Thousands of costume-clad children practiced their trick-or-treating skills in downtown Brentwood last week as part of the annual Hometown Halloween festivities.

Dozens of local-business booths lined the streets as kids of all ages snatched free candy at every corner. It took the sweets seekers and their patient parents more than an hour to work their way through the assembly line of princesses and pirates, witches and warlocks, but the atmosphere remained cheerful overall.

Supergirl Andie Sayson, 5, and her brother Aiden, 3, sporting an Ironman costume, took a break at the fountain before tackling the second leg of their adventure.

“This is so much fun,” Andie said, even though the detour to the Haunted Basement at the Catwalk was a little more than she bargained for.

“The haunted house was a little too scary for her,” said Lorraine, mother of the energetic superheroes. “They love dressing up, though, and getting the candy. We come every year, and the kids always have such a great time.”

Maureen Baker also brought out her little ghosts and goblins: “This is a great event. It’s so nice that the city hosts this safe evening for the kids, and the kids just love it. We look forward to it every year.”

Baker, who dressed as pop star Lady Gaga, said she didn’t mind the lines, and as a seasoned Hometown Halloween aficionado, she didn’t think it was as busy as in the past.

Brentwood Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator Jilda Fairhurst said this year’s event was actually the largest in Hometown Halloween history, featuring 85 participating businesses, two haunted houses and a haunted bus: “We had a great turnout. I’m really happy with how everything went. The businesses came out and decorated their booths and really brought the Halloween spirit to downtown Brentwood.

“We estimate that at least 5,000 families came out to take part in the event, and that’s what it’s all about,” she added. “It’s a fun experience for families to enjoy downtown, and it’s great exposure for our local businesses.”

For more photos and video of this year’s Hometown Halloween, click here.