LOUDONVILLE — Loudonville’s Main Street got a little sweeter Friday afternoon.
Children lined up outside Budd Elementary School at 3:30 p.m. to make their way down East Main Street for the Halloween parade.
Vintage cars, fire trucks and decorated vehicles rolled through downtown while the drivers tossed candy to children along the blocked-off street.
The costume contest put on by the Loudonville Mohican Chamber of Commerce immediately followed the parade in the parking lot of Park National Bank at 120 Water St. The contest was for kids, but many families committed with coordinated costumes.
Children competed in four age divisions, from infants and toddlers to ages 9-12. Each division had awards for the cutest, funniest and most creative costumes.
One young contestant arrived as a member of the band The Strokes, complete with sunglasses, a miniature guitar and a stage built into his stroller. He took home the most creative award for his age group.
The contest had about 300 to 350 participants, according to Loudonville Mohican Chamber of Commerce staff member Valerie Spreng.
Spreng said it was the largest turnout the event has seen. The organizers ended up running out of number tags for contestants. The winners received a winning certificate and a large candy bar.
The costume contest finished just in time for the downtown businesses trick-or-treat. From 5 to 6 p.m. Main Street was crowded with families moving from business to business, and stores and employees stayed out until 6 p.m..
Neighborhood trick-or-treating followed from 6 to 7 p.m. to close out the Halloween evening in Loudonville.
See more photos more the Loudonville parade and trick-or-treat:
