Halloween celebrations were back in full swing this year as swarms of trick-or-treaters took to the streets in the Tri-town to model costumes and fill bags with candy.

Both Marion and Mattapoisett hosted their Halloween parades that evening, with the return of the Marion Art Center’s Halloween parade and while Mattapoisett Police hosted a smaller parade last year, they were able to bring back the costume contest and full evening of festivities for residents once again. 

The “Good Witches” of the Marion Art Center hosted their annual Halloween parade and the streets of Marion were filled with all manner of ghouls, ghosts and costumed characters on the evening of Oct. 31.

“I think it’s a great, celebratory event,” said Susan Maguire, a MAC board member. “The parade brings out a lot of people in the Halloween spirit.”

This was Maguire’s first Halloween Parade with the MAC and she said it won’t be her last.

Residents along the parade route waved at passing children and told them to come back for candy after the parade.

Leading the parade were the Sippican Elementary School drummers who set a good pace with their percussive tunes.

The route brought revelers from the Music Hall, through downtown Marion, past the Town House — where town employees donned “Snow White” themed outfits — and then back down to the Music Hall.

Costumes ranged from spooky to silly to cute as children of all ages joined in the parade.

In Mattapoisett, kids were decked out in their best costumes to march in the police department’s annual parade and to compete in the costume contest.

“Oh, we are so going to lose the contest,” one kid dressed as Tron lamented as he raced down the street in pursuit of candy. “I just saw someone dressed as a banana.”

The parade was led by the department, and officers walked the route to pass out glow sticks to kids, doing their best to adhere to requests of everyone’s favorite color.

Houses along the parade route were swarmed by children, who would excitedly shout, “Trick or treat,” in unison.

The marched from Center School toward the waterfront, up Barstow Street, and met back at Center School to host a costume contest. The contest awarded prizes ranging from Play-Doh sets to Roku TVs, depending on the age group, which ranged from preschoolers to adults.

Regardless of the winners, there were barrels of candy for everyone inside Center School, because there’s no age limit on a sugar rush.