The team behind the Ladysmith Recreation Committee picked up 50 pumpkins from the Barn Sunflower Farm to prepare for the 24 kids who signed up for the community group’s first Halloween costume party held on Saturday.

While waiting to carve their pumpkins, kids dressed up in costumes ranging from the Hulk, to a butterfly, and even a mermaid riding a seahorse toured the haunted house set up in the Thorne Community Recreation Association’s basement.

“Overall the event went great, we had lots of feedback from the parents and they said the kids absolutely loved it, and they are all looking forward to our next event,” said Terri-Lyn Blaskie, one of the event organizers.

The Halloween party was one in a series of new initiatives from the committee which, formed earlier this year at the request of the municipality, is mandated to organize activities for Ladysmith residents of all ages.

Alongside Terri-Lyn Blaskie, Marianne MacKillop and Monique Atkinson are lead organizers with the committee. They hosted an event on Canada Day, the proceeds of which were used to buy the pumpkins for Saturday’s party. There were also donated hot dogs and condiments from Oktoberfest, and cookies and candies brought by community members.

“Marianne and I grew up in Ladysmith and both our mothers organized the Halloween events for us,” Blaskie said. “It was always a lot of fun and we felt this was an event missing in the community. Halloween comes and goes so quickly and we thought this would be a great event to have.”