The events’ roots lie in the Trunk or Treat event, in which community groups set up cars on the greenspace behind the Calumet Theatre to hand out candy.

Laurie Koivu said she’d taken Alaysha Smith, 10, of Houghton, as a way to get involved with local activities.

Smith, who’d just stopped by the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Auxiliary car, said he favorite part was “the candy.”

Local businesses also took part in the fun, doling out goodies to families walking through downtown.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Mariah Cain hands candy to Brynn Kauppinen and Gavin Erickson, both 10, of Calumet, during Main Street Calumet’s Halloween event Saturday.

On Fifth Street, Calumet 10-year-olds Brynn Kauppinen, 10, of Calumet, Gavin Erickson, 10, of Calumet and Gia Snell, 8, of Painesdale were filling up their bags.

For Kauppinen, the highlight was getting to see everyone’s costumes.

“I like the one where somebody’s Cookie Monster, and then there’s a cookie and a milk cartoon,” she said. Snell’s favorite was a “crazy cat lady,” while Erickson liked a “creepy clown.”

They’d also had fun at the Calumet Theatre. After receiving a custom balloon animal from a clown and greeting luminaries such as Mary Poppins, kids went onto the Calumet Theatre stage for games such as a beanbag toss.

Sharon and Cody Crouch of Hancock, along with Ella Crouch, 4, were experiencing Trunk or Treat for the first time. Halloween is “their thing,” Cody said; they even got married on Halloween.

“We’ve only been here for a few minutes, but it’s been fun,” Sharon Crouch said. “You can tell everyone is in good spirits.”

The Keweenaw Heritage Center hosted pumpkin carving starting at noon. The pumpkins had been laid out on the steps all night, but avoided mischief, said Village Trustee Elise Matz.

By about 5 p.m., nearly all the 80 pumpkins provided had been marked with intricate designs. After dark, they were lit up for all to see.