photos by Todd Newcomer

From Harry Potter to the Grim Reaper, the ghouls, ghosts and goblins of Halloween were out in force in downtown Durango for this year's celebration of the undead. Homeowners were eager to show their holiday spirit as many houses were meticulously decorated with spider webs, decayed corpses and the thumping sounds of creepy music. As the sun began to set west of town, Durango's costume-clad youth began to spill from doorways, rapping on front doors and filling their bags with treats. The chilly night air only added to the spooky surroundings as many children refrained from frequenting the more ominous looking homes. Blackness slowly overtook E. Third Ave as parents walked their children home to bed, all while rifling through their loot looking for their own much-needed chocolate fix.
A spooky, automated ghoul watches over a front door along E. Third Ave just prior to the arrival of the first round of trick-or-treaters. A large witch watches over the south side Monday afternoon. Guy Gervais works on the decorations on the front of his house before the sun set over Durango on Halloween evening. Tim Melody dressed as the Grim Reaper walks his daughter Misty along E. Third Ave. as they begin the process of filling their candy bags. Lily Lawrence, 2, shows a little apprehension before approaching one of the scarier looking homes in downtown Durango Monday evening. A gorilla takes a break from handing out candy in front of his home along E. Third Ave. Jedidiah DeRuyter hands out candy to a very scary Aiden Strain dressed up as Dracula for the evening's Halloween festivities. A large pumpkin relaxes on a front porch in downtown Durango Monday afternoon. Gracie Stroud, 6, can't contain her Halloween excitement as she runs along the sidewalk paralleling E. Third Ave. on Halloween.