Ladner Pumpkinfest

Last Thursday night, the businesses occupying the main street in Ladner put on the annual Pumpkinfest.
The Pumpkinfest is alot of fun, but the emphasis was on the kids. It only went from 5-7pm, but the kids were encouraged to attend wearing their halloween costumes. The local businesses were all open after hours, so all the children could go from business to business trick or treating. There were so many kids. Alex was a little overwhelmed at first, but once he saw that lollies were on offer, he soon got into it. After the "T or T", there was a best costume competition, one for kids and one for adults - a "dungeon master" won it for the adults, but the kids one is drawn out of a hat to avoid disappointment, and then all the entrants got a goody bag to take home. There was also a pumpkin carving competition. I am not sure what the winning entrant carved into their pumpkin. Then there was a scarecrow dressing competition- scariest and best, were the catergories. Just about everything on the evening was for free. They had clowns handing out balloon animals to the kids (Olivia cried) and the local supermarket photo lab. lady took pictures of the kids, which could be picked up a couple of days later, for free. For us, we were familiarised with more of the local businesses in the main street. The night made halloween feel like a real community event - and the rain stayed away too.