloween trick or treat down Main Street last Friday evening. Some kids came just as they were.
Westbrook High School Marching Band members Chris McGonagle, Darryl Quinlan and Dylan Merrill, all ninth graders, marched down Main Street playing their horns. When asked why they did it, they didn’t need a reason. “Because we felt like it,” said McGonagle.
Once again ghouls, goblins and ghosts painted Main Street black and white and any number of other colors last Friday night at the Halloween trick or treat. On a crisp fall evening, about 4,000 people according to police estimates came out to trick or treat at the businesses open along the center of town.
Police closed Main Street to vehicle traffic at Spring Street and Saco Street from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and diverted traffic mostly along William Clarke Drive through the evening commute. Meanwhile, all the business along Main Street threw open their doors and passed out candy on the sidewalk.
“My son just loves it,” said Angela Pecoraro, whose 5-year-old son, Jack, was dressed as Spider-Man.
Beverly Pierce of Westbrook, mother of Austin, 7, and Braiden, 2, said she’s been bringing her kids every year. “We love it. We love seeing the costumes every year,” said Pierce. “And I like that the businesses close their doors, so it’s a safe way to trick or treat.”
During the event, a large crowd was gathered around the newly opened Unicorn Cove, where owner Zakhuur Diliiza, dressed in long, flowing robes and his characteristic blond dreadlocks, handed out candy to a long line of kids. The haunted house at the Walker Memorial Library was a big hit, as usual, with lines out the door. And the businesses with candy all had crowds of kids around the doors.
“It’s been a bit more busy this year. We had people who came at a quarter to four,” said Full Court Press owner and City Councilor Ed Symbol, who added he spent about $350 on candy.
“It’s juicy,” said Amy Larose of the trick or treat. Larose, who has been living in Maine for five years, brought her son Chris, 7, and daughter Sara, 4, to the Main Street trick or treat for the first time this year.
Pat Larrabee, who runs the children’s department of the Walker Memorial Library, said the haunted house was a hit again. “It went super,” she said, estimating that more than 2,500 people passed through the library. Larrabee admitted that the haunted house wasn’t as scary as last year.
“We kind of went over the edge last year, but we pulled back this year,” she said.
According to police, the event went off without a hitch. Capt. Tom Roth said traffic was heavy on alternate routes during the closure, but no major problems such as accidents arose. Police and fire officials worked together to ensure things went well. “It went very well. There were no safety issues,” said Roth. “Any time you shut down a major traffic route, you’re going to have some delays, but the smiles on the kids’ faces was worth it.”
Darryl Wright of the Westbrook Chamber of Commerce said he thought people have finally acclimated themselves to having the center of town shut down for a couple hours near Halloween. “People are getting used to it,” he said. Wright said he talked to several businesses owners who thought the event went well. He said he and his family took advantage of being downtown and went to dinner at Chicky’s Fine Diner afterwards.
More trick-or-treaters enjoy Halloween on Main Street in Westbrook on Oct. 27.
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