Thousands of families turned out at Pearlridge Center for a mall-wide trick-or-treat event, a fun, upbeat local happening with no downside for the community.

• Pearlridge Center organized a large trick-or-treat trail across the mall for Halloween.
• Kids dressed as monsters, princesses, and superheroes joined in, drawing thousands of families.
• The mall also ran a "candy crawl" alongside the main trick-or-treat trail.
• A related fundraiser, Aloha United Way's Cold Water Challenge, brought in donations for the charity.

Outlook: Expect similar community Halloween events to continue drawing big crowds through the rest of the week.