Hundreds of costumed children and their families flooded downtown Marblehead Thursday afternoon for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual trick-or-treating event, where more than 50 businesses opened their doors to young revelers.
The three-hour celebration transformed the historic district into a Halloween wonderland, with participating shops and organizations displaying pumpkin posters to welcome trick-or-treaters between 4-7 p.m. Following safety concerns from previous years, organizers implemented enhanced security measures, including road closures and increased police presence along the narrower downtown streets.
For participating businesses, the event offered a unique opportunity to connect with the community.
“It’s the easiest thing in the world,” Chamber Executive Director Katherine Koch said. “You put a pumpkin poster in your window, you open your doors, you give out candy.”
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church emerged as a surprise highlight, converting its sanctuary into a haunted space complete with ghostly figures crafted from tomato cages and cheesecloth, while prayer books were strategically turned to burial services pages.
Six-year-old fraternal twins AJ and Luna Hargrove, dressed as Black Panther and a skeleton respectively, explored the haunted sanctuary with bold confidence.
“I wasn’t scared at all,” proclaimed Luna. AJ chimed in, “Me either. I wasn’t scared.”
When asked about their candy plans, the twins were clear about keeping their treats.
“I like Reese’s Pieces,” said Luna, while AJ declared his preference: “I like Skittles.”
Inside St. Michael’s community room, children delighted in traditional games like pin-the-witch-on-the-broom and witch hat making stations, while parents took advantage of a designated rest area.
“We wanted to do something so people know that St. Michael’s is here,” said Ellen Harrington, the church’s communications director. “We’re a very vibrant church, and we just wanted to do something for the community.”
Koch noted the event has grown significantly over the past decade, necessitating the new safety protocols.
“The crazy thing is, it just keeps getting more popular,” Koch said. “With Washington Street and the downtown historic district, the streets are narrower. That’s why we really wanted to up the safety level this year in terms of police details.”
The Marblehead Museum and Family Fund hosted a complementary pumpkin illumination at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion garden, featuring carved pumpkins from local schools and children’s groups. The display served as a perfect backdrop for the evening’s festivities.
Siblings Maggie (dressed as the character Axolotl), 10, and George (dressed as a creeper), 7, Watt took full advantage of the event’s festivities.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Maggie said. “It’s a big community event.”
Local merchants embraced the spirit with creative offerings beyond candy: Some businesses offered hair tinsel stations, while others provided refreshments for adults.
“You can just walk through the streets and see so many people out, so many children,” said Maureen Ashley, a museum representative. “My daughter doesn’t live here anymore, but she always comes back seeing her old teachers, all her friends have kids now. That’s what makes Marblehead special.”
