So many costumed kids lined up for candy on Front Street in Lititz on trick-or-treat night in October 2015 that at times the lines stretched from porch to pavement.
“This is the most kids I’ve seen on Halloween night, ever,” said Jeff Henninger, who grew up in Lititz and now lives in Gettysburg. “This block is the block to come to for Halloween.”
Who you gonna call?
Henninger made the trip from Gettysburg to celebrate at the home of his friend Tim Ranck. For him, part of the fun was guessing everyone’s costume.
“Darth Vader!” he called out to one approaching trick-or-treater. “Happy Halloween!” A panda, a ninja, a princess and a parade of fictional characters filed forward for treats.
“I just moved to this house this year, so it was great to see a lot of the other houses going all out with Halloween,” Ranck said.
Together with another friend, Ron Zickman, Ranck and Henninger dressed as Ghostbusters, complete with plastic blasters that sprayed Silly String on visitors while the movie’s theme song blared in the background.
To infinity and beyond
Next door, Baltimore native April Johnson, dressed as Buzz Lightyear, was surprised by the buzz of activity.
“I’ve never seen this amount of people ever come out and be dressed up,” Johnson said. “And they’re all unique outfits. Some people made their own outfits. This is great. I love this.”
While kids picked out candy, some parents were pleasantly surprised to be offered treats of their own from jovial front-porch hosts.
Seventy-two pumpkins
Across the street and to the east, Craig and Amanda Hickle are known for an elaborate pumpkin display, including some jack-o’-lanterns that the year before had shot flames a foot high. In 2014, they hand-carved 55 pumpkins.
In 2015? “Seventy-two,” Craig Hickle said.
The couple saved the flaming pumpkins for the following night, when they hosted their annual Halloween party. On trick-or-treat night, kids and parents alike were content with the display of pumpkins, ghosts, smoke and scarecrows.
A group of young witches and wizards dressed as Hogwarts students admired the pumpkins before reaching into a cauldron filled not with potions, but with candy. Even Harry Potter seemed impressed.
Trick-or-treat night
Trick-or-treat in Lititz Borough and Warwick Township was held Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, from 6 to 8 p.m., the night before the Lititz Lions Halloween Parade.
Lititz Borough Police offered safety tips for the night:
- Walk with a friend, and look both ways before crossing the street.
- Visit only houses with porch lights on, and never enter a home unless you are with a trusted adult.
- Use reflective material on costumes and bags so drivers can see you.
- Wear well-fitting costumes and masks to avoid injury.
- Eat only factory-wrapped treats.
- Stay on well-lit streets and sidewalks; where there is no sidewalk, walk on the far edge of the road facing traffic.
- Carry a flashlight with fresh batteries.
A neighborhood tradition
Front Street’s blocks close to downtown have made it a favorite destination for families on Halloween. As more houses decorate each year, the street has become one of the borough’s liveliest spots on trick-or-treat night, with neighbors, former residents and visiting friends joining in.
Halloween safety tips
- Choose bright costumes or add reflective tape so drivers can see trick-or-treaters.
- Carry a flashlight or glow stick after dark.
- Stay on sidewalks and cross at corners.
- Check treats before eating them.
- Accompany young children and agree on a route with older kids.
Neighbors who decorate and hand out treats help make the night memorable for every family who visits.
This article was originally published in October 2015.