The early traditions of Halloween date back about 2,000 years. The holiday was originally called Samhain and marked the beginning of the Celtic New Year. In ancient times, the holiday marks the transition from the “light” part of the year to the “dark” portion, as daylight hours became shorter and the weather grew colder. The first ‘jack o’ lanterns’ were carved out of turnips and beets as pumpkins weren’t native to Europe.

Across the county, pumpkins were a glow and it was a spook-tacular weekend filled with lots of boo-tiful costumes.

On Sunday night, a member of the SWAT team had a lot to contend with in the Superior Elementary Gym. He had a pirate on his right and a ninja on his left to contend with, certainly not the typical individuals one in the law enforcement department encounters on any given day.

Carter McLees was in the kung fu master-ninja costume on Sunday. He said that Halloween is a fun holiday to celebrate for a couple of reasons.

“I like the costumes,” Carter said. “I like ninjas.”

Christian Faller was the pirate and Decker Milender went as a member of the SWAT team.

Several games were set up in the gym for kids to enjoy on Halloween, providing a safe environment for all sorts of Halloween fun. With a fishing pond, dart board, balloon game, walk the plank and Plinko, there were lots of activities for kids to enjoy.

Kirsten Hill was running the Plinko game and said that it’s all about the candy and costumes on Halloween.

Outside of the gym, the doorway to the haunted hallway was open. As kids were coaxed into the hallway by parents and friends some were scared, while others laughed as they traveled down the dark hallway. People jumped out from the corner saying boo, while a motion-activated spider surprised kids by moving when it lit up and started to move if they walked into it.

From hippies, to fairies, robots and clowns, the creativity for costumes was not in short supply. This was the fourth year that the party was held in Superior. It was started four years ago so kids would have somewhere safe to go to get some candy and enjoy some Halloween excitement.

While the party went on inside, trick-or-treaters were outside going door to door collecting bags full of candy on the streets of Superior. The popular trick or treat phrase traces its origin to the United States in the 1930s.

Superior wasn’t the only community to celebrate Halloween with festivities. St. Regis held their annual party on Saturday. At the party, the costume contest was in full swing. Scarecrow winners were also announced.