Despite some cloud cover, warm, dry fall weather undoubtedly helped contribute to one of the largest – if not the largest – Halloween Costume Parades ever in Cloverdale.
Hundreds of children and their families descended on Surrey Museum Plaza for the 13th annual event, taking part in various crafts and activities before posing for a giant group photo in the plaza and then heading out on an afternoon trick-or-treating excursion through the historic town centre.
Many merchants reported running out of candy before the tides of costumed children and adults abated Saturday afternoon, forcing proprietors like Adrian of Timeless Treasures, a store selling antiques and collectibles, to offer free second-hand comic books like Archie and Peanuts as an alternative.
Over at the Clova Cinema, they quickly ran out of the 250 free movie passes they were handing out, but late-comers didn't go away empty-handed: they were treated with lollipops instead.
Ben Wevers, interim executive director of the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce, was inundated with trick-or-treaters.
While a final crowd count isn't yet available, many participating merchants speculated that it was easily the largest Halloween Costume Parade ever, which is no small feat.
Last year's rain-drenched event drew just 600, but otherwise it's been building in numbers every year, with more than 1,200 participants counted in 2011.
The annual parade is presented by the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce and the Cloverdale Business Improvement Association, who share a single, 176 Street storefront called Destination Cloverdale.
See photo album here.