When Halloween revelers arrived on Main Street for Trick or Treating, they were welcomed to the front yards and doors of those who live along the three-quarter mile stretch that is easily the most popular place in town each October 31.

There were displays on both sides of the road, thousands of costumed visitors of all ages, police officers and cadets helping with traffic, and a collection of carved pumpkins waiting to be admired.

The latter was the latest Great Pumpkin Challenge presentation. It was the result of work by dozens of people who took time to carve a pumpkin, drop it at Trinity Episcopal Church in the days leading to Halloween, and also leave a donation to The Whole in the Wall Gang Camp.

The Great Pumpkin Challenge was founded in 2011 by Mackenzie Page when she was in eighth grade at Newtown Middle School. She was inspired to support her friend, Zoe McMorran, who was diagnosed with brain cancer. She invited residents to carve a pumpkin and drop it off for display at the family’s Main Street home with a suggested $5 donation per pumpkin for the summer camp serving children with cancer and other serious illnesses.

The youth of Trinity Episcopal Church took over the project in 2016, when McMorran departed for college.

For the fifth season, the church’s young adults coordinated the effort, inviting area residents to participate in the inspiring Halloween tradition.

The result this year was a collection of 101 pumpkins, including one that featured the name of the challenge’s original inspiration.

The family appropriate display also included also pumpkins honoring spiders and Spider-Man, ghosts and goblins, cats, peace, love, and even the town’s hometown newspaper.

As Trick-or-Treaters began arriving at the church late Sunday afternoon, many spent time examining the carved pumpkins. Dozens took photos in front of the display, of individual pumpkins, or trying their best to photograph the full collection. The pumpkins had been placed on scaffolding, and were lit as night fell on the region.

Trinity Episcopal Church Communications Manager Kim Merrill confirmed this week that this year’s challenge raised $820 through Great Pumpkin Challenge donations.

Meanwhile, seasonal music was playing through speakers placed behind the display. What many did not realize that the music was not recorded but being performed live, from inside the church.

For hours, Simon Bowditch and Donald Wismann shared performance duties from the organ loft inside the historic building. With Newtown and the area once again responding to the challenge of raising spirits for Halloween, and funds for the special camp established by Paul Newman, the organists offered a musical note of thanks.