Community members came out dressed in their finest Halloween costumes on Wednesday for a food-centred fundraiser in support of the Bristol Fire Department.

Norway Bay resident Chantal Labrie, also a former owner of that community’s My Way chip stand, first organized this event four years ago as a way to use up restaurant ingredients that were left over from the summer season.

Over time, she grew to look forward to it. She loves Halloween, and said it’s a great opportunity to see people of all ages clad in costumes – and, of course, to feed them good food.

“It’s a win-win, because I love Halloween, I can see all the kids’ costumes, I make my candy bags,” she said. “It’s just a great community event.”

As is typical of Labrie, the menu went above and beyond, featuring staples like fries and onion rings but also more complex dishes like poutine, chili cheese dogs, and soup. There were also lots of sweets to satisfy the young sweet tooth.

Labrie usually holds the fundraiser at the Bristol Fire department, but decided to host it at her home this year instead. “There’s more space here,” she said. “It feels more like home.”

She had a candy table set up in her front yard, as well as a fire pit with chairs set up around it for guests to sit in while they ate and chatted with other party-goers.

Ken Bernard, a firefighter with the Bristol Fire Department, said Labrie’s donation is welcome, and will help them pay off some of the money they still owe for their jaws of life.

“It’s absolutely over the top,” Bernard said of the fundraiser. “It’s so well appreciated.”

Labrie said the event raised $1,315 for the Bristol Fire Department.