EDENTON — Edenton’s annual Halloween trick-or-treat event on Broad Street drew an estimated 2,000 people, Police Chief David LaFon said. Most downtown businesses took part, with many going beyond the basics in decorations, costumes, and treats, adding to the festive atmosphere for families and visitors. The evening passed peacefully, with no significant incidents reported.

LaFon shared an update Tuesday evening — see full letter at the end of this news summary.

And I’ll say it, Halloween was awesome. Safe, very safe, great costumes, lots of candy, good weather. For photos, click here.

Most Edenton Police Department officers worked throughout the evening. Some were posted downtown, while others patrolled neighborhoods to keep residents and visitors safe during traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating.

LaFon thanked participants, businesses, residents, and visitors for their cooperation.

A highlight of the night was a performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” by local dancers, whose costumes and routine drew a large crowd’s attention.

LaFon described the event as a longstanding tradition, though no one knows exactly when it began. He said it continues to grow and, along with the town’s festivals, races, and other gatherings, shows why Edenton is a regional leader in community engagement. He also noted that neighborhood trick-or-treating was very active across town, and he credited residents, businesses, volunteers, and visitors for supporting such events.

From Chief LaFon

Good Afternoon,

The Halloween Trick-or-Treat event held on Broad Street was another outstanding community event for Edenton. We estimate that approximately 2,000 people attended this year’s celebration. The majority of businesses along Broad Street participated, and many went above and beyond with decorations, costumes, and treats. Their involvement was well received by families and visitors and helped create a festive atmosphere for everyone.

The Edenton Police Department had most of our officers working throughout the evening. Some officers were stationed on Broad Street during the downtown event, while others were spread throughout town monitoring traditional neighborhood trick-or-treat activities and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors.

This event has become a longstanding Edenton tradition. While no one seems to know exactly when it began. The event continues to grow and remains one of our community’s most anticipated annual celebrations.

Fortunately, the evening was peaceful, and we did not experience any significant incidents. We are grateful for the cooperation of participants, businesses, residents, and visitors who helped make the event safe and enjoyable for everyone.

One of the highlights of the evening was the performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” by local dancers. Their costumes and performance were exceptional and drew a great deal of attention from the crowd. They truly went above and beyond in bringing the iconic routine to life.

Events like this are what make Edenton stand out as a regional leader in community engagement. Our town remains vibrant because of activities such as this Halloween celebration, our festivals, local races, and other community gatherings that bring people together. We are thankful to our residents, businesses, volunteers, and visitors for continuing to support these events and helping maintain the strong sense of community that makes Edenton such a special place.

In addition to the downtown celebration, we also saw a very active traditional trick-or-treat experience throughout our neighborhoods, with families across town participating and welcoming children to their homes. It was encouraging to see both events thrive and provide safe, enjoyable opportunities for our community’s children and families.

Please let me know if you need anything else.