The armies of the undead took to the streets of Camp Verde once again Sunday. Actually, “armies” might be a bit of a stretch; the zombies were actually outnumbered by the princesses, ninja and vigilante crime fighters.
But unlike Bruce Wayne, most of these superheroes had their parents in attendance. Convenient, since many of them were too small and/or distracted by the spectacle to pay attention to proper bag-handling skills when waiting for candy distribution.
It was the annual Trick or Treat Main Street event, one of the only remaining public celebrations still sponsored by the town, now in its fourth year.
“I think this is great,” said Marilyn Paulsen, a Valley of the Sun resident visiting her sister and taking a moment to watch the parade of costumed children and adults meandering along Main Street. “It’s great to see all the children out like this.”
The street was closed off by those men and women with the most realistic costumes of all, the deputies of the Camp Verde Marshal’s Office. A close second in the realism category went to “scruffy weekend newspaper reporter who could stand to get a little closer to a razor before handing out candy.”
Organizers were initially concerned whether or not holding the event on a Sunday, the first time it’s happened since the town started closing down Main Street on Halloween, would affect participation and turnout.
Those concerns seemed to be unfounded, as not long into the event individuals, groups and organizations faced the problem of running out of candy.
“It’s been great so far,” said Lynda Moore, recreation supervisor with the town’s parks and recreation department. “A lot of people have been running out of candy. Next year I think we should have double the amount of candy.”
At South Verde Technical Magnet School, aka South Verde High, the entire building was converted into a house of horrors, an occasional scream emanating to startle the assorted Iron Men and witches gathered on the street outside.
It cost $3, $2 with a canned good, but it all went to support the school, said Samantha Phillips, a volunteer working the front door.
Phillips had one child who graduated from South Verde and currently has two daughters who still attend the school.
“We’ve had good turnout,” Phillips said. “I’d say it’s been a success.”
