Ghosts and ghouls abound in Sisters

A graveyard-full of ghouls, ghosts and goblins descended upon the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District's annual Halloween Bash at the Fire Hall on Monday night. Besides the traditional scary costumes, a colorful assortment of clowns, cowgirls, pirates and even a horn-helmeted Viking were in high spirits, attending the fun gathering featuring creepy craft tables, food booths and thrilling game stations.

Volunteer Marsha Marr, decked out in fangs, black gown and spiked fright wig, thought the crowd was even better than last year.

"I'm dressed as an evil Elvira who needs to go to the dentist," she said, demonstrating her ample bite. "This year there seems to be more youngsters, and I see a lot of original, homemade costumes with a lot of creativity, not just something store bought."

The Red Cross set up a "No Vampires" blood drive table with kids answering questions on disaster preparedness for candy prizes.

Halloween revelers made the rounds along the emptied out emergency vehicle bay, getting their game cards checked off at gaming tables like Spin the Wheel, Splatter Sponge, Football Throw and a spine-chilling visit to the haunted house.

A girl dressed like Cruella de Vil from "101 Dalmatians" correctly answered a 911 quiz at the Spin the Wheel station.

"That's right, 911," said firefighter Bruce Shaull, awarding her a prize bag. "You call 912 and nobody answers."

EMT Liz McKittrick served up an addictive logan-raspberry punch at the refreshment table, stirring the icy brew.

"We've been getting a lot of compliments about this purple punch," she said. "We got a big crowd this year from what I can tell, and the haunted house is supposed to be pretty scary. I just had a little girl come up to me crying. But of course the big kids don't think it's scary at all."

Looking like a swamp monster Wookie, Mark Fish, 14, gathered with a group of sugar-enhanced friends near the exit for the haunted house in a frilled camouflage ghillie suit.

"My costume is a sniper hunting jacket and pants, to hide in the bushes. I got a lot of big candy bars so far when we went trick or treating," he said. " It was a pretty good night. I wasn't really scared in the haunted house but might do it again."

Sisters Jovi and Nevaeh Pearson, 2 and 4, proudly posed in their vivid witch's outfits, clutching full pails of Halloween candy.

"This is very fun," said Nevaeh. "I like all the trick and treating and my witch's costume."

The Fire Hall Bash, which was preceded in the afternoon by the annual trick-or-treat parade through downtown Sisters businesses, has become a yearly Halloween tradition, providing a safe, friendly environment for parents and kids. In between the splatt of a wet sponge, bat-shaped cookies and squeals from inside the haunted house, another holiday in the Sisters Country came to a memorably spooky close. Firefighters and volunteers thank everyone for their help and support in making this event so popular.