THUNDER BAY -- Halloween can be many different things for many different types of people. For adults and older children it is often about fright.
But for younger children, it’s simply about getting dressed up in a fun costume and indulging on excessive amounts of candy.
More than 500 kids got a head start on Halloween and visited the Baggage Building Arts Centre on Sunday for their third annual Spooktacular celebration.
Baggage Building co-operator Lorraine Cull said this year organizers put an emphasis on creating an atmosphere that was friendly for the younger children.
“This is our third year doing it and each year we learn something,” Cull said. “Last year it was that we needed to gear this event towards younger ones and make it gentler and not quite as scary.”
Last year the event had a ghost pirate ship theme that, while it was fun for older attendees, there were too many younger ones who were terrified.
This year the theme was space time travel, with the highlight being an outer space themed maze in the upstairs level of the building.
The main level had pumpkin carving as well as various arts and crafts and activities stations.
The more welcoming environment was welcomed by Shannon Berlinquette, the mother of two sons under the age of five.
“I think it’s a very family friendly atmosphere,” Berlinquette said. “They really liked the pumpkins.”
The event also introduced the October tradition to those new to North America.
Lincoln Boothe, who accompanied his son Caleb, did not celebrate Halloween growing up in Jamaica.
“It’s good seeing it for me,” he said. “I’m not used to it…I’m still learning about the Canadian culture.”
Cull said next year organizers are going to look at having two separate events with one being more family friendly with the second providing a little more fright.
