Zombies, batmans, cats, unicorns, pirates and more flocked to the Fraser Cove shopping centre yesterday for the annual trick or treat Halloween trail around the stores.
Hundreds of costumed children and their families turned out for the fun day on Saturday, hosted by The Hits.
Cameron Keogh, owner of the Worlds End bar, his pirate dog, Bean, and two sumo-suited assistants were ready for the hoards.
"I bought 33kg of lollies," Keogh said. The bulk buy cost him about $250.
"Last year I went with 17.5kg but I was expecting more kids this year.
"I don't want anyone to miss out."
He said the trail had been going about four years and the kids always loved it.
One family spotted getting right into the spooky spirit of the event were the Browns of Welcome Bay.
"We're a demon zombie family," mum Saxon said in a gravelly growl. "We eat hearts and brains."
In previous years the kids had dressed up for Halloween, she said, but this year mum and dad decided to join the fun after attending their church's Halloween event the previous night and feeling underdressed.
Dad Wiremu said it was the first time he had dressed up.
He said they used toilet paper and makeup to create gory wounds and scars on their faces and vowed to use their zombie voices for the day.
Nine-year-old Zarra Ali from Pāpāmoa came as a spider/scorpion woman inspired by an imaginary friend, Mrs Spider.
She borrowed a white dress from her mum and together they stitched on spiders and scorpions, accessorising with a spider choker necklace, a cape covered in spider webbing and skull-inspired makeup.
The creative costume scored her a Toy World voucher as one of five winners in the best costume competition.
Zarra said that what she liked about Halloween was "getting lots of candy and dressing in scary clothes".
Mount Mainstreet also hosted a Halloween treat trail on Saturday.
The newly upgraded Waitaha Reserve has been officially opened in Welcome Bay, Tauranga.